I stopped guessing which AA batteries are dead – this charging station keeps them in check for me

pros and cons

Pros

• Simple to use.
• It has plenty of techy features to please the geeks.
• It does a very good job of sorting out batteries that can't or shouldn't be charged.

Cons

• It is expensive.
• It takes up a fair bit of desk space.
• It can be a little noisy in use.

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Olight is a name that's been synonymous with quality flashlights for a number of years. I've owned more than a few Olights in my time, and they have been high performers that have far surpassed my already high expectations.

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So, when I got the chance to get my hands on Olight's new AA/AAA battery charger — the Olight Ostation 2 Pro — I jumped at it. After all, if it was anywhere near as good as its flashlights, it was going to be excellent.

And it was.

The Ostation 2 Pro is a beast

The Ostation 2 Pro (there's also a standard version that omits some of the features) is quite hefty as chargers go, and it has quite a desk presence. It features a modern, all-plastic construction that's both tough and stylish.

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On the front is a 2.8-inch touchscreen for real-time monitoring of battery cycles, health, and status, which really adds to the high-tech, geeky feel of the unit.

The charger is powered by a 12V/1.5A PD 3.0 USB-C input for faster charging under full load (a small wall charger is included), and there's an app available (iOS and Android) for those who want to dive deeper into the details than the display offers.

What can you charge?

The Ostation 2 Pro can handle any brand of AA and AAA Ni-MH batteries, as well as Olight's own Ostation 1.5V AA rechargeable Li-ion batteries (Olight doesn't yet have any Li-ion batteries in AAA size).

However, be aware that it won't charge random Li-ion batteries because the charger uses a secure handshake protocol to communicate with Ostation batteries for maximum Li-ion charging safety.

It's just so easy to use!

Once it's plugged in and switched on (and I recommend downloading the app to check for any firmware updates), it's easy to use.

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You load batteries into the top (it can take a dozen AAs and another dozen AAAs), and then the Ostation 2 Pro checks, tests, and charges them. Freshly charged batteries appear in the appropriate drawer at the bottom of the unit over the course of the day (an AA battery takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge).

The unit can charge four batteries at a time (two AAs and two AAAs).

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Any batteries that fail to charge, are defective, or are alkaline batteries that shouldn't be recharged end up in a separate drawer.

And it all just works. I've loaded it with all sorts of AA and AAA batteries — Olight Li-ion batteries, random Ni-MH batteries, defective rechargeable batteries, and even a sprinkling of unrechargeable alkaline batteries — and the unit performed perfectly, charging all the rechargeable batteries and rejecting all the ones that couldn't or shouldn't be charged.

No fuss whatsoever!

There's a hidden secret for Olight fans

On the side of the unit is a flap that hides two magnetic charging (MCC) ports that can be used to charge compatible Olight flashlights (the Baton, Warrior, Seeker, Marauder Mini, Arkfeld/ArkPro, and Perun 2 series of flashlights).

ZDNET's buying advice

What I really like about the Ostation 2 Pro is just how easy it is to use. Yes, I love the touchscreen and the deeper dive that the app offers, but it's the simplicity that is the real winning bit for me. There's no need to load batteries into some spring-loaded contraption, no need to remember to check on them every few hours, and no need to worry that someone might load the wrong batteries into the charger. I love the simplicity of just piling discharged batteries into the top and pulling charged ones out of the drawer at the bottom.

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It's super easy and super convenient, and it makes it super hard for the user to mess something up.

Last mention of the productThe Olight Ostation 2 Pro retails for $140 for the charging unit alone, or $200 for the charger and 24 Olight Ni-MH batteries (which is a good deal). It's a superb charger, but if you want a cheaper option, the Ostation 2 (which replaces the touchscreen with an LED display, uses a slower 5.0V/2.0A USB-C charger, and doesn't include the magnetic charging ports for Olight flashlights) is priced at $100 for the charger alone and $160 if you want the 24 batteries.