Introduction
Although charging the Oculus Quest 2 headsets is as simple as connecting in a wire, the controllers are powered by detachable AA batteries. This implies that there is no direct way to recharge the controllers, but workarounds are available if necessary.
The Battery Life of Quest Controllers is Surprising
Meta chose not to include an internal rechargeable battery because the Quest’s controllers consume very little power. Their battery life is estimated in months when using disposable alkaline batteries.
Unless you’re a strong VR user, this lessens or eliminates the requirement for controller battery recharge. Even so, you may never encounter this problem. Upload VR, who we presume utilize VR more than most people, only had to replace controller batteries after three months! The most common time for users to change their batteries appears to be around the one-month mark. That’s some significant battery life.
Keep extra disposable batteries on hand
Given how long Quest 2 controller batteries survive, the simplest solution is to get extra disposable AA batteries and keep them on hand for when your existing batteries run out of juice. It’s faster than recharging them anyway, and you’ll be back to saber-bashing in no time.
There’s an environmental case to be made for utilizing rechargeables, but the Quest 2 controllers require a battery switch so infrequently that it doesn’t make much of a difference. Especially since alkaline batteries are non-hazardous to dispose of. Even so, by utilizing rechargeable alternatives, you will be lowering your trash.
Alkaline batteries have a lengthy shelf life as long as they are not connected and are kept in their original container. Check the expiration date and save a pack in a drawer for the day you need it. Regardless of whether it is in a controller or another device.
Use rechargeable AA batteries
The Quest 2 controllers will accept any battery that fits in the AA size standard and has the appropriate voltage. So when it comes to rechargeable alternatives, you have a lot of possibilities.
To power your controllers, you can use NiMH (Nickel-metal Hydride) batteries and an external charger. Most controllers charge four batteries in pairs of two at a time. So, if you buy four NiMH batteries and charge them all, you’ll always have a charged pair to swap between.
Because having a specialized charger is inconvenient, we use lithium AA batteries that recharge via USB power. Some of these batteries feature a detachable cap that allows them to be inserted into a USB-A port. Others include a charge port in each battery to allow for cable charging.
This works fine, however in our experience, whether the controllers are used or not, these lithium batteries tend to self-discharge. We’re not sure if this is due to self-discharging incorporated into the battery’s circuitry or simply the nature of lithium-ion battery chemistry, but the lithium batteries we’ve tried don’t have the lengthy battery life of other batteries in Quest controllers. Of again, they can be rapidly and readily recharged, so it’s not a huge disadvantage.
A bespoke battery pack designed particularly for Quest 2 controllers is your final controller charging choice. Anker’s Quest 2 charging dock, for example, which we consider to be one of the best Quest 2 accessories available, includes batteries and replacement controller battery covers. The covers contain external charging contacts, allowing the dock to charge the accompanying AA batteries simply by inserting them into the dock.
Battery Storage Is More Important
Much more important than recharging your Quest 2 controllers is whether you should leave the batteries in them while you are not using your Quest for extended periods of time. If kept in a gadget for an extended period of time without being used, alkaline batteries, particularly cheap ones, are prone to leaking corrosive chemicals. This can destroy your controllers and be a costly mistake.
Leaving your rechargeable batteries plugged in for an extended period of time without using them can result in a total discharge, which can damage them.
So, regardless of which battery option you choose, if you won’t be using your Quest 2 for a few weeks or longer, it’s generally a good idea to remove the batteries until you need them again.
