Tiniest AA battery recharging system for traveling photographers?

If there’s a smaller, more convenient recharging system for batteries, I don’t know about it. EBL has created a clever, portable design for high-quality rechargeable AA batteries. Read on!

Note: EBL sent us the EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this item are our own.

EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable

Pros

• A clever 4-in-1 USB-A to USB-C cable design allows you to charge AA batteries without needing to use a larger, plastic tray-style recharging station.
• The lithium-ion batteries have USB-C ports that allow you to connect the charging cable directly to them.
• Batteries can be recharged in two hours.
• A battery that can be recharged 1600 times reduces waste, and IC protection protects batteries from over-charge or over-discharge, preventing battery leakage.

Cons

• The charging cables are a little short if you are charging batteries from a wall outlet, causing the batteries to hang from the cables.

EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable — Technical Specifications

All of the technical specifications for the EBL Updated 808U Battery Charger are from the Amazon link they provided us.

• 4 3500mWh high-capacity rechargeable lithium AA batteries with an improved lithium-ion cell
• USB Type-C Direct Charge
• Charges within 2 hours
• 1600 Recharge Cycles
• 1.5V Stable Voltage
• LED Indicator
• Built-in Smart Chip

EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable — Ergonomics and build quality

Tiny charging cable, perfect for traveling. EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable

Ergonomics

The batteries blink when charging, and glow when fully charged. EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable

I’m not sure if ergonomics get any better with a battery charger. There is only the cable. Plug one end in to a garden-variety USB-A port. Plug the USB-C ends directly into up to four batteries. Done. That’s right—each battery has a USB-C port. You plug the charging cable directly into the battery. It’s a clever design, one I’ve never seen before, beautifully implemented. The batteries blink will charging, then glow a steady green when fully charged.

I suppose the only thing one could wish for is a slightly longer cable. It is really short. Of course, a longer cable takes up a little more space, but still, I suppose a little bit wouldn’t hurt so that if you are charging them from a wall outlet, the batteries don’t hang?

Build quality

The cables and batteries seem solid. The USB-C ports are not wiggly and fit snugly.

The batteries

The four batteries use what EBL describes as “ProCyco technology”. I Googled this, of course, but it seems to be a proprietary phrase from EBL. EBL says that this technology helps batteries maximize their fullest capacity, enabling them to charge and recycle up to 1600 times. The website states that a normal amount is 400 times.

I’ll quote EBL for the batteries’ structure: “Embedded seal structure expand the space of crystal lattice, make more room for hydrogen, so EBL batteries will holds 80% power after 3 years benefit from its concentration to low self-discharge project.” So yes, the batteries are designed to hold their charge longer.

EBL Lithium AA Batteries 4 Pack, Rechargeable Double A Battery 1.5V 3500mWh with USB-C Cable — In the field

I took the charger and batteries on a short night photography trip. While charging, I was able to keep the batteries in the small plastic case that comes with the batteries and cable. The tiny charging cable was extremely convenient. Also, I could charge them on a wall outlet, but the batteries hung, not quite resting on the floor.

The batteries seem to last for a very long time, and are extremely convenient to use. With just a charging cable, it doesn’t take up very much room in my travel bag.

• Posted on November 19, 2024