USBCELL batteries reviewed

It's not too often that you see a review of AA batteries here on Engadget. But then again, the USBCELL AA batteries aren't just your garden-variety portable cells, either. Our compadres over at TrustedReviews have just taken a set of these fine USB-chargeable batteries for a spin, and have given them a pretty favorable review. After charging a set of 'em for use with a Fuji FinePix cam, TrustedReviews found that it took over 500 snapshots for the batteries to give up. By comparison, a set of Duracell Alkaline batteries only lasted for "a few pictures." The review concludes: "For a combination of convenience and eco-friendliness then the USB Cells get the thumbs up. Once a wider range becomes available and if the price [$24 for a pair] can drop a little, then they'll could well do for batteries what USB memory sticks did for floppy discs and virtually kill them off." We can't wait to try 'em ourselves.

[Peter @ Oct 31st 2006 6:25AM]

Uhm, sorry to ruin your party, but have you ever heard of rechargeable batteries and chargers?
Sure, they're not as convenient to plug into a USB port, but:
- they cost around 10-20 times less
- they can be charged in less than an hour using a proper charger
- you won't need 4 full-powered USB ports to charge a set of batteries for your camera
- 2x the capacity because they're not wasting space for USB plugs and built-in charge circuitry
- they last much longer if you use a proper charger
- they are cheap to replace without disposing of the charger as well

Sometimes i really wonder what's going on inside people's heads...

[DM @ Oct 31st 2006 6:44AM]

So let me get this straight. One must need a pc or laptop just to charge this thing right?? Useless invention. Better stick with the old fashioned stuff.

[Tony @ Oct 31st 2006 6:50AM]

Why not just buy a USB battery charger?
http://www.a4tech.com/en/product2.asp?CID=41&SCID=42&MNO=CG-5
I guess you don't have to carry the charger around... but still... fairly big difference in price to pay!

[Deluxe @ Oct 31st 2006 7:14AM]

Peter - Yes, let's call carry a charger around.
DM - You can charge them in a regular charger should you so choose, apparently.
Tony - You answered your own moronic question.

I don't have any reason to buy one of these, but quit winging.

[DM @ Oct 31st 2006 7:28AM]

Deluxe @ Oct 31st 2006 7:14AM

Peter - Yes, let's call carry a charger around.
DM - You can charge them in a regular charger should you so choose, apparently.
Tony - You answered your own moronic question.

I don't have any reason to buy one of these, but quit winging.

err, you're doing it now.

[Krono6 @ Oct 31st 2006 7:40AM]

He/she wasn't winging, but making a point. The thing is that these batteries are very interesting to most, even though they may not make the purchase. I don't have a need for these batteries either, seeing as most of the things I carry around use Lithium's (iPod, Phone), but I can easily see how this'll be useful. No one wants to carry around a charger in their pockets, and alot of people do actually carry laptops and such around on business, maybe, these days.
This is a great invention indeed, mostly because it compromises with space, these things are the same size as regular batteries, and if in emergency you can also use one of those doo-dads that're made for recharging iPods in emergencies (which're the size of a small altoids tin).

[Mike @ Oct 31st 2006 7:32AM]

A usb wall charger costs like 15$ off of newegg.

The main advantage that these batteries have over normal rechargeable batteries is a way faster recharge time, and the tech makes sure that they hold their charge and fill up completely.

[Peter @ Oct 31st 2006 7:41AM]

@Mike: If your rechargeable batteries need more than 4 hours to recharge i'd suggest getting a different charger. For a few bucks you can get a decent fast charger which is done in an hour. If speed is supercritical, you can go as low as 10 minutes, but this will reduce battery lifetime and cost more.

[christopher @ Oct 31st 2006 8:00AM]

I call shenanighans. The Duracells only lasted a few shots? Lie.

-C

[Stu L Tissimus @ Oct 31st 2006 9:19AM]

Now, here's a question: Does anybody know of a normal rechargable battery charger that plugs into USB ports? A single USB port gives off 5v, more than enough for four 1.2v NiMH or NiCd.

[brownopher @ Oct 31st 2006 9:22AM]

The reason the Duracells didn't last is that Alkaline batteries do not work well with high current draw.

That's why you don't use them in cameras.

http://www.greenbatteries.com/nibafa.html#alkaline%20run%20down%20fast

[cuby @ Oct 31st 2006 10:59AM]

am i the only one who saw the blurb title and picture, and thought that these were special rechargeable batteries that you could use to add extra juice to your laptop?

am i really that retareded?

