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

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Olight Ostation 2 Pro

4 / 5

Very good

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.

apr / 2026

on Google.


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.

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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.

Also: The best rechargeable batteries of 2026

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 app offers a deeper dive into charging.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

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 I quite like Olight's own AA Ni-MH batteries.

I quite like Olight’s own AA Ni-MH batteries.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

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.

Also: This charger made alkaline batteries completely unnecessary for me in 2026

My batteries making their way through the Ostation 2 Pro.

My batteries making their way through the Ostation 2 Pro.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

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.

, Warrior, Marauder Mini/ArkPro series of flashlights).

The Olight Ostation 2 Pro retails for $140 (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.

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