Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Rechargeable Battery Pack for Wireless Unit

Some electric toothbrushes, digital cameras, and more require a slightly higher voltage than the 1.2 volts that NiMH batteries can provide. If you own such a device (and if you’re unsure, it’s most likely listed on the bottom of the device or in the manual), you can use a rechargeable Li-ion battery instead of a disposable lithium or alkaline, since all three operate at a constant 1.5 volts. Similar to their NiMH brethren, multiple Li-ion AA and AAA batteries tied for first in our testing: EBL’s black- and red-labeled AA batteries, as well as its black and red AAAs. Although they have nominally different capacity ratings and charge differently—the black EBL batteries charge via a Micro-USB port on the sides of their barrels, and the red ones can be charged normally in any charger that’s compatible with Li-ion batteries—they fared about the same in our testing. As required by our testing criteria, all four of our Li-ion picks are low self-discharge batteries, and they’re rated to last at least 1,000 charge/discharge cycles.

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Many of the electronic devices around your home require batteries, and considering the affordability and performance of rechargeable batteries, there’s not much sense in purchasing disposable options anymore. Yes, they’re a little more expensive than single-use alkaline batteries, but by investing a little extra upfront, rechargeable options can save you much more in the long run.

We put 13 of the most popular models to the test, sticking to AA-size batteries for the sake of simplicity. After running them through a comprehensive testing process, using a battery analyzer to determine the capacity accuracy and consistency, as well as run time tests with a flashlight and motorized toy car, we’ve found the best AA rechargeable batteries for you, regardless of your budget and gear needs.

Ladda AA, 4-Pack With Charger

Best budget-friendly rechargeable AA battery

Ikea

Despite the low price, these IKEA brand batteries still deliver an impressive mAh capacity at 2,450, and they outperformed nearly all the other batteries we tested.

$10 at Ikea

EBL Li-Ion AA, 4-Pack With Dual-Port Cables

Best lithium rechargeable AA battery

Amazon

These 3,300-mWh Li-ion batteries powered both our testing devices just as long as the high-performing NiMH options, and the built-in charging port and included USB cord allows for easy recharging. 

$24 at Amazon

The best rechargeable battery overall: Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA, 4-Pack With Charger

$50 at Amazon

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Out of all the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries I tested, the Panasonic Eneloop Pro provides the best combination of high capacity and long run time. After I ran it through three complete charging/discharging cycles, the average capacity was actually higher than the advertised 2,550mAh, coming in at 2,596mAh. All rechargeable NiMH batteries suffer some reduction in capacity over time, so the fact that the Eneloop Pro is a capacity overachiever out of the box bodes well for its ability to deliver the mAh you need down the line, even after many use cycles.

The Panasonic Eneloop Pro also performed well in my real-world run time tests and powered a flashlight (set to “high” power mode) for two hours and 30 minutes before fading out, the longest of any NiMH battery I tested. It also powered a motorized car with light-up LEDS for a whopping nine hours and 40 minutes, just 30 minutes short of the top performer in that category, the HiQuick NiMH AA, which delivered a dismal one-hour-and-40-minute flashlight run time.

The Panasonic Eneloop Pro isn’t cheap, but you’re also getting a really nice BQ-CC55 charger, which helps add to the overall value. LEDs above each slot change colors to indicate the current battery level, from red (20% or less) to orange (20% to 80%) to green (80% or more). I find these to be much more helpful than typical chargers that only switch LED colors when the battery is completely charged, letting you immediately differentiate completely dead batteries from nearly full ones, instead of having to wait 10 minutes for it to switch from red to green.

The Eneloop charger is also compatible with AAA batteries, saving you the trouble of buying another charger should you need to invest in the smaller batteries, and thanks to its flip-out power plug, it takes up minimal space when it’s not being used. The fixed plug of the Ladda, for example, means the charger remains 2 inches deep, taking up more space when you put it away in a drawer.

The best budget rechargeable battery: Ladda AA, 4-Pack With Charger

$10 at Ikea

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

The Ladda Rechargeable Batteries are sold by Ikea, and their impressive capacity, low price and included wall charger make for a great value. With an average tested capacity of 2,409mAh, you’re getting nearly as much capacity as our top pick, the Panasonic Eneloop Pro. Their two-and-a-half-hour flashlight run time was at the top of the range as well, and the 10-hour toy car run time was only 10 minutes shy of the best overall result from the HiQuick NiMH AA. The 139-minute charging time wasn’t the speediest result in my testing pool, but with just a half hour difference between it and the 104 minutes of the fastest charging option, the EBL NiMH AA, I think it’s negligible.

The Ladda Rechargeable Batteries also come with a four-slot charger that accepts both AA and AAA batteries, so you won’t need to purchase one separately, though it’s more basic than the one supplied with the Panasonic Eneloop Pro. Unlike the multicolored LEDs of the Panasonic Eneloop Pro charger, the Ladda charger only indicates whether or not a battery is fully charged. The fixed plug also makes this charger a little awkward to store when you’re not using it.

