Docked and Loaded- Charge Base IC Review

After the first few charge cycles, the disadvantages of rechargeable batteries became evident.  The cells didn’t not last as long as the traditional alkaline ones, forcing a tedious change at regular intervals. Since the advent of the Wiimotion Plus, access the battery bay is a bit of a chore: first players must unlock the peripheral, and then stretch the back of the controller out of the Wiimote jacket. Even for the most dexterous hands, a battery change takes long enough to put a damper on a heated Super Smash Bros. Brawl competition.

A proficient solution can be found in Nyko’s Charge Base IC, a peripheral that excels in both function and aesthetic.  Once gamers open the accessories decidedly un-ecological clam-shell packaging, they’ll find five items: two battery packs, a base station, an AC adaptor, and a sync tool. Each of the battery packs fits securely into the corresponding well of the Wiimote, adding just a satisfying ounce or two to the controller’s weight. Hidden below the surface of each pack is a bit of iron, which allows the Wiimote, with or without jacket or Plus peripheral to stick to the magnetic arms of the charging station. Finding the proper orientation is automatic; by bringing the Wiimote close, the internal magnets within the base will pull the controller into place.

Once the packs are attached to the base, the unit uses inductive charging to fill the batteries with power. The first charge with the accessory took about five hours. While storing energy, the base glows a cool blue. After the charge is complete, the color changes to a brilliant green, giving players a clear indicator their Wiimotes are ready. Not having to fiddle with jackets and battery compartments was surprisingly liberating, after a week and a half with the peripheral I’d have a hard time returning to the cumbersome process of switching cells.

The styling’s of the Charge Base IC recall an iMac, with curved edges and suspended controller rest. On the back of the station is a spare USB port for that can be used to charge any peripherals. The only functional imperfection is the unit has no place to store the plastic sync tool; which is likely a trivial blemish as we’ve never had to use the instrument. As far as performance, I’ve been quite pleased with the longevity of each charge. Although the cell life is shorter than a top-tier alkaline battery, it’s a bit longer that my previous rechargeable batteries. Self-discharge was reasonable, as was the ability to maintain a full change capacity. Although we weren’t able to test the long term durability of the Charge Base’s battery packs, its build quality and functionality would infer that the unit would perform as good as similar cells.