Price when reviewed: £8.98 (x4) | Check price at Amazon Energizer Ultimate Lithium: The longest-lasting AA battery The best AA batteries you can buy in 2023 1. Here, standard disposable AA batteries often work out better, simply because they don’t self-discharge at anywhere near the same rate. You may find the same with game controllers, toys and some other gadgets and devices. That’s not a problem for many devices, where you use them intensively over short periods, but for something you use over a long period, such as a remote control, regular recharges soon become annoying. What’s more, most rechargeables tend to self-discharge over time, steadily losing charge until they’re basically useless and need a recharge. Sometimes you just need batteries and it’s neither possible nor convenient to get rechargeables. There are exceptions to the rule, though. Factor in the clear environmental issues and it’s a no-brainer, although many local councils and some supermarkets now offer free recycling. You pay more upfront for the batteries and the charger (if you need one), but you’ll recoup the difference within a couple of uses – and AA batteries cost so little to recharge that it’s barely worth thinking about. rechargeables don’t deliver as much voltage as disposables (typically 1.25V rather than 1.5V), but they normally maintain the same level for longer and can just be recharged when they run dry. Generally speaking, you should go for alkalines for most of your battery needs but opt for lithiums for digital cameras or other high-drain products where you need a reliable high charge for as long as possible. The only negative? They’re significantly more expensive. They can also be up to 9g lighter than the equivalent alkaline AA battery, which counts when you have something powered by four AAs. While normal alkaline AAs struggle below 0☌, lithium batteries will operate down to -40☌. They last much longer, have an epic shelf life, don’t discharge as much power when not in use and can cope with extreme temperatures. Lithium : Lithium batteries work even better than alkalines. Technical advances have also seen the major problems – a short shelf life and a propensity to leak – reduced or even fixed. They’re cheap and very easy to find, and last much longer than the old zinc chloride batteries. They’re cheap as chips when bought in bulk and fine for low-drain gadgets such as a remote control, but you’ll go through them quickly on anything more demanding.Īlkaline : The mainstream battery technology for high-drain devices. Zinc chloride : This used to be the general-purpose battery of choice, but alkaline batteries are now so cheap that you don’t often see them. Today’s disposable batteries break down into three basic types: For some purposes – when you’re powering low-drain devices such as a clock or remote control – the differences aren’t that important, but with high-drain devices like a camera, game controller or anything with a lamp, screen or motor, you could see huge differences in lifespan and reliability. Different manufacturers use different chemistries and processes to make them, and there are big differences in terms of how much power the battery can supply, how long it lasts and how fast the battery loses energy while not in active use. How to choose the best AA batteries for youĪA batteries might be cheap and cheerful, but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. If you need further guidance as to which batteries suit your needs best, there’s a buying guide towards the bottom of the page explaining the differences between various types of batteries, including rechargeable variants. Of course, not any disposable will do, you want batteries with a decent life so they won’t need replacing when you need them most.īelow you’ll find the list of those that came on top in their respective categories. That may make rechargeable batteries a more appealing option in the long term, but they’re not as convenient, and for certain devices, you’re better off sticking with disposables. If you’re using just a few of the aforementioned gadgets, you’re bound to get through plenty of batteries over the course of the year. Torches, toys, clocks and remote controls are among the most commonly used products requiring them, and you’ll find bridge and DSLR cameras, radios, video game controllers and travel shavers that are powered by them, too. Despite the majority of modern gadgets now opting for built-in batteries, there are still many useful household items that rely on good old AA batteries.
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