Rechargeable batteries or Wii charger (poll)

Rechargeable batteries, when you break it down there's no comparison.

On the surface the Wii charger looks good, and that's how they trick ya!

First of all the batteries the chargers use seem to be about 1800's from the playing time given on this board.

Secondly and most importantly is that the entire design behind the charge stations are flawed. Ok, you put the Wiimote on the holder each time you're done playing. Well each time you put the Wiimote on the charge station it charges also. That means that you play the Wii for 15 mins and put it away it charges and if you play it for 12 hours then put it away it charges.

All rechargeable batteries only have a certain number of charges they can take before they don't work anymore. Since a battery doesn't have a brain it doesn't know that it's not empty so it charges each and every time it's on the holder. So in one day where you set the Wiimote down three times when you're done playing you just wasted three charges of the battery's life.

Regular rechargeables give you the option of charging the battery only when you need to. That means no wasted charges and longer battery life. Also you're able to buy 2500 class of batteries whcih last much longer then the lower class batteries in the charge stations. Since the Wiimote tells you when the batteries are drained in the Wiimote there's no guesswork involved with anything, when they're dead you charge them, simple as that.

Now sure, you could only put the Wiimotes on the charge station when they're dead but what's the point of that? So not only do you have an inferior battery compared to the AA alternative but it's not a holder anymore either.

Also figure in things like the balance board. With rechargeable AA's you're able to use them everywhere and for anything that Nintendo will come out with, or anywhere else you need them.

Lastly it's cheaper to buy another set of rechargeable AA's then it is to buy replacement batteries for the charge stations in case anything ever goes wrong.

There's just no good reasons to buy a charge station when a superior alternative is available for the same or lower cost. (I and many others use the Energizer 2500's class of AA batteries with a charger, sold for around 25-28 dollars with 4 batteries in the US)

The first couple of months I had the Wii I used rechargeable batteries, and for the last 8-9 months I've used the charging station. Preferring the charging station, let me counterpoint Jasonguy for sake of discussion and offering a different view -

Rechargeable batteries, when you break it down there's no comparison.

On the surface the Wii charger looks good, and that's how they trick ya!

First of all the batteries the chargers use seem to be about 1800's from the playing time given on this board.Jaysonguy

No disagreement here, my 2650ma rechargeable Duracells last a lot longer than the Nyko batteries. That said, it's pretty rare that the Nyko batteries cut a gaming session short by running out.

Secondly and most importantly is that the entire design behind the charge stations are flawed. Ok, you put the Wiimote on the holder each time you're done playing. Well each time you put the Wiimote on the charge station it charges also. That means that you play the Wii for 15 mins and put it away it charges and if you play it for 12 hours then put it away it charges.

-snip-

Now sure, you could only put the Wiimotes on the charge station when they're dead but what's the point of that? So not only do you have an inferior battery compared to the AA alternative but it's not a holder anymore either.Jaysonguy

Actually, the design of the charge station is such that you have to press the Wiimotes down firmly to get the contacts to engage and charging to start. If you just set/rest the Wiimotes into the holders on the charging station, they don't charge. So you aren't forced to charge your Wiimotes in order to keep them in the holders.

Also figure in things like the balance board. With rechargeable AA's you're able to use them everywhere and for anything that Nintendo will come out with, or anywhere else you need them.

Lastly it's cheaper to buy another set of rechargeable AA's then it is to buy replacement batteries for the charge stations in case anything ever goes wrong.

There's just no good reasons to buy a charge station when a superior alternative is available for the same or lower cost. (I and many others use the Energizer 2500's class of AA batteries with a charger, sold for around 25-28 dollars with 4 batteries in the US)Jaysonguy

Using the charging station isn't mutually exclusive with using rechargeable batteries. I've had just a couple of times when the Wiimote batteries went down while we were playing. Both times I just popped the Nyko battery out and put in rechargeable AA (I still use rechargeables for other things like my digital camera) and continued. Yeah, when we were done I'd have to put the Nyko battery back in so I could charge it through the charging statiion, but again that's twicein 8-9 months. Not exactly a regular occurence. I probably get 8-10 hours of play on a charge.

To say "there's just no good reasons" is just speaking in absolutesfor no good reason. I paid $19.99 for the Nyko charging station at the local Wal-Mart when they first got them. Replacement batteries are $6.99 (Amazon), and like you say - all rechargeable batteries will wear out eventually. So a pair would be $14.A 4-pack of Energizer 2500ma rechargeables is $11 (Amazon). IMHO that's a negligible difference (much like difference between $20 for the charging station w/batteries for 2 Wiimotes or $25 for an Energizer charger with 4 AA batteries).

So I don't think you can consider either solution a clear cut "superior" option. Long term your battery costs will be marginally lower with rechargeable AAs (not significantly, but marginally). It's close enough to just call it a wash IMHO. So the real deciding factors come down to convenience (advantage charging station) vs. how long you get per individual charge (advantage rechargeable AA). You have to weigh those in terms of what matters to you personally. For *my* gaming habits, the charging station makes more sense. For *your* gamit habits, that may or may not be the case.

wii chargers are too expensive compared to rechargable batteries (at least twice as much), and not nearly as versatile. it is cool to charge things via the wii's usb ports (like an ipod), and docks are always cool, but i mean, i throw my wii batteries in my digital camera too, can't lose. Breakfast_Clubber

Charger is better...But I use both:

But I use both. The Nyko dual charger battery cover can't fit in the Wii Zapper. So I use Rechargable batteries in my Wii mote that stays in my Zapper.

BTW I found really good rechageable batteries from Walmart for $11 (set of 4)

I have yet to see a chager pack that is worht my buying.

I want one that charges the wii from the nunchuk port on the back. Or at least make a smaller battery pack that we take off or on.

I love my Nyko Charger, it works well and its no hassle putting in and taking out batteries all the time. That said, rechargeable batteries can have its advantage. Like someone said before, I don't think there is a clear cut winner, it just depends on your taste. For those who have a Nyko Charger, here are two fun facts...

1. If you have a Wii Zapper, all you have to do is take off the cover and it will work fine. No need to use to change batteries and backs.

2. If you have a Wireless WaveBirdGamecube Controller, the Nyko Batteries fit snug, although you have to leave off the back cover.

ive owned the wii charger and i was not very satisfied

Rechargeable batteries until the Wii charger has the big N seal of approval. 3rd party hardware sucks.whosgotthe311

Well, it's good to know people are still making well informed rational decisions.

Nyko charger

Only cuz it lights up blue :)