Paleblue rechargable lithium ion batteries review: A lasting power solution

It’s almost 2026, and yes, we still need batteries. But it no longer makes financial or ecological sense to keep using disposable alkaline batteries. For me, I need mostly the good old AA battery, but I also need AAA, C, D, and even the blocky 9V PP3. 

there are some great rechargeable batteries out there from companies such as Eneloop and others.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

These batteries are a perfect replacement for alkaline batteries in pretty much every situation
I like that can be recharged from a USB port and don’t need a specific charger
* The USB-A connector in the end of the 4-way charge cable does feel a bit dated

Paleblue Rechargeable AA and AAA Batteries: A solid choice to disposables

I’ve been testing the Paleblue rechargeable AA and AAA batteries for a few weeks now, and I’m impressed. These aren’t your grandfather’s NiMH rechargeables. They’re lithium-ion based, which means they hold a charge for a *long* time, deliver consistent voltage, and can be recharged hundreds of times.

The kit I tested came with eight AA and eight AAA batteries,along with a 4-way USB-A charging cable. The batteries themselves feel well-made and solid.They’re also surprisingly lightweight, which is a nice bonus.

Performance-wise, these batteries are excellent. I used them in a variety of devices, including wireless mice, keyboards, game controllers, and even some high-drain toys. They consistently delivered the power needed, and I didn’t notice any significant drop-off in performance as they discharged.

One of the biggest advantages of these batteries is their capacity. Paleblue claims a capacity of 2000mAh for the AAs and 800mAh for the AAAs.While real-world capacity will vary depending on the device, I found these numbers to be fairly accurate. This translates to long life in devices designed to run on disposables.

They also recharge rapidly, with the AAs taking about two hours to charge and the AAA taking about an hour. This is much faster than older NiMH rechargeables, which could take up to a day to recharge.

I like the 4-way charge cable, too, although the fact that it’s designed to go into a USB-A port feels a little antiquated (but it’s nothing that a cheap adapter won’t solve). Plug the cable in, and the batteries have glowing LEDs that illuminate during charging and go out when they’re ready to use.

ZDNET’s buying advice

It’s the 21st century, and I don’t know why anyone is still using disposable batteries (outside of a few edge cases or where you need long shelf life, temperature-resistant lithium batteries). And now that you get batteries that last years, fast recharging, and the ease and convenience of USB recharging, with no separate charger required.

Prices for the Paleble packs are also quite reasonable — a