Are Rechargeable Batteries Still Worth Buying In 2025? These Usb-c Ones Say Yes

Paleblue rechargable lithium ion batteries

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• These batteries are a cleanable replacement for alkaline batteries successful beautiful overmuch each situation
• I for illustration that tin beryllium recharged from a USB larboard and don't request a circumstantial charger
• The USB-A connector successful nan extremity of nan 4-way complaint cablegram does consciousness a spot dated

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

It's almost 2026, and yes, we still request batteries. But it nary longer makes financial aliases ecological consciousness to support utilizing disposable alkaline batteries. For me, I request mostly nan bully aged AA battery, but I besides request AAA, C, D, and moreover nan blocky 9V PP3. 

There are immoderate awesome rechargeable batteries retired location from companies specified arsenic Eneloop and Nitecore, but nan drawback location is that you request a circumstantial charger, and who needs "yet different thing" successful their life, americium I right?

Also: The champion rechargeable batteries of 2025

It would beryllium cool if you could conscionable plug a USB cablegram into a battery, wouldn't it? Well, USB-C ports and artillery complaint circuitry are mini enough, and artillery chemistry is bully capable to fto that happen.

I've been testing a batch of USB rechargeable batteries, and nan marque that's consistently been a victor for maine is Paleblue. 

The institution offers a wide scope of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V, arsenic good arsenic type bundles. These are superior to nan older nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries, which request their ain chargers.

Each kit comes pinch nan batteries, a 4-way complaint cable, and a integrative container to clasp nan batteries.

The batteries are identical successful position of size, voltage, and powerfulness to nan alkaline batteries they replace. This is important, and you'd beryllium amazed really adaptable immoderate poor-quality batteries are -- I've virtually seen immoderate that are excessively large aliases excessively mini to fresh properly.

Also: The champion GaN chargers you tin buy: Expert tested

Paleblue claims nan batteries are bully for astir 1,000 recharge cycles, truthful if you person to complaint them daily, they'll past astir 3 years. For much humble applications wherever they'll past a mates of months, these batteries will past for galore years, and you'll astir apt suffer them earlier they die.

The 4-way charging cablegram intends you tin usage 1 USB-A larboard to complaint each 4 batteries.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The AA batteries that I tested person a capacity of 2,550mAh (alkaline batteries person a capacity of astir 1,700 to 2,850mAh) and person fantabulous life successful devices designed to tally connected disposables. 

They besides recharge rapidly, pinch nan AAs taking astir 2 hours to complaint and nan AAA taking astir an hour. This is overmuch faster than older NiMH rechargeables, which could return up to a time to recharge.

I for illustration nan 4-way complaint cable, too, though nan truth that it's designed to spell into a USB-A larboard feels a small antiquated (but it's thing that a inexpensive adapter won't solve). Plug nan cablegram in, and nan batteries person glowing LEDs that illuminate during charging and spell retired erstwhile they're fresh to use. 

ZDNET's buying advice

It's nan 21st century, and I don't cognize why anyone is still utilizing disposable batteries (outside of a fewer separator cases aliases wherever you request agelong support life, temperature-resistant lithium batteries). And now that you get batteries that past years, accelerated recharging, and nan easiness and convenience of USB recharging, pinch nary abstracted charger required.

Prices for nan Paleble packs are besides rather reasonable -- a 4-pack of AAs is $30, $55 for an 8-pack, and dense users tin pick up a 12-pack for $80. If you person tons of different batteries you request to replace, you tin get an 8-pack of AAs and AAAs for $90, aliases a super-bundle consisting of a 12-pack of AAs, 8-pack of AAAs, a 4-pack of 9V PP3s, and a 4-pack of D-cells for $200.

They're not inexpensive -- truthful don't suffer them -- but they should springiness you years of service, making that first finance a bully deal.