NiMH AA
The Bonai NiMH AA 2,800 mAh batteries’ performance was less than stellar in our short-term capacity tests and notably worse in the long-term tests: We measured an average capacity of 2,340 mAh after three charge/discharge cycles (16% lower than their listed capacity rating of 2,800 mAh) and 2,109 mAh after 50 cycles (25% lower than their listed capacity).
The Deleepow NiMH AA 3,300 mAh, EBL Color NiMH AA 2,500 mAh, and Panasonic Eneloop NiMH AA 2,000 mAh batteries’ measured capacity after three charge/discharge cycles fell far short of their listed capacity ratings (they averaged 1,917 mAh, 1,994 mAh, and 1,926 mAh, respectively). Not only are their ratings inflated, but those figures don’t even meet our 2,000 mAh minimum requirement for testing.
NiMH AAA
The Bonai NiMH AAA 1,100 mAh batteries charged at a snail’s pace compared with other batteries in this category. While the rest fully charged in about 2 hours, the Bonai AAAs took about 5.5 hours to charge on average.
The Deleepow NiMH AAA 1,100 mAh batteries’ measured capacity after three charge/discharge cycles (850 mAh) is significantly lower than its listed rating, and it was one of the lowest among the contenders in this category.
The EBL Color NiMH AAA 1,100 mAh batteries performed well in most of our tests, but when we measured their average capacity after 50 charge/discharge cycles, it had fallen significantly (from a respectable 1,039 mAh to a lackluster 863 mAh).
The Panasonic Eneloop NiMH AAA 800 mAh batteries’ measured capacity after three charge/discharge cycles (735 mAh) is significantly lower than its listed rating, as well as the absolute lowest of the contenders in this category.
Li-ion AA and AAA
The EBL Li-ion AA 3,300 mWh (2,200 mAh) and EBL Li-ion AAA 900 mWh (600 mAh) both performed on par with our picks in this category, respectively. However, they require a Micro-USB cable to charge, which is quickly becoming an outdated technology.
C, D, and AAAA
The Anvow Battery Charger with 2 NiMH AAAA 400 mAh Batteries fared about as well as our pick in this category in most of our tests. However, after 50 charge/discharge cycles, their measured capacity dropped from 422 mAh to 329 mAh, which is below their listed capacity and our minimum requirement for testing.
Unlike our favorite C and D battery adapters, EBL’s C Battery Adapters and D Battery Adapters don’t have a mechanism for an AA battery to “snap” into place inside them. This makes them more difficult to use, since the battery can easily slide out of the adapter while being inserted into a device.
Chargers
The four-slot IKEA Stenkol lacks the fold-out plug and individual notification lights that we prize in our favorite charger.
The four-slot EBL 907 is smaller and cheaper than our favorite charger, but the build quality is noticeably worse and the screen is somewhat cluttered.
The four-slot EBL FY-409 and the eight-slot EBL FY-809 have a flimsy build quality and an inelegant design overall. Most concerning, we found that every charging cable we plugged into these units wiggled precariously in their ports, indicating connectivity issues that could cause spotty or inefficient charging.
The four-slot XTAR VC4 Plus has size-adjustable battery slots, and it’s compatible with NiMH AA, AAA, AAAA, and C batteries. It charges via USB-C and comes with a compatible 18W charger. However, the screen is as busy as the dashboard of an airplane cockpit, making it difficult to quickly parse key information like measured capacity, voltage, and charge times.
The eight-slot EBL C9008 can charge or discharge up to eight AA or AAA batteries (or up to four C or D batteries) at a time. It has an informative screen and a good range of currents (500–1,800 mA) for efficient charging. It’s pretty easy to use, but it’s harder to correctly pop batteries into the slots compared with most chargers, and if you don’t align them just right, they won’t charge.
The eight-slot Powerex Maha MH-C808M is bulkier and has a less intuitive interface than comparable models from other brands. Also, despite being the priciest battery charger we’ve tested, it doesn’t have a particularly sturdy build quality.
This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.
