Review: HyperX ChargePlay Duo charging station keeps controllers in game
Like it or not, the modern Xbox controllers have always run on AA batteries. It’s one of those quirks that Microsoft has kept on the products. The battery option gives players different ways to power the devices. They can keep buying AA Duracells, opt for rechargeable ones such as Eneloops or try out a Play & Charge Kit.
Over the past few years, a fourth option has emerged: charging docks. These kits add rechargeable battery packs to a controller, making it more environmentally friendly while also offering the convenience of powering the controller without plugging it in. Players simply drop it on the charging station and get on with life.
One of the companies that has gotten into this part of the peripheral ecosystem is HyperX with its recently released ChargePlay Duo Controller Charging Station. The device comes with two 1400 mAh rechargeable battery packs, charging stand, battery doors and an AC adapter. It’s a system that works for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S controllers so HyperX covers gamers using both consoles.
How the product works is straight-forward. Players insert the battery packs in the controller and plug the station into a wall outlet. The biggest problem on setup is figuring out how to install the rechargeable batteries with the correct battery doors. The ChargePlay Duo comes with two sets and they’re not exactly labeled.
If you use the wrong door on the controller, the battery won’t charge correctly or even fit. It takes a bit a trial and error, but once that’s solved, the charging dock works fine. The 1400 mAh packs lasted about 10 hours of playtime on “Chivalry 2.” It carried me through several matches before I got a low-battery alert from the Xbox.
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE DEVICE
Charging stations are one of those devices that seems like a good idea, one that bears consideration but is put off because it’s not high on the priority list compared to games. I never considered how convenient the peripheral was until I had one. Sony sent over the DualSense Charging Station for the PlayStation 5 to review alongside the console, and after using one for a few weeks, I realized I can’t live without one. It solved so many irksome issues.
I had to keep an eye out for an Xbox version and found one with the HyperX ChargePlay Duo Controller Charging Station. It serves as a place to put controllers when not in use, eliminating clutter by giving the devices a designated spot. Meanwhile, the LED lights reminds users that the controllers are charging. With two docks on a unit, players have a backup controller if one runs out of juice or they can have a ready device if a friend comes over for a couch co-op game. Personally, I have an Xbox Elite Series 1 controller and an Xbox Series X|S controller charging in the two ports.
Because the controllers are housed and powering up on the station when not in use, I don’t often need to charge from a dead battery. When I did, the device took about 2.5 hours to reach 100 percent.
At $39.99, the HyperX ChargePlay Duo is a decent value. The PowerA Dual Charging Station does similar work and is more affordable at $29.99 but its two 1100 mAh batteries have a lower capacity. That means they won’t last as long between charges. With the HyperX product, users can expect solid quality from a brand that creates peripherals that get the job done. It has a strong reputation thanks to its Cloud headsets, and like that gaming workhorse, the charging station is no different.