Are rechargeable lithium AA batteries 1.5 volts?

Paleblue lists 1.5 V nominal (1.0 to 1.6 V) for its Voyager AA and AAA.

Do lithium rechargeable AAs work in the cold?

Paleblue lists operation from 50 to 113°F; NiMH eneloop is rated down to -20°C.

How long does a USB-C AA take to charge?

Paleblue lists 2.1 hours for a full charge and 94 minutes to 80% for the Voyager AA.

Lithium or NiMH for an emergency kit?

Lithium USB-C cells for indoor 1.5 V devices; NiMH for cold storage and long shelf retention.

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Rechargeable lithium AA batteries: steady 1.5 V, charged by USB-C

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

We research products from makers' specs, manuals and safety agencies; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Quick answer

Rechargeable lithium AA batteries hold a lithium-ion cell and circuitry inside a standard AA shell, so they deliver about 1.5 V like alkaline cells and charge from a USB-C cable. Paleblue lists its Voyager AA at 3,300 mWh, 1,000+ recharges and a 2.1 hour full charge. The catch is temperature: Paleblue lists operation only from 50 to 113°F, so for cold cars and winter kits, NiMH cells rated lower may be the better choice.

Paleblue Voyager AA vs AAA

Spec	Voyager AA	Voyager AAA
Energy	3,300 mWh	1,125 mWh
Voltage	1.5 V nominal (1.0 to 1.6 V)	1.5 V nominal (1.0 to 1.6 V)
Recharges	1,000+	1,000+
Full charge	2.1 hours (80% in 94 min)	1.3 hours (80% in 60 min)
Max continuous output	3.3 A	2.5 A
Weight	17.5 g	7.5 g
Operating temperature	50 to 113°F	50 to 113°F
Charging temperature	32 to 131°F	32 to 131°F

Specs are from Paleblue's Voyager product pages, checked October 2026.

Lithium 1.5 V or NiMH 1.2 V?

Voltage: Paleblue lists a 1.5 V nominal output; NiMH cells such as Panasonic eneloop are 1.2 V, which Panasonic calls slightly lower than dry batteries.
Energy: 3,300 mWh is 3.3 Wh, compared with about 2.4 Wh for a 2,000 mAh eneloop at 1.2 V, by simple multiplication.
Charging: lithium AAs charge through their own USB-C port; NiMH cells need a battery charger.
Cold: Panasonic rates eneloop down to -20°C (-4°F), while Paleblue lists 50°F as the low end of operation.
Storage: Panasonic publishes a 10-year, 70% storage figure for eneloop; Paleblue's spec table does not list a storage-loss figure.

See our rechargeable AA batteries guide for the NiMH side.

Reading mWh and mAh labels

Two units: lithium AAs are usually labeled in milliwatt-hours (mWh), NiMH cells in milliamp-hours (mAh).
Converting: multiply mAh by the cell voltage to get mWh: 2,000 mAh at 1.2 V is 2,400 mWh.
Voyager AA: 3,300 mWh divided by 1.5 V is about 2,200 mAh at nominal voltage.
Voyager AAA: 1,125 mWh divided by 1.5 V is 750 mAh.
Compare like with like: use mWh to compare energy across chemistries, since voltage differs.

Low-battery warnings

The problem: Paleblue describes a flat output followed by a sudden drop-off as typical of lithium rechargeables, which can leave devices with no warning.
Paleblue's answer: it says the Voyager series uses a discharge curve where voltage softens as capacity runs down, with a final drop at the end so devices like keyless door locks can show a low-battery warning.
Check your devices: run one full cycle in important gear such as a door lock to see how its low-battery warning behaves, and keep spares charged.

Built-in protections

Temperature: Paleblue lists over-temperature protection that stops power when the cell gets too hot and under-temperature protection that stops charging when it is too cold.
Voltage: under-voltage protection stops output before the cell drains too far; over-voltage protection stops charging at the cell's maximum.
Current: short-circuit and overcurrent protection limit or stop output.
Leaks: Paleblue says a steel outer shell contains internal leakage and the cap relieves pressure.
Status light: an LED ring shows charge and fault status.

Charging in an outage

USB-C input: Paleblue lists 5 V at 100 to 530 mA per battery, so a power bank or power station's USB port can recharge them.
Solar: Paleblue sells an AA Solar Starter Kit pairing a 7 W solar charger with four AA cells.
Plan time: about 2 hours per AA for a full charge, or 94 minutes to reach 80%.
Charge where it is not freezing: Paleblue's charging range starts at 32°F.
Power banks: see our 10000 mAh power bank and best solar power bank guides.

Where lithium AAs fit in a kit

Good fits: indoor devices that like 1.5 V, such as radios, door locks, remotes and headlamps used at room temperature.
Weaker fits: cold cars, winter go-bags and outdoor gear below 50°F, where Paleblue's operating range ends.
Mixed kit: lithium AAs for the house, and NiMH cells rated for cold in vehicles and winter bags.
Rotate: check charge with the LED ring and top up on a schedule.

What to look for when you buy

USB-C AA: Paleblue AA Rechargeable Lithium, 4-pack

Best for: Indoor devices that want a steady 1.5 V

Paleblue lists 3,300 mWh, 1.5 V nominal output, 1,000+ recharges, a 2.1 hour USB-C full charge and over/under temperature, voltage, short-circuit and leakage protections on its Voyager AA.

Watch out: Operating range listed as 50 to 113°F; confirm the Amazon listing is the Voyager version you want.

See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)

USB-C AAA: Paleblue AAA Rechargeable Lithium, 4-pack

Best for: Headlamps, remotes and small electronics

Paleblue lists 1,125 mWh, 1.5 V nominal, 1,000+ recharges and a 1.3 hour full charge on its Voyager AAA, at 7.5 g.

Watch out: Same 50°F low limit; keep a cold-rated backup for winter kits.