The Best Rechargeable Battery Charger in 2024 (For Eneloops, NiMH + Lithium-ion) (2024)

And the best and most advanced battery chargers in general

Best NiMH chargers

Besides the Eneloop chargers listed on our website, here are the best AA, NiMH, and Lithium-Ion Analyzer chargers.

Advanced battery chargers and analyzers have a few things in common. One is: They are used by people who want to “know their batteries better”. Secondly: you’ll learn how much capacity they actually have.

The Best Rechargeable Battery Chargers?

  1. SKYRC MC3000 is currently the #1 best and most advanced battery charger on the planet
  2. Opus BT C3100 is the second-best advanced battery charger/analyzer (affordable)
  3. SkyRC NC2200 is the best dedicated NiMH and NiCD rechargeable battery charger
  4. Opus BT C2400is the 3rd best dedicated NiMH/NiCD charger

# 1 – BEST UNIVERSAL BATTERY CHARGER ON THE MARKET!

SkyRC MC3000

(Multi-Chemistry charger for Lithium Ion, Li-Po, NiMH, NiCad etc)

My most used charger!

The first on the list is the SkyRC MC3000 that is the most advanced charger for round batteries and the best at it!It can handle many kinds of battery chemistries including NiMH, NiCD Lithium-Ion, Lilo (4.35V), LiFePO4, NiZn and more. At the same time this is also the most expensive analyzer of the bunch. With a maximum of 3A charge current for 4 slots its also the most powerful charger for cylindrical batteries currently available. It was officially announced in 2014 but didn`t make it to public availability till about a year later.

SkyRC MC3000 Pros

  • A multi-chemistry charger that is a One-fits-all solution
  • Smartphone APP with Bluetooth connection to set settings via a graphical user interface
  • PC connect: this lets you plot graphs to test batteries
  • Firmware and software updates. If there is ever a new chemistry the updates will let you receive the correct setting to charge the battery.
  • Full Manual control: Charge rate, rest time, discharge rate, cut-off voltage, etc

SkyRC MC3000 Cons

  • The price.
  • Not suited for non-tech-savy people
  • No graphical user interface, just simple names, and numbers.
  • Battery sliders are mentioned to be pretty stiff
  • The size of the charger is a bit on the large size

Please note that the Pros and Cons mentioned above do not fit all users. For a full review of the MC3000 refer to HKJ`s test.

#2- BEST BUDGET MULTI-CHEMISTRY CHARGER!

Opus BT C3100

(Multi-Chemistry charger for Lithium-Ion, NiMH, NiCad etc)The second on the list is the Opus BT C3100. Great charger, but I replaced mine with the more expensive SkyRC.
Also sold under different names, like Opus BT-C3400, Powerfocus BT-C3100, Voltcraft IPC-3, and a few other names, like “BT-C3100” without the Opus brand name. For now, I will keep it as the BT C3100.
The 3100 can be had for less than half the price of the SkyRC MC3000, but still has a lot to offer. It can charge Lithium-ion batteries in different sizes, from 16340 up to 20700, as well as AA and AAA rechargeable batteries.

It even has a hidden switch to charge at 4.35V for certain lithium batteries. This is the charger that I am currently using as a backup for the SkyRC mc3000. My Voltcraft charger broke on me, and my Powerex C9000 I gave to my brother.

It has a display that shows the numbers for each bay separately. It also includes a Refresh mode, which is “exercising” NiMH batteries to bring them closer to their full capacity.

Opus BT-C3100 Pros

  • Price
  • A multi-chemistry charger that is a One-fits-all solution
  • Can Analyze your batteries with capacity readings, which is great for checking battery quality
  • Can test internal resistance, but not very accurate
  • Manual control: Charge rate, discharge rate

Opus BT-C3100 Cons

  • No Software updates like the SkyRC MC3000
  • No PC link to track and plot graphs of the batteries
  • It may not be suited for non-tech-savvy people
  • The size of the charger is a bit on the large size
  • For using Lithium-Ion batteries at full charge rate you might have to upgrade the provided power adapter

Please note that the Pros and Cons mentioned above do not fit all users of course. For a full review seeOpus BTC3100 2.1V by HKJ.

