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.
Just have replaceable Li-ion batteries.
Reading these comments, I have to say that a number of users of this community have very strong views on batteries.
Like, I would not have expected as many people to get upset as did in a discussion over batteries.
It could be a 18650 or another lithium standard size and make everybody Happy. Easy to remplace and a bigger life than square sized batteries.
I agree. 18650 are a much better starting point standard than AA.
Like brands do with their tools. One battery for all kinds
I mean I get the reason, but at the same time Li-ion is just so much better compared to NiMH and especially Alkaline. As long as its easy to open up and replace I’m all for internal li-ion batteries.
Yeah the issue is easily replaceable standardized sized battery, if li-ion started doing that, I’d be all in Li-ion band wagon for handheld consumer electronics, till that point I must agree with OP and i would keep demanding Aa batteries and use my niMH cells
Those cells are almost always standard sized prismatic cells, but the connector is often not standard if you buy a random cell.
Well, I completely understand your point. I also have rechargable AA batteries laying around, but I see it from this standpoint:
- The Steam controller includes this magnetic charging puck, which is a good way to make sure it’s always charged.
- It will mostly be used more or less stationary, sitting down in front of a PC. So even if the need arises to charge it this shouldn’t be a problem in many situations. This is vastly different than with the new VR controllers, because they will be moved around a lot and it’s not really realistic to charge them while using them.
- Many people still just use disposable batteries. Which is quite frankly just not good. So my best guess is that this connected with point two may be a leading factor for why they did it this way. I think a hybrid option (puck-rechargable battery pack or two AA’s) would have been awesome though.
- Valve’s repair policy was exceptional with the steam deck so I have reasons to believe that the battery for the steam controller will be available for a very reasonable cost. A very interesting question will be for how long.
All in all I understand your point, but it’s not a huge issue for me personally.
Valve’s repair policy was exceptional with the steam deck so I have reasons to believe that the battery for the steam controller will be available for a very reasonable cost.
Just to piggy back on what you are say, one of the engineers in the LTT video mentioned they want to team up with iFixIt again, just like they did for the Steam Deck. And I saw the back shell off the controller in one of the videos. The batter looks dead simple to replace. It’s wild to even imagine that a company in 2025 would be be consumer friendly.
AA Batteries might not be as convenient to use, but being able to replace them is a great advantage
it could still have a charging port so it doesn’t need to be any inconvenient
I don’t want to have to pay a subscription for physical disposable fuel pods for my controller, and it would be really nice if plugging it in cut down on input delay.
I’m alright with this as long as the controller is easy to repair, which Valve has been pretty good about with the Steam Deck.
If swapping batteries is a fast 5-10 minute process I have to do every 5 or so years, and the batteries are widely available and reasonably priced, that’s a win in my book.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I like the idea of AA because if the controller dies mid-session you can just swap them and keep playing, on the other this is easily solvable by having a dock like the 8BitDo Ultimate, which makes it so that the controller is always fully charged when you pick it up, so the only advantage that the AA had disappears, and it’s even more comfortable to have the controller always charged than having to get up in the middle of the play session to find new batteries. And the Steam controller has a charging puck, so it should never have the issue where AA are better. So my feeling that it would be better is not justified.
The other supposed advantage is longevity, since all batteries eventually die off, if it’s an external battery you just buy new ones and are done. Being internal makes it more of a hassle. But Valve has been very open with the repaiedness of their devices, so I expect this to not be a big issue, as long as the batteries are still being manufactured by the time the one in the controller dies off (which should take a lot more time to happen than regular AA).
Literally every wireless controller I have ever owned that used rechargable batteries could be plugged in while I was using it if it started to die. I would bet that 99% of wireless controller users have a power outlet at least somewhere near where they sit to game.
I don’t, this has never been a possibility for me in the last 4/5 houses I’ve lived unless I specifically bought a 3m long USB cable. I’m sure plenty of people do, but I don’t think it’s 99%.
