Which rechargeable batteries are the best

The reason it wasn't his top choice was that the price tends to be more than other brands. Since there are differences in the various generations of Eneloop batteries, you'll want to pay attention to the model numbers and specs of each generation.

The latest fourth-generation batteries have a "BK" prefix in their model number, have the same capacity as older generations, and are capable of more charging cycles. When it comes to performance, the Energizer Rechargeable Batteries are on par with the other major brands. This makes them even better for the environment. Other than that, the batteries come pre-charged. And, since they are low self-discharging, they can last for up to a year in storage without losing their charge.

Wirecutter recommends the Energizer Recharge Universal batteries because they performed well in each stage of testing, including initial capacity, self-discharge, capacity after 48 charges, and remote-control car racing. Reviewed stopped short of recommending the Energizer batteries because the price was more than the AmazonBasics cells, and they didn't perform as well in their fan test. While the Tenergy Rechargeable NIMH Batteries are the most cost-effective in our guide, they still have many of the same features as the more expensive options.

The AA Tenergy batteries are rated at a 2,mAh capacity which tends to be closer to 2, in reality , and the AAAs have an mAh rating, but according to buyers who have tested the batteries out, it tends to be more like mAh.

Tenergy advertises that the cells can only last for up to charging cycles, which is half that of the next lowest brands. So, this may not be the best alternative if you plan on recharging your batteries on a daily basis.

The mAh rating and possible charge cycles were on par with the other standard capacity options. However, Tenergy was among the least expensive and held on to more charge after a year.

After that, they tend to live up to their low self-discharge claim. If you are a photographer, RC race car enthusiast, gamer with wireless console controllers, or regularly use devices that often require battery swaps, then rechargeable batteries are worth the cost.

If you are just buying cells for a low-drain device, such as a TV remote control you rarely use, or clocks, then it makes financial sense to choose a single-use option since you would not recharge the batteries enough to recoup the additional initial investment. We have a guide for that! Check out the best rechargeable battery chargers we've seen so far.

In general, however, choose the "slow" or "gentle" charge mode on your charger and avoid fast charging if you want to prolong the life of your batteries. Also, if you have a charger that features a "conditioning" function, use that every 10 to 15 charging cycles. This is a slow process that charges and discharges your batteries to erase any use "memory" that could reduce the permanent capacity.

In most cases, yes. Today's nickel-metal hydride NiMH rechargeable batteries are sealed to prevent leakage and can be recharged hundreds of times.

In fact, according to the New York Times , the average lifespan of popular rechargeable batteries is around four years. That means you can save time and money by investing in rechargeable batteries once every few years, especially since they pay for themselves after six charges. Of course, not every battery-powered device should use rechargeables. Disposable batteries are best for emergency-preparedness kits because they offer a longer shelf life than rechargeables, as the Times points out.

While rechargeables last a few years, disposables can last up to a decade without draining prior to use — so you can drop them in a bag and know they'll be good when you need them. But for everyday electronics, rechargeable batteries offer amazing value for your wallet and the environment. High-quality rechargeable battery chargers don't overcharge your batteries, extend the life of the cells inside them, and are easy to use. These are our top picks for the best rechargeable battery chargers.

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These are our top picks for the best smart bulbs according to our testing. Smart speakers can do a number of different things, including answer questions, control smart home devices, set alarms, play music, and more. Whether you're a loyal Google fan or an Amazon fan, these are the best smart speakers for your home. A great charging cable ensures that your device is always charged up and ready for the day — without breaking.

These are our top picks for the best charging cables. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. You can purchase syndication rights to this story here. I suggest getting the amazon pro batteries or the duracell rechargeable from Wal-Mart. The black top ones.

These are name brand eneloop pros just with a different wrapper. The author is wrong about the duracell batteries. Any nihm rechargeable made in Japan is made from the same plant. Fdk produces them all for many companies.

They own the technology not panasonic. They are the only plant in Japan that can produce nihm rechargeable batteries. Panasonic owns the eneloop name but not the technology. Eneloop made in China are not the same quality as made in Japan.

