While many electronic devices today have built-in rechargeable batteries, many people still find it more convenient to use replaceable “dry cell” batteries or their equivalent. It might be easier to swap out dead batteries with new ones than to scramble for a charger, and you can still use rechargeable AA and AAA batteries to get the best of both worlds. Their convenience, however, starts to break down when it comes to their chargers, most of which are bulky, uninspiring, and ironically inconvenient.
Flashlight manufacturer Nitecore has a rather intriguing solution to rechargeable AA batteries by cramming the charging components right inside the battery. This makes it possible to directly charge them using the same USB cable for your phones or earbuds case, offering convenience and speed without the hassle of having to bring around a large charging box.
Designer: Nitecore
Traditional rechargeable NiMH or alkaline AA batteries require a separate product to charge them. These chargers usually come in a boxy form that can accommodate two or four batteries at the same time. It’s a straightforward and practical design, but not one that’s suited for today’s user behaviors and expectations. With almost everything going the USB-C route, some have come to expect batteries like these to be charged just as easily.
The Nitecore NH2400 AA batteries try to meet those expectations by having a USB-C port at the very top of their cylinders. That means you can charge the batteries directly and don’t have to be at the mercy of yet another device. In fact, these batteries can only be charged that way, though few will probably miss the old ways of doing things. A four-battery pack comes with a quadruple whip cable just for that very purpose, a significant change from a chunky charging box.
There are a few caveats to this almost ideal design, though none of them sound like huge deal-breakers. Although rated with a 2400mAh capacity and an output of 1.5V that’s higher than conventional 1.2V batteries, they’re estimated to last only an average of 500 cycles. Despite being rechargeable, they’re not compatible with 14500 round batteries that are, conversely, also incompatible with AA battery slots anyway. In exchange, the use of lithium-ion materials makes these batteries safer than your typical alkalines and are less prone to leaking and corrosion.
The Nitecore NH2400 batteries do sound quite desirable, though their design might still be a little too novel to be as reliable as more conventional rechargeable AA batteries. Only time will tell if this will be the future of such batteries, but at $25 a pack, it makes a tempting alternative that’s not only more convenient but also a little bit more sustainable than both regular AA batteries and built-in rechargeable batteries.
