Batteries Reviews

We found some excellent performance tests of batteries. Consumer Reports and the UK-based Which? magazine both conduct large comparison tests of disposable AA batteries. The most comprehensive reviewer of rechargeable batteries is Rechargeable-Battery-Review.com. None of these reviewers, however, tests disposable batteries alongside rechargeable NiMH batteries. Only Australia's Choice magazine pits both types of batteries in the same drain tests -- helpful in deciding which AA battery is best for your digital camera and other high-drain electronics.

Although experts say rechargeable batteries are the better value by far, you wouldn't want to use them in slow-drain devices like remote controls or calculators; that's because rechargeable batteries continue to drain even when you're not using them. For items like flashlights, remotes and other items you use only now and then, disposable batteries are a better choice because these conserve power when they aren't being used.

In comparative tests of regular disposable alkaline batteries, experts say performance can vary quite a bit. Panasonic alkaline batteries (*est. $2 per 4-pack) fall short of the competition in a couple of tests, failing to last as long in drain tests as Duracell CopperTop alkaline batteries (*est. $3.50 per 4-pack). Both brands, however, trail the Energizer e2 Lithium disposable batteries (*est. $12 per 4-pack, AA) in tests. While the Energizer Lithium disposable cost a lot more, the cost evens out in the long run. In tests at Choice magazine, for example, the Energizer lithium batteries lasted through 620 shots on a digital camera, while the Duracell alkaline batteries averaged about 110 shots per pair.

There's a lot of buzz around two non-alkaline disposable batteries that aim to bridge the gap in performance and price between standard alkaline batteries and rechargeable batteries. Both the Energizer e2 Lithium batteries (*est. $12 per 4-pack, AA) and the Panasonic Oxyride disposables (*est. $5 per 4-pack, AA) are billed as having a much longer lifespan than regular alkaline disposables.

However, Energizer e2 Lithium batteries far outperform the Panasonic Oxyride batteries with both high-drain electronics (like digital cameras) and low-drain devices (such as remote controls). In tests at Choice magazine, the Energizer lithium batteries average 620 photos per pair, while the Panasonic Oxyride batteries take only 200 shots. So while the Energizer batteries cost more than twice as much, they last almost three times as long in high-drain items.  ... Continued

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In most applications, alternatives to alkaline batteries are a better choice. For digital camera batteries, several recent comparison tests from experts give the edge to disposable Energizer e2 Lithium batteries by a wide margin. However, experts agree that, in the long run, rechargeable NiMH batteries are much less expensive for high-drain electronics.

For low-drain items, disposable batteries such as the Panasonic Oxyride and Energizer e2 are better options, since they don't lose power when not in use. Standard alkaline batteries are inexpensive, and they have a long shelf life; some reviews recommend buying by price when it comes to alkaline batteries.