Keeping joycons charged is one of the least pleasant activities a Nintendo fan has to do, which is why charging docks are so well-loved. These convenient blocks give players an easy way to keep extra joycons powered before they’re needed and can even add a bit of flair to gaming setups through fun colors, LED lights, or even just stickers.
While PowerA is currently dominating the Nintendo Switch accessory field, HyperX is becoming more competitive with a 2nd generation of their own impressive joycon dock, the Quad 2 Charging Station. Many gamers may have seen charging docks similar to this one through random third-party sellers on Amazon, but the HyperX brand is akin to guaranteed quality, meaning that only now will some players consider adding a cool Pokeball-looking charging dock to their Switch setup.
HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 Charging Station
The ChargePlay Quad 2 allows players to charge up to four Joy-Con controllers simultaneously within a few hours using a direct connection to the Nintendo Switch through a 6.6ft USB Type-C to A charging cable. The solid base offers easy-glide docking, LED light battery indicators, and an attractive finish that is reminiscent of the iconic Pokeball.
- Type
- Joycon Charging Dock
- Color Options
- Red and Black
- What's Included
- Charging dock, USB-C to A cable
- Brand
- HyperX
- Compatibility
- USB-C
- Looks like a Pokeball
- Charges extremely fast
- Joycons can be smoothly placed and removed
- Very stable
- Light indicator doesn't always deactivate when joycons are fully charged
Contents of Package
The packaging for the ChargePlay Quad 2 is pretty simple, featuring just the 6.6ft long USB Type-C to A cable and the charging dock itself. The dock comes covered in a thin plastic which no doubt protects it from scratches during transit, but even once that layer is removed, the charger feels durable.
The white and red sections of the Quad 2 have a slightly matte finish, making it resistant to dust and fingerprints. The glossy borders around the charging slots are angled inwards, both to further prevent fingerprints and to create a kind of waterfall effect that protects the joycons from scratches when being placed or removed.
Below the charging section sits an extremely sturdy base with two half circles of rubber grips along the rim. Additionally, even though it only weighs half a pound, the dock is weighted well. It’s very difficult to knock over while joycons are inserted. Bumping into it or even fully knocking a hand into it will do little more than make it tip up slightly. This is perfect for households with kids or for people who are simply more clumsy than others.
Style and Functionality
The ChargePlay Quad 2 aims to make things easy and stylish for gamers. First and foremost, it looks like a Pokeball! Really and truly, the colors are perfect and the shape is iconic. The matte finish on most of the charger allows for stickers to be placed on it but really, this is half a Pokeball. That’s definitely a selling point for many gamers, but players who aren’t into Pokemon aren’t going to care about the style at all and may even dislike it because it’s almost impossible to hide.
However, those who do like Pokemon have a lot more to love about this charger too. Each slot is fairly open, with winged sides and metal grooves keeping joycons very stable yet easy to slide in. This design also allows gamers to show off their special edition joycons or the cool stick-on skin they have on currently. At the same time, the overall height is just 2.2 inches, so it won’t be blocking any screens or making a space feel cluttered. The base of the charging dock is seriously impressive. The weighted construction and textured bands along the base make it so that this thing isn’t going anywhere unless it gets picked up. As previously mentioned, with the joycons in place, busier households may be glad to have the extra stability when someone inevitably bumps into it.
The light on top of the charger works great as the center of a Pokeball, giving off a pulsating glow when charging and turning off once done. However, over the course of the few weeks this charger was used during, the light hardly ever turns off. Even after hours, when the joycons were definitely fully charged, the light never turned off to indicate such. It was just a little annoying, but something so simple that it probably should have been caught during testing.
Overall though, it looks like a Pokeball, is super stable, and has smooth joycon slots. Despite the issues with the light indicator, the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 is a solid choice for Nintendo fans.
Charge Time
Getting the joycons charged is super easy, as the Quad 2 can be plugged into any USB port, including the one on the Switch itself. There didn't seem to be a big difference in charging times between devices.
The stated charge time for the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 is 3.5 hours, but this doesn’t tell the full story. When charging two joycons, 80% battery was reached in just under 30 minutes! That’s more than enough battery power for a party or for switching out joycons to extend gaming sessions. Continuing the charge, it was difficult to tell exactly when they were at full battery due to the light indicator never turning off, but after two and a half hours they were at 100% according to the Switch.
While charging four joycons will obviously take longer, these are some impressive numbers. Being able to get two joycons mostly charged in under 30 minutes is awesome! Players could essentially let their joycons die, go grab a snack, and get right back to gaming. Players with four joycons will probably never have a dead joycon again!
HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 Charging Station
The ChargePlay Quad 2 allows players to charge up to four Joy-Con controllers simultaneously within a few hours using a direct connection to the Nintendo Switch through a 6.6ft USB Type-C to A charging cable. The solid base offers easy-glide docking, LED light battery indicators, and an attractive finish that is reminiscent of the iconic Pokeball.
- Type
- Joycon Charging Dock
- Color Options
- Red and Black
- What's Included
- Charging dock, USB-C to A cable
- Brand
- HyperX
- Compatibility
- USB-C
- Looks like a Pokeball
- Charges extremely fast
- Joycons can be smoothly placed and removed
- Very stable
- Light indicator doesn't always deactivate when joycons are fully charged
HyperX’s joycon dock charge time isn’t an outlier; it’d be somewhat easy to find similar performances from third party sellers or a PowerA charger; but at the end of the day HyperX wins out based on two facts: they’re more reliable than third-party sellers and PowerA doesn’t have a Pokeball joycon charger. HyperX’s ChargePlay Quad 2 makes players ask themselves, why buy the regular joycon charger when I buy this one and get the exact same thing, but cooler?
For those who actually don't think the ChargePlay Quad 2 looks great, there are plenty of other charging docks available.
Similar Products
Need | Product | Amazon Link |
|---|---|---|
Less colorful charger | PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock for Nintendo Switch | |
Both joycon and controller charging | PowerA Controller Charging Base for Nintendo Switch |
FAQ
Q: How long do Switch Joycons take to charge?
Typically it takes about 3.5 hours to fully charge a set of joycons.
Q: Do Joycons lose battery when not in use?
Yes, even when not active, joycons will slowly lose their charge.
Q: How much battery power do Joycons have?
The joycon batteries can last up to 20 hours on a single charge.
Q: Do Joy-Cons charge while the Switch is charging?
Yes, while the Switch is charging, any joycons attached to it will also recharge.
Q: Is HyperX a reputable brand?
Yes, HyperX has been an industry leader for over two decades now. They specialize in developing mid-range and high-end audio equipment, but are also known to provide a number of quality gaming accessories.
Q: Can I charge Joy-Cons with a dock?
Yes, you can charge joycons on the Nintendo Switch dock or on a third-party charging dock, such as the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2.