I like how 8bitdo did it.
They gave you a rechargable battery pack that could optionally be replaced with AA batteries.
Best of both worlds.
I have a headtorch like this. Keep it charged and most of the time everything is good. But that one time when I’m out skiing at night and shit goes wrong / I run out of charge it’s OK because I have a couple of AA’s in my bag as spares.
that’s honestly the best move, even if it is more expensive it’s totally worth it.
Hell, these corporations could even make more money selling you additional packs you could swap if you didn’t want to use rechargeable AAs. It needs to be the standard, it would keep so many controllers out of landfills when their batteries go bad. Microsoft kind of does this with the standard Xbox controllers, but in typical Microsoft fashion they make your first rechargeable pack a separate purchase. I’d still way rather have that than the built in batteries though.
In a world where every household has rechargeable AA batteries, absolutely - but until and unless we successfully regulate away disposable batteries this solution (internal battery, easy to replace thanks to Right to Repair) will likely remain the most realistic, environmentally friendly one.
world where every household has rechargeable AA batteries
What do you need AA batteries for? And why do you think the whole world also does?
You have missed my point entirely. OP is disappointed that the Steam Controller doesn’t use AAs, while the Steam Frame controllers do.
Easily replaceable, rechargeable batteries are the best solution we as a society currently have for electronic devices. We can’t force people to not use disposables - so internals like that on the Steam Controller is the best-fit solution currently.
As an aside, we currently have ~20 or so AA Eneloops in circulation in our household currently, from TV and AC remotes, to children’s toys, to IOT devices.
Personally I only always buy those enegizer alkaline batteries. Didn’t know you could recharge them, might try next time. I’ve almost usually always chuck them in the bin.
You are right. Thank you for replying.
Before you start establishing a working group to assess the impact of creating a commitee to judge the effect of switching to replacable cells, what if…
What if the companies just packed a few universal rechargable cells with their product? I meam the charging circuit is already a part of the design.
…lol, yes! Unless it’s the EU, they managed to get on the USB-C standardisation pretty early - there’s a chance we might see something like this out of them before 2050 🤞🏻
I do worry about the Monkey’s Paw nature of capitalism though, with the regulations on vaping here accidentally causing a surge of ‘disposable’ vapes equipped with lithium ion batteries - ending up having something similar occur as a result.
Duplicating charging circuits also seems a bit wasteful, especially if manufacturers cheap out and use the lowest quality components - rather than having a high-quality centralised GaN charger or similar.
I disagree so much. I never want another AA device.
The idea of using disposable AA batteries seems nice… Until the day you go to open the compartment and find they’ve leaked and corroded the contacts (or worse) in the controller. Regular lithium are ok, they do last a good long while, but not exactly the most eco-conscious choice either. Rechargeable AA take forever to recharge. Like seriously, we are talking all night for the higher capacity ones.
Rechargeable AA take forever to recharge.
So have some extra ones ready to go. They’re cheap.
I’m not sure what kind of black magic they employ, but I can charge three sets of 4 enloop pros in a day with the official charger, more if they weren’t completely dead. I’d been using an older charger before and it would take 10+ hours for a single set with that thing.
Even cheap Ladda from IKEA recharge in mere hours now.
Same!
All my Xbox360 controllers still work fine, but none of my PS3’ Dualshock 3s.
An important thing to note is that the Steam Controller will be user-serviceable and they want to continue their partnership with ifixit
This is a very good point. If it’s as easy to replace as AA and it lasts longer, it’s just better all around.
A few problems: it will still use rare earth metals, and those are a hot political topic right now with China restricting them
The fact that AAs are eternal. Who knows if this specific battery will still be available in 10 years.
Also, the small problem of you can’t just buy a new one at Walmart. It is small, but out of sight, out of mind, and out of the public consciousness.
