In today’s high-tech world, batteries are becoming ever more important for powering electronic devices so investing in a battery charger makes sense economically in the long term. Apple’s first battery charger, the Apple Battery Charger has been quite a talking point amongst tech enthusiasts, most notably for its compact, minimalistic design and low standby power usage. in this review, we’ll take a closer look into the most important features of this charger.
As you’d expect from an Apple gizmo, the design is sleek and compact so you’ll have no problem fitting the charger onto a power strip like so often occurs with many other chargers due to their bulkier design. to keep in line with its minimalistic design, one small light is situated at the top of the device which gives you indication of the charging status.
A handy aspect which makes this charger great for travel is that the AC plug is removable so it can be replaced with various different plugs which allow you to use the charger in different countries.
One of the biggest selling points of this charger is its low power draw. This means that after the charging cycle has completed, the charger reduces its power consumption to just 30 milliwatts. the average battery charger has a consumption of 315 milliwatts, so this is quite a difference.
Included with the charger are 6 quality AA NiMH batteries. These are ideal if you have an Apple iMac so you have batteries at the ready for your wireless accessories. the batteries seem to be rebranded eneloop cells, which are the best in the market for performance and reliability. Furthermore, they have a low self-discharge rate so are very long lasting.
The charger holds up to 2 AA cells, but fortunately you can charge cells individually if you want to so you’re not limited to charging cells in pairs. Charging times are acceptable. a full charge of 2 cells takes around 5 hours.
Summary
Apple got the design of this charger just right. It’s beautifully designed, highly portable and versatile so if you’re after a travel charger this is a good option. although this charger lacks some of the advanced features which similarly priced chargers offer, it has all the basics which are necessary for charging AA cells. Plus the inclusion of 6 rechargeable NiMH batteries is more than what most other battery chargers at this price point provide. If you need a compact and functional charger, this small charger from Apple is an excellent choice.