These batteries are a great deal for the capacity and performance they provide, but they are only available from Ikea, so if you’re not near one of their stores, keep in mind that added shipping costs will raise the overall price to the point that other options may make more sense.

$24 at Amazon

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Li-ion, or lithium-ion batteries, operate at a higher voltage than NiMh batteries and are preferred in some applications, like photography, because they behave more like the alkaline batteries many devices were designed for. The 1.5V EBL Li-ion AA batteries blew the other Li-ion options out of the water in my run time tests, and the package includes a pair of dual-port cables for USB charging. You can even charge the batteries individually from any USB port.

I was unable to find a battery analyzer compatible with 1.5V Li-ion batteries so I had to compare all my Li-ion batteries by their run times, where the EBL Li-ion AA far outperformed the other Li-ion options. The three-hour flashlight run time was the highest of all the batteries I tested — NiMH or Li-ion — and the nine-hour-and-50-minute toy car run time was just 20 minutes shorter than the longest time we recorded. This doesn’t come as a total surprise since EBL batteries offer 3,300 mWh, which is nominally based on a 2,200mAh capacity but at a higher operating voltage that, depending on how its used, can actually give you more usable power than our top and budget NiMh picks that came in at 3,060 and 2,940 mWh of power, respectively.

Instead of a dedicated wall charger, each EBL Li-ion battery has a micro-USB port built into the battery itself, and the four-pack comes with two dual-port charging cords that allow you to charge them with a laptop, battery pack or any other USB-A port you have available. Keep in mind that since each cord can only accept two batteries at a time, you’ll need to use two USB ports to charge your four-pack all at once.

Since they pack more usable capacity and depend on the relatively low amount of current supplied over a standard USB port while charging, the EBLs take longer to charge — about three hours, significantly longer than the NiMH batteries, though that was the case for all the Li-ion batteries in my testing pool.

How we tested

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

Although rechargeable batteries proudly advertise their capacity (generally expressed in mAh), that’s actually a maximum number that it may not deliver. To determine the actual capacity, I used a battery analyzer to charge and discharge each NiMH battery, providing a precise measurement in mAh each cycle. I cycled each one three times and averaged those mAh numbers to compare all the batteries in my testing pool. I also averaged each battery’s charging time during this test.

Most standard battery analyzers aren’t compatible with the 1.5V lithium-ion batteries in our testing pool, so I was unable to determine their actual capacities. I compared the three Li-ion batteries strictly by their run time and charging speeds. That said, Li-ion batteries typically have a larger effective capacity than their NiMH cousins.

Due to factors like internal battery design, chemical makeup and efficiency, knowing the actual capacity of a battery isn’t enough to give you a complete picture of its energy output under real-world conditions. To evaluate how each battery performed in real-world situations, I used them to power two electronic devices. I timed how long each battery powered a ThruNite Archer 2A V3 flashlight as well as a motorized toy car with flashing lights. This allowed me to compare each battery’s total run time to the others, as well as note any differences in their consistency. I also noted whether any of the batteries came with their own charger and used that to get a better idea of their overall value.

What’s the difference between a NiMH and Li-ion rechargeable battery?

The two most common types of rechargeable batteries are nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-ion). NiMH batteries have a voltage output of 1.2V and tend to have a higher capacity — measured in milliampere hours (mAh), a measure of how much electrical charge they can store. Li-ion batteries generally have lower capacity in mAh, but operate at a higher voltage (1.5V) which, since they run at a higher voltage, means they have more available power, measured in milliwatt hours (mWh). This makes them better suited for high-drain, power-hungry devices like digital cameras and other items that would otherwise require a disposable alkaline battery (also 1.5V) to meet their voltage needs.

Li-ion batteries also require different chargers than those used for NiMH batteries — you can’t mix and match given the higher voltage. Some, like the EBL Li-ion AA we tested, use built-in micro-USB ports that can be connected to any USB-A port for easy (though slow) charging.

Even though Li-ion batteries hold less of a total electrical charge than NiMH options, they can supply power more consistently and have a higher output voltage. Instead of gradually fading as they drain, devices powered by Li-ion batteries will discharge power consistently and shut off when their output drops below 1.5V.

Essentially, you’ll want the proper battery for your application. NiMH batteries can last longer but you don’t want to put one in your camera flash. Li-ion batteries can directly replace alkaline batteries in high power draw devices, and pack a stronger punch until they’re fully drained.

Are rechargeable batteries better than alkaline batteries?

Rechargeable batteries are more cost-effective over time, better for the environment and more shelf-stable than alkaline batteries. That being said, alkaline batteries do have certain advantages, such as their upfront price. For example, a good-quality alkaline battery — say the Energizer Max AA Alkaline — costs $9 for a 12-pack on Amazon (with an MSRP of $15), which is about 75 cents per battery, about half as much as the cheapest option in our rechargeable testing pool. The 1.5V output of alkaline batteries is also higher than 1.2V NiMH rechargeables and the same as most Li-ion rechargeable batteries, which makes them more compatible with a range of low- and high-drain devices.

