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The SteelSeries Nimbus is an excellent game controller for Apple TV and Apple devices. This article covers how to check and charge the SteelSeries Nimbus battery.
Apple TV is powered by the tvOS operating system and features an App Store. With thousands of games, a game controller can turn your Apple TV into a powerful game console. In fact, many of the games for tvOS are superior to those found on game consoles. Both Asphalt 8 and Riptide GP Renegade seem to offer the best performance and graphics on Apple TV. With its tightly integrated stack of hardware and software, Apple TV provides remarkable gaming capabilities.
Why I Bought a SteelSeries Nimbus Game Controller for My Apple TV
I purchased my fourth generation Apple TV almost 2 years ago. This wasn’t my first Apple TV. Prior to the fourth generation model, I owned an Apple TV 2. Although both devices are the worst Apple products I have ever owned, they’re not bad when compared to the competition. Just don’t expect iPhone or Mac quality from the Apple TV. Most of the problems are just UI quirks and buggy Apple services. At its core, tvOS is really iOS. It’s quite stable and powerful, especially when it comes to gaming.
When it launched, the fourth generation Apple TV offered an App Store. Games in the App Store had to be playable with the Siri Remote. This was a serious problem for game developers. Bringing complicated games to Apple TV was much more difficult when they had to be compatible with the Siri Remote. Developers often provided hacks to make games work, but they were simply not playable. Apple later relaxed this restriction and tvOS games can now require a game controller. Apple TV will actually warn you before you download a game that requires a game controller.
With some of the best games requiring a game controller, it became clear to me that I needed to buy one. I fell in love with playing video games on my Apple TV. Some of my favorite games are actually better with the Siri Remote. Racing games such as Asphalt 8 and Riptide GP: Renegade are much easier to play with the Siri Remote. With its accelerometer and gyroscope, the Siri Remote performs just like a virtual steering wheel. Simply tilt the remote to steer. Other games don’t work well (or work at all) with the Siri Remote. I love tank battle games, but the best one for Apple TV requires a game controller. Without a game controller, I just wasn’t experiencing the full potential of my Apple TV.
I did a lot of research before I bought a game controller. I combed reviews and websites and even wrote an article about the best game controllers for Apple TV. Based on my research, I decided on the popular SteelSeries Nimbus controller. I don’t regret this decision at all. It’s a great remote and it has truly enhanced my Apple TV experience.
SteelSeries Nimbus Doesn’t Have Great Documentation
Although the SteelSeries Nimbus controller is excellent, its manual leaves much to be desired. Overall, it is accurate, but there are some mistakes regarding how to check the battery level. The manual claims that the battery level is displayed when you toggle the hold button. This isn’t true. Instead, the device shows an animated sequence on the LEDs and then the multiplayer player number. If you only have one controller, it will show the first LED bar. This is not the charge level. It will show this even if your device is fully charged.
How to Check SteelSeries Nimbus Battery Level
Checking the SteelSeries Nimbus battery level is easy, but not convenient. First, turn your controller off by sliding the Hold button until you can see the orange indicator. With your Lightning cable connected to a charger, plug the Lightning end into the controller. The LED lights on the SteelSeries will display an animated sequence and then show the charge level. Each bar represents a 25% charge. If you see two bars, that’s a 50% charge. The last LED will flash until the device is fully charged. When the LED lights go dark, your SteelSeries Nimbus controller is fully charged. If your controller’s battery is completely depleted, it will take about 4 hours to fully charge it.
Charge Your SteelSeries Nimbus with a Low Amp Charger
I was unable to find information about the power management integrated circuit (IC) used in the SteelSeries Nimbus. Some power ICs are smart and can optimally regulate current. Power ICs can often take advantage of more powerful chargers. Rapid charging, however, isn’t a good idea. The process tends to generate more heat than charging with the proper current. For example, if you charge your iPhone with an iPad charger, it will get noticeably warm. You can do it, and I know people advocate it. It’s definitely faster. That heat, however, will end up damaging your battery. For this reason, I recommend charging the SteelSeries Nimbus with an iPhone charger or a computer’s USB port. This will guarantee that your controller’s battery will last a long time. next page →