Panasonic’s Eneloop BQ-CC55, our favorite charger for AA and AAA rechargeable batteries, is sleek, compact, easy to use, and plugs directly into a wall outlet.

These alkaline AA batteries won't last as long as some of the more premium brands, but they do have one thing going for them: they're very cheap. Coming in at around half the price of the next ...

We thought so. Listen up: We tested 15 AA batteries—the type typically used in digital cameras, flashlights, toys, radios, and remote controls—and found differences in performance and cost.