A relatively high price and comparatively short number of charge cycles do take the shine off them a little. Design and Charges First, I drained the batteries and then fast-charged them for 10 minutes. I measured the tested capacity at 1769mAh using a high load of 600mAh (+/- 20%), with the test stopping when the batteries reach 0.94V. The results here were spot on the rated capacity. The Eneloop AA batteries are built to do pretty much everything that alkaline batteries can do, so are perfect replacement in some situations. Charge 10 sports an ultra-compact design which is substantially smaller than other fast chargers due to its built-in power adapter, making it easy to carry on the go. All the functionalities are seamlessly integrated, from charging lights to the charging modes button – with an easy view of, and access to, the rechargeable batteries. Fact: New generation rechargeable batteries keep their capacity for at least 500 charges, no matter to what percentage they are charged or discharged.

The issue we all face with rechargeable batteries is that they’re not ready when we need them. In many cases, we’ll turn to alkaline batteries when they’re needed straight away. The GP Recyko Charge 10 AA are here to solve that issue, as they can get to 90% charge when speed is of the essence, provided you use them with the dedicated charger.It turned out to be fine. The charger has its own algorithm according to GP, which monitors the charging, and the charging curve should be steeper at the beginning and then flatter than usual (we have not been able to verify this). GP Batteries has launched the world’s fastest NiMH battery charger, Recyko Charge 10. The charger can simultaneously recharge up to four Charge 10 AA batteries in 10 minutes, which is up to three times faster than other best-performing chargers on the market.

Duracell says that these batteries can last for 400 recharges. Given the price and that these are standard rechargeable batteries, that’s a decent number. To compare, the GP ReCyko Charge 10 batteries only last 250 cycles when fast-charged, although they’ll last for 700 cycles if slow-charged. Performance Charge 10 comes with an integrated AC adapter solution that makes it less bulky and easy to store or travel with. Its unique low noise fan keeps batteries cool and charging quiet, and it delivers up to 10 amperes of charging input. One of the reasons that rechargeable batteries are so environmentally friendly is because of the ability to reuse them. The GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AAs can be charged 1500 times over their life, which is considerably higher than most rechargeable batteries. Add in their high capacity and there isn’t a lot to complain about here, bar the relatively high price. Design and Charges Aside from charging speed, the difference in charging options concerns battery life. Use fast charging and your batteries are rated to last for only 250 cycles; use Eco mode and you’ll get 700 cycles.Fact: New generation rechargeable batteries are built with a very low self-discharge rate, meaning they can stay up to 80% charged after 12 months when left idle. Durability is also excellent, with the batteries rated to last for 1000 charges, around double that of standard rechargeable batteries. These will hold 60% of their charge over a year, which is a slightly bigger drop than much of the competition, so you’re better charging the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh and using them fresh. Fact: 61% of UK consumers have a battery charger at home that can be used with these new generation rechargeable batteries.