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Panasonic Eneloop Smart & Quick Charger with 4x AA Batteries $32 + $12.90 Delivery ($0 QLD C&C) @ CameraPro

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Panasonic Eneloop Smart & Quick Charger with 4x AA Batteries $32 + $12.90 Delivery ($0 QLD C&C) @ CameraPro

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Russ on 24/09/2025 - 01:17 camerapro.com.au (1179 clicks)
Last edited 24/09/2025 - 21:09 by 2 other users

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The k-kj55mcc4ta charger is on special, it's been quite a while since this charger has been available at a good price.

This is a "smart" charger that takes 1.5-2 hours to charge your AA and AAA NiMh batteries, and includes four AA eneloop batteries rated at 2100 charging cycles. It uses -dV/dT detection to cut off charging when each battery reaches full charge, unlike "dumb" chargers that will cook your batteries by overcharging them.

Surcharges: 0% direct deposit & Pay with Zip, 0.95% card, 1.5% PayPal.

Edit: a couple of OzBargainers have reported successfully price-matched at TGG, so that's a good way to get it via click-and-collect if you have a TGG closer than CameraPro. If you have to get it delivered, TGG's shipping fees may be cheaper.

Electrical & Electronics AA Battery Battery Battery Charger Panasonic Rechargeable Battery

3 Nov 6:16pm

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closed Comments

Russ on 24/09/2025 - 01:30

+4

Before anyone asks "what about Ikea chargers", they're all crap. They might claim -dV/dT detection, but they take much longer to charge (5-6 hours for STENKOL and 9-11 hours for LITOSFÄR), and slower charging means the -dV/dT effect gets much smaller and becomes impossible to detect.

STENKOL has been tested here on OzBargain: it took 20 minutes to 30 minutes to detect that fully-charged batteries had been inserted and stop charging. A proper smart charger is much faster than this, the Liitokala Lii-500 takes 4 minutes.
- dfg555 on 24/09/2025 - 07:49
  
  xtar better no?
  - HaydosK on 03/10/2025 - 16:41
    
    Even though I just bought this one I'm kinda looking at getting a better charger. XTAR seems to be what everyone is talking about but LiitoKala is cheap so it might be an ozbargain favorite. I would also like some guidance on this
  - BubbleSqk2020gangb on 04/11/2025 - 02:01
    
    X tar nah charger has a chord long enough for neighbours to be like pro
HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 01:46

So if I get this and use IKEA or amazon batteries that will be an improvement because it's not about the battery but the charger quality? Also what's the chance of getting this price matched?
- Russ on 24/09/2025 - 01:59
  
  +2
  
  Most NiMh chargers are "dumb" chargers, they charge your batteries for 10 hours or more, irrespective of how flat your batteries were. They usually put too much charge into the batteries, and the NiMh batteries can't handle that, so the extra charge turns into heat. Heat is the enemy of NiMh batteries, the electrolyte in the batteries will heat up and burst the "overpressure relief valve", which is almost always behind a little hole near the positive pip of the battery.
  
  Once the overpressure relief valve has burst, it's permanently open, and two things happen:
  
  some electrolyte will often leak out, causing corrosion on the battery holder's contacts, usually creating a pale blue "fuzz" on them.
  
  the electrolyte will slowly dry out, so the battery capacity will continuously reduce with time. You'll get less "life" from your battery.
  
  So if you've previously been using a dumb charger, then sorry, your batteries are probably damaged and will need replacing soon. If you've ever taken batteries off the charger and they were too hot to hold, they've been damaged. This charger will treat your batteries much more nicely, and you should get long life from the replacement batteries.
  
  What battery charger do you have? Possibly you already have a smart charger.
  - HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 02:14
    
    Thanks for the info. Well I just bought a 10 pack of AAA from amazon and I am just using them as they came pre charged but I don't have a charger for them. I have some AA and charger from IKEA but my dad uses them mostly so I don't actually know if they get too hot. Safe to say the Amazon ones are totally fine and shouldn't be damaged from the factory. Just want to confirm are the batteries the same or is there something special about these ones or is it just the charger that really matters for charging safety and speed? Is this panasonic charger and batteries the best out there?
    - Russ on 24/09/2025 - 02:36
      
      +1
      
      Just want to confirm are the batteries the same or is there something special about these ones
      
      No, not all NiMh batteries are the same, they come in two varieties:
      
      "Standard" NiMh batteries quickly go flat on their own, even when they're just sitting in a drawer. Typically they're half-flat a month after charging, and completely flat three to five months after charging.
      
