AA and AAA rechargeable batteries are much more efficient and reliable than they were a few years ago. If you're switching to rechargeables, or if you already have them, you'll need a charger to keep them powered. Read our guide to finding the right rechargeable battery charger for you.
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Our selection
"This is the charger we would buy. It is compatible with AA and AAA batteries at the same time. It has 8 slots and 8…"
"This rechargeable battery charger is mains operated. It has an automatic charge stop feature that makes it easy to charge AA and AAA batteries. It…"
"This device is compact and the quality of manufacture seems irreproachable. The performance of AA and AAA batteries is perfectly maintained. The charger is smart…"
"Here you have a rechargeable battery charger with USB cable. It is easy to use, fast and efficient. It can charge AAA and AA batteries…"
This is the charger we would buy. It is compatible with AA and AAA batteries at the same time. It has 8 slots and 8 batteries, including 4 AA and 4 AAA pieces. This charger can be used as many times as you want.
23,19 £ on AmazonThis rechargeable battery charger has 8 slots. It is compatible with 2800mAh AA batteries and 1100mAh AAA batteries: you will be able to charge 4 AA batteries and 4 AAA batteries. This charger is equipped with 4 small indicator lights that play an important role during charging. Indeed, when they turn orange, it indicates that the batteries still need charging and when they turn green, it means that the batteries are fully charged.
Moreover, the 8 slots of this charger are independent, but they can be charged simultaneously without affecting the efficiency of each other. Secondly, this rechargeable battery charger is equipped with unique design and advanced technique which can achieve exceptional heat dissipation and offers great protection against overcharging, overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating and short-circuit.
This rechargeable battery charger is mains operated. It has an automatic charge stop feature that makes it easy to charge AA and AAA batteries. It can also detect non-rechargeable batteries.
15,04 £ on AmazonThis Energizer charger can charge up to 4 rechargeable batteries. It connects via AC power and is exceptional for charging AA and AAA batteries. This charger has a capacity of 2000 mAh with an overnight charging speed.
In addition, it allows you to see the charging progress of AA and AAA batteries with easily recognizable indicator lights. As usual, the red LED indicates "charging" and green LED "full charge". In addition, what makes this rechargeable battery charger different from others is that it has an automatic shut-off feature after 11 hours to allow the device to avoid overcharging. This is very effective and smart.
This device is compact and the quality of manufacture seems irreproachable. The performance of AA and AAA batteries is perfectly maintained. The charger is smart and displays consistent data.
45,34 £ on AmazonThis device is very easy to use and ready to be used immediately. It takes care of your batteries with in particular a system of blocking relevant as well for the AAA as the AA. The batteries are high quality and are signed ENELOOP. However, they can show some difficulties to identify rechargeable batteries of other brands like Energizer.
This intelligent rechargeable battery charger is microprocessor controlled. It has a location monitoring system and monitors and charges each battery separately. In addition, it can charge via USB or AC power depending on your preference. And it has a mode renewal system and an LCD display is ideal for demanding users.
Here you have a rechargeable battery charger with USB cable. It is easy to use, fast and efficient. It can charge AAA and AA batteries simultaneously, as it has 8 slots.
19,99 £ on AmazonThe EBL rechargeable battery charger has 8 independent slots. It can support simultaneous charging of 1-8pcs AA/AAA and 1-4pcs C/D NIMH NICD. This charger allows a fast charge of 5V/2A by Micro USB/Type C. Please note, if you want to charge more than 6 batteries at the same time, you will need to opt for a 5V/2A adapter for more efficiency and safety.
This charger also has an intelligent LCD screen that indicates the progress of each battery individually. The display can show several symbols, including CHG, which means charging, FigureComplete, which means fully charged, and ERROR, which indicates that there is a handling error or that the adapter is not compatible. In addition, this charger can protect the batteries from overheating, overcurrent, short circuit, and detect non-rechargeable and defective batteries, thanks to a built-in safety system.
Any specific needs?
The best rechargeable battery charger in 2021
The best entry-level rechargeable battery charger
The best high-end rechargeable battery charger
The best rechargeable battery charger s alternative
Your guide :
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| THE BEST | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | ALTERNATIVE | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
EBL - Rechargeable Battery Charger 8 Slots
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Energizer - Original rechargeable battery charger for AA and AAA batteries
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Panasonic Eneloop - Pro Battery Charger BQCC65 4X AA/AAA
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EBL - Universal Rechargeable Battery Charger
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This is the charger we would buy. It is compatible with AA and AAA batteries at the same time. It has 8 slots and 8 batteries, including 4 AA and 4 AAA pieces. This charger can be used as many times as you want.
