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Keep Your Electronics Charged With the Best Rechargeable AA Batteries

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Keep Your Electronics Charged With the Best Rechargeable AA Batteries

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Choosing a High-Quality Rechargeable AA Battery: A Buyer’s Guide

AA batteries were once one of the most common purchases you’d find in a typical store. They were used in all sorts of products, from remotes to cameras to clocks and more. These days, plenty of battery-powered products use a rechargeable battery that’s built-in instead. While there are still some products made to support the top rechargeable AA batteries in 2023, they aren’t nearly as rampant as they were before. That doesn’t mean AA batteries have become obsolete, though. There are still plenty of things at home that you can only power with AA batteries. If you want to buy a pack of batteries that you can use for years to come, then go for rechargeable batteries. Thanks to modern technology, rechargeable batteries charge fast and are more affordable than they ever were before.

With rechargeable AA batteries, you never have to worry about buying more AAs from the store ever again. Read on to learn more about these batteries in our short buyer’s guide.

What Is an AA Battery and What Makes It Different From Other Battery Types?

An AA battery is a type of battery used to charge devices. This usually includes small handheld devices such as remote controllers or portable devices such as radios. “AA” refers to a standard known as the IEC battery standard. This determines the standard sizes of batteries to be used in electronic products. AA may look pretty big on its own, but it’s actually one of the smaller sizes. You have AAA below AA, of course, but there are also C and D batteries as well as other battery shapes with a bit more complicated names such as a 6F22 battery. The batteries can vary in voltage and size depending on the name of the battery.

Benefits of Owning a Rechargeable AA Battery

They offer great long-term value

While you may be spending a bit of extra cash on a set of rechargeable batteries compared to disposable ones, you will end up saving a bit of money in the long run by using rechargeable units. Why? Because instead of buying more batteries the moment your disposables run out of juice, you can simply just recharge your batteries to full power and use them again. Now, this doesn’t mean that disposables are objectively worse. For one, they’re cheap, making them great for one-time use. They also can be replaced immediately, causing no downtime for your device, whereas you’d need to take out the battery and charge it before using it again for a rechargeable battery. If you really want to make the most out of your money, however, rechargeable batteries are a good investment

They’re better for the environment

Batteries can cause a lot of environmental damage when not disposed of properly. They can damage or kill the soil and any inhabitants in it, and it also leads to heavy metal pollution, as metal doesn’t erode like paper. By purchasing a pack of rechargeable batteries, you are basically preventing yourself from buying (and eventually disposing of) metal batteries. This lowers your carbon footprint, so you end up wasting less in terms of materials.

Things to Look Out for When Buying Rechargeable AA Batteries

Battery life

Batteries have a certain amount of energy or power that they can store at a time, usually measured in mAh.  The higher the number, the better it is at holding more juice at once. Because of this, it’s generally a good idea to look for batteries with longer battery life, and while it’s arguably the most important trait of a rechargeable battery, don’t let that be the only thing worth considering. 

Price

Another factor that comes into play when picking rechargeable AA batteries is the price. It’s always good to save on items, and you can definitely save on batteries by going for the cheapest product, but due to the somewhat volatile nature of batteries, you may want to at least pick a brand with renown. This is often why people will choose expensive branded batteries over cheaper, less popular brands. You don’t necessarily need to follow this — just be sure that the batteries are of good quality and they should be safe for use.

Tips for When You’re Charging Your Rechargeable AA Batteries

Try being near the batteries as they charge

 While rechargeable batteries can be left to charge, it’s always a good idea to at least keep an eye on the batteries every now and then. This is especially true if you’re using a charger or battery of questionable quality. You never know if things can go wrong, and it’s up to you to be there when they do go wrong.

Don’t leave them to charge overnight

In the same vein, try not to leave those batteries to charge overnight. You may be able to get away with it when charging your phone, as they’re generally made with this habit in mind, but batteries are inherently riskier since they’re so exposed to outside elements. Being asleep when a battery explodes or causes an accident is the worst possible scenario, and you want to prevent that from happening if you can.