      "Low self-discharge" NiMh batteries stay charged for much longer, typically having 80% or more of their energy one year after charging. The batteries in this deal are this type, and it sounds like your Amazon batteries are too.
      
      is it just the charger that really matters for charging safety and speed?
      
      While all chargers are safe, many are "dumb" chargers and will damage your batteries. This means you'll only get maybe 20 to 50 charge cycles out of them before you throw them out, when the batteries could have lasted much longer if the charger didn't abuse them. For example, the batteries that come with the charger have an expected life of 2100 cycles - that's 40+ years if you're charging them once a week!
      
      And re charging speed: smart chargers typically take 2 hours or less to charge batteries from completely flat to full. They can only operate this fast because they are able to detect when the battery reaches full charge and stop charging at that point. If a dumb charger tried to charge in 2 hours, the batteries would get so hot they'd cause serious burns, and likely melt the plastic of the charger.
      - HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 02:47
        
        +1
        
        @Russ: Ok I will hopefully price match this and use it instead of the IKEA one. Thank you so much.
      - HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 16:26
        
        +1
        
        @Russ: Ok just tried it and I price matched to the good guys. Did it on the live chat.
        
        Russ on 24/09/2025 - 21:11
        
        @HaydosK: Excellent news! Did they match the charger's price, or price+shipping?
        
        HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 21:49
        
        +1
        
        @Russ: Just the charger price. No shipping. They are good for that.
        
        HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 21:59
        
        @Russ: Also with the IKEA batteries I heard they are essentially the same as the eneloop just rebranded. Is that still the case for the ones sold in Australia as I did see some aren't made in japan anymore meaning they can't be a rebranded one. Is there a better place to buy for value? Is lithium ion worth it in the future? I was reading down and obviously you need a different charger for that lol. Sorry for all my questions
        
        Russ on 24/09/2025 - 22:37
        
        +1
        
        @HaydosK: The IKEA batteries were unavailable for a long time, but have recently been seen in a few IKEA stores, see this deal. There's a link in that deal that shows current stock levels and predicted deliveries to the stores. Whether they're rebranded eneloop batteries is conjecture, but I've used them and they appear to perform identically.
        
        I recently tried buying some PowerOwl batteries from Amazon, which claim to be 2800mAh, but I'm only measuring 2000mAh in testing. Welcome to the real world, where sellers tell lies. There may be 2400mAh batteries available at Amazon, but so far I've been unlucky at finding them.
        
        Is lithium ion worth it
        
        I'm assuming you're referring to "1.5V lithium" rechargeable batteries.
        
        If they're "normal" lithium-ion, then they'll last as long as mobile phone batteries do - you'll be replacing them in about 5 years. This is an inherent problem with lithium-ion batteries, they degrade with time, even when you're not using them. You'll have to judge if the price is worth it for you, for five years of usage.
        
        If you can find LiFePO4 batteries that function as 1.5V battery replacements, they should last substantially longer than "normal" li-ion batteries, but I'm unaware if these batteries exist.
        
        HaydosK on 24/09/2025 - 23:04
        
        @Russ: Cool thanks. I think I will be sticking with these then.
        
        ozilicious on 25/09/2025 - 15:40
        
        @Russ: Sadly GG will only drop it to $51 for me. I tried many times on chat and calling, with different states/post codes.
        
        I'm novice when comes to rechargeables, does anyone have guidance on how either of these would compare for about $10-15 more delivered?
        
        https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-K-KJ17KHCA4A-Individual-ene…
        
        https://www.amazon.com.au/Panasonic-Rechargeable-Batteries-I…
        
        Russ on 25/09/2025 - 20:23
        
        @ozilicious: The first one is from Amazon US, so the prices are in USD, making it rather expensive. And it has a US mains plug, so you'll need a good mains plug adapter as the charger "hangs" from its mains plug. If you use a cheap adapter it may fall out.
        
        The second one doesn't say it's a smart charger, and says 9 hours to charge, so it's almost certainly a dumb charger.
        
        As price is your main concern, you might be better off getting a more advanced charger from AliExpress. The Liitokala Official Store on AliExpress usually has the Liitokala Lii-500 for about 40 Australian dollars with free delivery. Just make sure you buy the one with a plugpack included. The plugpack options, unfortunately, are only US or EU mains plug, so you'll need a mains plug adaptor as well, if you don't already have one.
        
