The need to keep devices charged occupies roughly 10% of my brain activity each and every day all in the attempt to avoid these situations: “How much phone battery do I have left? Okay, I can put it on the fast charger while I finish getting ready and it should be over 50% before I leave. This PS4 controller is dead? I’ll let it charge while I use the bad one (everyone has a bad one). My Vive wands are dead? Okay, I’ll do something else while they charge.”
Charging docks are important, clearly. But with all that being said, the Nyko Charge Block VR which was originally announced at CES is a weirdly named and oddly marketed product.
Since Sony’s PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset itself plugs directly into the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and corresponding breakout box, it doesn’t actually have a battery to charge. As a result, the Charge Block VR (which has “PlayStation VR” plastered on the box) actually just charges the PS Move controllers. The Move controllers have found a bit of a resurgence as of late as motion-tracked peripherals for Sony’s debut VR HMD, but they’re far from perfect. The tech has actually been around since the PS3 days when Sony was trying capture a small fraction of the Wii-craze.
As a charging dock for the PS Move controllers the Charge Block VR is perfectly serviceable. The devices slide in vertically very easily and fit nice and snug allowing you to charge both at the same time. You can also attach other Charge Block Solo devices (sold separately) so you can charge up your DualShock 4 at the same time and keep all controllers in a tidy single spot.
Perhaps the best thing about the Charge Block VR is the excellent build quality and design. It feels sturdy enough, but not so heavy it’s inconvenient to move or place on top of other objects and devices. It matches the standard PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro all very nicely.
You can purchase the Charge Block VR for $19.99 on Amazon, but if you want the Solo adapter to also charge your DualShock 4 you’ll need to spend an additional $14.99 (currently discounted to $11.24). While the Nyko works great and is very like the best choice for a lot of setups when combined with the Solo adapter, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out a superior, although slightly pricier, alternative.
The Power A Charge & Display Station actually has docks for both Move controllers, a single DualShock 4, and the headset itself with a stand at the back of the unit. All four items sit neatly, charging and displaying themselves, with easy access. However, it is $49.99 typically, with a current discount at $39.99. If you want a spot for your headset as well I recommend taking the slight extra dive for the better unit, but otherwise the Nyko is a great choice.
Final Recommendation: Worth It
Since the PS4 itself doesn’t have enough USB ports to charge all of your DualShock 4 controllers, PS Move controllers, and keep everything plugged in (like the PSVR breakout box) you really do need a charging station of some kind. If you don’t care about displaying and storing the headset on a stand, then the Nyko Charge Block VR is a solid choice.
UploadVR was sent a review unit of the Charge Block VR from Nyko for this review.
