Which Is Better For 360: Play & Charge Kit or Battery Charger?

[The 1 2 P]

Now that I finally upgraded to a 360 I was wondering what the 360 owners on here prefer. Obviously I need to get atleast one of these. My question about the play and charge kit was rather it could charge when you aren't playing. It doesn't seem like it can. As for a battery charger, that seems the most logical way to approach this issue imo. So should I get a play and charge kit or a battery charger? Finally, does it matter(quality wise) rather I get a first party(Microsoft) or third party(Nyko, Mad Kats, etc) peripheral?

[heybtbm]

I use the 1st party rechargeable battery packs. I recharge them using the 1st party charger...



All the batteries are approaching 3 years old and still hold their charge. Not bad.

[ProgrammingAce]

The play and charge kit will keep charging after you turn the console off. I bought 2 of the Nyko PnC kits, and the batteries both last all of about 5 minutes after 6 months of use.

At this point, i just generally prefer the wired controller anyway.

[Oobgarm]

I've had good luck with the MS branded battery packs/play n charge kits. Each of the two I've used have lasted very well and still hold a long charge.

[erehwon]

I wasn't really sure what charging option to get, so I went with neither. I just use rechargeable batteries.

[boatofcar]

I use nonrechargeable batteries. I also club baby seals with them before I throw them away.

[c0ldb33r]

We use the MS battery packs and charger. The quality is great.

Plus, my wife has a pink battery pack to match her pink controller, so it works pretty well all around.

[GM80]

My question about the play and charge kit was rather it could charge when you aren't playing. It doesn't seem like it can.

It can. Just leave the controller(s) plugged in to the 360 prior to turning the console off. The power will blink momentarily, then resume charging. I often charge mine overnight that way.

[Porksta]

I plan to use the wireless packs with my controllers. If I wanted to have a wire connecting my controller to my console, I would have saved $10 and bought a wired controller.

The only problem with the battery stands are that they are not two colors. Also, for the four controllers I plan to own (black, dragon, Halo, and Spartan Green), the latter two don't have a matching battery pack, so I will have a white pack attached to a green controller, or a black pack charging on a white base. Ugh.

[Berserker]

I have two Play & Charge kits, since I only have two controllers. I've found that both can sometimes be touchy. I'll plug them in and the LED that lets you know they're charging won't turn on. They're first party kits, not third, and this happens with both controllers/kits the same. Not a huge deal, since they do work as intended most of the time, so I've never bothered getting anything else.

If I had to buy over again, I'd probably get that first party standalone charger heybtbm mentioned, as it seems like it'd be generally more reliable. So that's what I'd recommend.

[PapaStu]

I have 2 controllers and just tend to cycle between them. I've got MS battery packs (for both) and a play and charge kit. I however tend to not charge my controller via the 360, it makes the fan run (or it did in the past) and since my computer is on all the time anyways, I just plug it into the USB and let it go to town.
I just bought a replacement battery for one of my controllers (second controller, its about 1 year newer than the other) because its battery charge is down to maybe 10 hours. But even still that battery made it 2 years. Not bad considering how much I play my 360.

[scooterb23]

I have a Play & Charge kit that I leave attached the entire time. I may as well have a wired controller at this point.

[The 1 2 P]

Both options seem viable but I think based on the responses I should go with a Microsoft battery charger pack. It comes with an extra battery so I'll always have a fully charged one when the other runs out. However, I may get a play and charge kit later down the road because it also seems pretty reliable provided it's a first party one. Thanks for all the help guys, I do appreciate it.

[carlcarlson]

I ended up with a Nyko charge kit and it has worked fine. I rotate between two packs and they both hold nice long charges. The MS looks nicer but I wouldn't worry about getting a third party charger if you come across one cheap.

[c0ldb33r]

I ended up with a Nyko charge kit and it has worked fine. I rotate between two packs and they both hold nice long charges. The MS looks nicer but I wouldn't worry about getting a third party charger if you come across one cheap.

Just be sure to get one that's a real brand though.

I bought my 360 used and it came with a battery pack and charger. The guy never said that they were MS brand, but they really looked like they were. I got home and the battery worked well for a little while and then shit out on me. I tried charging the battery in the charger - the charging light came on red and never turned green. Either the charger or the battery (or both) were crap.

Turns out both the battery and charger were knockoff brands. I don't think that they were even third party brands because there was no branding on them at all. I assume they're chinese knockoffs from ebay. I went out and bought the MS stuff and it's worked wonderfully. I'm sure actual third party brands work better than my those pieces of shit, but this is just my fair warning.

BTW, it also came with a media remote that's made by the same knockoff company that does not work at all for anything except maybe a paper weight.

[Jimid2]

Simply buying some nice 2500mAh NiMHs would be the most cost efficient route. I picked up a play and charge kit with the second controller we bought (it was only a $10 up-charge, so I figured what the heck) and bought a second 1st party rechargeable battery on sale for $10 somewhere, so we have the MS rechargeable packs now, but we were using NiMHs in the system pack-in controller for a long time before I picked up the second bat, and they worked fine - lasted longer than the MS rechargeables do, too!

[heybtbm]

I will have a white pack attached to a green controller, or a black pack charging on a white base. Ugh.

You'll be alright...lol.

[skaar]

MS Batteries and Play and Charge cables. Haven't had a shitty battery yet and I've had them all since day one.

As a side note - I generally charge off the cable box rather than leave the 360 on... and you can use the Play and Charge cable to power the controller WITHOUT a battery pack... I did this when I bought an arcade console and didn't have batteries kicking.

[sisko]

I also use standard rechargeable AA's.

Cheaper.
Last Longer.
And I can use them in things other than my Xbox 360 controller.

[Cobra Commander]

I bought a blue battery pack at Target awhile back. It was on clearance for $1.00. That was the biggest waste of a dollar ever. It won't hold a charge for anything.
I guess they can't all be winners.