BEST NiMH BATTERY CHARGER

SkyRC NC2200

(Most advanced, dedicated NiMH and NiCD battery charger and analyzer, not for lithium-Ion)

This is basically similar to the SkyRC MC3000 but for Non-lithium users. It focuses on just rechargeable NiMH and NiCD batteries.

The first on this list is the SkyRC NC2200 which is the most advanced NiMH and Nicad charger for round batteries, just like its brother is for all chemistries. With the optional Bluetooth adapter, it can be seen as the father of all NiMH chargers.

SkyRC NC2200 Pros

  • The most advanced
  • *Optional Smartphone APP with Bluetooth connection to set settings via a graphical user interface
  • Firmware and software updates via Bluetooth (with adapter)
  • Full Manual control: Charge rate, rest time, discharge rate, cut off voltage etc

SkyRC NC2200 Cons

  • Not suited for non-tech-savvy people
The Best Rechargeable Battery Charger in 2024 (For Eneloops, NiMH + Lithium-ion) (7)

Powerex MH C9000PRO

The successor of the popular Powerex MH C9000

Do not make a mistake, the Powerex MH C9000 PRO looks smaller than its predecessor, but not at the cost of performance. The only feature that this new version is missing is the Cycle mode. This mode isn’t very necessary, because of the Refresh and Break-in modes, which are also available on the PRO version.

It has 4 individual channels with a large display giving you the exact information you are looking for. You can learn more about your batteries with just a few button clicks. Also, the Analyze mode is great to see how much capacity your batteries still have. This is a great charger for NiMH batteries but won’t work with Lithium-ion batteries.

C9000 PRO Pros
  • Compact sized
  • Can Analyze your batteries with capacity readings
  • Can Refresh batteries to reclaim some of their lost capacity
  • Manual control: Charge rate, discharge rate, etc
  • Quick charge with up to 2A charge rate
Cons
  • No Software updates like the SkyRC MC3000
  • No PC link or Bluetooth options to track and plot graphs of the batteries
The Best Rechargeable Battery Charger in 2024 (For Eneloops, NiMH + Lithium-ion) (8)

BEST BUDGET AA BATTERY CHARGER (NiMH AA and AAA batteries) analyzer

Opus BT C2400

(Advanced charger for NiMH and NiCD batteries alone, not for Lithium-Ion)

The BT C2400 is a sibling of the BT C3100 which can charge many chemistries. This Opus BT C2400 is focused on NiMH and NiCD only. Besides the very moderate price, according to HKJs review (of the little older C2000, it’s a good charger. It has 4 separate bays with individual info on the display. It also includes a Refresh mode besides the usual charge and discharge modes. The Quick Test mode which is checking the internal resistance and the Test mode for the Capacity.

Opus BT C2400 Pros
  • Price
  • Can Analyze your batteries with capacity readings
  • Can Refresh batteries to improve some lost capacity
  • Manual control: Charge rate, discharge rate, etc
Opus BT C2400 Cons
  • No Software updates like the SkyRC MC3000
  • No PC link to track and plot graphs of the batteries
  • It may not suit non-tech-savvy people

The Pros and Cons mentioned above do not fit everybody. For a review see the previous version: Opus BT C2000 test by HKJ.

SUMMARY:

  1. First, determine your intended purpose use for the charger, NiMH, Lithium-Ion, refresh, break-in or just analyze the capacity?
  2. If you want FULL control over every detail there is only 1 consumer charger, the SkyRC MC3000 , or actually 2, the NC2600 or NC2200 if you only use Eneloops.
  3. What is your budget?

Head to our Where to buy Eneloops page to follow the links to the products. Not every charger may be listed.

For the best eneloop chargers see the list of eneloop chargers Best Eneloop chargers

The Best Rechargeable Battery Charger in 2024 (For Eneloops, NiMH + Lithium-ion) (2024)

FAQs

Are Eneloops still the best? ›

Best rechargeable batteries overall

The Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack is the perfect starter kit for those in need of rechargeable batteries. Not only are they some of the best batteries available on the market, but this kit comes with both AA and AAA batteries and a charger at a really good price.

Do I need a special charger for Eneloop batteries? ›

Eneloop batteries can generally be charged with any kind of NiMH battery charger. Duracell, Energizer and no-name. But to keep things simple, you better stay away from these 2 kinds of chargers: Ultra fast chargers and Dumb chargers.

