I Found The Ultimate Battery Charger, And Power Users Will Love Its Flagship Feature

Xtar VX2 Pro Battery Analyzer and Charger

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• This does a batch much than a regular artillery charger
• It has a characteristic for batteries being put into retention and to rejuvenate aged NiMH batteries
• The 2 charging slots tin beryllium utilized independently

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

I've worked difficult complete nan past fewer years to move distant from disposable alkaline batteries and switch them pinch rechargeable equivalents. After all, location are immoderate awesome brands of rechargeable AAA, AA, C, and D compartment batteries disposable that will past you for years. 

And I've recovered that nan champion measurement to return attraction of these batteries is to complaint them utilizing a decent charger. Too galore chargers heap successful nan amps, which successful move bakes nan artillery and dramatically shortens its lifespan. There's a batch much to charging a artillery than conscionable pushing powerfulness into it arsenic accelerated arsenic possible.

Also: The champion rechargeable batteries you tin buy

In my hunt for decent and affordable artillery chargers, I've travel crossed 1 that is packed pinch precocious features, making it not only a awesome charger but besides a valuable shop and diagnostic tool. If you're looking for a artillery charger that does it all, nan Xtar VX2 Pro is simply a awesome action to consider.

The VX2 Pro is simply a two-slot artillery charger that tin return a wide assortment of compartment types and sizes. You tin popular successful AA, AAA, C, D, 18650, 21700, and more, and nan portion will automatically observe nan battery's chemistry, offering a wide array of functions to thief you get nan astir from your battery.

Xtar VX2 Pro tech specs

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The ample LCD surface is agleam and clear, displaying each nan basal accusation astir nan unit's batteries. The buttons let you to flip done nan different features, and I recovered that this was 1 of those bits of tech wherever I benefited from reference nan manual.

The charger features a USB-C larboard for charging and includes a 20W charger and cable. It besides comes pinch a useful retention container to support everything together erstwhile not successful use.

Also: This is nan only powerfulness slope I'll ever request for activity recreation (and each nan gadgets it tin charge)

At nan astir basal level, you person charging, which brings nan artillery to afloat capacity successful nan safest measurement possible. It will automatically observe nan artillery chemistry and find nan optimal powerfulness to present to nan battery, aliases you tin override this mounting to customize nan charge. I find that low-current charges -- this portion does down to 0.25A -- are a awesome measurement to prolong artillery life if you're not successful a hurry to recharge nan cells. 

The Xtar VX2 Pro tin trickle complaint batteries astatine 0.25A, aliases accelerated complaint them astatine 2A. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Charging is what astir group will beryllium using, but there's a batch much to this unit.

In summation to charging, it tin besides discharge nan artillery down to its cut-off voltage, allowing you to measurement nan cell's capacity and complete a afloat recharge cycle. 

There's besides a grading mode that allows you to trial nan battery's capacity nether real-world charging conditions. I find this highly useful for identifying worn batteries, matching artillery capacities erstwhile utilizing aggregate batteries successful a instrumentality and ensuring they are balanced, and besides for verifying manufacturers' artillery capacity claims (you'd beryllium amazed really galore make over-inflated claims). 

Also: 10 DIY gadgets I ne'er time off retired of my toolkit (and why each 1 earns its spot)

There's besides a retention mode characteristic that charges cells to nan optimal voltage for storage, reducing self-discharge, slowing aging, and extending artillery life. This is awesome if you person worldly that goes into retention for extended periods (things for illustration seasonal decorations that usage batteries).

There's besides a refresh usability for NiMH batteries to thief destruct nan complaint "memory" they tin create complete time, thereby regaining nan expertise to beryllium charged fully. I've recovered galore a artillery from nan recycling heap utilizing this characteristic (for example, I saved respective twelve batteries that were wrong star plot lights). 

The 2 slots activity independently, allowing you to person 2 different batteries undergoing 2 abstracted procedures, which is simply a bully feature. 

With galore rechargeable batteries disposable coming that tin beryllium charged straight utilizing USB-C, you whitethorn wonderment astir nan inferior of a standalone charger. If each you person are USB-C rechargeable batteries, you astir apt don't request a standalone charger. 

Also: The only charging adapter I ever recreation pinch thumps competing models pinch a hidden superpower

However, if you person different types of batteries aliases are a fixer who needs to repair them, a charger for illustration this comes successful handy. I've besides utilized excavation to hole a USB-C rechargeable artillery that refused to complaint utilizing USB-C because it had gone excessively acold astatine immoderate point. 

For me, there's a batch of worth successful a charger for illustration nan VX2 Pro.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Xtar VX2 Pro Battery Analyzer and Charger is 1 of nan astir feature-packed artillery chargers I've used. Not only does it excel astatine charging batteries, but it's besides a awesome diagnostic and repair tool. I must person refreshed and rejuvenated a mates of twelve batteries complete nan past fewer weeks, and a fistful of those wouldn't complaint successful my different charger.

Priced astatine $33, this portion is very competitively priced, considering nan features it offers. It's decidedly recovered a abstraction connected my workbench (and group who cognize maine cognize conscionable really constricted that is!).