From cutting-edge technology in computer mice, through to fancy-pants features in the most entry-level of headsets, Razer has been on the forefront of leading gaming and console peripherals in recent years. In similar fashion to other peripheral greats, Razer has slowly been expanding on their offerings thanks to smart acquisitions; one such acquisition being Controller Gear, a renowned Xbox accessory manufacturer. Although the company did release a charging stand for Xbox shortly thereafter; it only recently released a ‘Snek’ variant with the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox. 

The Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S controllers are infamous for their lack of in-built battery packs. Memes and all kinds of internet shenanigans have made clear how “not including the battery” remains a contentious issue, ensuring prospective buyers continue to use two double-A batteries for a majority of the controllers use. While this setup is arguably superior to the leading competitor’s offering in some ways, gamers can all agree how it can be quite an inconvenience when the batteries do run low. This is where the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox comes in (assuming one does not splurge for the official ‘Play and Charge’ kit). 

The Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox comes in a tightly packed cardboard box, lined with thin strips of cardboard, and recyclable baggies holding all of the necessary accessories. Even the foam inserts are made from reused material! Despite the packaging, however, prospective users will find a robust charging stand inside. 

The Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox also comes with the required charging cable connecting to the stand with a USB Type-C connection, and terminates in USB Type-A for easy connection to any power bank, adapter, or an Xbox console. Also included is a single battery pack for a controller, and a pair of battery doors – which allow the dock to be used with multiple generations of Xbox controller.

Heavy and premium is most certainly the name of the game here. Upon unpacking, gamers will notice the Xbox charging stand is predominantly composed of hard plastic and silicone, with a single cut out for the included charging cable, and a beautifully designed cradle fitting controllers from the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S generations, as well as Xbox Elite Series controllers. It should be noted how the cradle itself also comes in a plethora of colours, starting with the carbon black and Xbox’s own velocity green; running all the way through most of the customisable official Xbox Controller colours featured in the design lab. Vamers was fortunate enough to receive the sexiest colour of the bunch for review: Pulse Red. There are also special options themed after franchises like Star Wars and Forza Horizon 5. 

In terms of design, Razer has played it mostly safe – why reinvent the wheel when it is already perfect? With that said, there are little tweaks and clever decisions throughout in order to ensure users will always want to make use of the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox [tweaks also seen in the manufacturer’s stand for PlayStation 5] and it largely boils down to how easy it is to not mess up the docking process. The cradle perfectly captures the Xbox controller every single time it is docked, regardless of how quickly or how vigorously (within reason, of course) it is placed. This is largely thanks to well-placed magnets underneath the hardbody design, and the wonderful thing is how they work for all generations and iterations of Xbox’s controller. Furthermore, the hard plastic body sits solidly on any desk or surface thanks to its heft, and users will be hard pressed to knock it down accidentally. It also looks great, adding the proverbial cherry to the top of a very functional product. 

Part of the Razer Appeal ‘dot tee em‘ comes from the technologies the manufacturer offers with its procuts, and the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox is no different. As its name suggests, Razer has implemented Quick Charging capabilities into these stands. While the battery pack offers, what feels like, entire days of continuous use; popping it onto the dock will only set players back for three hours per full charge. Rather worryingly, it is challenging to determine how well the battery will last over time (as is the nature of hardware reviews), but the battery is rated for thousands of cycles (thanks Controller Gear) so it should not be an issue.

Chief amongst the nitpicky issues one can talk about regarding the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox is the premium price tag attached to the accessory. At an average of ZAR R1,000 / AUS $89 (or your local equivalent), some gamers will be hard pressed to consider it over the likes of a far cheaper Xbox Play and Charge kit. It also does not come with its own power source (whether it be in the form of an adapter, or otherwise), leaving connectivity options limited. However, even with this knowledge in place, the pros far outweigh the cons. It is a solid, well-built, and excellently designed product made with convenience in mind – and this is where the beauty of the product lies.

The Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox should not be overlooked. The product brings many levels of convenience and comfort to gamers – eve\n more than the likes of the official offerings. The stand looks and feels premium, perfectly fits into any setup thanks to its wide range of colour and thematic options, and offers technology otherwise unseen in similar third party products. Of particular note are the absolutely stellar battery endurance and ease of use when a charge is inevitably needed. The addition of quick charging technology also ensures players are never out of the game for long, while a lengthy braided USB charging cable manages to get around the limited connectivity options available to the product. Simply put: the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox sets the standard for other devices of its type, and is an absolutely essential buy to any gamer who will be spending time with their consoles. 

Verdict:

EXCEPTIONAL

PROSCONS
No more battery replacements!No power source
Heavy and premium build
It just works

Device temporarily provided for review by Razer.

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Junior Editor at Vamers. From Superman to Ironman; Bill Rizer to Sam Fisher and everything in-between, Edward loves it all. He is a Bachelor of Arts student and English Major specialising in Language and Literature. He is an avid writer and casual social networker with a flare for all things tech related.