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This rechargeable battery charger is mains operated. It has an automatic charge stop feature that makes it easy to charge AA and AAA batteries. It can also detect non-rechargeable batteries.
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This device is compact and the quality of manufacture seems irreproachable. The performance of AA and AAA batteries is perfectly maintained. The charger is smart and displays consistent data.
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Here you have a rechargeable battery charger with USB cable. It is easy to use, fast and efficient. It can charge AAA and AA batteries simultaneously, as it has 8 slots.
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Number of possible charging cycles
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1200 X
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Up to 11 hours of time
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1200 X
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As many times as needed
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LED indicator to show charging status
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Orange: charging, Green: fully charged
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Red: Charging, Green: Full charge
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Red: Charging, Green: Fully charged
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NOT but smart LCD displaying CHG = charging, FigureComplete = fully charged and ERROR= error
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Waterproof structure
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Integrated
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Integrated
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Integrated
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Integrated
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Main features
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8 slots and 8 independent batteries, charge simultaneously or separately
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Auto stop charging device
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Microprocessor management+Slot monitoring system+Mode renewal system
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Built-in safety system to protect batteries from overcharging, shorting...+2smart LCD display
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Accessories
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AC cable +Instruction manual
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Instruction manual
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USB cable+Instruction manual
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USB type C cable
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How many rechargeable batteries do you need to charge at once? These types of chargers can accommodate between two and eight batteries for simultaneous charging. If you're likely to only want to charge one battery, check the battery charger's specifications to see if it can do that. And conversely, consider choosing a charger with enough slots if you have a lot of batteries to charge.
You should also consider the size of the batteries you want to charge. Most chargers are compatible with AA and AAA batteries. If you want to charge 9V, C or D batteries, look carefully for a model that allows it.
Some battery chargers have lights to indicate when the batteries are charged. The more advanced ones have digital displays that show how full the battery is, when it will be fully charged, and whether it can still receive a charge (so you know when you need to replace it).
This option is necessary to ensure the safety of the device and the rechargeable batteries. In fact, this mechanism is used to automatically shut off the power once the batteries are charged and when no batteries are inserted.
These chargers never stop. The user's manual will estimate how long you should leave batteries of different sizes in, and you are supposed to remove them exactly after that time. Since every battery is different, no matter how diligent you are, you will undercharge or overcharge your batteries this way.
Undercharging means you'll get less battery life, and overcharging means you'll shorten the life of the batteries. Dumb chargers are also slow, because pumping juice quickly when there is no automatic shutoff could overheat the battery, blow out its seals, and start a fire.
Chargers with a timer will shut off after a certain amount of time, which means you will permanently undercharge or overcharge your batteries. Some timers are set to a very long shut-off time, which means the batteries are constantly overcharged. And if the timer is set to fill the average battery and you have the largest capacity batteries, the charger will never fill them completely.
Finally, some timer chargers require you to unplug and plug them back in between uses, to reset the timer.
These chargers determine when each battery is full, then automatically stop charging that channel. The easiest way to verify that a battery is charged is to check the voltage reversal. If that fails, this type of charger often embeds backup methods that may include a timer, maximum voltage, and maximum temperature.
Smart battery chargers, also known as delta-V chargers, monitor the voltage levels in each battery and stop charging (or switch to a low maintenance charge setting) when they are full. Smart battery chargers are generally the best choice for keeping your batteries in good condition because they prevent overcharging, which can shorten the life of your batteries.
These push a low "maintenance" charge through the batteries for a long period of time. Some have timers, so they automatically turn off after a set period of time. This will not necessarily prevent overcharging or undercharging, however. This is because the time varies depending on the capacity, chemistry and age of the battery, among other factors. Maintenance chargers are useful if your rechargeable batteries are not "low self-discharge" models (which have technology to prevent them from losing their charge when not in use). Ideally, the maintenance charge is equal to the charge the battery naturally offers, so they are fully charged - ready for when you want to use them. However, keeping them constantly recharged also increases the risk of overcharging.
