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(More customer reviews)I'm going to compare this charger to the less expensive Sanyo Eneloop 2 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries w/ Charger which I've also purchased. The Apple charger comes with 4 more batteries, so the total cost of the Sanyo system with 6 batteries is about a third less than the Apple charger.
I've read on Engadget that the batteries are the same, just with different labels. Apple is not in the business of designing and manufacturing AA batteries, they have someone else do it for them to their specifications. So the difference is in the charger.
The Apple charger is outwardly much nicer looking--it is an Apple product after all--and more importantly much less bulky. The Sanyo charger takes up a lot of room and will not fit nicely on a power strip. The Apple charger has the added bonus of using a standard Apple plug module, so I could attach a long cord or an international plug should I go outside the United States. It is a simple and elegant object.
As for gains in power efficiency. I do not believe the Sanyo charger is particularly inefficient. I've attached it to my Kill-A-Watt and once the battery is charged, the device shuts off its light--just like the Apple charger--and goes into a mode which uses so little energy my reader displays it as zero Watts. The Apple charger might well use less, it's just such a small amount you are unlikely to notice; it would certainly take a long time to make up the cost difference.
Be warned that because of the chemistry of NiMH batteries, these are not 1.5V batteries and will never appear to be 100% charged in the OS X Bluetooth menu. They aren't defective, just different from non-rechargeable batteries. Also, when you first get your Apple charger, 2 of the batteries ship inside the charger; take them out and make sure they are properly oriented before attempting to top them off.
So, I would say this is a hard call. The Apple charger is smaller, matches my other Apple gear, has a more flexible plug, and if need be, could be serviced at your local Genius Bar; whereas if the Sanyo failed, I'd probably toss it. On the other hand it is noticeably more expensive. Either way, it's great to use rechargeable batteries on my cordless desktop devices.
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The first battery charger designed by Apple, the Apple Battery Charger sets a new industry standard for quick, wise energy usage. That's because the Apple Battery Charger has one of the lowest standby power usage values--or "vampire draw"--of any similar charger on the market. Standby power is the energy that most chargers continue to draw after their batteries are fully charged. In contrast to most chargers, the Apple Battery Charger senses when its batteries are done charging and automatically reduces the amount of power it needs. This intelligent power management system makes the charger one of the most energy-efficient rechargeable battery solutions ever.
Fully LoadedEach Apple Battery Charger comes with six high-performance AA NiMH batteries: two for your keyboard, two for your mouse or trackpad, and two for charging. Unlike many other reusable batteries, these batteries have an incredibly long service life--up to 10 years--meaning you can finally break the cycle of buying and disposing toxic, single-use alkaline batteries. The batteries that come with the Apple Battery Charger kit also have an extraordinarily low self-discharge rate. Even after a year of sitting in a drawer, they still retain 80 percent of their original charge, so you'll always have backup power when you need it. And although the charger is built for six batteries, it can also recharge one or two batteries at a time, including AA NiMH batteries from other companies, too.
It's a Beautiful Fit The Apple Battery Charger is as well designed on the outside as it is on the inside. The charger boasts a sleek, compact shape, so you can plug it in between tangles of desk wires or pack it neatly in your computer bag when you travel. And like Apple power adapters, the Apple Battery Charger is designed with a removable AC plug, so you can replace it with plugs that fit different outlets around the world. Ideal for energy-conscious computer users of all stripes, the Apple Battery Charger comes with a wall charger and six rechargeable AA NiMH batteries.
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