Problems with Li-ion itself, I suppose. What we really need is a standardized small rectangle form factor since Li-ion is just more efficient in that shape.
If there’s a market for it, replacements will be made. You can buy a replacement PS5 battery for $5. You can also buy a iPhone 4 battery (still). LiPos are quite easy to make (geopolitics aside) so making one that fits is not hard at all.
The PS5 battery has a plug, if the Steam Controller is like that (probably is), the only tool required is a screwdriver, which seems like a great tradeoff to replace the battery every 5+ years instead of every week or two, and being able to recharge it easily and quickly.
Worst case scenario you have to use a generic battery that is about the right size instead of a perfect fit. Maybe a little less battery life but it’s still more than enough anyway.
Why is that important
Because it means you can probably swap your battery with a single screw or two.
I’m not doing that on a regular basis. I can swap the battery in my Xbox controller without any screws.
E: Wow, I really love being downvoted for my opinion. Super cool shit, guys.
Not downvoting you, but you’re not being reasonable. Serviceable means actually serviceable. It might be “better” to use AA batteries but if they can’t, the next best thing would be that it can be serviced by the actual end consumer. And yeah if you’re planning on fixing your own things you may need to own a screwdriver.
I don’t think you understand. I’m not talking about service. No one is talking about normal use. We’re talking about swappable batteries. Remember like we had in phones back in the day? I swap the batteries on my current controller every few days. It’s not unreasonable to expect modern controllers to have the same functionality they had 20 years ago…
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.
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.
You plug it in when you aren’t using it
I would leave a device on charge permanently. That would use excess electricity.
You plug it in when you aren’t using it
And what happens when the controller dies? That requires:
- Having a cable nearby
- 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.
I, for one, still don’t understand why you want to swap batteries. I’m assuming you’re talking about rechargable AA batteries, and not the environmental disaster that are single use batteries. How’s taking the batteries out, going to the charging station, swapping the batteries, returning and installing them back into the controller less convenient that just dropping the controller onto the recharging puck when it’s not in use?
So you have some special conditions where you can’t recharge the controller between sessions?
I, for one, still don’t understand why to you want to swap batteries
Because I don’t want to be tethered to a cable.
How’s taking the batteries out, going to the charging station, swapping the batteries, returning and installing them back into the controller less convenient that just dropping the controller onto the recharging puck when it’s not in use?
Because then I have to be constantly concerned about the state of the battery at any time. I have enough rechargeable devices to be worried about.
So you’d rather swap batteries than put the controller on a charger - which they showed to be crazy easy to do? You’re still not making much sense.
LOL I don’t know how to be more clear about this. Yes, I would absolutely rather spend 10 seconds popping the battery door off and swapping out the batteries than spend an hour tethered to a cable, and MUCH rather than spending 10 minutes walking around to find a screwdriver to do it…
You’re not making much sense. Why wouldn’t I want that?
Lazy fuck.
I mean, there are two reasons that you want to swap batteries.
-
So that the device doesn’t die. This is what OP is worried about. This probably takes years and years of use, though (unless you leave the thing discharged for a long time).
-
So that you can use the controller wirelessly (say, in a living room, so people don’t trip over a cord) and also charge its batteries. For most people, I’d think that this isn’t a huge problem — I mean, my controllers with lithium batteries last way longer than I would stay awake on a full charge, and next time I use them, they’re charged. I normally run my controllers wired for better latency and not having to care about charge, but there are people who do have a legit need for wireless. However, I can think of some exotic cases where it would be necessary. Think of, say, a rec room on a ship or something with shifts of people who are constantly using the thing, where there’s no time to recharge (though then, I think you could just get a second controller or something, swap out the one charging for the one in use). The XBox controller did the AA battery thing, and I have a Logitech F710 that does this. Makes a controller heavier than lithium batteries do, though, produces a shorter battery life relative to the weight, and places some constraints on the layout of the controller (since you need to have the volume to stick the batteries in.
