Best Reviewed
Batteries
- Best rechargeable batteries Sanyo eneloop Rechargeable *Est. $12
- Disposable alkaline batteries Duracell CopperTop alkaline *Est. $5
- Best disposable batteries for digital cameras Energizer Ultimate Lithium *Est. $10
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Energizer Ultimate Lithium
Best disposable batteries for digital cameras
- Longest runtime in digital cameras
- 15-year shelf life
- Work in extreme temperatures
- Lighter than alkaline batteries
- Higher initial price
- Less cost-effective than rechargeables
- No warning when low
- Not for low-drain devices
In test after test, the Energizer Ultimate Lithium (formerly called the Energizer e2 Lithium) lasts the longest in digital cameras -- more than four times as long as the top-rated alkaline battery, the Duracell CopperTop (*Est. $5 for four AA) , in one test. Even though its initial price is twice that of the CopperTop, the Energizer Ultimate Lithium lasts so long that it winds up costing less per shot. It also boasts a much longer shelf life (15 years) and works at more extreme temperatures (-40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) than either alkaline or rechargeable batteries. Still, the disposable Energizer Ultimate Lithium isn't as cost-effective as rechargeable batteries like the Sanyo Eneloop Rechargeable (*Est. $12 for four AA) in high-drain devices, and experts say it's overkill for low-drain devices like smoke alarms, where regular alkalines are the most cost-friendly choice.
For digital cameras, reviews consistently find the Energizer e2 Lithium to be the best of the disposable batteries. They cost more than most disposables, but comparison tests show they last so long that each photo costs much less to shoot. Recovery time and flash power are excellent, as well. Lithium batteries are light, work well at low temperatures and have a shelf life of 10 years. Energizer's Ultimate Lithium batteries come in AA and AAA sizes. The main drawbacks are cost and the fact that lithium batteries give little or no warning before the charge runs out. For other electronics, reviews recommend the more cost-effective Sanyo Eneloop Rechargeable (*Est. $12 for four AA) , which come pre-charged.
We found extremely well-designed, reliable tests of the Energizer Ultimate Lithium at ConsumerReports.org and its overseas equivalents -- Which? magazine (U.K.) and Choice magazine (Australia) -- as well as at PopPhoto.com. All of these tests compare several brands and types of batteries to find out which work the best in high-drain devices like digital cameras. About 150 users at Amazon.com post their real-life experiences with the Energizer Ultimate Lithium.
| Energizer Ultimate L91BP-4 Lithium AA Batteries, Pack of 4 Batteries | |
(204 reviews) In Stock. |
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Editors here test 17 battery models in digital cameras to find out which last the longest. They also take price into account when picking the best buys. The Energizer Ultimate Lithium battery is evaluated, along with alkaline and nickel oxy-hydroxide disposable batteries and rechargeable batteries.
Review: Best AA Batteries, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, December 2010
2. Which? magazineDetails/Subscribe
This British consumer magazine tests the Energizer Ultimate Lithium alongside 19 other disposable batteries, simulating high-drain use (such as in flashlights) and very high-drain use (as in digital cameras). Each battery gets star ratings for performance and editors recommend the best buys.
Review: Batteries, Editors of Which? magazine, April 2011
3. Choice magazineDetails/Subscribe
The Australian equivalent of ConsumerReports.org, Choice magazine tests 19 disposable and rechargeable batteries (including the Energizer e2 Lithium, now renamed Energizer Ultimate Lithium). Editors list their top picks based on simulated digital-camera performance and value.
Review: High-Capacity Batteries Review, Editors of Choice magazine, June 14, 2008
4. PopPhoto.com
This digital-camera test also includes the Energizer e2 Lithium (now renamed Energizer Ultimate Lithium). Zach Honig tests 14 battery models -- seven rechargeable and seven disposable -- and calculates their cost per shot.
Review: AA Battery Test, Zach Honig, Dec. 16, 2008
5. Amazon.com
Nearly 90 percent of the more than 160 or so user reviews posted here give the Energizer Ultimate Lithium 4 out of 5 or a perfect 5 stars, saying they really do last longer than alkalines in high-drain devices like digital cameras.
Review: Energizer Ultimate L91BP-4 Lithium AA Battery 4 Pack, Contributors to Amazon.com
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