The downside of alkaline batteries is that once they’re depleted, they’re useless. That means you’ll have to find a way to dispose of them safely and also spend more money to buy new ones. Alkaline batteries are also significantly less shelf-stable than rechargeable batteries and much more likely to leak. This ruins the battery and typically the device it’s being used in as well.

Other rechargeable batteries we tested

$15 $13 on Amazon

The tested capacity of these NiMH batteries averaged 2,099mAh, far below their advertised capacity of 2,800mAh, and their toy car run time was one of the lowest we tested, slowly fading down about an hour and half before the top performer. Their two-hour-and-45-minute flashlight run time was the highest of any NiMH batteries tested, though, and it fully recharged the fastest. Despite their inconsistent performance, the low price of just $1.62 per battery could still make these a good value to those on a budget.

$20 $16 on Amazon

The HiQuick NiMH AA also delivered short of their advertised capacity of 2,800mAh, averaging just 2,138mAh after three charging cycles. That said, they ran the motorized toy car for 10 hours and 10 minutes, the longest of any option we tested. But their flashlight run time was one of the lowest, and the light powered off in just one hour and 40 minutes. They’re also a quick charging option, going from depleted to fully charged in just 115 minutes.

$19 on Amazon

Testing at 2,609 mAh, these Tenergy NiMH batteries run close to their claimed capacity of 2,800mAh, and the two-hour flashlight and 10-hour motorized car run times were better than most. Their 134-minute charging time is on the longer side, but those long run times and high capacity make that less of an issue. At $2.37 per battery, they’re a decent value as well.

$12 on Amazon

The Duracell Rechargeable batteries averaged a respectable 2,409mAh, not far off from their advertised capacity of 2,500mAh, though they gave us middle-of-the-pack run times for both the flashlight and toy car tests. At more than $3 per battery, they’re pretty expensive, though, especially since they don’t include a wall charger. If you’re fine with spending a little more, and you already have a charger, these are a fine alternative to our top pick.

$19 on Amazon (8-pack)

A decent middle-of-the-road option, these AmazonBasics NiMH batteries provide an average of 2,371mAh in our tests. Their two-hour flashlight and nine-hour-and-45 minute motorized car run times landed in the middle of the pack, as did the 146-minute recharging time. We did notice that their supplied voltage clearly dropped off toward the end of our toy car test run and were unable to supply power to the car’s flashing lights for the final hour — only the wheels turned for the remaining time. For about $2 per battery, they’re a good deal for those who don’t want to spend too much.

$30 $27 on Amazon (8-pack)

These Energizer NiMH batteries averaged 2,359mAh, which is actually higher than their advertised capacity of 2,300mAh. That said, considering their less than stellar run time and higher than average price of $3.60 per battery, I would have liked to have seen a charger included. Based on my testing, I’d consider the AmazonBasics Rechargeable a better option.

$8 at Harbor Freight

I’ve been a fan of Harbor Freight for years, and although their products aren’t exactly high-end, you can count on them to have extremely low prices. These NiMH rechargeable batteries are just $2 per battery and delivered a tested capacity higher than advertised, at 2,260mAh. This didn’t translate to great performance, though: Their hour-and-30-minute flashlight run time was one of the shortest results in my testing.

$35 $28 on Amazon

The standard NiMH Eneloop batteries, with the smallest capacity of the batteries we tested, had the shortest results in both of my run time tests, with just an hour and 15 minutes of run time on the flashlight and seven hours and 50 minutes on the toy car. Like the AmazonBasics Rechargeable AA, supplied power dropped off toward the end of the toy car run, and without enough voltage available, the car’s flashing lights switched off during the final hour. These batteries are packaged with the same BQ-CC55 charger we liked so much with the Panasonic Eneloop Pro — a nice perk.

$20 on Amazon

Poor results in every testing category made the BUMP AA Rechargeable Batteries the worst-performing Li-ion batteries I tested. Their flashlight and car run times were the lowest of any option, NiMH or Li-ion, and their 180-minute charging times were also the longest. Output was strangely inconsistent compared to every other battery, especially given Li-ion chemistry’s greater expected consistently, and during the toy car test, these batteries would slow to crawl with dimmed lights for an hour or two, then suddenly ramp up to full speed, then drop down to a crawl.

$21 on Amazon

The EBL Li-ion 3,000-mWh AAbatteries performed only marginally better than the BUMP Li-ionn AA batteries and had the same lengthy 180-minute recharge time. If you’re in the market for Li-ion batteries, I wholeheartedly recommend spending the extra dollar per battery and going with the EBL Li-ion 3,300 mWh AA instead.

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