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For this list, we selected rechargeable batteries based on actual customer reviews and ratings on Amazon and key product features. For every category, we carefully chose parameters based on our research and determined products with the highest review score within those parameters.
Duracell Recharge Ultra is our pick for the best overall rechargeable batteries. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 19,000 reviews.
Duracell's Recharge Ultra is the brand's "#1 long-lasting per charge" battery. It comes in various sizes, including AA, AAA and 9V. One AA 2,500mAh battery stays charged for up to 12 months when not in use. Recharge Ultra also boasts 100 cycles of recharge and can last up to 5 years. These batteries are suitable for wireless controllers, toys and other electronics.
Customers gave positive feedback on the battery's value for money, durability and performance. One single charge lasts up to 15 days. In particular, the AA batteries can last up to 85 hours when used to power a wireless mouse. Customers said that the build feels durable and high-quality. However, the AA options seem larger than standard ones, measuring 14.5mm in diameter.
For the best AA option, we recommend the Panasonic AA Eneloop Pro. It has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
With up to 2,550mAh of capacity, the Panasonic AA Eneloop Pro is suitable for high energy consumption. It can power high-current-consuming devices such as wireless keyboards, game controllers and other household devices. It comes pre-charged and can be recharged up to 500 times. According to the company, it can hold up to 85% of energy after a year and up to 70% after a decade.
The general sentiment is that this high-powered AA battery is a reliable option if you use high-energy devices. Several buyers said one full charge could last up to 20 days of heavy usage. The battery also has a longer lifespan compared to other options in the market. At over $20 for a pack of 4, it is a bit pricey, but most buyers said its durability and higher mAh are well worth it.
With a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, we selected Energizer's Recharge Extreme as the best rechargeable AAA battery available online.
Energizer's Recharge Extreme AAA batteries are made of 4% recycled batteries. They also last up to 6 times longer in digital cameras compared to the brand's basic alkaline options. Additionally, the batteries can retain their charge for up to 12 months even when not in use. The pack comes pre-charged as well.
Customers gave positive feedback on the product's reasonable price, long-lasting power and performance. These AAAs last up to 10 days out of the package and can be recharged up to 100 times. They take about 6 hours to be fully charged, according to some buyers. But because each battery only has an 800mAh capacity, they're still a bit weaker than competitors in the market.
If you're on a budget, we recommend EBL Rechargeable Batteries as the best cheap option. It has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
EBL's rechargeable batteries are the most economical option on our list, with a pack of 8 AAs costing just $28.95. The AA model also has 2,800mAh, which is slightly more powerful than some pricier options in the market. These are suitable for household devices, including remote controls, wireless devices and electric toothbrushes. According to the company, these have ProCyco technology, extending the batteries' lifespan to up to 1,200 recharge cycles. AAA options are available as well.
Thousands of reviews are impressed by these batteries' excellent value for money, performance and versatility. They have a low self-discharge, allowing the batteries to hold up to 75% of energy for 3 years when unused. However, they arrived with just about 20% capacity, which means they need to be fully charged before use.
Our pick for the best option with an included charger is Panasonic's Eneloop with Smart and Quick Charger. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Designed for the brand's entire Eneloop range, this Panasonic smart and quick charger can fully charge 4 AAA batteries in just 3 hours and 4 AA batteries in just 4 hours. It also has an auto-detect feature that recognises different voltages from 100-240 AVC. Additionally, the charger has a 270-minute protection timer and comes with pre-charged batteries.
Panasonic's smart and quick charger is a handy device for a busy lifestyle. It has a quicker charging cycle compared to other options out there, making it a suitable choice if you use multiple high-energy household devices. The included Eneloop batteries are durable and can last up to 15 days, according to customers. Several buyers said the charger creates a loud hissing sound during the first few uses, but this seems to be an isolated issue.
Today's Panasonic Eneloop with Smart and Quick Charger deals
Deal
8% off Panasonic Eneloop with Smart and Quick Charger
Amazon prices last updated on 28 November, 2023 at 07:01 ameBay prices last updated on 28 November, 2023 at 02:19 am
Methodology
14 Brands considered
45 Products compared
5 Best products chosen
We compared 45 rechargeable batteries from 14 brands.
We then assessed hundreds of customer reviews and ratings on Amazon.
The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
We considered the following brands of rechargeable batteries:
Blister
Bonai
Duracell
EBL
Enegon
Energizer
GP
Jintion
Nanfu
Panasonic
Tenavolts
Tenergy
Varta
Wincell
For this list, we carefully picked products with the highest customer ratings on Amazon. We ended up with a total of 45 rechargeable batteries to compare.
We then researched each product and its features. We also considered ratings and customer reviews on Amazon (as of October 2021). We came up with what we believe are the 5 best rechargeable batteries available online.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
Quick fact about rechargeable batteries:
Buying rechargeable batteries is an investment, so you need to be sure you're getting reliable long-term performance.
When choosing batteries, consider what gadgets you want to power with your batteries and how much you're willing to spend.
Why buy rechargeable batteries?
