The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and
identifying the best Batteries. See our ratings criteria
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| 1.
Choice.com.au
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Test: High-capacity Batteries
Editors of Choice.com.au
Nov. 2006
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Australia's Choice magazine is the only publication that tests a large number of disposable and rechargeable batteries against each other. Editors subject 19 disposable and rechargeable batteries from 12 different brands to drain tests. Conclusions are based upon simulated digital camera use and value for money. Experts agree that rechargeable batteries are the most economical in the long run, but the Energizer e2 Lithium disposables actually last much longer in a digital camera. For rechargeables, the Duracell 2650 mAh, Energizer 2500 mAh, Kodak Digital Camera 2500 mAh, Fujifilm 2500 mAh and the DSE NiMH 2200 mAh (not available in the U.S.) are recommended. The Energizer e2 Lithium is the highest-rated disposable.
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Batteries Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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| 2.
Which.co.uk
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Batteries
Editors of Which.co.uk
Nov. 2006
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This British publication tests more types and brands of batteries than any other source we found; 36 batteries are tested and rated from 14 different brands. Tests simulate how the cells perform in medium- and high-drain situations. Experts conclude that rechargeables may cost more to purchase but are less expensive in the long run. They recommend the Duracell Rechargeable 2650 mAh and the Philips Multilife 2600 (not available in the U.S.). There is also a lot of interesting supplemental information on this site about batteries, but disposables are not compared to rechargeable batteries.
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| 3.
Consumer Reports
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Best batteries
Editors of Consumer Reports
Nov. 2006
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Editors of Consumer Reports put 16 brands of disposable batteries through rigorous testing, simulating the battery usage in both a digital camera and a CD player. Generally, the authors say that rechargeable batteries offer the best value for most circumstances. However, their testing reveals that lithium batteries are best for high-drain digital cameras and alkaline cells are good for other types of devices if a rechargeable is not available. Experts recommend avoiding nickel oxy-hydroxide cells completely. Consumer Reports does not compare disposable batteries to rechargeable batteries.
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| 4.
Rechargeable- Battery- Review.com
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Batteries
Guy Bonneau
As of Aug. 2007
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This website provides consumers with tests, reviews and information on rechargeable batteries. It also encourages visitors to post their own reviews and comments. In addition to reviews of batteries, the site also features charger reviews, a forum for readers to discuss issues pertaining to battery performance, and a FAQ section for new readers. The top rechargeable from 2006 testing is the Maha Powerex 2700 mAh, which wins top ratings in performance and quality.
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| 5.
PC World
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Battery Boosters
Christopher Null
Apr. 2006
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PC World presents an extensive article detailing methods for getting the most out of batteries. Four types of AA batteries were tested in digital cameras. Energizer's e2 disposable lithium cells shot 188 more photos in the point-and-shoot camera and 236 more in the advanced camera than the number-two finisher, the Energizer Rechargeable NiMH 2500 mAh. Panasonic Oxyride batteries are rated third.
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| 6.
PC Magazine
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The New Power Generation
Troy Dreier
May 2006
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Troy Dreier tests disposable batteries from seven different brands, using a Kodak Easy-Share D360 digital camera, a battery-operated television and a flashlight. He provides a thorough analysis of both performance and value for the money, determining number of photos per penny for each battery in the camera, and time of operation for the TV and flashlight. Dreier advises that it is important to buy the right battery for the job; long-life batteries deliver too much power for low-drain devices. Overall, the Energizer e2 wins for digital devices, offering the most shots on the camera. The Oxyride from Panasonic earns second place.
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| 7.
Datamation IT Management
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Do Panasonic's Batteries Really Beat Energizer's?
Brian Livingston
Jan. 2006
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In this interesting article, Brian Livingston plows through the press releases issued by both Panasonic and Energizer in their claims to be the best disposable battery. He throws research and recommendations from Consumer Reports into the mix and then offers his own conclusions based on his research. In the end, he recommends selecting a rechargeable battery instead of a disposable (except for devices like smoke detectors, which require a battery that doesn't self-discharge). Livingston then recommends Energizer e2 Lithium batteries for digital cameras, but says that Panasonic Oxyride batteries are cheaper.
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Batteries Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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| 8.