        Don't be tempted by the similar chargers on offer. Many of them don't charge NiMh batteries, and of those that do, many aren't nearly as good as the Lii-500.
        
        Also be aware that the Lii-500 isn't a "no settings" charger like the one in this deal. The default settings (charge at 500mA) are good for AAA batteries, but for charging AA batteries you should press the buttons to set 1000mA charging current.
        
        ozilicious on 25/09/2025 - 20:56
        
        @Russ: Hey thanks for replying & for your suggestions!
        
        The Amazon AU says "Quick charge" "2hrs" and is $64.84 delivered.
        
        Would you recommend I go with:
        yours for $51 at GG (1.5 hrs but 4 regular EL) or
        Amazon $15 more (2hrs but 4 EL Pros)
        
        Being novice, I do need batteries with it and prefer a local/Amazon retailer.
        
        Russ on 26/09/2025 - 00:05
        
        @ozilicious: That's a tricky question.
        
        It appears to be the same charger with both options, the only difference (other than the packaging) seems to be which batteries are supplied with the charger.
        
        Looking at battery prices alone, here and here, the price difference between 4xAA eneloops and 4xAA eneloop pros is quite small - much less than the price difference between the chargers.
        
        1.5 hrs but 4 regular EL
        
        Actually, the 1.5 hours is when charging two batteries at a time. When charging 4xAA ordinary eneloops, it takes 3 hours, twice as long. I didn't mention that in the post because adding too many details confuses people.
        
        As the charger takes 4 hours to charge 4xAA eneloop pros, that's verging on too long for reliable end-of-charge detection. I always recommend buying a charger that charges in 3 hours or less, so this charger is not well-suited to eneloop pros.
        
        I suggest a different choice:
        
        Option 1: the charger in this deal, for $51 delivered.
        
        Option 2: Liitokala Lii-500 from AliExpress and 4xAA eneloop pros purchased separately from Amazon Au (about $40+$27.50 = $67.50)
        
        In both of these options, the charger is well matched to the batteries (the Lii-500 will charge the eneloop pros in less than 3 hours on its 1000mA setting).
        
        I've just checked the AliExpress price of the Lii-500. It's currently AU$37.61 delivered - choose the "1pcs(500 no car)" option, and it is eligible for this cashback deal, with about $4.44 cashback. Or it's considerably cheaper if you're new to AliExpress and use their "welcome deal" pricing.
        
        Having started on a charger like the one in this deal, and then upgrading later to the Lii-500 later, I wish I had started with the Lii-500. But that's me, I like technology. If you want something easy and foolproof, go with the charger in this deal.
        
        ozilicious on 27/09/2025 - 11:49
        
        @Russ: Wow, that taught me a lot I didn't know. Thank you so much.
        
        So am I right, the Lii-500 also do regular enloops (AA and AAA) as well as enloop pro (AA and AAA) without cooking them?
        
        If yes, then the only thing holding me back is having a bunch of Amazon credit to use.
        Do you think that this is a real Liitokala Lii-500?
        
        Russ on 27/09/2025 - 15:27
        
        @ozilicious:
        
        Wow, that taught me a lot I didn't know. Thank you so much.
        
        You're welcome! Glad to help!
        
        the Lii-500 also do regular enloops (AA and AAA) as well as enloop pro (AA and AAA) without cooking them?
        
        Correct, it will charge any 1.2V NiMh battery that will fit into the battery slots. And it will also charge any 3.7V lithium-ion battery that will fit, if you have any of those. Flashlights using 18650 lithium-ion batteries are quite popular among some OzBargainers (18650 is the size, 18mm diameter and 65mm long, larger than an AA battery).
        
        Do you think that this is a real Liitokala Lii-500?
        
        It probably is, but that listing doesn't include the power supply, it's the charger only. You'll need a 12V plugpack as well, and it has to have the correct plug and correct polarity. AliExpress sells that model ("charger only" or "Lii-500 no other") for much less.
        
        As a guide, if the photos don't show a plugpack, then it almost certainly doesn't include a plugpack. If the photos do show a plugpack, double check it's included in the "Package list" listing. The link you gave only says charger and manual in the package list.
        
