Nowadays we have phones that we can recharge without connecting a cable. All we need to do is to drop them on a recharging pad. I am wondering why the technology for game controllers seems to be lagging behind.
I would like to get a new controller as my previous ones A. has been stolen B. can't charge anymore because the USB port broke.
So I would like something that I don't need to plug to charge, that I can simply lay on the charger. I can't find anything other than ways of modding XBOX 360 and PS4 controllers with third party items. Are you aware of the existence of a controller for Windows, which is 360 compatible and is wirelessly chargeable out of the box?

I have a battery pack add-on for my PS4 controller, I turn it on when the battery runs low and it recharges the battery from the pack.

Would something like that be a good alternative?

Why are you so cable adverse?

Anywho: My current controller recommendation is the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro Plus.

It does not sound like something that is wireless but thank you for your suggestion. I would not like a PS4 controller in any case. I am wondering if I can buy any controller that has a lithium-ion battery, like the Stratus Duo I am ogling at, and charge it wirelessly somehow. I am tired of cables, putting them in, out, cables connecting and disconnecting by themselves while playing, of ports breaking making the device useless...I don't mind playing the the cable but I want the possibility to charge it without connecting it with a cable, like you can do with modern smartphones.
The 8bitdo looks fun but too retro for my taste. Thanks! If I can't find anything specifically wireless charging I would go for the Stratus Duo, and see if there a way to get it to charge it without a cable.

If you're worried about charging ports breaking, one thing to consider is controllers that take batteries. These contacts are harder to break (and easier to repair) than USB ports. Logitech F710 is one popular example, though I've heard complaints about its signal quality and dead zones. Some people praise it nevertheless.

Wireless charging works when there is negligable distance between the charger and the charging bit of the device.

I'm not an expert, but modern controllers are generally ergonomic, which limits the flat surface area that is touching the charger.

That being said, a wireless SNES controller, Wii Remote or Gravis Gamepad would probably work well.

I don't think there is anything like that these days, tho it is possible to create a controller that satisfies your desires. But what Mortius1 said definitely applies: a Xbox 360 controller barely touches a flat surface, meaning it would take even longer to charge.

The technology you're thinking of is called inductive charging and like every other tech out there it has advantages and disadvantages, but it appears to me that its cost/benefit ratio is higher for a controller than for a smartphone.

I'm surprised you said you're okay with playing with a cable but don't want one while charging. The freedom of wirelessness would make more sense to me while you're juggling the controller in your hands but once it is charging it is stationary and the freedom of movement doesn't matter at all. To each their own, I guess? BUT if you're having problem with broken ports maybe they're being treated rougher than they're supposed to be, or maybe you had a dog or a toddler yank the plug... Whatever happened should be looked into carefully because the components needed for inductive charging are just as or even more delicate and wouldn't take long to break under such supposed abusive treatment.

If you still want to pursue your idea I have an alternative for you but it needs massive customization of a traditional controller. Basically, my idea is to modify the controller in a way that moves the connectors that the charging cable touches to the base of both handles (at least in the case of a XB controller) where they touch a flat surface.

And then customize some sort of charging station to sport the ends that are usually in the cable, putting them at the same distance as the handles.

And think of some way of covering the connectors while you're not charging it because you risk being shocked by your controller or have something metallic touch both connectors and discharge the battery.

Yeah, looking like that it is a lot of work for not much of a benefit. I'd look more closely into what is causing your devices to break instead and try and correct that. But it's your call.

This is very simple. Just plugging in without having to pair anything, also I know that the response is faster, I have no problem with that. The problem is when the port is broken and the controller is broken with it.

Big thanks to everybody for the extensive and useful answers. I am not convinced of the Logitech F710 and the other controllers mentioned. And I am not going to do any modding. I thing at this point my choice will have to be between the PS4 with a 3rd party wirelessly charging battery (but I don't like having the PS4 controller on Windows) or just take a W10 controller I like and give up the wireless charge, which would have been cool but it is not fundamental. At least until they actually begin making W10 controllers that come with this feature.

Again, thanks to everyone!

Oh that makes a lot more sense.

By the way, if there is one for PS4 I'm fairly confident that you can find a battery pack add-on for the XB too.

Good luck mate

I looked at it, and it appears to throw away the biggest advatage I saw of the 8bitdo controllers over more mainstream ones; the size. I honestly feel that modern controllers are too big, and other 8bitdo controllers are a good size, but the one you linked to is the size of the more mainstream controllers, which I feel defeats the point.

Some people honestly have bigger hands. If I wanted, I could buy a Zero or a Joycon.

Yes, but do those people have a good place to put the controller when it is not in use?

(One example: If I want a controller to take with me (for example, to use with a phone), the larger size would take up too much room in my purse, while the smaller size would fit rather nicely.)