{"id":7270,"date":"2022-01-27T13:44:29","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T13:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/27\/how-to-charge-oculus-quest-2-controllers\/"},"modified":"2022-01-27T13:44:29","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T13:44:29","slug":"how-to-charge-oculus-quest-2-controllers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/27\/how-to-charge-oculus-quest-2-controllers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Charge Oculus Quest 2 Controllers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Charging Oculus Quest 2<\/a> headsets is as simple as plugging in a cable, but the controllers use removable AA batteries to provide power. This means there\u2019s no direct way of recharging the controllers, but workarounds do exist if you need them.<\/p>\n

Quest Controllers Have Surprising Battery Life<\/h2>\n

One of the reasons Meta decided to forego an internal rechargeable battery is simple the Quest\u2019s controllers use very little power. Using disposable alkaline batteries, their battery life is measured in months.<\/p>\n

This reduces or eliminates the need for controller battery charging unless you\u2019re a truly heavy user of VR<\/a>. Even then, you may never run into this issue. The folks over at Upload VR, who we assume use VR more than most people, only had to change controller batteries after\u00a0three months<\/em><\/a>! The most frequently people have to change batteries seems to be to be around the one-month mark. That\u2019s serious battery endurance.<\/p>\n

Keep Extra Disposable Batteries<\/h2>\n

Considering how long Quest 2 controller batteries last, the simplest strategy is to buy spare disposable AA batteries<\/a> and keep them on hand when your current batteries run out of power. It\u2019s faster than recharging them anyway and you\u2019ll be back to beating those sabers in no time.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s definitely an environmental argument to be made for using rechargeables, but honestly, the Quest 2 controllers need a battery swap so infrequently that it doesn\u2019t really make much of a difference. Especially since alkaline batteries are safe to dispose<\/a> of. Still, you will be reducing your waste by using rechargeable alternatives.<\/p>\n

As long as they aren\u2019t connected and left in their packaging, alkaline batteries have a long shelf life. Check the expiration date and put a pack in a drawer somewhere for the day you need them. Whether in a controller or another device.<\/p>\n

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Use Rechargeable AAs<\/h2>\n

The Quest 2 controllers will accept any battery that fits in the AA size standard and provides the right voltage. So you have many options when it comes to rechargeable alternatives.<\/p>\n

You can use NiMH (Nickel-metal Hydride) batteries with an external charger to power your controllers. Most controllers charge four batteries at once in sets of 2. So if you buy four NiMH batteries and charge all of them, you\u2019ll always have a charged pair to swap to.<\/p>\n

Using a dedicated charger can be inconvenient, so we actually use lithium AA batteries that recharge using USB power. Some of these batteries have a removable cap that allows you to insert them into a USB-A port. Others have a port in each battery to allow charging with a cable.<\/p>\n

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This works well, but in our experience, these lithium batteries tend to self-discharge whether you use the controllers or not. We don\u2019t know if this is due to self-discharging built into the battery\u2019s circuitry or just the nature of lithium-ion battery chemistry, but the long battery life of other batteries in Quest controllers isn\u2019t quite there with the lithium batteries we\u2019ve tried. Of course, you can quickly and easily recharge them, so it\u2019s not a major tradeoff.<\/p>\n

The last controller charging option you have is a custom battery pack made specifically for Quest 2 controllers. For example, Anker\u2019s Quest 2 charging dock<\/a>, which we consider one of the best Quest 2 accessories<\/a> you can buy, comes with batteries and replacement controller battery covers. The covers have external charging contacts, which let the dock charge the included AA batteries by simply slotting them into the dock.<\/p>\n

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Battery Storage Matters More<\/h2>\n

A much bigger issue than recharging your Quest 2 controllers is whether you should leave the batteries inside them when you don\u2019t use your Quest for extended periods of time. Alkaline batteries, especially cheap ones, are prone to leaking corrosive chemicals if left in a device for too long without being used. This can trash your controllers and be an expensive mistake.<\/p>\n

Leaving your rechargeable batteries in for too long without using them can lead to a total discharge that can damage them.<\/p>\n

So regardless of which battery solution you choose, if you aren\u2019t going to use your Quest 2 for a few weeks or more, it\u2019s probably a good idea to take the batteries out until you need them again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n