        In case you weren't aware, most sellers on Amazon and eBay are just drop-shipping from AliExpress or another Chinese seller, and making a profit on the price difference. The "delivery 15 - 21 October" indicates it's pretty likely this is being drop-shipped. Why not cut out the middle man, and pocket the savings yourself? And buy a mains plug adaptor at the same time, as the Lii-500 isn't normally available with an AU plug. Or you can buy a mains plug adapter locally for a bit more, and be sure it meets Australian Standards for safety.
        
        ozilicious on 27/09/2025 - 19:09
        
        @Russ: Thank you again! I would've definitely fallen for thinking it was ready to go from Amazon.
        
        There's a few reasons why I was stuck on getting it from Amazon but even with those, you've made several valid points that has me deciding to go with Ali.
        
        So to double check the Lii-500 Ali link you shared doesn't have an option in that listing to include a wall power source, only a car one?
        
        Also to check, the plug packs you linked from Bunnings and Ali are just the prong adapter for the pins to fit AU style outlets?
        If yes, I have several US to AUS one's lying around so I think I should be good on that part.
        
        Russ on 28/09/2025 - 00:03
        
        @ozilicious:
        
        So to double check the Lii-500 Ali link you shared doesn't have an option in that listing to include a wall power source, only a car one?
        
        It's the other way around. the "1pcs(500 no car)" option has no car power connector but does have the mains plugpack. The other 1-piece option "1pcs(500 no other)" is just the charger, nothing else.
        
        the plug packs you linked from Bunnings and Ali are just the prong adapter for the pins to fit AU style outlets?
        
        Correct.
        
        I have several US to AUS one's lying around
        
        The one I linked above has an EU plug (with round pins), according to the photos. That seller doesn't currently offer a US plug option. I found another seller offering a US plug option, this one. Click on the "US" button below the pictures, and then try each of the pictures until the description above the pictures says "Color: Lii-500-no car". When you add it to the shopping cart, check the cart says "Lii-500-no car/US" in the description.
        
        Strangely, nearly every seller used to offer a US plug option. I had to search through 20 or so until I found one still offering US plug and having stock. Maybe it's in response to Trump imposing huge tariffs on China, they may have stopped making US plugpacks because they can't sell into the US anymore. Buy it quickly before they run out of stock! And don't forget to get the cashback through TopCashback, assuming you're a member.
        
        ozilicious on 28/09/2025 - 15:35
        
        @Russ: That's fantastic I'm going to jump on it!
        Thank you so much Russ, I'd have never figured out all this on my own!
        
        Edit: I just realized if it's a US power source it maybe only 120v and I only have the prong adapter not a transformer, do you think it'd be the case?
        
        Russ on 28/09/2025 - 20:40
        
        @ozilicious:
        
        it maybe only 120v
        
        That hasn't been the case for many years. It was true back in the days when plugpacks had actual copper-and-iron transformers, but such things are exceptionally rare and considerably more expensive, due to the price of copper.
        
        For more than a decade, plug packs have all become switch mode power supplies, as they're much cheaper to make. On many of the AliExpress listings you can zoom in on the plugpack's sticker, and it says "100 - 240V 50/60Hz". Which means it will work anywhere in the world, when the appropriate plug is fitted.
        
        ozilicious on 28/09/2025 - 22:12
        
        @Russ: Awesome, thank you… And I didn't know that, very interesting about the change to switch mode power supplies and the reason being copper prices
        
        Thanks again for all the guidance, I finally pulled the trigger with complete peace of mind!
        Looking forward to not having to buy/throw out another non rechargeable
        
        Russ on 29/09/2025 - 00:28
        
        @ozilicious:
        
        and the reason being copper prices
        
        Well, there were other influences as well, but copper price was the biggest one. Copper-iron transformers are heavy, and that can push shipping fees into the next higher weight bracket.
        
        There's also the continuing trend towards built-in obsolescence. My 15-year-old telephone-over-internet adapter, running 24/7/365, is on its third or fourth switchmode plugpack. Most switchmode plugpacks are built as cheaply as possible and don't last long. Whereas I have an ancient router that uses a plugpack containing a copper-iron transformer, and I expect it to last forever, as copper-iron transformers don't normally wear out.
        
        ozilicious on 29/09/2025 - 14:05
        
        @Russ: Super, interesting. I have some in a box that I'm now glad I kept
        
        HaydosK on 07/10/2025 - 03:46
        
        @Russ: What is your opinion on the xtar vx2 pro? It's on sale now and even though it's only 2 slots it supports USB C which I think is a very useful feature. Can you still say liktokala chargers are better? Also if not is the 500 the best model to get or is the 600 worth it?
        
