I still find it hard to believe that despite all the advances of the XBox One that they still only issued a controller that required 2 x AA batteries. The speed at which I was going through batteries took me back to my days playing the Sega Game Gear and those who remember that hand-held will remember how quickly that gobbled up batteries. I knew Microsoft did sell a chargeable battery pack but I was loath to spend roughly £20 on one but then I came into the possession of the Gioteck BP-2 Play and Charge Battery Kit which is phenomenally good value for money. At the current time of writing this article this can be found on Amazon for less than half the price of the Microsoft charge kit.
What you actually get in the box is the battery pack with a charging LED indicator light (always useful), the cover to the pack itself which is separate from the battery so you can ensure the pack is in firmly prior to closing up the controller and finally a 3m long cable. A 3m long cable is the ideal length, long enough to provide sufficient length from the console to the comfy chair yet short enough so that it doesn’t become a tangled heap at your feet.
There’s no instructions leaflet in the box but on the side of the box there are diagrams showing how to install the battery pack so this may confuse the unlearned parent or grandparent but it’s hardly rocket science to the average or even casual gamer.
The box claims the battery itself should take 3.5 hours to charge and this is pretty much the case from the several times I charged it. The box also claims it to have 15 hours of gaming time which is quite a conservative estimate as I found it last a good 2-3 hours longer. Of course, during gaming, if your battery power is low you can continue gaming while it’s charging so there is no need to stop enjoying yourself mid party.
The Gioteck BP-2 is a fantastic charging kit and is ideal for those on a budget. It’s a good quality accessory that will guarantee you control how long you game for.
Andrew Newton
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