They last only half as long as many independent test show. Make sure you get batteries that are made in Japan. Only exception the imedion batteries. Amazon pro , duracell, fdk batteries all made in Japan. I buy a set every 2 years even though life is left. I keep on hand for emergency situations such as hurricanes etc.

Even though I can recharge my batteries in a vehicle it might not be realistic. I was ground zero for Katrina with 40ft of water. Do not purchase from a store, order online. But lithium is much better then alkaline and easier on the environment.

That way I can have weeks worth of lighting if another storm comes and its 3 weeks without electricity again. I can power all my lanterns and flashlights and run fans. I had 30 of those batteries and on those alone I could have light for weeks.

And recharge them with a cigarette lighter or my solar panel and my nihm. I know I went off topic a lot but there are many options out there. If batteries would last you years its cheaper route then rechargeable even if you go all rechargeable I still recommend some back ups.

Alkaline and lithium last decades so if nothing else you have time to slowly use them. And if you have kids to buy presents for batteries with the toys is always a nice addition. Which ones are you referring to? Can I charge lithium rechargeable batteries in a norml battery charger or do I have to buy a charger especially for lithium batteries?

Thank you. Sue, Lithium Ion batteries have a different voltage compared to NiMH rechargeables, and the charging algorithm is also different so yes, you will need to buy a specialist Li-Ion charger. There are many available on amazon or Ebay with differing features and charge speeds but make sure you check some reviews before you buy. Chris also mentions that Eneloops made in China only last half as long as Eneloops made in Japan. This is really not the case, and the spec for both types is the same.

Can ytou advise me on alternatives if you dont make them in Eneloop? What do you recommend, including new radios. For example, you could check your avalanche before you leave the house and it would read full. By the time you get to the car, it could hit the cut-off voltage level and shut off. Not good in that situation. Do I have to completely run out a rechargeable battery before I can charge it again, or can I charge it when I want? The charger will show a yellow light when charging and go off when completed.

It mainly tells orders me to buy new cells. I cannot see why I should buy new cells simply because a charger tells me, and just will not start charging, while I know that the cells perform well again after that dumb charging. I suggest you also buy a dumb charger to be used beside these sophisticated ones that cannot do so. Charge it whenever performance starts to degrade, or before if you want. Make sure you get a charger that treats batteries individually, not in pairs and that shuts off automatically.

For digital cameras like my 10 year old Canon Powershot they have lasted well over their rated cycles. Much of it recording Bluegrass jams in low light. I usually do buy packs of 4 and run several cycles in an old fashioned flash light just breaking them in. I swap in sets as needed, never dividing them. After cycles, I get a solid full charge in them and meter test again for matching up pairs.

I then hashmark the batteries with permanent marker as set 1 or 2. They might get another test in 6 months or so as if they were new to verify all is well. The good batteries will all come up to 1. The current set of 4 are vintage and still charge to 1. In such light duty, they last many moons and are not cycled much.

I purchased the AA eneloop batteries 4 pack with a Panasonic Advanced charger. They came from China , sold on eBay. There were two of the dark and light blue batteries. They never get a full charge, even though the charger indicates a full charge and they will not last through 2 pictures in my point and shoot camera.

I am thinking since there are nothing but great reviews, that these batteries must be FAKE. You should not buy the low discharge Eneloops for solar lights. They recharge every night.

You are wrong on all counts. Every single one. It also has alkaline battery protection. Alkaline battery Protection — Automatically recognizes an Alkaline battery and Prevents Charger operation and damage. Short circuited Battery Protection. Globally certified for safety. Recharges your batteries correctly each and every time. No over charge, no under charge. Just the right charge each and every time. Universal auto-ranging switching adapter assures Worldwide voltage compatibility.

Made to last in rough environments, and uses a rugged DIN style connector. So — what are you talking about, please. I have AA chargers that are at least 10 years old. They have settings for NIMH and …… batteries. Do I need to get a more up to date charger for the batteries you have currently recommended? Will the new batteries charge faster on a more modern charger? I recommend getting a good charger for your batteries. A good quality charger will revive and recondition your batteries, and they will indicate if a battery is malfunctioning, which is quite useful.

