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.
First thing I did to my Xbox controller: I got a Li-ion battery because I don’t always have AA batteries around and recharging NIMH takes forever.
What’s wrong with connecting a charge cable to your controller? It does not stop you from gaming.
You can buy a pack of 4 NiMH batteries and use the other two when the first two recharge. The problem is not connecting a charge cable, but the fact that all rechargeable batteries eventually die, but NiMH batteries can be bought at the grocery store, and be replaced by anyone.
Yeah, but battery replacements, spare parts, and repair tutorials will all likely be provided by iFixit, same as the Steam Deck or (formerly) Index, and even if the battery goes out of production I’m certain a third party can manufacture a similar spec at the same form factor.
Yeah, but NiMH AA battery replacements are sold for 5€ a pack at my local grocery store and will never go out of production.
Great, you can swap those in half an hour. AAs can be swapped in 10 seconds.
Swappability is not a matter of the exact size and shape, but how many screws are needed to access it etc.
Did you see a battery door on the Steam controller?
In your imagined world where the steam controller has AA batteries, the difference you’re taking about is the battery door, not the battery firm factor.
The difference in my hypothetical world is time. Pretty much all lithium batteries are not quickly swappable.
And the other difference is I already have a drawer full of rechargeable AAs. It’s a standard size thats readily available for purchase from 1000 different places and likely will be indefinitely and I can use the same ones in a dozen different devices.
I’m talking about the actual physical object and its characteristics. The part that affects time taken is the access to the battery, not the battery form factor.
It’ll take all of two minutes to swap the battery, chill out.
This introduces the next problem: The AA batteries are constantly depleted and I always forget recharging them. Or I put them away and cannot find them when needed.
Skill issue. Feel free to pay more to compensate.
Rechargeable controllers didn’t use to have dock stations some years ago, how did you manage then?
I just plugged them in and used them while they charged.
You can still plug a controller with AA in and use it while the batteries are in the charger
Personally the worst aspect of my original steam controller is the AA batteries. Constantly have to swap them and sometimes low battery meant buggy inputs. I very much prefer an integrated battery that gets topped up when I put the controller back to its place.
But I can see why you and others prefer otherwise.
Didn’t say the contrary, you asked what we did when rechargable controllers didn’t have stations.