PC Magazine
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Portable Power
Jon Sienkiewicz
Not Dated
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Jon Sienkiewicz advises sticking with major brand names and avoiding unknown knockoffs, but stops short of recommending any particular rechargeable battery. The Panasonic Oxyride and Energizer e2 Lithium batteries are mentioned, but it doesn't appear that Sienkiewicz tested any of these batteries personally.
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| 9.
PC World
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New Batteries: Twice the Life
Rex Farrance
Mar. 2005
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PC World's testers give Panasonic's Oxyride batteries a run-down test in a Canon digital camera. Compared to regular Duracell Ultra alkaline batteries, the Oxyride batteries outperform even Panasonic's claims, lasting more than twice as long as the alkaline batteries. The disposable Oxyride batteries come close to the performance of a Rayovac NiMH 1800 mAh disposable battery, which costs three times as much (but is, of course, rechargeable). Since a more recent PC World test is available, this article ranks lower in our chart.
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| 10.
Imaging- Resource.com
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The Great Battery Shootout!
Dave Etchells
Jan. 2005
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This site is aimed at digital camera owners, who are well aware of how quickly cameras can drain batteries. The review gives the results of over two years of battery testing. Dave Etchells says that alkalines are nearly useless in digital cameras, since cameras drain them so quickly. Instead, he recommends NiMH rechargeables. In Etchells's testing, the top-rated Energizer 2300 AA NiMH lasted longer than regular alkaline. However, this article is too old to include newer Panasonic Oxyride and Energizer e2 Lithium disposable batteries.
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| 11.
The New York Times
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Can a New Disposable Battery Change Your Life?
David Pogue
Apr. 2005
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David Pogue puts the new Panasonic Oxyride to the test in a series of "boring" battery drain tests over a number of days. While the Panasonic batteries don't quite live up to all their marketing claims, they do make flashlights shine brighter due to their higher power output. The batteries don't outlast their alkaline brethren in low-drain electronics, but in high-drain gadgets like digital cameras, the Panasonic AA Oxyrides last about twice as long.
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Batteries Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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| 12.
Consumer Reports
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Best deals on camera batteries
Editors of Consumer Reports
Nov. 2003
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Consumer Reports' last test of rechargeable batteries is now obsolete. Editors test rechargeable batteries from between 1,800 and 2,100 mAh. Currently available rechargeable batteries are now available up to 2,700 mAh. Consumer Reports does have a current report on disposable batteries, but they don't compare disposables to rechargeables.
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| 13.
Battery University.com
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What's the Best Battery?
Isidor Buchmann
Nov. 2006
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The founder and CEO of Cadex Electronics, Isidor Buchmann is a battery expert and award-winning author of several books and articles about batteries. This page discusses types of batteries, but not specific brands.
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| 14.
Michael Bluejay's Battery Guide
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Your Guide to Types of Household Batteries
Michael Bluejay
Not Dated
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Part of a larger personal website, this section compares the top types of batteries for shelf life, longevity and price. A chart is followed by in-depth descriptions of each battery type, and there are several battery links on this site. Bluejay touts price over brand in nearly every category. While there are no specific brand recommendations here, NiMH rechargeable batteries and regular alkaline batteries are rated best for most uses.
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| 15.
ZBattery.com
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How to Choose the Very Best Batteries
Bryan Noonan
July 2002
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This review is less of a "which is best" article and more of a guide to knowing about battery use. The best tip in this analysis of battery types is that expired batteries, those which are past their sell-by date, still have about 85 percent of their fresh capacity. Writer Bryan Noonan finishes by noting that the best way to determine which batteries are best for you is to try out different types and keep track of the results.
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Batteries Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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| 16.
PC Magazine
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Getting the Most from your Batteries
Bill Howard
Dec. 2005
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This article focuses primarily on laptop batteries, but also has a lengthy and interesting discussion on NiMH batteries with helpful information. No specific recommendations or testing methods are offered. There are some charts to assist in clarifying statistics, and some discussion of recharging methods and purchasing a charger.
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| 17.
Amazon.com
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Batteries
Contributors to Amazon.com
As of July 2007
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Amazon.com allows visitors to publish reviews for specific products. Only a handful of batteries have any reviews, however.
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