I found the battery charger to be great, and power users will love its key features

Xtar VX2 Pro Battery analyzer and charger

ZDNET Highlights

• It does much more than a regular battery charger
• It has the convenience of placing batteries in storage and rejuvenating old NiMH batteries
• Two charging slots can be used independently

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.

I’ve worked hard over the past few years to move away from disposable alkaline batteries and replace them with rechargeable counterparts. After all, there are some great brands of rechargeable AAA, AA, C and D cell batteries available that will last you for years.

And I’ve found that the best way to take care of these batteries is to charge them using a good charger. Too many chargers build up in amps, which will degrade the battery and dramatically reduce its lifespan. There’s more to charging a battery than just putting power into it as quickly as possible.

Also: The Best Rechargeable Batteries You Can Buy

In my search for a decent and affordable battery charger, I found one that is packed with advanced features, making it not only a great charger but also a valuable workshop and diagnostic tool. If you’re looking for a battery charger that can do it all, the Xtar VX2 Pro is a great choice.

The VX2 Pro is a two-slot battery charger that can take a variety of cell types and sizes. You can pop in AA, AAA, C, D, 18650, 21700 and more, and the unit will automatically detect the battery’s chemistry, offering a wide range of functions to help you get the most out of your battery.

The large LCD screen is bright and clear, displaying all the essential information about the unit’s battery. The buttons allow you to flip through different features, and I found this was one of the parts of the tech where I benefited from reading the manual.

The charger has a USB-C port for charging and includes a 20W charger and cable. It comes with a convenient storage bag to keep everything together when not in use.

Also: This is the only power bank I’ll need for a work trip (and all the gadgets it can charge).

At the most basic level, you have charging, which brings the battery to full capacity in the safest way possible. It will automatically detect the battery chemistry and determine the optimal power to deliver to the battery, or you can override this setting to optimize the charge. I find that low-current charging – this unit goes down to 0.25 A – is a great way to extend battery life if you’re in no rush to recharge the cells.

Most people will be using charging, but there is so much more to this unit.

In addition to charging, it can also discharge the battery to its cut-off voltage, allowing you to measure the cell capacity and complete a full recharge cycle.

It also has a grading mode that allows you to test the battery’s capacity under real-world charging conditions. I find it extremely useful for identifying bad batteries, matching battery capacities when using multiple batteries in a device and making sure they are balanced, and also for verifying manufacturers’ battery capacity claims (you’d be surprised how many people make extreme claims).

Also: 10 DIY Gadgets I Never Leave From My Toolkit (And Why Each One Earns Its Own Place)

It also has a Storage Mode feature that charges the cells at the optimal voltage for storage, reducing self-discharge, slowing aging and extending battery life. This is great if you have things that will stay in storage for a long time (things like seasonal decorations that use batteries).

There is also a refresh function for NiMH batteries that helps eliminate charge “memory” that develops over time, restoring the ability to fully charge. I have recovered many batteries from the recycling pile using this feature (for example, I saved several dozen batteries that were inside solar garden lights).

Both slots work independently, allowing you to put two different batteries through two separate processes, which is a nice feature.

With so many rechargeable batteries available today that can be charged directly using USB-C, you may wonder about the utility of a standalone charger. If you only have USB-C rechargeable batteries, you probably don’t need a standalone charger.

Plus: The only charging adapter I’ve ever traveled with that outperforms competing models with a hidden superpower

However, if you have other types of batteries or you are a fixer who needs them repaired, this kind of charger comes in handy. I’ve also used my battery to fix a USB-C rechargeable battery that refused to charge using USB-C because it got too cold at some point.

For me, a charger like the VX2 Pro means a lot.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

Xtar VX2 Pro Battery analyzer and charger This is one of the most feature-packed battery chargers I’ve used. Not only is it excellent at charging batteries, but it is also a great diagnosis and repair tool. I must have refreshed and reenergized a few dozen batteries over the past few weeks, and some of them won’t charge in my other chargers.

At a price of $33, this unit is very competitively priced considering the features it offers. It’s definitely found a place in my workspace (and those who know me know how limited it is!).