After a long hectic day, one of the best ways to unwind and relax is by playing your PS4. However, the DualShock 4 controllers, the default controllers, despite having impressive features such as snappy and responsive triggers and a superb direction pad, don’t have the best battery life. Therefore, you’ll be forced to regularly charge your controllers to enjoy your PS4.
With that said, for how long should you wait for the PS4 controller to charge? Typically, the PS4 controller should take about 2 hours to fully charge if it has completely run out of charge by connecting it to a PC or your console using a USB cable. But if you use the controller player as it charges, expect the charging time to be much longer.
The DualShock 4 controllers are charged using standard USB mini-ports, which explains why the charging period is longer than expected, according to today’s standards. After all, you shouldn’t expect much from a charger that only releases at most 4 watts. Read on to learn more about how long the PS4 controller takes to charge.
You’ll also be taken through some of the most frequently asked questions about charging the DualShock 4 controllers. Let’s get started.
How Long Will It Take To Charge Your PS4 Controller?
According to Sony’s official website, a PS4 controller will take around 2 hours to charge fully using a PS4 USB port or 4W, 5V charger, and if its battery has been completed drained of charge.
However, the charging speed of the DualShock 4 controllers depends on several factors, such as the battery’s age, the kind of games you’re playing, and how you’re charging this device. Here’s an in-depth look at the things that affect the charging speed of your PS4 controller.
Battery Health
The PS4 controller’s battery health differs depending on the battery’s age. The older the DualShock 4 controllers, the lower their capacity to hold a charge for long. But other than affecting the charge capacity, PS4 controllers with depleted Li-ion batteries also take longer to charge.
One study shows that the charge capacity of Li-ion batteries gradually starts to decline over time and falls to 30% of the original charge capacity after 1,000 recharge cycles. This is around 6 to 7 years of charging cycles if you charge the PS4 controller after 2 to 3 days. With reduced battery capacity, charging speeds are also bound to experience a negative effect.
Temperature
The charging speed of your DualShock 4 controllers might be affected by higher or lower temperatures. This happens because the charging mechanism becomes less efficient due to harsher conditions. As a result, the PS4 controller takes much longer to reach full charge.
If you want your PS controllers to charge in record time, the ideal temperatures should range between 10°C to 30°C.
Charger Specs
Another thing that affects charging speeds is the output of the charging ports or charger you use to charge the controllers. When using a PS4 USB port or charging dock, you should fully charge the DualShock 4 controllers after 1.5 to 2.5 hours. In contrast, a low output power charger lower than 5V/800mA, 4W will take much longer to charge.
Connection Problems
Your controllers can show varying charging speeds if there’s a connection issue, such as a faulty USB port. When this happens, you should address these issues by inspecting the charging port or getting a different cable.
If you notice the USB port is destroyed, charge the DualShock controller using a charging dock through the EXT port.
Concurrent Usage
If you leave your controllers to charge while idle, the charging time should be around 2 hours. The duration will increase if you decide to use the PS4 controller while still plugged in to play your favorite games. This happens because some charge will be directed towards powering the controller’s functioning, thereby prolonging the charging time.
Summary
You must ensure that your PS4 controllers are fully charged for you to play your favorite games free of any interruption. Fortunately, charging the PS4 controller is straightforward because all you need to do is connect using a micro USB cable to a charging station or the console.
But if you’ve been wondering how long it takes to charge your PS4, this exhaustive article has detailed all the valuable insights you need to know. Knowing this will help ensure that the DualShock controller is always fully charged before you want to play games on your PS4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once fully charged, the PS4 controller should last for between 8 to 10 hours. However, this depends on how well you’ve maintained the controller. If the DualShock controller is optimal, it can last for as long as 12 hours.
The lifespan of a PS4 controller depends on the frequency of use and how you use it. If you do a good job looking after the DualShock controllers, they can last for a minimum of four years. Some care tips you can implement to increase the controller’s lifespan include the following.
• Ensure it’s always clean.
• Always store it safely.
• Use limited force when using it.
• Place it away from water.