Yes, the newer NiMh batteries have a longer shelf life, and are generally more reliable than the older kinds. I see no reason to continuing using alkaline batteries. I recommend spending money on a good charger whenever possible. The better chargers will recondition the batteries, and they allow you to weed out the problematic batteries easily.

We see the batteries being sold with chargers but the chargers are not highly rated? So we should use a non Panasonic charger for the top of the line Eneloop batteries? I tried quite a few battery brands until I found eneloop years ago. I charge them with a nitecore D4 charger and so far it has been my perfect combination, since i can charge them at home and in the car too. With so many chargers available, does it really matter if the charger is a different brand to the battery, or is this a marketing push?

Do chargers made by the same battery manufacturer have some sort of optimisation for their batteries? What about Energiser Lithium rechargeable batteries? They are reputed to have over mAh capacity in independent tests I have seen. Just google it. What about reviewing AmazonBasics Rechargeables mAh. What do you think about SunLabz mAh AA batteries and their associated smart battery recharging counterpart?

I have read a number of comments positive about Enloop batteries. Enloops use of a AA battery to power a D-Cell casing is a poor substitute. The new Eneloops from Panasonic are fantastic too. Sourced mine here in Belgium. Hi, what is the best battery charger that also has a 12v car adaptor?

I think this Maha charger might be what you want. You can also get a inverter for your car , which would supply V. Overall, my flight time has increased almost one and a half times before using Eneloop. My remote controller has twice, if not, more usage time when using Eneloop. Thanks Tim for all your information!

Great, informative article! I just found out about the eneloop pros and was wondering what the difference was between them and the regular eneloops. If I buy for high performance batteries with higher energy capacity, then I will get far less charging cycles, and if go for higher charging cycles, then I lose the capacity.

I am quite aware of that. Tell me if you got that can give me a balance of both? One word of warning. LaCrosse products have no customer service or support, none at all, anywhere. This is evident from the lower ranked customer reviews on Amazon. This article may need an update. The gen IV Panasonic brand Eneloops can be recharged times versus the times for the pro and retain their charge for much longer.

The Modest reduction in capacity is in my opinion more than compensated for by the 4X better durability and very low self discharge characteristics of the newer Eneloops.

I went thru two sets of copper tops in about thirty pix. I was, woe this is going to get real pricey quick!! Think I may get into one of the smarts. Thanks, One very satisfied customer! The AmazonBasics only powered our test flashlight for 2 hours, 12 minutes while the high-capacity version improved to 2 hours, 39 minutes.

The equivalent eneloops bested them by burning for 2 hours, 45 minutes and 2 hours, 56 minutes. Even in our camera flash tests, the AmazonBasics batteries only strobed 80 percent as many times before being completely run down.

The eneloops performed well enough and we like the value when bundled with the charger. Iam use digital camera. Re: metaefficient, Justin Thomas Awesome write-up Justin. This was spot-on, no bs, to the point review.

Thanks for your help. Worth every penny. You just have to remember to keep the stronger cell on every 2nd, 4th, e. You do have to manually terminate the charge on the first charge as this charger does not do a good job of forming the cells. I can not leave them in the charger for a week? To compensate for any possible design for any future battery capacities likely with D cells , and perhaps to allow for different capacities on all cells, Maha did not put a safety backup timer in their charger for ANY of the battery sizes.

So if the batteries are new, and not AT 0. One such solution is to use the Duracell Ion speed , but you also have to wait until the batteries are empty, and wait until the green lights turn solid. So, for BOTH chargers, you have to wait until the battery is deeply depleted. You should be alright for AA on the Maha, but you want to make sure that the charger sees the slight voltage drop when the AA batteries are first new.

All the indicators should change to DONE within seconds of each other, if one continues blinking charging for longer, just pull the set out, and use it normally. I would not recommend putting AAs on any other but the Maha. I finally got an MHS charger. I just got tired of the missed charged termination on my other charger which works good on d cells.

They made a MH as well. I wonder if they made these because of the problem with the previous charger they made? This is why I never considered the MHD. I checked the weight, they looked real. They are a great workaround if you only have the Duracell Otherwise, I don. I did not find it as damaging as the Energizer 15 minute one. If you got the new Maha turbocharger you have to remember to activate the turbo mode when doing AAA.