For #1, yeah, the idea of taking off a screw after 10 years or something being prohibitive is pretty absurd.
But if someone is just wanting to do the “simultaneous charge and use” thing, #2, then the screw is an issue, because you’d need to do that every, say, two days or so.
#2 is not an issue with a controller advertised to have 35h of battery life. Which you should charge when not in use. Unless the commenter I replied to games for 35h+ continuous hours, in which case none of what they said applies to any member of functioning society.
-
Wow, that was super unnecessary…
It’s based on the bullshit you’ve been spewing about AA. And that last statement is just the cherry on top.
You’re not in this for longevity of device usage, you’re in this for convenience. Gtfo.
You’re not in this for longevity of device usage, you’re in this for convenience
Expecting my devices to be convenient? Oh, the horror…
I used my launch day PS4 controller up until last year without ever having to unlatch a cover or unscrew a screw. After more than a decade of use, I finally had to open the case and replace the USB port with a new board I bought for $2 by unscrewing and unplugging the old one and swapping it out with the new one.
Why are you acting like having to replace the battery is this super inconvenient thing that you’ll have to do frequently when the odds of having to do so more than once every 5-10 years is unlikely with proper care? I’d consider having to replace AA batteries more of a hassle than that. Especially if they go bad and leak all over the contacts or something. Crystalized battery acid is a pain in the ass to clean out.
Why are you acting like having to replace the battery is this super inconvenient thing that you’ll have to do frequently
…I don’t know how to be more clear about this. I don’t want to be tethered to a cable. The only other way to charge it is by removing it. I didn’t come up with this ridiculous suggestion. My suggestion was using a battery door, like my current Steam Controller has.
Especially if they go bad and leak all over the contacts or something. Crystalized battery acid is a pain in the ass to clean out.
I don’t use lead acid battery.
People think this is a crazy complaint because the controller has an estimated battery life of something like 30 hours and a wireless charger included. So as long as you remember to put it on the dock when you put the controller down once every couple of days, you shouldn’t have to worry about your battery’s charge.
I agree that being able to hot swap the battery would be nice, but this is closer to having to remember to charge your phone and being able to change the battery in a phone at all is a crazy concept in this day and age.
I’d rather have screws than those clip-in covers that break or having to pry the device open like some brands of devices, ie most of the tech industry. Somewhere in the middle. Quickly being able to replace a battery easily a plus don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want it getting torn up in the process one either extreme. I am ok with it may take several minutes, but not with “can I buff this out” or “where is the tape/glue”.
I’d rather have screws than those clip-in covers that break
How about clip in covers that don’t break? I’ve been using my XBone controller for like 7 years, swapping batteries out every week or so, and it still works fine. Running in and out screws definitely will not be nearly as durable, especially if they’re anything like the Steam Deck’s screws.
Hard disagree, AA batteries are passe.
Steam did the right move here.
Vastly prefer my DualSense with built-in rechargeable that lasts multiple days unplugged over my Xbox Series pad that eats AAs. Just make the replacement simple and affordable, which it appears they will.
Vastly prefer my DualSense with built-in rechargeable that lasts multiple days unplugged over my Xbox Series pad that eats AAs. Just make the replacement simple and affordable, which it appears they will.
Meanwhile I’m over here bitching about how my DualSense dies after like 8 hours of gameplay while my Xbox Elite Series 2 lasts like 40.
(But both of those are built-in rechargeables.)
yeah, that’s my experience. But I just plug in a remote battery and keep going. 0-100% in seconds.
I just keep them on a stand that charges them. Works for any controller with USB-C, I just plug a little dongle into each controller and rest them in the cradle when not in use.
I have the exact opposite experience: the NiMH rechargeables in my Xbox Series controller lasted ages (before I replaced them with a play-and-charge pack that uses the controller’s port to charge and also lasts forever), while the DualSense dies in like 10 hours of play.
