I am very pleased with these 9 volt NiMH batteries. Unlike their Nickel Cadmium predecessors which could only manage 7.2 volts when fully charged, These NiMH batteries, though nominally rated at 8.4 volts, will actually approach 10 volts when fully charged. They can be left attached to a low rate trickle charger, and be ready for use at any time. They have no memory affect, and do very well in portable applications when it's convenient to continually "top off" your rechargeable batteries. Though they reportedly tend to discharge faster than others when stored on the shelf, all of mine arrived in a charged up and usable condition. These are definitely a step up from NiCads.