In our technology-driven world, most of us have a lot of devices. Many of these require batteries to work and rechargeable batteries have improved a lot in recent years, now delivering better performance and lasting power than ever before. Furthermore, over hundreds, or even thousands of recharge cycles, they reduce costs as well as being better for the environment when compared with alkaline or lithium batteries.
In addition to well-known brands such as Duracell and Energizer - there are many up-and-coming brands that offer rechargeable batteries that provide great performance, benefits, and reasonable value for money. We have scoured the online shops, focusing primarily on the two most popular battery sizes - AA and AAA - to introduce the best rechargeable batteries for you, as well as a convenient charger, all available on Amazon and Argos.
Quick List - Top Rechargeable Batteries
Varta
Amazing Recycled High-Capacity Batteries That Can Be Charged 3500 Times
Powerowl
Large 2800 mAh Capacity Batteries With a Long-Lasting Performance
Panasonic
Quality Battery Offering Many Recharge Cycles and Great Charge Retention
Energizer
A High-Performance, Environmentally-Friendly Option of AAA Rechargeable Batteries
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Table of Contents
There are several types of rechargeable batteries available, and these can be distinguished based on the materials used to make them. The major types are NiMH (nickel metal hydride) and Li (lithium ion) batteries.
NiMH batteries generally offer better performance, are considered safer than lithium batteries, and our recommended batteries all fall into this category. Paired with the right charger, NiMH batteries can be recharged hundreds, if not thousands of times without loss of performance.
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The mAh (miliamphere hours) levels stated on batteries determine their capacity to hold and deliver the stated charge. The higher the mAh stated on the battery, the longer they can last between charges and the higher the power output available at any point. However, some devices, such as Siemens Gigaset and other DECT cordless phones, require lower mAh batteries.
When choosing the best rechargeable batteries, it is essential to consider the device you intend to use them for. For general use in remote controls or electronics, batteries of 800 mAh and above are the most useful. High drain devices such as photographic equipment or gaming consoles will benefit from higher capacity batteries of 1,900 mAh and above.
Rechargeable batteries also vary in the number of cycles you can expect from them before they become obsolete. The number of charging cycles refers to the number of times the batteries can be recharged.
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This can vary from hundreds to thousands of times, depending on the make and model of the battery. The higher capacity batteries also usually have fewer charging cycles available. Using fast-charge chargers to recharge the batteries can also have an impact on the number of cycles, reducing the expected lifespan of the batteries slightly.
Most rechargeable batteries come pre-charged and ready to use, with a few notable exceptions. The amount of charge that these retain on delivery varies depending on how long they have been stored and what policy the manufacturers have in place.
For example, some of the higher capacity rechargeable batteries, such as the Powerowl 2800mAh batteries, come only partially charged to maintain safety during shipping. These need to be fully charged several times to attain their maximum capacity.
It can be worth testing the level of charge in new rechargeable batteries when you open the packet to ensure there is sufficient charge prior to use. There is usually a battery charge indicator available on the charger.
While batteries in storage may lose some charge over time, technology for most rechargeable batteries has now reduced this tendency and most rechargeable batteries will now retain their charge for up to a year or even more when not in use.
This is a useful function that allows you to keep charged batteries on hand for emergencies as well as ensuring that the charging carried out by the manufacturer is retained to allow consumers to use their new batteries as soon as possible after purchase.