        Russ on 07/10/2025 - 11:26
        
        +1
        
        @HaydosK: The XTAR VX2 pro is bad for AA NiMh batteries, according to this review
        
        The review says:
        
        Unlike Li-ion batteries, NiMH batteries are charged in the VX2 Pro at a fixed current of 500 mA. Depending on the cell’s capacity, this current may be either too high or significantly lower than what’s technically possible, which affects the charging time accordingly.
        
        I'd also rate the XTAR website as "dodgy" for concealing this information.
        
        it supports USB C which I think is a very useful feature.
        
        That's not a feature, that's XTAR saying "We prefer to sell this without a mains power supply". If they sold it with a mains power supply, it wouldn't matter what type of connector is used.
        
        Note that if you're using your own main power supply, whether you can use all of the charging currents they list depends on the exact specifications of your mains power supply.
        
        XTAR do apparently sell a version of the VX2 pro with a mains power supply, but that still has the limitation that it's bad for AA NiMh batteries.
        
        Please don't ask my opinion of any more chargers. I'm happy to talk about the ones I have, but there are hundreds of different chargers, and researching new ones has no benefit to me.
        
        HaydosK on 07/10/2025 - 11:35
        
        @Russ: Ok. Im interested to know more about what you have if you haven't already covered it here.
        
        marshmall0w2 on 08/10/2025 - 19:15
        
        @HaydosK: The forum review he links says
        
        The XTAR VX2 Pro is an excellent multi-charger for Li-ion, NiMH, LiFePO₄ and 1.5 V Li-ion batteries. As a compact version of the VX4 with two charging slots, it takes up very little space and – thanks to its USB-C port – is perfect for travel.
        
        The other reviews where they broke down the actual charger into its bare electronics also note it's a good charger and unlikely to cause any change in battery lifespan. The 0.5A fixed charge is fine. It actually goes down when you're hitting the limit and limits itself to 0.5A when you're far from the limit, thereby reducing heat generation. The rule of thumb is that the higher charging current (the more rapid the charging) the greater the damage. But 0.5A is fine. This also holds for smartphones where you can charge a constant 7-9 W fine but your battery rapidly degrades with 20W+.
amgbenz on 24/09/2025 - 04:51

Amazon prime + S/S = 32.26 delivered
- salut on 24/09/2025 - 05:09
  
  Have you got a link? I'm only seeing the overnight charger for that price. The Smart and Quick one is showing as $69.
  - amgbenz on 24/09/2025 - 05:25
    
    +1
    
    Ahh sorry you’re correct. It was the overnight.
    - Russ on 24/09/2025 - 21:13
      
      It's easy to make that mistake, you have to look closely at the packaging to see the "1.5hrs" label.
Kim88 on 24/09/2025 - 06:30

The $18 shipping kills this for me. Anyone got a recommendation for a smart charger for Amazon aa/aaa batteries?
- Russ on 24/09/2025 - 21:15
  
  A couple of commenters have price-matched at TGG, if you have a TGG nearby. Use Click & Collect to avoid shipping entirely.
bhavesh8sep on 24/09/2025 - 07:35

What about eneloop's own charger, which is sold along with batteries? Is it smart one?
- Russ on 24/09/2025 - 08:06
  
  +1
  
  If a battery charger is sold by a company that makes batteries, it almost always is a dumb charger. Panasonic seems to be the only exception to this rule, and even there Panasonic sell far more dumb chargers than smart chargers. Many stores (e.g. Costco) only stock one model of charger, and they sell the cheapest model, which is a dumb charger.
  
  Battery companies want the batteries to fail after a small number of charges, that's why they sell dumb chargers. That way you'll be back after a year or two, to buy replacement batteries from them.
  
  Which is so disappointing, because it conditions the public to expect 50 or less charge cycles from the batteries before they die. The public never learn that they could be getting many more charge cycles from a smart charger, because they never see a smart charger and do a comparison.
  - bhavesh8sep on 24/09/2025 - 08:51
    
    Awesome one mate, thanks
    
    Now the ozb question: which is the economical and smart charger to go for? :)
    - Russ on 24/09/2025 - 21:29
      
      See my answer below.
      
      And read the previous deals for this charger, many people have suggested alternative chargers in those deals.
casho on 24/09/2025 - 08:51

+1

Thanks OP, got some AAAs also
Armenelos on 24/09/2025 - 08:56

+2

$36.83 C&C (or ~$3 Delivery) at The Good Guys Corporate Benefits.

