Let me start by saying I've been through my fair share of rechargeable AAs – the kind that bulge in battery compartments or barely make contact. But these Granicells? They're like the Goldilocks of batteries. The positive end actually protrudes like proper alkalines, so my Xbox controller finally stops acting like it's got commitment issues.

The 2800mAh isn't just marketing fluff. I clocked them at 2850+ in my charger (take that, spec sheet!). My security cam that usually murders batteries in two days? These lasted a full week before whimpering. And when I forgot them in an emergency flashlight for three months? Still had enough juice to blind me when testing – that low self-discharge is legit.

What surprised me most was the build quality. Unlike some budget batteries that feel like they're wrapped in grocery bags, these have proper labeling that doesn't peel after five charges. They all tested within 100mAh of each other too – no duds in the pack.

Pro tip: They arrive solar-precharged (eco-points!), but do a full cycle first. My first charge only hit 2530mAh, but after breaking them in properly, they've consistently outperformed my Eneloops in high-drain devices.

The only con? No storage case – just shrink-wrapped in a cardboard box. But at this price point, I'll happily reuse an old battery caddy if it means getting this performance without the 'premium' brand tax.