Amazon Basics 4-Bay Battery Charger for AA & AAA Rechargeable Batteries with Rechargeable AA NiMh Batteries, 4 count (Pack of 1), Type A (American) Plug, Black

What you get and why it matters

The Amazon Basics 4-bay charger bundle pairs a compact wall-plug charger with four 2000 mAh AA NiMH cells. I appreciate bundles like this because they remove the guesswork: the batteries match the charger’s profile, the charger is clearly labeled for NiMH only, and you can be up and running in minutes without hunting for compatible cells. If you’ve been cycling through alkalines in controllers, flashes, toys, or trail cams, this bundle is a practical step off that treadmill.

Design and build

The charger itself is a slim, wall-wart style unit with a foldable Type A plug. There’s no cord, which keeps the kit tidy for travel and drawer storage. The trade-off is outlet clearance: on a crowded power strip or a duplex outlet with bulky neighbors, you’ll need to plan placement. On a clear wall outlet, it feels secure and light enough not to sag.

The four slots accept AA or AAA without adapters. Each bay has its own status LED, and the visual language is straightforward: a quick all-LED sweep when you plug the charger in; slow blinking while charging; solid when full; fast blinking for an error (defective cell, alkaline cell, or reversed polarity). The plastics are basic but not flimsy, and the foldable plug has a decisive hinge. Nothing here feels premium, but nothing feels careless either.

Charging behavior and speed

This is an independent-channel charger, not a timer-based brick. In practice that matters a lot. I could drop in one, three, or four cells in any combination of AA/AAA and each bay managed its own routine. That also means mixed states of charge don’t confuse it; a nearly full cell reaches solid light quickly while depleted cells continue.

Charging speeds are reasonable for a compact wall unit. My timings lined up closely with the stated estimates:
- Two AA 2000 mAh cells: roughly 3.5 hours
- Four AA: about 7 hours
- Two AAA: just over 2 hours
- Four AAA: around 4 hours

Like most NiMH chargers, it’ll get warm near the end of a cycle, especially with four depleted AAs. Warm is normal; hot is not. On an open outlet with a bit of airflow, I never hit concerning temperatures. When cells top off, the charger transitions to a gentle trickle to maintain full charge without cooking the batteries.

Battery performance

The included 2000 mAh low self-discharge AAs are the right choice for general use. They arrive pre-charged, and after a top-off I put them through a week of mixed duty: wireless game controller, an LED headlamp, and a small flash unit. Runtime was solid and, more importantly, consistent. NiMH cells hold voltage under load better than alkalines in medium- to high-drain gear, so you don’t get the steep drop-off that makes devices misbehave. They’re rated to retain about 80% after a year on the shelf, and based on what we know of this chemistry and class, that’s a credible claim for real-world usage cycles.

A few practical notes:
- NiMH cells are 1.2V nominal versus 1.5V for alkaline. Some devices report “low battery” early even though plenty of usable capacity remains. In most modern gear this isn’t an issue, but it’s worth knowing.
- They’re fractionally thicker than alkalines (within spec). Very tight battery compartments may feel snug. I had no fit problems in typical consumer devices.
- As with any rechargeables, treat a set as a set in multi-battery devices. Mark pairs or sets to keep wear even.

Everyday usability

The charger’s plug-and-play simplicity is its biggest strength. There’s no app, no menu, no LCD to interpret. The LED scheme is easy to learn and accurate in day-to-day use. The independent bays mean you can top off a single cell for a flashlight without waiting to fill a pair. And because the unit defaults to trickle at the end, there’s no rush to pull cells the moment they turn solid—handy when charging overnight.

If you charge in a shared space, note the blinking LEDs are bright enough to notice in a dark room. Not blinding, but you won’t want the unit facing your bed at night. A sideways outlet or a power strip on the floor helps if blinking indicators bug you.

Safety and cell care

Per-bay monitoring, wrong-polarity detection, and error indication are table stakes for a modern NiMH charger, and they’re here. The trickle handoff when full is important; it reduces the risk of overcharging and heat-related cell wear. This is not an analyzing charger—there’s no capacity readout, discharge/refresh cycle, or IR measurement—but for routine household charging that’s fine.

Best practices:
- Only charge NiMH cells in this unit. Alkalines, lithium primaries, NiZn, and Li-ion rechargeables are out of scope and can be dangerous here.
- Give the charger ventilation and keep it off fabric surfaces while in use.
- If an LED fast-blinks, remove that cell and test it in a device; if it’s truly bad, recycle it.
- For gear that drains cells unevenly, replace all batteries in the device at once.

Where it shines

• Game controllers and wireless peripherals: predictable runtime, quick top-offs, and easy mid-week recharges.
• Photo gear and flashes: NiMH’s current delivery is well suited to recycle demands, and the 2000 mAh capacity is a good balance of charge time and endurance.
• Home electronics and toys: the included four-pack covers a few remotes or toys, and expanding later is straightforward.

The bundle format is especially good for first-time rechargeable users: you get a decent baseline charger plus cells that behave well across a wide range of devices.

Limitations to weigh

• Outlet clearance: as a wall-wart without a cord, it can block adjacent outlets. If your outlets are behind furniture, plan for access.
• Not a speed demon: the charge speeds are sensible, not extreme. If you need rapid turnarounds on eight or more cells, a bigger desktop unit with higher currents will be faster.
• No advanced diagnostics: you won’t get capacity numbers or refresh cycles. Enthusiasts who want to evaluate aging cells will want a more feature-rich analyzer.
• Regional use: the Type A plug targets North American outlets. For international travel you’ll need an adapter, and depending on the charger’s internal rating, possibly a voltage converter. I used it domestically only.

Tips for getting the best results

• Top off before big sessions. A 30–60 minute pre-use charge can meaningfully extend a session without waiting for a full cycle.
• Rotate two sets for mission-critical devices. Keep one set in use and one on the charger so you’re never waiting.
• Store charged cells in a small case to avoid accidental short-circuits in bags or drawers.
• If a device is fussy about 1.2V cells and reports “low” too early, try fresh contacts, or check if the device has a battery type setting.

The bottom line

This Amazon Basics charger-and-batteries bundle earns its keep by being exactly as straightforward as it looks. Independent slots, clear indicators, reasonable thermals, and sensible charge times add up to a reliable daily driver. The included 2000 mAh low self-discharge AAs are versatile and hold their own in both high-drain and general-purpose roles.

It’s not the charger for enthusiasts who want metrics and deep conditioning modes, and it’s not physically the tiniest solution due to its direct-plug format. But as a set-and-forget household charger with dependable cells, it nails the fundamentals.

Recommendation: I recommend this bundle for anyone looking to switch household gear, controllers, and accessories to rechargeables without fuss. It’s easy to use, charges each bay independently, includes solid 2000 mAh cells, and balances speed, safety, and simplicity well for the price. If you need faster throughput, a desktop analyzer with higher current and a display may suit you better; otherwise, this is a practical, reliable starter kit that covers the bases and keeps you out of the alkaline aisle.