These batteries also aren’t so good at retaining charge, with GP quoting them at retaining up to 50% of their capacity after one year. Longer-lasting batteries will typically keep up to 80% or more of their charge.

Capacity is rated at just 1700mAh, although we found that they managed 2045mAh when slow charged, a chunk above that rated capacity. On a fast charge, power was 1769mAh. Each battery is rated at 1700mAh, and can be charged using the fast or Eco options. With fast charging, 10 minutes is all you need to get to 90% capacity; on Eco mode, charging takes longer, but you can get to the full capacity. These batteries are low self-discharge ones, which means that they’ll retain 80% of power after one year. That’s handy, as you can charge them and leave them in a drawer until you’re ready to use them. Performance 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 This is the charger the market has longed for. Protracted recharge time has been one of the biggest barriers for consumers to switch from single use to rechargeable batteries. Fortunately, a lot has happened since rechargeable batteries were introduced many years ago, and we are very excited to bring this new generation rechargeable solution to the market,” says Michael Lam, Director at GP Batteries International Limited.When it comes to standard NiMH rechargeable batteries, there are three things that you need to consider: the total number of charge cycles, their capacity, and how long they stay charged for. The Duracell Rechargeable AA 2500mAh performs well on all fronts, starting with a high overall capacity of 2500mAh. When getting that perfect shot, you don’t want to be burdened with many replacement disposable batteries in case they go flat. Even if you’re reaching for your camera to document special memories, ensuring you have disposable batteries can be a hassle that ruins and maybe makes you miss the moment. For the most demanding of gadgets, such as kids’ toys or powerful flashlights, only the highest-capacity batteries will do. The GP ReCyko 2600mAh AA rechargeable batteries are rated at 2600mAh, but often performed far better in my tests. 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.

Do not mix new batteries in use with semi-used batteries or different types of batteries as it will affect the performance and conditions of your devices.With a starting voltage of 1.4V, these batteries were above the lower limit of 1.2V for rechargeable batteries. Capacity is decent. Rated at 2000mAh, we found that these batteries managed an initial result of 2218mAh, and that didn’t change over the full 50 cycles that we put the batteries through. That’s enough power to take on the most powerful jobs, although if you really need more power, the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh may be better. 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. That’s great for convenience, but be aware that fast charging does reduce battery life: fast charging gets you only 250 cycles, while slow charging extends life to 700 cycles. We recommend fast charging only when you absolutely have to. 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. For those who can not wait for an hour and a half or more for fully charged batteries, there is an easier solution called ReCyko Charge 10. I also had to try it. It comes with only four 1700 mAh AA-size batteries (can also be used with AAA) and an accompanying charger, and fills the four batteries to about 90 percent capacity in ten minutes. Says GP.