MaeckerVR Direct-Charge Controller Grips for Meta Quest 3 / Meta Quest 3 S Review

Say what you will about the Meta Quest 3 controllers, they’re kinda tiny. While I’ve not found the battery life to be an issue, having a rechargeable option is always better than trying to find which drawer the batteries have been moved to. The Maecker Controller Grips for Q3/Q3S solves both of these issues in a silicone sheath.

In the box, you get two rechargeable batteries as well as two silicone handles and a USB-C charging cable. Each handle has an adjustable strap which fits around the back of your hand, and there is a red LED to let you know when it’s charged.

The handles are well designed and comfortable to grip, with the straps having foam inside to cushion them if you happen to tighten them too much. While it shouldn’t slip out of your hand anyway due to the strap, the handle is textured to help you keep hold.

To adjust the straps, you just pull a bit of elastic to tighten, or push a button to loosen them. It’s a little bit of an issue to use if you’re holding both Grips, of course, but you can usually manage it.

I’ll admit that installation was a little fiddly. You put the rechargeable batteries in your controllers as usual, but you don’t put the battery door back on; instead, you slide the entire unit inside of the Grip. It doesn’t exactly guide it into place, so even with all the care in the world, you might need to give it a little wiggle. However, once in place, you don’t need to take them apart again, so in the long run it’s easier than having to keep replacing the batteries.

For whatever reason, Quest headsets say that rechargeable batteries are never fully charged, so it’s worth keeping that in mind if it says they’re not even at 80% when you’ve just unplugged them. There is a reason for it, but it escapes me right now.

EDIT: It's because of the way that lithium batteries are detected by the Quest.

There’s not much to say about the MaeckerVR Direct-Charge Controller Grips. They do the job as both a grip and a rechargeable battery, and there’s not much else you can ask of them. Unfortunately, they’re incompatible with the MaeckerVR Charging Station Magnetic Charger, so you can’t mix and match.