They are totally worth to buy and use. Batteries can last for a very long time. Love this brand. I am gonna get XX of them.

I think all this about length of charge and milliamp-hours misses the point: if I am told to put 3 AA batteries into a gadget, it needs the voltage to drive the gadget. I am returning Energizer rechargeables which, after the recommended charging time, only made 1.

After a few hours, it would not function properly. And the rechargeable AA batteries were only rated for 1. Only in some rare occasions will a gadget have problems with the voltage of rechargeables.

Both conventional carbon-zinc batteries and alkalines quickly lose their initial higher voltage in use, whereas nickel-metal hydride rechargeables maintain their initial voltage for a much longer period. They also generally have a higher milliamp hr capacity than alkalines and are MUCH better in high drain applications, such as digital cameras and strobe lights.

Rechargeables were designed for and may still work best in high drain situations, such as cameras, stobe lights, toys, power tools and heavily used flashlights. That is due in part to their self-discharge characteristic. In short, I think you are putting much too much emphasis on the slight voltage difference between alkalines and rechargeables. I stumbled onto this forum and it has explained an issue I had.

I have a R. It works great as long as it has 1. Thank you,Great discussion! About the Ansman battery charger: On Amazon reviewers are saying that although the name is German, this battery charger is made in China. Awesome rechargeable batteries. Thanks a lot for sharing this info. It really helped me big time. I have 8 Eneloop, 8 Ray O Vac and 6 Duracell all mAh batteries for use in photography equipment and daughther toys.

I think all of them are excellent batteries. They are suposed rapid charger, charge 4 batteries in a bit over 3. Six batteries of that brand dead in 2 years, so I have some fear about the charger. Until now they work as advertised but I would like to know if some one have experience with them. Happy New Year and thanks on advance.

Case in point, I used to use a pack charger, and it waited for a relatively large voltage drop before shutting off. With such a large voltage drop, you are likely to wind up with overcharged cells, and some cells losing capacity before other cells, resulting in a badly matched pack.

Have you ever wondered why you had to replace you cordless drill NiCad packs so often? We all should do our share in taking care of our environment. We can start by going green.

I found this fun social networking site, motleygreen. Yeah, Apples are rebranded Enloopes. Where can I find the Sanyo rechargeable batteries? I do not know which seller to trust on amazon.. So you will probably not be able to buy Sanyo any more. Fujitsu Ni-Mh are only made in Japan and they are probably as close to original eneloop as you can buy. I use them for my on camera flash SB No, there is such thing as a good minute charger.

The problem is that it charges in 15 minutes. While that may sound good to have batteries charged in 15 minutes it destroys the acid inside the battery from having too much current pushed through them.

I have ruined about dollars worth of batteries, and I found the same charger in the airsoft forums! Some of them even bulged and leak, and I had one that actually blew its seal and spilled acid!

Even my Nicads got ruined with even the lowish 0. I am using Maha charger currently. That is quite true. I was at Walmart yesterday, and they had an ion speed charger made by Duracell. The problem was, that the charger only charged the included batteries in pairs.

I have had so many batteries destroyed by chargers charging in pairs. One of the batteries in the pair seem to always wind up slightly overcharged, and get more and more out of balance as time goes on. Just read my forum on the battery pack charger. Can I use this charger to charge other brands of recargeable batts?

I did find a use again for that pack charger. However, the disadvantage is that it takes at least a minimum of 6 cells to work. I could only use the 0. If the electricity goes off…. It was a good start but where are any of the solar energy rechargers? I felt like this whole article was a walking ad for eneloop. Thanks for trying.

It gave me some ideas of what to look for. I was just about to go with Eneloop until you mentioned this. I feel that you are right that this was sort of a walking ad, or at least a bias add. I wish Consumer Reports reviewed rechargables. However, the other brands I mentioned are good too! What would you describe as the highest capacity battery when the time they hold their charge is not important. So total capacity is more important than the time for self discharging.

