Nintendo’s decision to not include a built-in rechargeable battery pack with the Wii remote has left you with an odd conundrum. On the one hand, you don’t necessarily have to stop gaming or swap controllers just because the batteries have died. If you have another set of batteries on hand, you simply swap them out. There’s no need to stop the gaming session for a recharging session.
On the other hand, you’re also needlessly spending money on items that could have a much longer shelf life. Why spend money on an entirely new set of batteries each time the previous set runs out of juice?
Let’s face it: disposable batteries have been outmoded for a while now. Rechargeable batteries are the way of the savvy consumer, and Nintendo’s decision has left you with several options in the rechargeable battery realm.
The Wii’s popularity has rallied in numerous aftermarket accessories, so there’s no lack of variety. Before you waste another dime on a set of disposable AAs, take a look at our detailed battery guide and choose a set of rechargeables that are right for you.
We’ll weigh the three major options currently available, and provide a breakdown at the end to indicate which option best suits your gaming habits.
Option #1: Charging/Docking Stations
Charging stations were the first disposable battery solution available to Wii owners (save for typical, rechargeable AAs) shortly after the system launched in 2006. Long gaming sessions can drain your Wii remote batteries almost as fast as a digital camera, tearing through AAs like a Hummer H2 chews up tires and gasoline. So charging stations alleviated quite a bit of hassle by allowing gamers to simply place their remotes on a battery dock for quick and easy charging when not in use.
The station setups facilitate overall gaming ergonomics by replacing your pair of disposable AAs with a custom, rechargeable battery pack. The proprietary battery pack is intentionally designed to have a set of metal pins to protrude through a small hole in the accompanying rubberized battery cover (pictured above) so that it can connect directly to the charging station’s own set of metal pins. The result is a that you’re able to charge your remote’s batteries at any time without removing them from the controller. It’s a quick and easy charging solution that’s cheap for parents, easy to to use for kids, and all-around supportive for sweaty hands.
But while charging stations are convenient and easy to use, they have been rendered at least partially outdated due to a new item unveiled less than a year after the Wii’s release.
Meet the charging station’s nemesis: the Wii remote jacket.
In October 2007, Nintendo released a protective silicone sleeve for the Wii remote dubbed the Wii remote jacket, and the company included it free of charge with all new consoles and controllers. The jacket fits like a glove over the remote, protecting it from damage when you happen to drop it or toss it through your new LCD TV. There is one problem though: the jacket covers up the battery slot. Charging stations be damned.
Placing a protective cover over the battery compartment defeats the entire purpose of charging stations: not having to remove the battery pack. So if you like to enjoy using your Wii remote jacket, charging stations are not the wisest option for you.
Also, since the custom battery packs are designed to protrude from the Wii remote for charging purposes, the rubberized battery covers do so as well, unlike the standard battery covers which sit flush against the Wii remote.
What does this mean? It means that your Wii remote is now a little fatter, making it quite difficult to fit comfortably into a shell such as the Wii Zapper or Wii Wheel. Charging Stations be damned again.
It… won’t… fit….
If you’re going to settle with a charging station, be advised that it won’t be very compatible with either your Wii remote jacket or accessories such as the Wii Zapper. Also, you’ll probably need to remove extensions such as Motion Plus to fit the remote into the docking station (depending on the model you purchase), which is itself a little temperamental. Remotes often have to be wiggled into place to get the pins to align properly with the charger, and the wrist straps can get in the way as well.
Still, if you don’t really use remote shells and don’t care for the silicone sleeve, charging stations are probably appropriate for you. They’re both affordable and convenient, and the rubberized grips are quite comfortable and likely to reduce the chance of the controller slipping through your sweaty fingers during an intense gaming session.
Nyko is perhaps the most widely used brand in the charging station category and is fairly convenient as well. The typical Nyko Charging Station pictured above features two battery packs, two rubberized grips and a docking station that can charge two of your remotes at once. It runs about $25 at most retailers. A larger, four-controller model called the Wii Quad Charge Station is also available for around $40. Which you model you choose is of course dependent upon how many controllers you own. But if you plan on picking up more than two controllers at any point in the near future, spend the extra cash and get a 4X charging station.
Interestingly, a few companies have begun selling black Wii remote charging stations such as the CTA Digital Dual Charge Station pictured below, offering more support for you color coordinating.
Newegg.com is currently offering the black CTA charger for just $19.99. So if you own a few black Wii remotes or have imported a black Wii console, you might want to have a look at that.
There are several different companies offering charging stations, but we recommend sticking with a name brand like Nyko if possible. Also, try to find a unit that connects directly to a wall outlet via an AC plug. Some stations have to be plugged into the Wii through a USB cable to feed off the system’s power supply. We certainly question the wisdom of charging batteries directly through your console, especially after charging stations released by Griffin International were recalled last year for posing a fire hazard due to overheating. It’s not hard to be scared for your Wii’s safety when an overheating charger is attached to it.
Another critical point of USB-based chargers is that taking up one of the Wii’s two USB slots impairs your ability to use them for other purposes such as Wii Speak or a LAN adapter. Also, who wants to run a long, ugly cable from the back of your console (especially if it’s in a tight area) to the top of the table or stand where the charger will sit?
So in conclusion regarding Option #1:
Positives: Easy to use. Rubberized grips are comfortable and great for sweaty hands. More affordable than Option #2.
Negatives: Don’t come fully charged. Charger is sometimes finicky. Rubberized grips protrude from remote, making it fatter. Can’t be used with protective sleeves. Difficult to fit remote into Wii Zapper or Wii Wheel while using grips.
If you don’t like what you’re seeing, then let’s move on to Option #2.
