Review of Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit

Customer Ratings:

Simply put, this is an excellent product.

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Those who put up bad reviews don't know anything about the product.

Myth #1: You can only play while charging.

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This is WRONG. Once charged, you can play wirelessly.

Myth #2: Your Xbox360 has to be on, to charge it.

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This is WRONG. Connect your controller via charge kit, turn off the console using the console's on/off button (NOT the controller's off feature). Your charge kit should have a red light while charging, green when done. If it doesn't, go exchange it, or try reconnecting it.

Myth #3: You need to connect to an Xbox360 to charge it.

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This is WRONG. This isn't the only way. You can also charge via any USB port, such as your PC or laptop USB port that provides some power.

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You DO NOT have to have the Xbox 360 powered up to charge your controller. Simply plug the cable in while the console is on, and then shut down the machine. It will charge using a trickle charge concept. However, you MUST connect the cable to the console before powering down the system.

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This component is essential for the Xbox 360 to save on batteries.

However, you do not need to keep the Xbox 360 on while it is recharging. Simply plug your charger into the controller and into the Xbox 360 while the Xbox is on, and then turn it off.

Microsoft's directions can be found here:

Charge the battery pack

Charge your Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack before the first use and when it is depleted.

To charge the battery pack using the charge cable

1. Press the tab on the top of the AA battery pack and pull down to detach it from the controller.

2. Insert the rechargeable battery pack into the battery compartment on the controller and push in to lock.

Note To avoid pinching your fingers when you insert the battery pack, push only on the flat surface of the battery pack.

3. Turn on the Xbox 360 console.

Note If you try the below steps without turning the console on, the battery pack will not charge.

4. Connect the charge cable to the charge port on the front of the controller.

Important Do not connect the charge cable without a rechargeable battery pack or AA battery pack installed. This can damage the controller.

5. Connect the charge cable to a controller port.

6. You can now leave the console on or turn it off. In both instances, the light on the charge cable will glow red to indicate the battery is charging. When the light switches to green or off, the battery pack is fully charged.

Enjoy!

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit

This product does what it says it does rather well, and this is a great option for those who don't mind having to turn their wireless controller into a wired controller every so often. However, I would humbly suggest an alternative to this product for those of you who want to always play wirelessly.

Buy a pack of NiMH rechargeable batteries. They have a couple of advantages over the Play & Charge Kit.

ALWAYS WIRELESS: No more having to connect your controller to your console whenever your controller runs out of juice.

LONGER BATTERY LIFE: Please excuse the technical jargon ahead. Strictly speaking, Microsoft's first-party battery packs have a relatively low energy capacity of 1800mAh. You can buy rechargeable batteries with a capacity of 2500mAh, which will last up to 50% longer than the Play & Charge battery pack. There are also some 2700mAh batteries out there if you must have the maximum battery life possible. So in the end you get more play time, less charging time, and, ultimately, your batteries will serve you longer.

CHEAPER PRICE: You can buy a pack of 4 rechargeable batteries (enough for 2 controllers) for the same price as one official Xbox 360 battery pack. You can also get 4 batteries plus a charger for a price comparable to that of a Play & Charge kit (I paid $20 for my charger and 4 batteries).

The only real trade-off between using the Play & Charge kit and using rechargeable batteries is that instead of plugging the controller into the Xbox 360 you have to physically replace the batteries by hand. But that takes, what, 30 seconds to do? I'd rather do that than turn my wireless controller into a wired controller for the next couple of hours.

HELPFUL TIP: I suggest you buy 4 rechargeable batteries for every one wireless controller you own, and keep the additional batteries charged. That way when your controller runs out of juice you will ALWAYS have a fresh pair of batteries ready to use, and your drained batteries can be put in the charger while you continue to enjoy your wireless gaming goodness.

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If you have a wireless controller for your XBox 360, then you MUST get a play and charge unit. This unit lets you recharge your wireless controller and you can even play while you do it!

In essence, this unit is both a USB power supply for your wireless controller as well as a fully functional cable to connect your wireless controller to your XBox. This means that any time you need your wireless controller to be wired for example because your batteries ran out you simply use this cable to plug it into the XBox's USB port and it now has power. It even charges while you play.

On the other hand, let's say you want to charge up the wireless controller and you do NOT want to play. You simply plug it into any USB port in your house, and the USB port sends power to charge it up! Yes, this can be your XBox, if you're the type to leave it on. Maybe you're watching a movie or listening to music with it. It doesn't HAVE to be your XBox, though. You can plug it into your computer. Heck, when I got my iPod it came with a power box that plugs into an outlet, that has a USB hole in it. That's how I charge up my iPod. It works just as well for this charging use.

So I find this to be a perfect solution. If your wireless controller is low on batteries and you want to keep playing, then keep playing! You plug in the cable and are set, and the controller recharges while you play. If your wireless controller is low on batteries and you do NOT want to keep playing, then you plug the play-and-charge cable into any USB port for an ON SYSTEM and it powers up.

I put the emphasis on the "on system" because a few people complain that the XBox has to be on in order for the wireless controller to charge. Simply put, an OFF system can't charge. That's a fact of electronics. Really, most homes should have some USB device turned on pretty much 24 hours a day whether it's your XBox, your computer, or the plug-in-the-wall iPod type power unit. It's about as basic a charger as you could want to have, and I find it perfect!