RipTen Review: Nyko Charge Base S (Xbox 360)
Last week, Nyko released the Charge Base S for Xbox 360 into retail stores and they were kind enough to send us their brand-spankin’ new charging dock. At first, I was underwhelmed to be reviewing a charging station. I man, how much can I really say about a charging dock!?). Yet, after using the base for one week, I can confidently say that I am happy to have it and Nyko’s product has brought a newfound convenience to my gaming area.
The Charge Base S is a docking station for two Xbox 360 remotes. The sleek and shiny black color of the base fits in nicely with any home theater/gaming setup. It has a rubber bottom to avoid sliding, which was nice on my glass shelves on my entertainment center. The base plugs directly into the wall, so make sure you have an extra spot for it.
The base does not work with Microsoft’s official batteries that you may have purchased for your controllers, but Nyko has included two batteries that are compatible with the dock. The contacts that are required to charge are on the outside of the battery so when you lay the controller onto the dock, you will instantly be charging. No wires, no plugging anything in. Once you lay the controller in the dock, the station will light up a controller number to indicate it’s charging and will show red, orange or green for the status of the battery. Easy peasy 1-2-3.
Not only does the Charge Base S make charging a little easier and convenient than using Microsoft’s Play & Charge Kit, but it keeps things a little more organized. I’m so used to throwing my controller on the table or ground when I’m done gaming, so the station kind of trained me to put it in the dock. This not only always ensures I have a full battery, but it keeps my gaming area clean, displays my controllers and makes my girlfriend think I’m organized.
The batteries are just as good as Microsoft’s official Xbox batteries and Nyko claims they last for 25 hours. I used the controller with Nyko’s battery for about one week in my normal gaming habits (about 3-4 hours per day) and I didn’t need to charge once.
The front of the station also has a hidden USB port. I plugged a Play & Charge Kit into it and was successfully charging three controllers at once. I even plugged my iPhone and my girlfriend’s iPad into the station and was successfully charging, so it is a powerful USB port.
The price of the Play & Charge kit fluctuates between $20-$30 retail. The Charge Base S costs $24.99. To be honest, I recommend going with the Charge Base S for the money. It’s a cool package that with keep everything charged and organized.
Here’s The Rundown:
+Stylish looking dock that fits any entertainment setup
+Charging lights to indicate status of your controllers charge
+Quality batteries that last a long time before charge
+Provides organization to gaming area
-Makes all your expensive Microsoft controller batteries useless
The Nyko Charge Base S is available now at most retailers for a MSRP of $24.99. The product was provided by Nyko for the purposes of review.
