AmazonBasics Xbox One controller accessories charge you up on the cheap

Merely because you want the best accessories for your Xbox Ane, doesn't mean you need to settle for a high cost tag. With a growing number of tertiary-party manufacturers of Xbox controllers, headsets, and other accompaniments, if you know where to look, you can fully kit out your console on a budget.

Amazon is i of the big names now jumping into the Xbox One accessories space, with a range of branded hardware officially licensed by Microsoft. Falling under its "AmazonBasics" line, these promise a low-toll solution, without comprising functionality or build quality. I took a look at its latest line of Xbox One charging accessories, to see whether these cheap alternatives deserve a spot in your gaming setup.

See AmazonBasics Dual Charging Station at Amazon
See AmazonBasics Play & Accuse Kit at Amazon

Plug and play

At the entry-level of the AmazonBasics Xbox One line is the "Play & Charge kit," offer a rechargeable solution for your controller. Every bit the name suggests, this bundle helps ditch disposable batteries, while keeping your controller topped off without interrupting your gaming. Microsoft already offers an official Play & Charge kit retailing at $24.99, yet Amazon'southward own solution promises a similar characteristic set for almost $fifteen.

Installing the AmazonBasics Play & Charge kit is relatively simple – a standalone pack sits in the battery tray, sealed with a special-made battery door. Protruding through this battery door is a secondary Micro-USB port for wired charging and contacts for use with Amazon'due south wireless charging stand.

Using the included USB Type A to Micro-USB cablevision, the battery pack can exist charged directly off your panel's onboard USB port. Nonetheless, unlike Microsoft'due south solution where ability is delivered via the controller'south integrated charging port, Amazon's depression-budget pack charges directly with a port on the pack itself. This forces your controller to connect wirelessly, leading to battery drain that could be otherwise avoided if Amazon had utilized a traditional wired connection. It might be frustrating, only at to the lowest degree it means the bombardment pack can be charged exterior of the controller.

The unit presents some welcome improvements on Microsoft's offer, as well, such as an LED indicator on the bombardment that shifts between red and green states to prove electric current charge. Amazon'due south included Micro-USB cable likewise comes in around three meters, providing an additional 30 centimeters of length to piece of work with.

Amazon's Play & Accuse kits utilize 1100mAh nickel–metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, designed specifically for Xbox I controllers. This is in contrast to the 1400mAh lithium bombardment in Microsoft's kit, meaning inferior capacity and bombardment technology. Although battery life and recharge times oasis't hugely differed from the Microsoft-branded alternative in personal testing, I have concerns in the long-term. Differences in battery technology may lead to reduced durability for Amazon, with some users already reporting abrupt chapters drops after extended use.

This kit isn't exactly pretty, either, with the battery requiring its own branded door for projecting ports and connectors. This creates a needless lump on the rear that offsets the controller's streamlined blueprint, which tin can be felt by those with bigger easily. And that'south not touching on the inexpensive-feeling plastic colored in a unlike tone to the official Microsoft black controller.

While the AmazonBasics Play & Charge kit may be cheap, in that location are clear tradeoffs. Between build quality, bombardment quality and general ease of use, y'all'll be seeing shortcuts, but it's a budget solution that gets the job done.

Cutting out the wires

If yous're willing to spend a piddling more than, Amazon also sells a charging station for Xbox One controllers under its AmazonBasics range. This promises a much simpler solution without wires, that lets you driblet a controller on the charging cradle between gaming sessions.

The AmazonBasics wireless charging station requires controllers to use similar batteries and battery doors as seen in the Play & Accuse kit. To use the stand, you'll need to push a controller into the cradle, exposing three metallic pins. When these pins lay confronting the metal contacts on the bombardment door, the controller will brainstorm charging. LEDs can as well be constitute underneath the two charging pads, shifting from red to green when charging is complete.

In terms of its pattern, the wireless charging stand may not be anything inspiring – a blackness stand with AmazonBasics branding on either side. Composed of a plastic hollow casing around its internals, it'due south a no-frills solution but information technology works as expected. The four rubberized anxiety are a neat impact, keeping it grounded on glossy surfaces.

Unfortunately, the wireless charging station from Amazon shares shortcomings with the Play & Charge kit. Amazon is distributing the aforementioned 1100mAh NiMH batteries with this stand, meaning you'll see smaller chapters and possible battery degradation. The same battery door designs are also used, minus the heavy branding.

Wrapping things upward

Amazon's Xbox 1 charging products might non sport the premium feel of official Microsoft accessories, but thanks to the low toll tag they could be a great purchase for the budget-conscious gamer. The AmazonBasics Dual Charging Station is bachelor exclusively from Amazon at $24.99. While usually priced at $14.99 via Amazon, the Play & Accuse Kit is unfortunately out of stock at the fourth dimension of this publication.