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Teardown: USB-C Rechargeable AA and AAA Lithium Batteries

Both cells carry a USB-C port and a lithium-to-1.5V PMIC that mimics a dry-cell discharge curve; the AA measured 2994mWh against a 2600mWh rating.

Sep 27, 2026 · Dangel Technology editorial

Two USB-C rechargeable lithium cells replace standard AA and AAA dry batteries, delivering 1.5V through an integrated switching converter. The AA version is rated 2600mWh and the AAA 750mWh, and both are specified for 1200 charge cycles. Rather than a flat output, the converter tracks a dry-cell discharge curve so host devices can still give accurate low-battery warnings.

Measured AA dimensions are 50.5mm by 14.0mm at 18.4g, while the AAA cell comes in at 44.1mm by 10.0mm and 7.4g. Charging over USB-C drew 5.11V at 0.32A, or 1.67W, for the AA cell and 5.13V at 0.107A, or 0.55W, for the AAA, with a green LED indicating charge status.

Discharge testing at 25 degrees Celsius gave the AA cell 2278mAh and 2994mWh at 0.2A, 2243mAh and 2777mWh at 1A, and 2067mAh and 2612mWh at 1.5A, each above the 2600mWh nameplate. The AAA delivered 746mWh at 0.1A, 685mWh at 0.5A and 636mWh at 1A.

Inside, the AA battery uses a 13450 lithium cell rated 3.7V, 920mAh and 3.404Wh beneath a charge and discharge control module. Both cells share an IP5167V lithium-to-dry-cell PMIC: a COT synchronous buck with discharge efficiency up to 96 percent, output of 1.5V at 3A or 3V at 2A, a 1A maximum charge current, a charge pin tolerant of 28V, and support for 4.20-4.40V lithium-ion and 3.60-3.90V lithium iron phosphate chemistries.

The PMIC integrates over-voltage, over-charge, over-discharge, short-circuit, over-temperature and NTC protection in a DFN8L 3x3 package, and drives charge, full, low-battery and fault indicator LEDs. The AAA design adds a single-cell XB5332A protection IC in SOT23-5 on the cell itself.

Industry news compiled by Dangel Technology editorial from public reporting by Chongdiantou (charging industry media). Technical figures are reproduced as reported; verify specifications against the original source before design or procurement decisions.