Seems TGG have now have a spun off a Corporate Benefits site separate to their Commercial site.
- Belot on 24/09/2025 - 11:01
  
  Thank you, got this through Origin Rewards
Lukin on 24/09/2025 - 09:54

is this better than the XTAR L4 Pro ?
- Russ on 25/09/2025 - 20:40
  
  From reading the specifications of the L4 pro, it looks like it is mostly equivalent in charging.
  
  The L4 pro can also charge one specific type of lithium battery, so that's an advantage - if you have that type of battery.
  
  The L4 pro requires an additional power supply, so that's a negative.
JustSoYouKnow on 24/09/2025 - 10:28

I thought batteries were confusing, now it turns out the chargers are just as cinfusing!

Is this a better charger to use than a Limeta R4 evo?
- corkddd on 24/09/2025 - 11:43
  
  would also love to know the answer to this
- Russ on 24/09/2025 - 21:25
  
  chargers are just as confusing!
  
  Well, there are basic chargers, full-featured chargers, and a lot of chargers that shouldn't really be sold.
  
  No different really to shopping for groceries, where you'll find healthy food, gourmet food, and junk food.
  
  This particular charger is liked by the OzBargain community because it's very easy to use, treats your batteries well, and is reliable and long-lasting.
  
  If you want to be able to check your batteries are still providing their full capacity, or you want to be able to charge lithium-ion batteries, a different charger would suit you better. Otherwise, this charger is the "default OzBargain option" for many people.
  - JustSoYouKnow on 24/09/2025 - 22:16
    
    I already have the Limeta R4 evo from a previous deal, is it a smart/good charger?
    - Russ on 24/09/2025 - 22:39
      
      That charger appears not to be sold any more, and I can't find technical specifications to compare.
noslappers on 24/09/2025 - 19:14

+1

Good Guys price matched - no issue!
Morven on 24/09/2025 - 20:50

+1

I've used this charger for years with a combination of Eneloop, Eneloop Pro and Ikea Ladda. I have a young kid so batteries get used up and charged often. It's been fine. Fast charging and happy batteries. People told me fast charging would harm the batteries, but if that's happening it's not happening soon enough to affect anything significant. If you want the charging speed just go for it.
bbbrrraaaddd on 25/09/2025 - 09:54

+1

GG'S online happy to price match for pick up
didactw on 29/09/2025 - 00:22

Please note the photo shows 70% after 5 years, not 10, which means 3rd gen, not 5th gen (current). See this guide
- Russ on 29/09/2025 - 00:43
  
  +1
  
  I wouldn't trust the photo to be of the current packaging, this charger+batteries bundle has been around for many years. CameraPro have likely been selling it for years, so they're probably continuing to use the same photo, and only updating the price and the text description.
  
  Also, I doubt that 5 years versus 10 years will make much difference to anyone. Who buys batteries and then doesn't use them for that long? If the batteries are installed in anything, you'll have to recharge them more often than once every five years anyway.
  
  Edit: also, the photo says "recharge up to 2100 times", which makes them at least 4th gen, according to the website you linked.
thestig on 29/09/2025 - 08:31

Can anyone recommend a charger that does the smart charge things this does but also fits the 21700 size? Is there a Liitokala one that would be suitable?
- Russ on 29/09/2025 - 13:27
  
  21700 size? Is there a Liitokala one that would be suitable?
  
  A quick look on the internet shows the Lii-500s and Lii-600 have 21700 batteries shown as compatible, but those are expensive.
  
  A cheaper model is the Lii-M4S, but I wouldn't use that charger to charge AA NiMh batteries, as it apparently has only one charge current for NiMh batteries (500mA). That makes it acceptable for AAA NiMh, but not for AA NiMh, too slow a charge to reliably stop charging at the correct point.
  
  Note that the M4S requires you to have a USB-C charger to power it.
  
  I haven't used any of the above chargers myself, so this isn't a recommendation.
- Russ on 30/09/2025 - 23:43
  
  I've borrowed an Lii-M4S from a work colleague, and had a play with it. Some of my comments above were incorrect.
  
  You need an external power supply/phone charger with a USB-A socket, that is capable of supplying 2A at 5V. The cable that comes with the charger (about 60cm long) is USB-A to USB-C, and the USB-C end plugs into the charger.
  