The main purpose of a trickle charger is to slowly charge a battery and avoid overcharging. However, the same result can be achieved by using a smart charger. However, if you need to store your batteries for a long period of time, without using them, then you will need a trickle charger. On the other hand, if you use your batteries regularly, then a smart charger is more suitable for you.
Battery chargers and rechargeable batteries have many advantages, and they can save you a lot of money.
In our opinion, the best brands of rechargeable battery chargers in 2022 are :
This Japanese consumer electronics brand never stops offering the best quality and performance products. In addition, Panasonic is a brand that has been around for years and has gained notoriety and experience.
EBL is a certified brand that manufactures batteries for general use and different chargers for different batteries. This brand is reliable and is among the best.
This brand is owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway company. It is specialized in manufacturing electric batteries and flashlights. This brand has become popular in its field for some time.
This quality brand manufactures powerful chargers that are compatible with different most used batteries like AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volts. Energizer is a professional in manufacturing universal models.
This German brand that has been around since 1904 is currently owned by the American group Spectrum Brands. It is specialized in the manufacture of electric batteries, accumulators and chargers. The Varta brand is known for its robustness and performance.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Don't mix batteries of different capacities or chemistry
Different capacities of rechargeable batteries (listed in mAh or milliamp hours, printed on the package) should not be charged together. Smaller cells can be overcharged and larger ones not fully charged in the same session, which can damage the batteries over time. Batteries with different chemistries - such as nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) or nickel-cadmium (NiCad) - should also not be charged together.
Check to see if you can charge different brands of rechargeable batteries together
Manufacturers often recommend that their batteries be charged by the same brand of battery chargers. This is because they can match the charger's operation to their batteries. That doesn't mean, however, that you won't be able to charge batteries from different brands in your charger. We tried this with five battery chargers and found that they had no problem charging generic batteries, but were sometimes slower to charge than with batteries of the same brand as the charger.
When charging your alkaline batteries
Some battery chargers are supposed to be able to charge disposable alkaline batteries. We don't recommend relying on them too much. We tested a few, and regardless of the brand, we found that after two cycles, on average, the battery capacity had dropped to only 10% of its original level, with huge variations. With such unreliable results, these are not devices worth spending money on.
Be present
When possible, don't walk too far away when charging your batteries. A battery fire can occur if a faulty device is left unattended and overheats. A working smoke detector and fire extinguisher provide additional insurance in the event of an incident.
Keep away from flammable products
Make sure to place the charger on a non-flammable surface while charging. While this may seem obvious, avoid pillows, blankets, sheets, paper, clothing and fabrics, such as curtains. The best thing is to make sure there is good air circulation around the device and minimal exposure to direct sunlight, the device will not overheat and cause smoke or fire.
Most battery chargers will charge AA and AAA size rechargeable batteries, whether they are smart or manual chargers. Some will also charge 9-volt batteries - but be aware that charge times for 9-volt batteries will be much longer in comparison. Universal chargers will charge a range of battery sizes that typically include AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt rechargeable batteries, but always check the product details or contact our customer service department to make sure you find the right charger for your batteries.
If you are using a basic manual charger that doesn't automatically turn off or indicate when the batteries are fully charged, you will need to estimate the charge time to make sure you fully charge your rechargeable batteries. There is a simple formula that can be applied to calculate this, by dividing the battery capacity by the power output of your charger. This information should be detailed on our website in the product details or on the charger packaging. For example, if your charger is rated at 180 mA (Mili Amp) output, it will take 11.6 hours to fully charge a 2100 mAh flat rechargeable battery (2100 mAh ÷ 180 mA = 11.6 hours). If you are unsure of your charger's power output, you can contact our customer service department for more advice.
NiMH rechargeable batteries can be recharged to any point of capacity (you don't need to fully discharge the battery or wait until it's completely flat), but the sooner you recharge, the better, as you'll get longer battery life.
For the vast majority of chargers, the answer to this question is "No" and you should not charge any single-use battery in a standard NiMH battery charger. However, there are a few exceptions where chargers are specifically designed to charge alkaline batteries for a limited number of charging cycles (typically 6-10) by delivering a very low charging current. An example would be the Lloytron Fast charger, which can charge both NiMH rechargeable batteries and single-use alkaline batteries. However, these chargers are an exception, so please note that you should not attempt to charge single-use batteries such as alkaline or lithium batteries in a standard NiMH battery charger unless the charger clearly states that it is possible.
Other types of rechargeable batteries such as nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries require specialized chargers designed for each type of battery.
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