X
Home & Office
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

I took a chance on these rechargeable batteries during COVID times and now they're my go-to

With the holidays fast approaching, you'll want to make sure you have plenty of rechargeable batteries on hand.
Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing Writer
The POWEROWL AA batteries and charger.

The Powerowl battery and charger combo is one of the best I've used.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I use AA batteries for so many things. They're all over the house, in remotes, flashlights, alarms, and other applications.

Of all the things I use AA batteries for, there's one application that's pretty important -- my wireless lav mics that I use for filming videos. Those batteries need to go the distance, and I also need to have backups, so I'm never left without power for those mics.

Also: The best rechargeable batteries right now

I took a chance on a set of eight rechargeable batteries with a USB charger from the brand Powerowl on Amazon. I'd never heard of the brand, but it was the height of the pandemic and I couldn't find any others. The batteries had over 10,000 reviews with a 4.5-star average. The cost was also spot on (currently $28.99, plus a $3 coupon offer) and I figured they could serve as my backups if they weren't great.

When the batteries arrived, I charged them up, and then inserted a charged pair of batteries into my mic and a pair into the receiver and set about filming. To my surprise, the batteries lasted considerably longer than I expected from an unknown brand.

View at Amazon

The specs 

Here are the details you need:

  • Can be recharged over 1,200 times, while retaining 70% charge after non-use (for up to three years)
  • Achieve a full charge (for nearly spent batteries) in 6-8 hours
  • Working temperatures -- from 14 degrees F to 113 degrees F
  • Storage temperatures -- from 14 degrees F to 104 degrees F
  • Indicator light -- red is charging, green is charged, green blinking means battery is damaged, and orange means input voltage is too low
  • Input: DC 5V 2A; Output: DC 1.4V 250mAh AA / 1.4V 250mAh AAA
  • US UL 1310 safety certification
  • Overcharge and short-circuit protection
  • 2800mAh high-capacity, low self-discharge Ni-MH batteries for long life
  • Includes eight batteries, charging dock, and USB cable
  • Ten-year shelf-life
  • The charger can charge one or all eight batteries simultaneously

The amount of time the batteries will last on a full charge depends on what they are being used for. My wireless mics can really drain batteries fast but I've been able to achieve roughly four hours of filming on a single charge. From my battery experience, that's outstanding service.

Also: Dead gadget battery? This $6 tool is a must-have for tech repairs

Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on usage. But if you're looking for a dependable set of rechargeable batteries that includes a handy charger, you can't beat this deal. In fact, I've found that the Powerowl batteries tend to outperform name-brand rechargeables in both charging time and performance. 

Editorial standards