Wait till you scroll to the Steam Frame part…
I honestly really like them. Get a charger and some good batteries and you can go from 0 to 100% charge in a few seconds and the batteries will cost basically nothing in the long run.
Nasty waste though
Disposable sure, but it sounds like they’re describing using rechargeable ones?
They might be, but people using those are pretty uncommon I think. By designing it with a rechargeable battery they’re preventing the use of millions of single use batteries
if you wanted to cut down on disposable battery waste it would make much more sense to me to make them more expensive than rechargeable batteries
There are rechargeable lithium batteries in the form of AAs that would reduce the waste, they might not last quite as long though
Yeah, I have some, but I’m definitely in the minority on that. By designing it with a rechargeable battery, they’re preventing the use of millions of single use batteries
Yeah I love having non-user-replaceable batteries in my electronics devices to give them an inbuilt death timer.
Very zeitgeist.
Important to note that the controller is designed to be serviceable and Valve is partnering with a company to provide replacement parts.
It sounds like it’ll be as hard to replace the battery as old smart phones were, which makes it very customer friendly.
Where have Steam said they are partnering with a company to offer replacement parts? As far as I’ve read, Valve have not provided any details around sourcing replacement batteries for the Steam Controller. All they’ve said is that the controller is able to be serviced by opening via the screws and clips - ie it’s not glued closed like many user-hostile companies, eg Google Stadia.
This is in no way the same as old smart phones (eg Galaxy S1-S5) toolless battery replacement, where you would just slide off the battery cover, pop out the old battery insert new, click battery cover back on. PS3 Dualschock 3 controllers are also exactly as user-serviceable - clips and screws, no glue. So I agree with OP: batteries that are built for toolless user replacement to a standard format are far superior. This is just asking for e-waste.
This is a strange argument to me. I just don’t get it.
So. You have the controller, advertised 35+h life on a single charge.
Unless you’re some sort of gaming machine, even a no-lifer sleeps.
We’ll do a crazy minimum, you sleep 4h a day. that’s 20h for gaming. You plug it in when you sleep, a time when no one will be using it and it can be “tethered”.
if it’s a straight line (it’s probably not) 20h/35h gets you down to 42% battery.
Even 2-3 years later, battery should be between 70-80% capacity. If the minimum after a full day of usage, from charged, is 42% from the 35h estimate, in your worn 70% capacity battery you’ve still got more than 15% spare between days, after accounting for years of degradation.
And then, after using it for 3 years, you might have to contemplate using the hated screwdriver and replacing the battery. And this is only if you’ve been no-life wrecking this controller for that long. It’ll be much better from “regular” gaming usage.
I think this just comes down to undisciplined people, who can’t manage to plug their stuff in routinely. I really can’t see any other logical reason to feel this way.
And even then, for the people who can’t do charging regularly, and don’t want to worry about being tethered to a charger/their machines, a $10 power bank from a gas station fixes this issue. I charge my controller from a phone charger, already next to me, whenever it needs it. No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you’re playing on.
Personally, I think even giving the option of using disposable batteries is irresponsible on the designer’s end. Everyone talks about rechargeables, but there’s still going to be a percentage of people who just use disposables.
This does make more sense for the frame controllers, as when they die, there’s no good/safe way you can still use them, and have them plugged in. even with a power bank the cables are, at best, ungainly, and at worst, an active safety hazard, as you swing them around you while not being able to see them. I’ve tried using index controllers wired to a power bank I was carrying, and it wasn’t good.
This is a strange argument to me. I just don’t get it.
We have a universal, standardized, cheap power cell. To this day you can use the same type of power cell in any low power device since it was standardized, going all the way back to things made in 1947. We then made it reusable for hundreds or even thousands of uses a piece, and they still only cost a few bucks.
We then replaced it with millions of different single-purpose batteries that are only compatible with one thing each.
People keep trying to gaslight me into thinking this is somehow better.
but there’s still going to be a percentage of people who just use disposables.