Most chargers for rechargeable batteries will measure the amount of charge left on a battery and this can be used to determine how much is available when you receive your batteries. Be sure to check product listings as well as the packaging to make sure your batteries come ready to use.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Varta Pre-Charged AA Mignon Ni-Mh Batteries|Pack of 4 | ![]() | Amazing Recycled High-Capacity Batteries That Can Be Charged 3500 Times | |
2 | Powerowl AA High Capacity 2800mAh Rechargeable Batteries |Pack of 4 | ![]() | Large 2800 mAh Capacity Batteries With a Long-Lasting Performance | |
3 | Panasonic Eneloop AAA Micro 750mAh Rechargeable Batteries|Pack of 4 | ![]() | Quality Battery Offering Many Recharge Cycles and Great Charge Retention | |
4 | Energizer Power Plus AA Rechargeable Batteries 2,000mAh|Pack of 4 | ![]() | A High-Performance, Environmentally-Friendly Option of AAA Rechargeable Batteries | |
5 | Amazon Basics AA High-Capacity Rechargeable Batteries 2,400mAh|Pack of 4 | ![]() | High-Capacity Performance With Numerous Options and 500 Recharge Cycles | |
6 | Philips Long-Lasting Rechargeable Batteries 700mAh|Pack of 4 | ![]() | Excellent Choice of 700 mAh AAA Batteries for Cordless Phones and Remote Controls | |
7 | Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA 2,500mAh Ready to Use Rechargeable Batteries|Pack of 4 | ![]() | The Rechargeable Batteries That Pack in Powerful Performance | |
8 | EBL AAA Rechargeable Batteries 1,100mAh|Pack of 8 | ![]() | A Budget Option Offering Good Performance and 1200 Recharge Cycles | |
9 | Duracell Rechargeable Plus AAA 750 mAh Batteries|Pack of 4 | ![]() | Reliable Performance and Guaranteed to Last, Perfect for Regularly-Used Devices | |
10 | HiQuick AAA Batteries, Rechargeable 1100mAh|Pack of 16 | ![]() | Long-Lasting Batteries With Over 1200 Charging Cycles |
These are premium quality, high capacity batteries that are available in a range of sizes and mAh. Suitable for use in a huge range of devices, depending on capacity, they can be recharged up to 3,500 times, making them some of the longest-lasting batteries on the market. These 2,600mAh batteries are perfect for high-drain electronics such as games consoles and photography equipment.
They are shipped pre-charged which means they are ready to use and also hold their charge well when left unused, retaining 80% of their charge when left for up to a year. They are also made from recycled batteries (11%)!
Offering amazing performance, these batteries are from a lesser-known brand but offer a huge capacity at 2,800mAh. They are also rechargeable over 1,200 times, which is more than most other brands can offer. Powerowl’s batteries also hold up to 70% of their charge even after 3 years of storage, making these some of the most effective batteries on the market.
Powerowl offers a range of rechargeable batteries in a number of sizes and capacities. Batteries do need to be charged fully before use as they are charged to 20% prior to shipping for safety reasons. They reach their optimum performance levels after 3 to 5 full charge cycles. Powerowl rechargeable batteries are a great choice if you need high-capacity batteries that will last through many cycles of recharging.
Panasonic’s Eneloop rechargeable batteries are available in several types, including the Pro, Light, and Tone Ocean series, which cater to different consumer needs. While the Pro series batteries also feature in our recommended listing, we felt that the standard Eneloop range was worth a mention due to their amazing longevity.
Where the strength of the Pro series lies in their high capacity, the standard series, also available in AA and AAA sizes, offers an impressive 2,100 recharge cycles per battery. They also retain 70% of their charge even after 10 years in storage, and they can be recharged at any stage of depletion without affecting subsequent performance.
Energizer is one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers and the Recharge Power Plus is an innovative rechargeable battery that is the world’s first rechargeable AAA battery to use recycled materials in its construction. Featuring 4% recycled batteries, each battery can be recharged up to 1,000 times.
The Recharge Power Plus batteries come pre-charged and each charge can be expected to give up to 2.5 hours of activity, depending on the device. These are a good choice if you are looking for reliable performance and help the environment a little by supporting battery recycling.
These high-capacity rechargeable batteries from Amazon form part of the Amazon Basics range which includes alkaline as well as rechargeable batteries in a range of sizes and capacities to suit all portable energy needs. Featuring a minimum of 2,400mAh, they offer 500 recharge cycles and excellent over-discharge performance, making them great value for money.
