My Xbox controllers are never running out of battery again thanks to PowerA’s Xbox Duo Charging Station
Full charge ahead
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We’ve all been there; you’re closing out a tight round of Slayer onHalo Infinite,or protecting your preciousSea of Thievesloot from the eldritch might of a Kraken and you’ve had to start frantically trying to remember where you’ve put your USB-C cable for your slowly dying controller.
When you can’t find it, and having ignored theXbox Series X’s low controller battery warning for an hour now, it finally happens: your gamepad fully runs out of juice. Your Needler-brandishing Spartan awkwardly freezes in place, and your friends are wondering where the hell you’ve disappeared to at such a crucial moment.
It’s moments like these that render the PowerA Duo Charging Station for Xbox such a lifesaver. It’s a ‘Designed for Xbox’ charging solution that, much likeSony’s officialDualSenseCharging Station, lets players charge up to two controllers simultaneously. And it does so at an attractive price tag of just$29.99/ £24.99, making it one of the most affordableXbox Series X and Series S accessoriesout there.
The use case
The PowerA Duo Charging Station will be most useful for players who own at least twoXbox Wireless Controllers, as the accessory features a couple of docks to charge your gamepads. If either the Xbox Series X orXbox Series Sis your primary console then the charging station offers a way to continuously swap out controllers without fear of running out of battery.
I put the device to the test with a recent playthrough ofElden Ringon Xbox Series X. Yes, it’s one of the best Xbox Series X games out there, but it’s also a lengthy one, making it an ideal candidate for controller charging and swapping when needed.
I began the playthrough with one Xbox Wireless Controller set in the Duo Charging Station’s dock. As I enjoyed my revisit ofElden Ring,in anticipation of theupcomingShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, I patiently waited for that low battery warning. And when it happened, I simply walked over to the charging station, swapped the controllers, and had a fresh 40-hour charge ready to go.
Of course, this whole charging problem can be circumvented by simply wiring up the gamepad to the console via USB-C. And that’s a fine solution, especially with the reduction of input lag offered by wired connectivity. But as an owner of a particularly curious and mischievous cat, having a stray wire run across the living room floor only invites him to take a nibble when he thinks I’m not looking. But I am looking, Ozzy. I’m always looking.
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I was also surprised to discover that the PowerA Duo Charging Station comes with two additional rechargeable batteries, each offering a further 20 hours of playtime at full charge. While it’s entirely possible to stick with the batteries that come with the Xbox Wireless Controller, this adds even more value to the already relatively low price of the package.
Since owning the PowerA Duo Charging Station, I’ve not run across a single low battery warning. And I’ve found this to be a valuable thing as someone who routinely plays relatively longer games and makes use ofXbox Game Pass- which has recently seen the arrival of lengthy titles likePersona 3 ReloadandBloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
So if you’re also keen on waving that low battery warning goodbye, I highly recommend checking out the PowerA Duo Charging Station. Especially as they’re aren’t many other charging solutions like it for Xbox Series X|S at this juncture of reliability and affordability. It’s a new fixture in my gaming setup that I can’t imagine living without now, and it could be one of your new favorite accessories.
Interested in a broader range of Xbox-focused hardware? Consider checking out our guides to thebest Xbox controllersandbest Xbox Series X headsets.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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