Which rechargeable battery is better, NiMH or Lithium-ion? ›

Automakers favor lithium-ion batteries for their high energy density and voltage capacity as well as their light weight. These packs also tend to hold a charge better than nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) units and have a longer life.

Which is the best Panasonic eneloop battery? ›

The best rechargeable battery overall: Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA, 4-Pack With Charger.

Is the eneloop worth it? ›

They hold a charge well, match or beat alkaline battery performance in most gadgets, and can be recharged many times without any noticeable dip in performance. They may seem pricey, but you save a lot in the long run by choosing rechargeable over disposable.

What brand of rechargeable battery is the best? ›

More
  • Best Overall: Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA/AAA » ...
  • Best Budget: Amazon Basics High-Capacity » ...
  • Best 3.7v: Nermark 3.7V 3,200 mAh Lithium Ion » ...
  • Best AA: Panasonic Eneloop AA » ...
  • Best AAA: Panasonic Eneloop AAA » ...
  • Best With a Charger: Energizer 1 Hour Charger » ...
  • Best Bulk Buy: Tenergy Rechargeable NiCd 48-pack »
Feb 28, 2024

What is the difference between eneloop charger and eneloop pro charger? ›

The short answer: the Eneloop Pro battery has a higher capacity than the regular Eneloop with 2500mAh vs. 1900mAh. The Pro can be charged up to 500 times while the regular Eneloop up to 2100 times.

What kind of charger do you use for an eneloop battery? ›

We always recommend using an eneloop or Panasonic charger to charge your eneloop rechargeable batteries.

What is the difference between eneloop and eneloop pro? ›

A key feature of Eneloop Pro batteries is that they have an uncommonly high capacity for low self-discharge cells, rated at 2500mAh (milli-Amp hours) for AA and 930mAh for the smaller AAA version. Compared with standard Eneloop batteries, that equates to 25% more stamina for AA and 16% more for AAA.

What are the disadvantages of NiMH batteries? ›

The main drawbacks of nickel-metal hydride batteries are their high cost, strong self-rate, and the fact that they produce a large amount of heat at extreme temperature.

Can you charge Eneloop batteries with any charger? ›

You can use any NiMH battery charger with the Eneloop batteries. However, it is usually recommended to use a charger that is the same brand as the batteries. Smart chargers are a great choice, as they have advanced features such as automatic cut-off when the batteries are fully charged.

Which is better Li-Ion or NiMH or NiCd? ›

NiMH batteries offer a higher capacity than Nicad batteries, and less capacity than Li-Ion. They are nearly twice as heavy as Nicad batteries. They also don't have a memory effect.

How many years do Eneloop batteries last? ›

With an amazing shelf-life, eneloop batteries are able to retain up to approx. 70% charge*2 after 10 years of storage. Read on to learn more about why ready-to-use eneloop are one of the best-loved global battery brands.

Which is better Duracell or Panasonic? ›

Panasonic batteries tend to be more expensive than Duracell batteries. However, Panasonic batteries also tend to last longer than Duracell batteries. In terms of size, Panasonic batteries are also slightly larger than Duracell batteries. When it comes to performance, both brands offer good power and durability.

What is special about Eneloop batteries? ›

Eneloop batteries are rechargeable NiMH batteries. They are famous for their extremely Low Self Discharge characteristics. This means that they can keep a charge longer than any other NiMH or NiCD rechargeable battery in the world. Besides this, they can also produce a lot of power, more than their competitors can do.

What is the highest rated AA battery? ›

The two leading AA battery brands, Energizer and Duracell, stood out in the competition, displaying similar performance, with Energizer having a slight edge.

Which is better, eneloop or eneloop Pro? ›

The short answer: the Eneloop Pro battery has a higher capacity than the regular Eneloop with 2500mAh vs. 1900mAh. The Pro can be charged up to 500 times while the regular Eneloop up to 2100 times.

Are eneloops still made in Japan? ›

eneloop is designed, manufactured, and tested in Japan to rigorous quality control standards and is available in about 70 countries* around the world.

What is the longest lasting AA battery on the market? ›

Nothing outlasts Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA Batteries. These household batteries are not only the world's longest lasting AA batteries, but they also feature leak resistant construction and superior performance in extreme temperatures ranging from -40 degrees F to 140 degrees F.

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