Everything you need to replace standard alkaline AA batteries.
Slightly longer-lasting than the direct competition, the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Li-ion batteries will work anywhere standard alkaline batteries will. Overall capacity is marginally lower than with standard rechargeables and the price is higher, but if you need an eco-friendly alternative to disposable batteries, these ones are great.
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Can replace alkaline batteries -
Carry case and four-way USB-C cable provided -
Solid capacity
Key Features
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USB-C charging
Connect the four-way USB-C cable to charge all four batteries at once. -
1.5V output
Works at 1.5V, the same as alkaline batteries. -
Mid-range capacity
Rated at 1700mAh, which is good enough for most standard uses.
Introduction
Built for jobs that regular NiMH can’t handle, such as smart locks, the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries use Li-ion instead, with a constant 1.5V output.
Packaged in a neat box with a carry case and four-way charging cable, these rechargeable batteries are great if you want a green alternative to alkaline batteries.
As with other Li-ion batteries, these ones are more expensive than traditional NiMH batteries, and they also can’t be charged in a regular charger.
Design and Charging
- Four-way USB-C cable
- Handy carry case
- Charges via USB-C
Similar to the Trust USB-C Rechargeable AA Batteries, the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries are Li-ion rather than NiMH, which gives two main benefits. First, the batteries output a constant 1.5V, the same as alkaline batteries, so you can use the Paleblue ones anywhere you’d use regular batteries. Secondly, Li-ion batteries hold their charge for a long time, so you can pre-charge and have these batteries ready to go.
While Trust sells its batteries in a two- or four-pack, the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries are only available as a four-pack. Each set comes in a neat, hard plastic carry case, and comes with a four-way USB-C cable, so that you can charge all four batteries using just one USB-A outlet.
With Trust, you only get the splitter in the four-pack of batteries.
Charging has to be performed using USB-C, as Li-ion batteries aren’t compatible with standard battery chargers. In fact, trying to use a regular battery charger runs the risk that you’ll damage the batteries. Some newer chargers, such as the XTAR XV4 are compatible with Li-ion, however.
Using USB-C is probably the easiest option for most people. Once a cable is connected to the USB-C port on the battery, a green LED flashes to show that the cell is charging; the light goes solid green when fully charged.
Each battery has a 1700mAh capacity, the same as the Trust ones. That’s a solid mid-range capacity, though for very high-use scenarios, such as toys, there are higher-capacity NiMH batteries, like the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2860mAh.
Here, Paleblue says that its batteries will last for 1000+ charge cycles, which is 200 more than Trust’s. That puts the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries on a similar footing to most standard NiMH batteries, although there are some that last for 1500 charge cycles or more.
Performance
- Solid mid-range capacity
- Works well anywhere alkaline batteries are required
As the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries aren’t compatible with a standard battery charger, I tested them with an XTAR VX4, which works with Li-ion batteries. I measured capacity at 1828mAh, which is very similar to the Trust USB-C Rechargeable AA Batteries (also Li-ion cells).
That’s a good mid-range level of power there, although I’d be tempted to stick with higher capacity NiMH batteries for anything that needs a lot more power in one go, such as some toys.
Discharging at a constant 1.5V, these batteries are compatible with anything that alkaline batteries are.
I tested these by installing them in a Yale Linus smart lock. When I’ve used regular NiMH batteries, the Yale app has sent me messages warning me that the batteries are low; with the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries I didn’t get any warnings.
Should you buy it?
You want to replace alkaline batteries with rechargeable ones
A more eco-friendly choice, these batteries can be used time and time again and will work anywhere that a regular battery will.
You want higher capacity batteries
If you can use NiMH rechargeables, you can buy higher capacity ones for quite a bit less.
Final Thoughts
A neat pack of batteries that gives you everything you need, including a four-way splitter cable and carry case, the Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries work well when you want to replace alkaline batteries with rechargeables.
They’re rated to last for more charge cycles than Trust’s similar batteries, which makes these a slightly better buy for most (although it’s worth checking prices). The main downsides are that you have to buy in packs of four with no smaller packs available, and they’re more expensive than NiMH batteries. Check out my guide to the best rechargeable batteries for alternatives.
How we test
We test every rechargeable battery we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- We use an Ansmann Energy XC 3000 to drain batteries, so that we can test capacity in mAh. After the first run, we charge and discharge 50 times, measuring the capacity every ten runs.
- We measure the initial voltage of the batteries, checking that the starting voltage is at least 1.2V.
FAQs
No, a battery charger designed for NiMH batteries will damage these cells; use a USB-C cable instead.
No, these are available in four-packs only.
Test Data
Full Specs
| Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries Review | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | – |
| Battery | 1700 mAh |
| Size (Dimensions) | x x INCHES |
| Release Date | 2025 |
| Battery type | Rechargeable |
| Battery technology | Lithium-ion |
| Battery size | AA |
