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I wish the Steam Controller used AA batteries (lemmy.world)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
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Based on the description on their site, the controller includes a built-in battery: "8.39 Wh Li-ion battery​, 35+ hours of gameplay... "

That was disappointing for me. Specially condidering the Steam Frame's controllers make use of AA batteries: "​One replaceable AA battery per controller, ​ 40hr battery life​"

AA Batteries might not be as convenient to use, but being able to replace them is a great advantage. All my Xbox360 controllers still work fine, but none of my PS3' Dualshock 3s.

The official docking station could be used to recharge (rechargables) AA batteries so the functionality could remain the same.

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[–] 49 points 11 months ago* (27 children)

Except that you don't have to swap the batteries on a built-in rechargeable battery every few days. You plug it in when you aren't using it, and swap the batteries every few years when they stop holding a charge. I guarantee you the time spent swapping AAs every few days will far outweigh the time you spend using a screw driver to replace this battery at the frequency it requires.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago*

    I guarantee you the time spent swapping AAs every few days will far outweigh the time you spend using a screw driver to replace this battery at the frequency it requires.

    Yeah, but the AAs will still be around in 10 years. Until we standardize internal power cells and legally mandate companies use them, I don't really care how user-serviceable it is, by the time it actually needs a swap most companies are done selling it anyways and just want you to buy the next thing instead. At best you can get a shady third-party knockoff. Valve is slightly better in this regard, but I don't expect them to still sell batteries 10-15 years from now.

    I think most people just use "user-serviceable" as a cope and never actually intend to service it, it just makes them feel better to think they can. They just throw it away and get a shiny new thing when it becomes slightly inconvenient.

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  • [+] -26 points 11 months ago* (21 children)

    You plug it in when you aren't using it

    And what happens when the controller dies? That requires:

    1. Having a cable nearby
    2. Being tethered to said cable for an hour.

    I don't have a charging station in my couch.

    I guarantee you the time spent swapping AAs every few days will far outweigh the time you spend using a screw driver to replace this battery at the frequency it requires.

    I guarantee you it doesn't. Not to mention those screws would become stripped in a matter of weeks.

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  • [–] 41 points 11 months ago (4 children)

    Man is gaming 24/7 and has zero downtime where he could plug in a controller. That's dedication right there /s

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  • [+] -19 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    We've already been over this. I don't want to be tethered to a cable.

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  • [–] 29 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Sounds like your use case is unique and does not match the use case of the vast majority of users. Maybe you should look for another controller that meets your very specific requirements more closely.

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  • [+] -14 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 child)

    I already have one, but thank you for the suggestion.

    OP and several others have expressed similar sentiments in this thread so I'm obviously not alone in the "vast minority".

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  • [–] 7 points 11 months ago (15 children)

    What happens if your controller dies and you're out of AA batteries?

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  • [–] -3 points 11 months ago (14 children)

    I don't run out. They're rechargeable.

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  • [–] 7 points 11 months ago (13 children)

    And if you forget or don't have time to plug them in to recharge?

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  • [–] -4 points 11 months ago (12 children)

    They're always charged because I put them on the charger when I rotate them.

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  • [–] 12 points 11 months ago (8 children)

    You're so close to getting it...

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  • [–] -4 points 11 months ago (7 children)

    You're not...

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  • [–] 7 points 11 months ago (4 children)

    They're The controller is always charged because I put them it on the charger when I rotate them. am not using it.

    So the controller never dies unless you're playing for more than a day straight, and there's no fiddly swapping out of batteries. The only downside is that you might need to replace the battery in like 5 years time with heavy use, and it's only marginally more difficult than swapping out AAs.

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  • [–] -3 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    So the controller never dies unless you're playing for more than a day straight

    Or...you didn't plug it in? I don't have to worry about plugging it in. Not every hour. Not every Day. Not every week or every year. There is never a time when the batteries are dead or I need to fiddle with a cable. Ever.

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  • [–] 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Well it will be fine even if you only leave it charging a tiny fraction of the times you use it. And with AAs you have to remember to change them anyway or it will die while you're playing.

    And if you think the process of:

    opening the back cover, taking out the AAs (especially on the original steam controller), putting them in a charger, and putting new ones back in the controller

    is even close to as easy as just setting the controller down on a magnetic charger, I don't know what to tell you.

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  • [–] 6 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Since you're already managing charging things, what prevents you to put your controller to charge when you're done playing?

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  • [–] -3 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    I don't have to manage charging anything. If I neglect it, and it dies, I just swap charged batteries into it. That's the whole point.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago

    You do are managing your AA batteries: you have a dedicated charger for rechargeable AA batteries, and you put yours to charge when you swap them out. That's just your routine so you just don't consider that it's not bothering.

    You could just as well put your controller on it's charging stand/plug it when you're done playing. Or plugging it after your gaming session when it notifies you that it's starting to running low.

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  • [+] -8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

    You plug it in when you aren't using it

    I would never leave a device on charge permanently. That would use excess electricity.

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  • [–] 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Definitely not. All modern chargers are made to negotiate with the charging device for power and voltage, including sending none because the device is full.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (1 child)

    All modern chargers are made to negotiate with the charging device for power and voltage, including sending none because the device is full.

    Definitely not. Even if no device is plugged in to a charger, the circuitry in the charger still uses electricity. Even a basic transformer with no control processor will still use electricity because they, like all machines, are not 100% efficient.

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