It wasn't all that long ago that rechargeable batteries were widely seen as being unreliable and offering poor performance compared to their single-use cousins. However, modern technology allows rechargeable AA and AAA batteries to hold a much larger charge, retain their charge for longer and go through hundreds of charge cycles.
As a result, there are a few simple reasons why rechargeable batteries are a sensible purchase:
They're cost-effective. While prices and performance vary between brands, you'll generally start to get value for money from rechargeable batteries after about a dozen (or sometimes fewer) uses. While they might cost more than single-use batteries up front, the extra investment is worth it in the long run.
They're better for the environment. Single-use batteries need to be disposed of as soon as they run flat, but rechargeable batteries can be reused hundreds or thousands of times. While rechargeable batteries still contain toxic chemicals, they're much better for the environment than throwing out hundreds of single-use batteries.
They can power a wide range of devices. Torches, wireless mice, wireless keyboards, remote control cars, TV remotes, portable media players, kids toys – the list of high-use household gadgets powered by batteries is a long one, so there are plenty of ways you can use rechargeable batteries around the home.
How to dispose of rechargeable batteries
ALDI offers a free battery recycling service at all of its Australian stores. Rechargeable and non-rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D and 9V sized batteries are accepted through the program – all you have to do is drop your used batteries in the recycling bin at your nearest ALDI store.
Rechargeable vs single-use batteries
While rechargeable batteries have their advantages, there are some situations where single-use batteries are a better choice. For clocks and those devices that you only need to power every so often, such as an emergency torch you only use during power blackouts, single-use alkaline batteries are the preferred option.
Single-use batteries are designed to kick into action straight away after extensive periods of inactivity. And because they'll only be used sparingly and won't need regular replacement, you can take advantage of the cheaper price tag.
What types are available?
There are three main varieties of rechargeable batteries:
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable batteries
Once the leader of the rechargeable battery space, newer technology that offers better performance has superseded nickel-cadmium batteries. Cadmium is also highly toxic, which has prompted the European Union to restrict its use in batteries to all but a handful of medical applications.
Most modern rechargeable batteries are made of nickel-metal hydride, which provides a larger capacity and the ability to hold a charge for longer. They're cheaper to manufacture than NiCd batteries and are a suitable choice for most household applications.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable batteries
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have emerged in recent years and are capable of holding a higher capacity and offering a longer shelf life than NiMH batteries. However, they're rarely available in standard sizes like AA or AAA as they often have too much power for most consumer devices – most operate at 3.7V. If you do decide to buy a Li-ion rechargeable battery, make sure it has a voltage of 1.5V or 1.2V.
How to compare rechargeable batteries
Once you know which type of battery is the best choice for your needs, you can start comparing rechargeable batteries based on their size, capacity, lifespan and cost.
Rechargeable battery prices vary depending on the brand and size of battery you purchase, Remember to consider the number of batteries in a pack to make sure you're comparing apples with apples. As a general guide, a four-pack of AA rechargeable batteries will cost somewhere in the $15-$35 range.
Don't forget to also include the cost of a battery charger in your calculations if you don't already own one – most are around $20-$40.
Here are the additional key factors you'll need to consider:
Size
Rechargeable batteries are available in standard battery sizes including AA, AAA, C, D and 9V. It's always a good idea to double-check that you're selecting the right size of battery for your electronic devices before you buy.
Charge cycles
Check how many charge cycles the manufacturer claims you will be able to get out of a battery. Some claim up to 300, 500 or 1,000 uses, while some pricier options can be recharged more than 2,000 times.
Low-self discharge (LSD)
Low-self discharge batteries, which are sometimes also referred to as "ready to use" or "pre-charged" batteries, are NiMH batteries that are specially designed to better retain their charge when not in use. The fast rate of self-discharge is a common criticism of regular NiMH batteries, which lose about 1% of their charge per day, so it's worth checking how much charge you can expect a battery to maintain during a long period of inactivity.
Capacity
The capacity of a battery is measured in milliamp hours (mAh) – the higher the mAh figure quoted on the box, the more usage time you'll get out of the battery. This means a 2,500mAh battery will be able to power a device for longer than a 1,300mAh battery, but it will also take longer to charge.
Recycled materials
If you care about the environment, you may want to consider one of the several products available that are manufactured in part from recycled materials, including recycled batteries.
Frequently asked questions
A rechargeable battery can last up to 7 years, provided it is properly charged and used frequently. An unopened rechargeable battery can last up to 2 years.
Most NiMH batteries have an average of 2,200mAh. They are also compatible with most devices using AAA or AA batteries. However, these have a higher self-discharge rate, losing about 50% of their charge in the first month. NiMH batteries also have a lower voltage output. Li-ion batteries are more compact and have a lower self-discharge rate. They also have a higher voltage output. But most li-ion options only have a 1,500mAh capacity.
Most rechargeable batteries have about 500 to 800 charge cycles, but this depends on their drain rate, battery care and capacity.
Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in best guides. Using tested methodology, Ericka has been helping Australians choose the right product across hundreds of categories since 2020. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila. As well as being passionate about helping people save money when shopping for their latest purchases, Ericka has a background in writing about property investment, personal finance and health. When not writing best guides, you can find her lost in the pages of a good book or experimenting with watercolour painting.
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