Amazon’s rechargeable batteries come pre-charged using solar energy, and the company claims that they retain their charge for over a year. These offer excellent performance in terms of power and longevity, making them one of the best rechargeable batteries on offer.
Philips Rechargeable Batteries are a popular brand delivering reliable performance for use in a variety of electronic devices. Available in a range of capacities, the 700mAh AAA version is perfect for use in cordless phones and other lower-drain devices. Remote control toys, digital cameras and other high-drain devices are better served with the higher-capacity versions.
These batteries are nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and can be recharged up to 1,000 times without the need to fully drain the batteries between charges. Make the most of your batteries with longer times between charges and more charging cycles per battery!
Panasonic’s Eneloop rechargeable batteries include the Lite series, the standard series, the Tones Ocean series and Eneloop Pro. Catering to different consumer needs, Eneloop batteries offer high performance and longevity, making them a sound investment.
These batteries can be recharged up to 500 times and come pre-charged using environmentally friendly solar energy. Panasonic’s Pros also retain their charge incredibly well, with an average of 85% charge still remaining if left unused for a year. However, we would like to point out that these are our most expensive batteries on our list.
Available in a range of sizes and capacities, little-known brand EBL's rechargeable NiMH batteries offer an impressive 1,200 recharge cycles and can be recharged at any stage of use without the memory effect impacting performance. These batteries retain their charge well over time, boasting 80% of capacity kept even after three years of non-use.
While these batteries have a range of uses and are compatible with many chargers and devices, they are shipped only 20% charged and will need to be charged before use. The batteries will only attain optimum performance after 3-5 full charges.
As one of world’s most popular battery brands, Duracell offers reliability and quality with its range of rechargeable batteries. The Plus series is aimed at regularly-used devices, while the Ultra series is geared towards more energy-hungry electronics. The Plus series batteries can be recharged 100s of times and retains its charge for up to 12 months.
While Duracell’s charge retention and charge cycles aren’t as impressive as some of the other brands, these batteries are guaranteed to last 3 years and are compatible with any NiMH chargers. They are also widely available.
If you use a lot of devices that require batteries, this pack of 16 long-lasting batteries will surely be sufficient. They are well-rated by users and offer an anti-leakage design for safety as well as extending the battery's life span.
These batteries can be recharged up to 1,200 times or more, making them good value for money. Offering better performance and longevity than many more well-known brands, the only limiting factor is that they need to be charged once every 3 months even though they are not in used.
One of the main benefits of rechargeable batteries is convenience. Once you've purchased a packet of batteries and a charger, you won't have to worry about running out of batteries, as all you'll need to do is recharge them for a few hours. On top of that, rechargeable batteries perform better than non-rechargeables, so you'll be able to use your beloved appliances for longer with no interruptions.
In addition, the fact that rechargeable batteries can be used hundreds, if not thousands of times means that you'll inevitably save money - once you've purchased the batteries and charger of your choice, you won't need to hand over cash to buy any more disposables.
Lastly, and perhaps most important nowadays, is that rechargeable batteries have less of an impact on the environment. Disposable batteries which are thrown away in landfills can release harmful metals, but rechargeable batteries will last longer, making less environmental waste - and many can be recycled after use. What's more, using rechargeable batteries means fewer resources are used to make new batteries.
Written and researched by Sonata Winchester
No. 1: Varta|Pre-Charged AA Mignon Ni-Mh Batteries|Pack of 4
No. 2: Powerowl|AA High Capacity 2800mAh Rechargeable Batteries |Pack of 4
No. 3: Panasonic|Eneloop AAA Micro 750mAh Rechargeable Batteries|Pack of 4
No. 4: Energizer|Power Plus AA Rechargeable Batteries 2,000mAh|Pack of 4
No. 5: Amazon Basics |AA High-Capacity Rechargeable Batteries 2,400mAh|Pack of 4
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