01 Energizer Rechargeable AA Batteries

When it comes to AA and AAA batteries, Energizer’s a household name for sure. It’s been around for decades, and people have relied on Energizer batteries to power all sorts of appliances at home. Well, Energizer’s still as popular as ever, and their line of rechargeable AA batteries definitely takes the cake as our top rechargeable battery. With recycled materials and 5-year battery life, they’re the best overall in the industry for a reason. 

Pros

  • Made with recycled materials
  • Can last up to five years at a time
  • Comes in a pack of 16

Cons

  • Very pricey compared to other brands
Energizer Rechargeable AA Batteries

02 Powerowl Rechargeable AA Batteries

Have you ever wondered why battery packaging always says to dispose of batteries safely? It’s because the compounds inside the battery are very dangerous to the environment. Luckily, that’s not the case with Powerowl’s rechargeable AA batteries. They have Ni-MH protection, and this lessens the heavy metal pollution that the batteries would have otherwise caused. They can be used in toothbrushes, flashlights and more.

Pros

  • 2800mAh battery life
  • Ni-MH protection reduces heavy metal pollution
  • Comes in a 12 pack

Cons

  • Product design could be improved
Powerowl Rechargeable AA Batteries

03 AmazonBasics Rechargeable AA Batteries

It seems that Amazon has an AmazonBasics product for just about any mundane item imaginable, and the trend continues with their very own line of rechargeable AA batteries. Though not as explicitly stated as other brands, these batteries are, in fact, rechargeable. They have a 2,400mAh battery life and can be bought in AA or AAA size. It’s also worth mentioning the price – a pack of 8 only goes for $16, which is a great deal indeed.

Pros

  • Affordable price for a rechargeable battery
  • Available in AA or AAA size
  • Can be bought in packs of 4 to 24

Cons

  • Battery life is slightly shorter than other batteries at 2400mAh
AmazonBasics Rechargeable AA Batteries

04 HiQuick Rechargeable AA Batteries

Rechargeable AA batteries don’t always ship charged because the owner can easily charge it up once they receive the product. However, HiQuick makes sure that the batteries are charged at least 20-30% of the way so that you can use the batteries as soon as they arrive, even if only for a while. The design of these batteries allows them to be recharged 1200 times fully, which makes for a great long-term investment for just $26.

Pros

  • Comes pre-charged to allow for instant use
  • Sold in packs of 8 and 16
  • Can be charged up to 1200 times

Cons

  • Pre-charge isn’t a whole lot at 20-30%
HiQuick Rechargeable AA Batteries

05 EBL Rechargeable AA Batteries

Looking for a set of reliable and consistent batteries? Take a look at this pack of rechargeable AA batteries by EBL. They use what EBL calls “super lattice technology” that gives a more constant voltage, ensuring the products being powered by the battery get the same amount of juice all the time. With a steel shell to protect from explosion due to overpressure, EBL’s batteries are also pretty safe, so you can use them wherever you’d like.

Pros

  • With super lattice technology
  • Steel shell to protect from explosions
  • Little to no discharge

Cons

  • Battery quality feels a little cheap
EBL Rechargeable AA Batteries

People Also Ask

Are all AA batteries rechargeable?

No, only batteries specifically labeled as rechargeable can be charged via a charging station. Other AA batteries cannot be charged in this manner.

Can I fit an AA battery inside an AAA battery slot?

Generally, it is difficult or even impossible to fit an AA battery inside an AAA battery slot. You can, however, insert an AAA battery inside an AA battery slot with the right tools and materials.

How much power does a rechargeable AA battery hold?

A modern rechargeable AA battery can hold about 2400 to 2800mAh of battery life at once.

Alex Baum

May 19, 2022

37 Articles Published

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We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.

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