  When charging 1 or 2 NiMh batteries, leaving two bays empty, it has four currents you can choose from: 300mA, 500mA, 700mA and 1000mA. You can individually set the current for each battery. The default current is 500mA if you don't change the current setting after inserting a battery.
  
  BUT, if you have one battery charging at 500mA, and a second battery charging at 1000mA, putting a third battery in one of the empty bays instantly reduces your options, so you only have 300mA and 500mA available. As well as that, the second battery that was charging at 1000mA has just dropped to 500mA.
  
  So it looks like the charger enforces the rule "If three or four batteries are installed, the maximum charging current is 500mA". If you have only two batteries installed, you can select any of the four currents (including 1000mA) for both of them.
  
  I also tried charging two batteries at 700mA and adding a third at 500mA, in case the rule was "total currents less than 2000mA". It didn't work, all batteries became 500mA charging current.
  
  If you want to charge AA NiMh batteries in the M4S, it'll treat them well as long as you select 1000mA and don't attempt to charge more than two batteries at a time. You can also charge 1xAA and 1xAAA at the same time, with the currents set to 1000mA and 500mA respectively.
  
  The M4S also makes a beep sound every time you touch one of the touch buttons, which is a bit annoying.
  
  The display of the M4S goes dark after a while if you stop pressing buttons. Touch the "1-2" or "3-4" buttons to light up the display.
  
  I pulled the negative contact back as far as it would go, and used a vernier caliper to measure the distance between the positive and negative contacts. It measured slightly over 73mm, which means even 21700 batteries with a positive "pip" should fit. Check the length of your batteries, but use a plastic vernier caliper so you don't short your battery out!
- Russ on 01/10/2025 - 02:19
  
  More info on the Lii-M4S: I've just been doing the "try charging a full battery" test to see how good the charger is at detecting full batteries.
  
  This means charging a battery until the charger says it's full, take it out for ten minutes or so (to let it cool to room temperature), then attempting to charge the battery again and noting how long it takes the charger to stop charging.
  
  I'm testing with an old EniTime 2000mAh "Low Self-Discharge" AA battery. I performed the test several times, letting the battery cool between each attempt. The battery never got hotter than a feverish forehead during the testing.
  
  The times I recorded were:
  17 minutes
  7 minutes
  13 minutes
  4 minutes
  4 minutes
  6 minutes
  
  The first three of these are high, suggesting that this charger, like many other chargers, cuts off early, displays "End", and then continues to trickle-charge the battery to its maximum capacity. From the end of the third attempt the detection times were 4-6 minutes, which makes this a good charger.
  
  I'm putting this all here on OzBargain because I couldn't find a good technical review, so this might help someone else looking for a technical review.
  - thestig on 01/10/2025 - 07:54
    
    Thanks for all this testing and info! Does this mean that you would only want to charge up to 2xAA with this charger but you could charge 4xAAA at the same time?
    - Russ on 01/10/2025 - 11:22
      
      Correct. With NiMh batteries, the -dV/dT effect gets more difficult for the charger to detect if the charging takes too long. Because of this, I always recommend to select a charging current that will charge the NiMh batteries in 3 hours or less, that seems to be the limit for reliable operation.
      
      If you charge 3xAA or 4xAA batteries, the maximum charging current you can set is 500mA. This will take 4+ hours to charge the batteries, so the charger might not stop charging at the correct point, and could overcharge the batteries.
      
      Charging 2xAA batteries with charge current set to 1000mA will charge in 3 hours or less, so that's fine. You'll have to select 1000mA manually.
      
      Charging 4xAAA batteries with the charge current set to 500mA (the default) will charge in 2 hours or less, so that's fine.
      - thestig on 02/10/2025 - 21:34
        
        +1
        
        @Russ: Thanks I ordered one!
darknite323 on 08/10/2025 - 18:13

+1

Sadly TGG wouldn't price match it fully for me due to delivery cost they said. Probably because I wasn't in the same State.
Best I could get after pushing it a bit, was $44.90, which i felt was still pretty decent so I picked one up.
- dotMonkey on 09/10/2025 - 09:37
  
  +1
  
  Yeah they're resisting the price match for me too. Ended up getting it from Good Guys Commercial for $36.83

Panasonic Eneloop Smart & Quick Charger with 4x AA Batteries $32 + $12.90 Delivery ($0 QLD C&C) @ CameraPro

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