The problem with the original design is that the battery would drain even when the screen was off and the meter not in use. I don't use the meter frequently, but when I did, it was often dead and needed new batteries. A rechargeable battery doesn't really solve this issue if it still drains when not being used. It really needs to switch off the circuit completely. Maybe this new version does that, but if it does, then I'd probably rather just have a regular LR44 battery that I could switch out immediately. I hate to wait to charge things up when I need them to work now. A readily replaceable and readily available rechargeable battery would be fine, however.
Besides the battery drain issue on the original model, I also had problems with the tiny battery "tray". The wings that hold the battery were too flexible, and the battery would get stuck in the unit when I pulled the tray out. I was pulling the tray out to avoid the battery drain, but then the battery gets stuck. This requires disassembly of the covers, and some careful prying of the battery. A real pain in the rear. I've now bent the two contact tangs to put less pressure on the battery, so it comes out more easily with the tray. I hope this doesn't cause contact issues now. I've already had to adjust it again for that.
I was a big fan of these when I first got it, because the size was perfect, and the display was excellent. The battery drain and weak battery tray have made me want to use something else. I hope this new design is the answer, but I need to see if the battery drain issue is truly addressed, or if it's just another bandaid over the same mess.