[Jay @ Oct 31st 2006 11:42AM]

From just the picture I thought it was a battery-shaped USB thumb drive...which would have been neat.

[TIMMAH! @ Oct 31st 2006 12:22PM]

Wow what a lame review. I think you should b comparing to other comparable rechargeable batteries, not regular batteries (which are already known not to hold up well in digital camera applications.)

[Warhorse @ Oct 31st 2006 12:22PM]

I hear ya cuby, i thought so too. Sure another 5 min of save your data b4 the batteries die!! But seriously, on vacation, in the car, a family with multiple kids in these situations would tend to benifit from these.

[Za @ Oct 31st 2006 12:26PM]

I use Duracell rechargeable AAs...8 pack of 2500mAH cells for $20 or so. So let's do the math here...8x2500=20,000mAH. So that winds up being about a dollar per 1AH/1,000mAH. With these, you are paying $24 for 2500mAH so these come out to be right about 10x more expensive than more=space efficient standard NiMHs.

[Za @ Oct 31st 2006 12:29PM]

I meant you are paying $24 for 2600mAH for the USBCELL but the statement still stands. You can get double the battery life if you are willing to use a charger.

[AdvidG @ Nov 1st 2006 10:48AM]

Hey...It's an option and one that could be handy one day in a pinch. Most of you have portable gear. So..most you may have been in that pinch once. look at it as a small step to a better tech future.

[Oddmanout @ Nov 1st 2006 10:58AM]

"The Duracells only lasted a few shots? Lie."

Believe it man. As others have indicated, by nature NiMh's will power your camera longer. Alkaine batts start out at a nice healthy 1.5v which slowly but steadily drops down to about 0.6v, at which point the battery is considered 'dead' (it will probably still power a wall clock for a few months or a cheap radio for a couple hours). NiMh's generally start off at about 1.3v - 1.4v and put out 1.3v - 1.4v until just about all the juice is gone, then the voltage drops off suddenly. Most digi cams are pretty finicky, if the batts aren't giving out that high voltage (1.3v - 1.5v each) the cam will just quit. It always amuses me how my camera's battery indicator reads full for the longest time, then drops to half, then 5 minutes later it dies.

But yeah, those Duracells only cut it for maybe 20 minutes tops in the average camera. But afterwards they'll still power a clock for 1 - 2 years...or light up a flashlight to near full brightness...

Just this weekend I went on a little trip to the Nagano area in Japan (GORGEOUS scenery this time of year), and picked up some new batts for the trip, as I'd been disapointed with the 2400maH ones I've been using. I got Sanyos, 2700maH.

Lasted...all...weekend...

As for these batts with the integrated charger, it's an interesting idea, but I don't see how it is all that much better on the front line than a dedicated charger. HOWEVER, if you can give me 2700maH batts with the integrated charger that can also be charged in a conventional charger, I'm sold (though such is probably a ways off, and would likely require a much more efficient chemistry). It would be nice to have a backup solution if I forget the charger...

Personally, I'm still hoping we eventually get self contained, refillable, fuel cells in a AA battery form factor...

[number40one @ Nov 2nd 2006 5:20PM]

I'd get these to forgo losing/lugging around a battery charger any day.

For those of us who don't already have a rechargable battery kit, and are already lugging around more than we'd care to, this a very welcome invention.

I'd say that this is pretty much the neatest consumer tech invention I've seen in '06... aside from motion sensitive videogame consoles, of course...

[Tracy L @ Dec 8th 2006 4:37PM]

I'd have to say this is the LAMEST consumer invention of 2006. The 5+ hour recharge time and 40% less energy than regular rechargables make this pretty useless.

I have to have my laptop/desktop ON for these these things to charge. Just how much energy am I wasting just to charge a few batteries? (There goes the environmentally friendly aspect.) If I don't have access to a power source my laptop will die way before the batteries get charged. And if I do, I might as well use a charger.

And in any "emergency", I can walk FIVE MILES to the nearest convenience mart AND BACK with some disposable batteries before these things are even half way charged.

I've really thought about it and I cannot come up with any scenario where these things are a practical answer. The only thing that comes close is using it as a battery for a wireless mouse for a laptop. But even this scenario has it as an "okay" solution and probably not the most ideal one.