Although we live in an age when pretty much all portable devices come packed with their own, rechargeable batteries (typically of Li-Ion or Li-Polymer flavors), there are still a few remaining products that rely on the “old” AA batteries. However, some significant leaps forward have occurred in this particular area as well, the latest announcement of this type coming from PowerGenix, which has just unveiled a couple of rechargeable NiZn (Nickel-Zinc) batteries that, if we were to believe the manufacturer, are superior to pretty much anything you'd currently find on the market.

As Engadget reports, since PowerGenix is not exactly as famous as Energizer or Duracell, it has partnered with one of the largest US retail camera and photo chains, Ritz Camera, in order to delivers these advanced products to a wider audience.

Dubbed Quantaray Super Z, apparently, the new battery set (which includes the batteries plus a recharger) provides a significantly higher amount of power than normal batteries do, which makes it extremely useful for high drain digital cameras and accessories. The manufacturer actually boasts of the fact that, by using these batteries, photographers will enjoy a brighter flash, shorter flash recovery time, and more shots per charge (although I'd take that with a pinch of salt, at least until conclusive tests are carried out).

Moreover, besides being more powerful, the batteries are also more environmentally friendly, since they don't contain any toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury, their chemistry being extremely “green.”

Unfortunately (and quite strangely, to tell you the truth), neither Ritz Camera nor PowerGenix provides any significant pricing information, which can probably mean one thing: they're so expensive that it's best if you have a shock when you're actually going to a store to purchase them, rather than have a shock when you read about them and not go to the store at all.


We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .