ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Can take AA and AAA lithium ion and Ni-MH batteries
- Powered from any 15W+ USB-C charger
- Useful charger additionally acts as a caddy for batteries.
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I’ve made it my mission in 2026 to lastly rid myself of all alkaline AA and AAA batteries. OK, there would be the edge case the place one thing will want lithium AAs to run, however that is solely issues that run in chilly climate (like a handheld GPS receiver) or have a really lengthy runtime (just like the Elevation Lab 10-year TimeCapsule for the Apple AirTag). One of many issues I’ve had is preserving a adequate inventory of charged batteries — a charger that holds two or 4 simply does not reduce it. What I would like is a charger that may hold eight batteries charged up.
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That is what the Xtar L8 Field is available in. This charger ticks all of the bins for me and is about to turn out to be my charger of alternative going into 2026.
Xtar L8 Field charger specs.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
OK, so it is a battery charger. What’s particular about that? Effectively, a couple of issues.
First, it could actually cost as much as eight batteries concurrently. Simply pop an AA or AAA battery (lithium ion or nickel steel hydride) into any one of many free slots — and sure, it could actually deal with each AA and AAA batteries, so you do not have to fret about what goes the place — pop on the magnetic cowl, and away it goes.
Adapter for AAA batteries.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
One other profitable characteristic for me is that it may be run from any 15W or above USB-C charger. Most individuals have no less than half a dozen of those mendacity round, or they’ve a multiport desktop charger to plug it into. Nevertheless you select to energy it, it is extra handy than plugging it right into a wall outlet.
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Cost time is roughly 2.6 hours for a full set of batteries, which is appropriate for one thing like family batteries that you simply will not want in a rush. Preserve the batteries within the charger, and hold the charger plugged into a close-by USB-C port. You are all the time good to go.
The Xtar L8 Field charging up a full set of batteries.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The charger additionally acts are a handy storage pot for batteries, with the magnetic lid doing a superb job of preserving the batteries from spilling out of the holder.
Xtar additionally makes some superb batteries. I’ve discovered the batteries that I used to be despatched for testing with the charger to be of wonderful high quality. Costly, however that is the value you pay for a superb, long-lasting battery.
Xtar rechargeable batteries are glorious high quality, and have a useful “faucet on the highest to examine cost” characteristic.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Xtar is a kind of manufacturers that not solely makes good things however is innovating to make standout merchandise, and the L8 Field falls into that class. Not solely is it a very good, strong product, however it’s pushing the envelope of innovation.
At $30, the Xtar L8 Field could be very moderately priced, and in case you want a USB-C charger to go along with it, you’ll be able to decide one up for below $10.
