Xtar MX8 8-Slot 1.5V, 3.7V Lithium & AA/AAA NiMH Smart Charger

The Xtar MX8 is an eight-bay charging platform developed for applications requiring the ability to manage several battery chemistries at the same time. Each slot analyses the cell inserted and applies an appropriate charging method. The system supports 1.5 V lithium AA/AAA rechargeables, 1.2 V AA/AAA NiMH cells, and larger 3.6/3.7 V lithium-ion cylinders such as 18650 and 20700. This architecture makes it the first charger of its type capable of operating across all three battery categories concurrently.

The MX8 is powered via USB-C, with internal circuitry that distributes current depending on the number and type of cells installed. Charge status for each bay is presented through individual LEDs. The charger accepts a broad range of cylindrical formats and imposes no upper capacity limit, as charging completion is governed by voltage thresholds rather than the rated milliamp-hour value of the battery.

Key features

• Eight independent charging channels with mixed-chemistry capability.
• Supports 1.5 V lithium AA/AAA, 1.2 V NiMH AA/AAA, and 3.6/3.7 V lithium-ion batteries including 18650-class formats.
• First multi-bay charger capable of handling all three chemistries simultaneously.
• No maximum battery capacity restriction; mAh rating does not limit compatibility.
• Automatic chemistry detection and controlled voltage/current application.
• USB-C input providing consistent low-voltage power.
• LED indicators giving real-time charging feedback for each slot.
• Support for cylindrical Li-ion formats from 10440 to unprotected 21700.
• Covers AA/AAA sizes for NiMH and 1.5 V lithium rechargeables.
• Built-in operational protections including thermal, short-circuit and charge termination logic.
• Low-voltage activation mode for recovering eligible lithium-ion cells.

Technical specifications

• Model: Xtar MX8
• Charging bays: 8 individually regulated channels
• Chemistries supported: Li-ion 3.6/3.7 V, LiFePO₄ 3.2 V, 1.5 V lithium rechargeable, NiMH 1.2 V
• Input interface: USB-C
• Current distribution: Automatically balanced across active slots
• Li-ion compatibility: 10440–20700 and unprotected 21700
• NiMH compatibility: AA, AAA
• 1.5 V lithium compatibility: AA, AAA
• Capacity handling: No maximum capacity; termination is voltage-based
• Status output: LED indicators per slot
• Protection systems: Thermal protection, short-circuit response, controlled charge termination, low-voltage activation
• 21700 support: Unprotected cells only