I bought a $30 battery analyzer on Amazon, and it revealed the truth about my gadget drawer

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I’ve worked hard over the past few years to move away from disposable alkaline batteries and replace them with rechargeable equivalents. 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 decent charger. Too many chargers pile in the amps, which in turn bakes the battery and dramatically shortens its lifespan. There’s a lot more to charging a battery than just pushing power into it as fast as possible.

Also: The best rechargeable batteries you can buy

In my search for decent and affordable battery chargers, I’ve come across 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 does it all, the Xtar VX2 Pro is a great option to consider.

The VX2 Pro is a two-slot battery charger that can take a wide 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 array of functions to help you get the most from your battery.

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

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

Also: This is the only power bank I’ll ever need for work travel (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 customize the charge. I find that low-current charges — this unit does down to 0.25A — are a great way to prolong battery life if you’re not in a hurry to recharge the cells. 

Charging is what most people will be using, but there’s a lot more to this unit.

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

There’s also a grading mode that allows you to test the battery’s capacity under real-world charging conditions. I find this extremely useful for identifying worn batteries, matching battery capacities when using multiple batteries in a device and ensuring they are balanced, and also for verifying manufacturers’ battery capacity claims (you’d be surprised how many make over-inflated claims). 

Also: 10 DIY gadgets I never leave out of my toolkit (and why each one earns its spot)

There’s also a storage mode feature that charges cells to the optimal voltage for storage, reducing self-discharge, slowing aging, and extending battery life. This is great if you have stuff that goes into storage for extended periods (things like seasonal decorations that use batteries).

There’s also a refresh function for NiMH batteries to help eliminate the charge “memory” they can develop over time, thereby regaining the ability to be charged fully. I’ve recovered many a battery from the recycling pile using this feature (for example, I saved several dozen batteries that were inside solar garden lights). 

The two slots work independently, allowing you to have two different batteries undergoing two separate procedures, which is a nice feature. 

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

Also: The only charging adapter I ever travel with beats competing models with a hidden superpower

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

For me, there’s a lot of value in a charger like the VX2 Pro.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Xtar VX2 Pro Battery Analyzer and Charger is one of the most feature-packed battery chargers I’ve used. Not only does it excel at charging batteries, but it’s also a great diagnostic and repair tool. I must have refreshed and rejuvenated a couple of dozen batteries over the past few weeks, and a handful of those wouldn’t charge in my other charger.

Priced at $33, this unit is very competitively priced, considering the features it offers. It’s definitely found a space on my workbench (and people who know me know just how limited that is!).