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Xbox Controller Owners Can Skip AA Battery Replacements With Rechargeable Kits, Engadget Says

Xbox players can stop swapping AA batteries by using Microsoft's $24.99 rechargeable kit, third-party docks or rechargeable AAs, Engadget reports.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-04 04:08

According to the report, more than 197 million Xbox consoles have been sold since 2001, and most units shipped with controllers that rely on replaceable AA batteries. Even with the current generation, Xbox Series X and Series S controllers still come with AA batteries by default. Engadget says regular players typically need a fresh pair every few weeks.

The official alternative is Microsoft's Play and Charge Kit, priced at $24.99. The kit replaces AA batteries with a lithium-ion pack that fits inside the controller's battery compartment and charges over USB-C. Engadget says a full charge takes about four hours and lasts up to 30 hours, and the controller can be used while charging.

According to the report, several third-party alternatives offer dual-battery charging docks instead of direct USB-C charging. Players can swap a drained battery for a charged one instantly rather than waiting for the controller to recharge, avoiding being interrupted in the middle of a game. Engadget notes that third-party kits are also generally more backward-compatible, including with older Xbox One controllers.

Another option is to use rechargeable AA batteries and rotate the same set instead of buying new packs each time. Players can also plug the controller into a console or PC using USB and play without any batteries, though the controller will turn off when unplugged. Engadget notes AA batteries left inside the controller will not charge over USB.

Engadget says Microsoft keeps AA support because player preferences are split. It quotes Jason Ronald, Xbox's partner director of program management, from a 2020 interview with Eurogamer's Digital Foundry: "What it comes down to is when actually talking to gamers... there is a strong camp that really wants AAs. So just giving flexibility is the way to please both [sets of] people... You can use a rechargeable battery pack, and it works just like it does on the Elite, [but] it is a separate thing."