You do realize that Apple doesn't manufacture
its own batteries, right? Apple, like most consumer electronics companies, doesn't actually make anything. So where do Apple's new AA rechargeable NiMH batteries comes from then? We had a suspicion early on that Apple's "new" AAs were actually
Eneloops, long one of our favorite brands of modern rechargeables due to their ability to maintain a 75% charge even after three years inside the kitchen utility drawer. Now our Czech friends over at
Superapple seem to have confirmed this after an exhaustive teardown and analysis of Apple's little power cells. Specifically, Apple's AA batteries appear to be none other than the 1.2V
Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTG rated at 1,900mAh (minimum). While
Superapple couldn't find any physical evidence linking the two, the measured performance characteristics of Apple's AA batteries matched the Eneloops perfectly. Knowing this, are you really going to spend $29 for the Apple charger and 6x AA batteries when you get 8x AA Eneloops and charger for the same price? Now mosey on past the break if you want to see a AA unrolled. Fascinating stuff.
[Thanks, Roman K.]
posted August 12th 2010 5:35AM
Rebranded batteries?
Meh.
@SolidSnake
I don't know...Some people love paying apple tax
@peacecrafts :
True !
And this aluminum packaging is sooooo sexy !... -_-'
@peacecrafts At least, it would be much easier for me to spend $29 for 6 AAs and a charger, than for an overpriced iPhone case.
Apple hating aside thanks for the consumer advice 8 batteries for the price of 6.
@SolidSnake If u uprank me, ur iPhone will start to make calls.
ZAAOOOOOOZAAAAA!!!!!!
@peacecrafts
Haha Apple are like a watered down version of Vertu, just add bling!
@SolidSnake
Hmmm.. maybe thats why it was never called anything with an "i" infront of it.
@thewild I have never seen a battery so good looking. Plus it has got an apple logo on it :P
@SolidSnake Apple Tax, not surprising.
@SolidSnake
They are not just Sanyo batteries, they are magical batteries, at a remarkable price. Everything changes. Again.
It's not just Apple that re-brands Sanyo Eneloops. Most other companies including Sony has done this in the past...
Also interestingly, you can't charge any rechargable batteries in the iCharger! WTF?! Why would ANYONE in their right mind purchase such a POS?!
Myth buster 101 !
When will Apple agree that A4 processor is just a re-branded humming bird processor.
@SolidSnake
Different articles, same conclusion: fuck Apple
@fais Agreed. I'm all for saving money, but honestly if I was buying a Mac right now I would likely toss them in my cart on a impulse, then buy some of the regular branded ones later. 2 batteries isn't worth the extra shipping charges.
@fais Apple is*
If you are not trolling or posting to LOLcats please learn singular vs plural
@fais You can even do better than that. Costco regularly has Eneloop kits for $20-25, depending on what kind of coupons they're running, that come with a charger, a bunch of Eneloop AA and AAA batteries (can't remember exactly how many), a ton of the converter modules to let you use them in C and D cell applications, and a storing case.
Well purchasing stuff like batteries etc from apple is really throwing the money through the window.
on the other end eneloop are excellent batteries, i have quite a few
@Awall1987
Wow correcting peoples typos on Engadget comments. You have done the internet a great service today and I'm clapping very slowly in your honour.
@SolidSnake
Are they too lazy?
@peacecrafts Just like people buy Lincolns over Ford or Cadillac over Chevy. People buy what they want, not what any of us think is relevant.
I had one of these fuckers explode in my hand right after I pulled it out of the charger. The explosion permanently damaged my ears. I hate eneloop battery's, and before you ask, yes it was polarized correctly
@SolidSnake
It's just like the "magical" a4 processor -- it's a fucking samsung hummingbird FFS...apple had nothing to do with the design. They just bought the company that helped samsung make it! (Intrinsity).
@DoctarPeppar They sprinkled them rainbows on it.
@peacecrafts
In this instance, the charger is cheaper than the energizer competitor, and comes with two more batteries. That sounds like a deal to me.
!
Sure, they might be the same batteries, but the Apple charger IS better than pretty much anything else on the market, and with 6 Eneloop batteries included, $29 is a good deal.
@centizen
A AA battery exploded in your hand and permanently damaged your hearing? I don't mean to be a dick, if that really happened it REALLY sucks and I would have sued the $#!+ out of the company, but I do find it hard to believe.
(P.S. Grammar Nazis, "AA" is pronounced "double-A" and thus "a", not "an", is the proper article.)
Wait... what Apple device takes AA batteries?
@Engrudget You must've not looked at any other chargers.
@notsodumb Because it's not...
@pgee
No it doesn't.
@Billy Looks like someone's jealous that they can't afford Apple products.
@PeterJames
The wireless desktop keyboard, mouse, and trackpad take AA batteries.
@centizen Next dumb question - Did you use the right charger? Eneloops can be charged in other NiMH chargers but they don't like the high current fast chargers. I stopped using the Maha charger because it seemed like the cells got too warm.
These will be used inthe next iphone/ipod touch.
@yeoldgreat1
Theses are the new batteries from Sanyo witch is not available yet
old eneloop
(HR-3UTG / HR-4UTG)
new eneloop
(HR-3UTGA / HR-4UTGA) (Apple)
1000 charging cycles (old eneloop)
1500 charging cycles (Apple)
85 % capacity after 1 year of storage (old eneloop)
75% capacity after 3 years of storage (Apple)
suitable for temperatures as low as -10°C (old eneloop)
suitable for temperatures as low as -20°C (Apple)
@Time
Plus a charger that's miles better than anything else on efficiency and minimized vampire draw, yea, it's not too bad really.
@Time
They're available from Amazon for 36 bucks (8 AAs and 4 AAAs and a charger) and from Costco for 26 bucks.
Are there better batteries to choose for heavy voltage usage than slow? I use rechargables for a camera flash that gets heavy use (1000+ flashes in 4 hours) They can currently handle about 1200 flashes before dieing. I understand the Apple batteries are better for slow low voltage use. But which are good for heavy use?
@Time http://www.amazon.co.jp/SANYO-eneloop-%E6%80%A5%E9%80%9F%E5%85%85%E9%9B%BB%E5%99%A8%E3%82%BB%E3%83%83%E3%83%88-%E5%8D%983%E5%BD%A24%E5%80%8B%E3%82%BB%E3%83%83%E3%83%88-N-TGR01AS/dp/B002S0N8QI/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1281624878&sr=8-8
@caribousteaks Check out the eneloop reviews on amazon and such, but i'm pretty sure they say that they handle camera flashes perfectly.
Let Apple make an iPhone with a movable battery :)
@potato76828606 ZAAAAAOOOOOZZZZZAAAA
those batteries somehow seem un-high tech. i always thought batteries were more complex!
@Kev007 Sometimes these batteries also get HOT.
@Kev007
Nah, they're basically just two sheets of conductive material separated by either a sheet of semiconductor or insulator. I know there has to be more to it, chemical doping or something, that prevents the battery from simply discharging all at once.
When did Apple start manufacturing batteries?
@spongebob92
They don't read the post.When it comes to hardware Apple just re-brand and repackage standard parts. Even the A4 which they claim to have designed is basically a repackaged Samsung Hummingbird.
Gone are the days of the G4 etc.I think the only original piece of Apple hardware left is their marketing machine.