Make them illegal, and I’m not kidding.
No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you’re playing on.
You do if you want it to connect to the thing you’re playing on.
Unless you’re ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I’m guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.
You can’t tell me playing with a Bluetooth controller doesn’t actually hurt you. The constant latency is excruciating.
Then again, I use it for mostly real time- based games.
If you’re playing something like Balatro it probably doesn’t matter. But for almost everything else it sure does.
You do if you want it to connect to the thing you’re playing on.
Unless you’re ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I’m guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.
Okay, but I think that that kind of misses the broader context. This only came up as a hypothetical for how one could discharge a controller. If you’re playing on a wired connection, then the console is charging thr controller and the issue never comes up in the first place.
No, this came up from talking about how it (the puck) doesn’t have to be connected to the device you’re playing on. Which outside of Bluetooth or using a steam machine, you would have to have it connected.
Directly wired hasn’t come up at all until you just mentioned it.
I use Bluetooth on TrackMania with no issues, and that’s a pretty fast game. Top 500 in the country for this week’s shorts as well so it’s clearly not my limiting factor.
Maybe for a twitch shooter it’d be an issue but that’s kbm anyway
So… is it an obsession to want to be at least <100? Asking for myself. Send help :D
I get consistently better results on steamdeck vs PC due to lower controller latency.
I haven’t tested my controller but I’m pretty sure it’s under 100.
If you want to remove most latency I think the best option is still wired, just get a long cord that reaches easily.
For one, as far as I know that’s a single player game. Anyone with other players around means constant slight readjustments, and having everything you do held back (even if only a tenth of a second- I don’t know the actual number, that’s a ballpark guesstimate) really adds up.
For almost every game it doesn’t matter a whole lot. But when it does, it really matters. Bluetooth headphones pad the audio a smidge too, to the point of rather play without sound instead of late audio. It causes constant sending guessing, and if you’re using both your leaky playing in a game state that’s already past (although when online you always are anyway but cutting as much out as possible is miles better).
Trackmania requires the same precision as other racing games (I also used controller for Forza horizon and motorsport).
Bluetooth audio is a different issue, where my bt speaker adds like 400ms which… is not suitable for anything where accurate sound matters. Even my bt headset that is meant to be good is uhh… flawed. But noise is far more obvious than a controller being a tiny bit out.
My controller I can’t tell the difference.
A couple of things, first no, I don’t feel the latency of a Bluetooth controller. But also the steam controller will be able to pair to multiple devices, in one of the interviews one of the engineers said “The steam Machine has its own antena, but each controller comes with its own puck, we expect the common use case to be to plug that to your PC and use the steam controller in both devices”
I have to say, this situation has improved enough that I’ve had no problem using BT controller connection.
We’re talking about games like Elden Ring, Enter the Gungeon, MGS:Snake Eater Delta… and reaction time definitely matters for those games. One controller even came with a 2.4ghz 1000hz dongle, and it seems the new controller will probably have an option like that if the GabeGear has the hardware built into it: “Steam Controller’s wireless adapter is built right into Steam Machine for direct pairing.”
I realize that. But that’s just for that machine, but I’m speaking for arbitrary devices.
The protocol hasn’t gotten faster in the last few years that I know of.
I’ve used several with different devices, but most of my direct comparison experience is with an Xbox series X controller paired to the Deck via BT and by dongle, and it’s very noticeably more laggy with Bluetooth. I’ve only occasionally tried others, but every Bluetooth-connected controller I’ve ever used definitely has a noticeable delay.
But the controller comes with the high speed wireless puck. That puck works on anything. I don’t see the problem.
My point (the part I quoted in my original reply) was that you would need the puck plugged into the device you’re playing on, assuming you don’t want to deal with the delay.
So if that’s not a problem for you, then that doesn’t apply, but I assume most people will want the fast connection.