Ansmann or Vapex are among the highest I found, but how real are these capacity's. Good day! Thanks a lot! Wondering if anyone can offer a recommendation on a 12V recharger, i. This is an awesome blog post. Definitely a money saver too. I can not see-find out, that this device will stop at time, or stop at all?

Can someone help with info? Is this a safe practice? I tossed the off brand batteries and i am using the Eneloop. I was considering the Ansmann Energy 8 plus charger until I saw a number of reviews saying that it frequently refuses to charge batteries and sometimes will charge the same battery it previously would not after re-inserting.

Occassionally we experince power outages; the most recent was for two days. My goal is to have rechargeable lanterns for us to use in such occassions. I also have a solar charger that can recharge rechargeable batteries.

My question is this: since these batteries may sit unused for years, which D Cell rechargeable battery would you recommend? I have to recharge the CPX6 cartridge once a year, when it is not in use. One thing to keep in mind with them, the performance actually improves after the first few charges.

Also, Eneloop has updated their batteries. The new ones can be charged times. So, I will likely try to fix it myself, or toss in the trash. Bottom line … great design, poor craftsmanship.

They have been working great for me and so I can not recommend them enough. These are the batteries you are looking for. This is a thread about rechargeable batteries, so why would I post about a non-rechargeable battery? Numerous tests have shown the quality you can expect from Panasonic Eneloop batteries, so they should definitely be somewhere near the top of your shortlist when you're looking for the best rechargeable batteries of When it comes to batteries, the Energizer brand is one that you know you can trust, and so it is with rechargeable batteries.

When it comes to the raw specs, the AA Recharge Extreme batteries have a 2,mAh capacity and can be recharged up to times, while the AAA versions have a mAh capacity and can be recharged up to times as well.

They're suitable for just about any gadget out there, and keep their charge for up to a year in storage too. In terms of testing and performance, there isn't a huge difference between the Energizer Recharge Extreme line and the Panasonic Eneloops line, and you might want to go with whichever one is offering the best deal when you're shopping. Neither will let you down. To see how this model compared to our top rated rechargeable battery, be sure to take a read of T3's Panasonic Eneloop vs Energizer Recharge Extreme comparison feature.

Perhaps you need a little bit more juice than the standard Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries are able to offer, in which case we'd like to point you towards the Pro models — they have a higher capacity, so you get more use between charges, but they also have a shorter lifespan overall. For AA batteries, the capacity is 2,mAh and you can recharge them times before they'll need replacing. If you're buying AAA batteries, then the capacity is mAh and again you can expect recharges.

According to Panasonic, these batteries are still going to be holding 85 percent of their charge after a year of use. You get the same high performance and reliability as you do with the standard Eneloop batteries, but these are ideal for more demanding, high consumption gadgets. For less demanding, low consumption gadgets such as remote controls , check out the Eneloop Lite range. Duracell is of course one of the biggest and most popular brands on the battery scene, and its rechargeable batteries are well worth considering for anyone who's shopping for the best rechargeable battery of — as normal, AA and AAA are the two sizes to pick from.

If you go for the Duracell AA Rechargeable Ultra pack, those batteries give you a very generous capacity of 2,mAh and can be recharged up to times before dying for good. Opt for the AAA versions, and they give you a capacity of mAh and the same recharge lifespan.

Duracell says these batteries will last for five years if you don't reach the recharge limit by then, and with that in mind we'd say these are a fantastic pick if you need a set of batteries with a long shelf life. The prices are very reasonable as well. To see how these batteries stack up against our number one choice then be sure to check out T3's Panasonic Eneloop vs Duracell Rechargeable Ultra comparison feature. Don't dismiss the AmazonBasics range as being only for those who want to spend as little money as possible — the range of rechargeable batteries that Amazon has put out can more than hold their own against the major brands, and you'll be very satisfied indeed if you pick these for your energy needs.

Amazon doesn't specify exactly how many recharges you can get out of these batteries in total, but does promise it's in the "hundreds" — so make of that what you will.

It also says the batteries keep up to 50 percent of their capacity for a year. We'd recommend going for these if you need a lot of rechargeable batteries at a very reasonable price — they hold up well and can be relied upon.