If you’re still stuck in the disposable battery era, it’s high time to shake things up and make the switch. Not only will this change save you some serious cash, but it will also make a significant impact on reducing e-waste and protecting our precious planet. Say goodbye to the hassle of constantly running to the store for replacements and hello to a more sustainable and convenient power solution.
But bear in mind that not all rechargeable batteries are created equal. The market is flooded with a dizzying array of options, and it can be a real challenge to separate the gems from the duds. But fear not, because ZDNET’s got your back. I’ve scoured the depths of the battery universe to bring you the crème de la crème of rechargeable batteries, allowing you to make an informed choice and ensure that you get the best performance and value for your hard-earned money.
So, let’s dive into the world of rechargeable batteries and unleash the power of sustainability and long-lasting performance!
Also: The best portable power stations you can buy: Expert tested
What is the best rechargeable battery right now?
So, when you need to stock up on batteries, we recommend getting one of our top picks. Our best overall rechargeable battery choice is the Panasonic Pro rechargeable battery due to its high capacity, variety of battery types, and excellent product quality.
The following rechargeable batteries are all top-notch and available in AA and AAA models. Keep reading to discover our favorite rechargeable batteries, including affordable bulk packs and convenient USB charging options.
The best rechargeable batteries of 2024
- Great selection of batteries
- High capacity
- Quality products
- Comes with a charger
- Case can be bulky to store
The Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack is the perfect starter kit for those in need of rechargeable batteries. Not only are they some of the best batteries available on the market, but this kit comes with AA, AAA, and C and D cell batteries and a charger at a really good price.
The AA and AAA rechargeable batteries are pre-charged at the factory using solar power and maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years (when not in use).
I’ve bought several of these kits over the years, and while the boxes have gone on to do something else, all the batteries are holding out strong after several years of use.
Reviews for this battery pack are exactly as I’d expect – lots of users are happy with the quality of these batteries.
Panasonic Eneloop Pro features: 12 Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries | 2 AAA Eneloop rechargeable batteries | 2 C and D rechargeable batteries | CC17 advanced quick rechargeable battery charger | Convenient plastic battery storage case
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- Long life
- Can be stored in a charged state for years
- Not cheap (but will last you years)
The Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries redefine the idea of disposable batteries. Quality products and engineering mean that these batteries are good for 2,100 recharge cycles (so if you charged and discharged them daily, they’d easily last for six years).
Another plus side is that after you’ve charged them, these batteries will hold 70% of their charge for 10 years when stored, which is a fantastic shelf life and means that you’ll always have charged batteries ready to go.
While I can’t test the 10-year claim, I’ve had some of these batteries on the side for over a year and they’re still close to being fully charged, which is excellent.
Amazon reviews for these batteries are also strong, with users happy with the capacity and longevity of their batteries.
Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries features: 16-pack AAA batteries | 12-pack AA batteries | Recharge up to 2,100 times | Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years (when not in use) | Up to 800mAh type, 750mAh min, AAA Ni-MH batteries
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- Cheap
- 5-year shelf life
- Some users say that they can be slightly bigger than standard AA so this might sometimes be a problem
The AA is the most commonly used battery size, and these batteries can be found in everything, from computer mice to pocket flashlights. If you need to have any size of battery, this is the one!
This 24-pack of batteries is perfect for those wanting to stockpile rechargeable batteries on a budget. You can charge them up, stick them in the cupboard, and have batteries ready to go at a moment’s notice as they should retain some 80% of their charge for a couple of years.
I’ve used a lot of these and they’re good quality and offer fantastic value for money. They’ll have paid for themselves in no time at all.
Reviews for these batteries are good, but there does seem to be a concern that they are very slightly bigger than regular AA batteries and this can be a problem in some devices with tight tolerances. I’ve not experienced this issue at all so cannot comment, and the sizes of the ones I’ve tested seem to be very close to the standard.
Amazon Basics rechargeable AA batteries features: 24-pack of pre-charged AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (2,000 mAh) | Can be recharged up to 1000 times with minimal power loss; provides consistent discharge performance (requires separate battery charger) | Maintains 80% capacity for 2 years | Has a shelf-life up to 5 years for everyday or emergency use
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- Cheap
- 5-year shelf life
- Need to purchase battery charger separately
As our gadgets get smaller, so do the batteries, and since AAA is the second most common battery size, it makes sense to have a few on the shelf ready to go.
This 16-pack of AAA batteries from Amazon is an affordable way to build a stockpile of rechargeable batteries. Like the AA option above, they’re good quality, store their charge well, and offer fantastic value for money.
The reviews for these are strong, as I would expect.
Amazon Basics rechargeable AAA batteries features: 16-pack AAA rechargeable performance-capacity batteries, 800 mAh | Can be recharged up to 1,000 times | Maintains 80% capacity for 24 months
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- Convenient to recharge
- Very lightweight
- Doesn’t last as long as high-capacity alkaline batteries
While D-cell batteries aren’t as common as they used to be – I remember every Christmas morning there would be some toy that would need about a dozen of them! – if you need them, then using rechargeable batteries makes sense given their size and cost.
These batteries have a built-in USB-C port, allowing them to be recharged from any USB port and making them super convenient. You just have to plug them in, leave them to charge, and in a couple of hours you come back to fully charged batteries.
These are ideal for powering toys, radios, flashlights, and anything else that draws its power from D-cell batteries.
User reviews for these batteries are good, with most users being happy with the quality and capacity.
Lankoo Lithium Ion D rechargeable batteries features: 2 D Batteries 1.5V | 12000mWh capacity | Charged in 4 hours | Constant 1.5v output | Can be recharged 1,200+ times | Built-in integrated safety circuit protects the battery from over-discharge/overcharge
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I’ve been using Panasonic Eneloop and Amazon Basics batteries extensively over the past few years and found them to be excellent. They last for years, hold a decent amount of charge, and have proven themselves to be safe and reliable.
I also purchased a couple of sets of the Lankoo D cell batteries for testing and found that they worked great. They passed all my testing for capacity, current, and safety.
This chart will help you pick the right rechargeable batteries for you.
Best rechargeable batteries | Cost | Battery Type | Charger Included |
Panasonic Eneloop Super Power Pack | $60 | 12 AA, 4 AAA, 2 C and D | Yes |
Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries | $78 | 16 AAA and 12AA | No |
Amazon Basics 24-pack rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries | $24 | 24 AA | No |
Amazon Basics 16-pack rechargeable AAA Ni-MH batteries | $14 | 16 AAA | No |
Lankoo D cell USB and Type-C rechargeable batteries | $19 | 2 D | No |
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.
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Depends on what you need.
Do you want a starter pack because you’re starting out replacing your throw-away batteries with rechargeable, or are you someone who wants to buy some bulk batteries? Do you want the very best brand out there, or are you happy with a more budget buy?
Choose this rechargeable battery | If you need… |
Panasonic Eneloop Super Power Pack | A starter kit that includes rechargeable batteries and a charger. This is the perfect kit for those serious about putting disposable batteries into their past. |
Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries | A good selection of AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. This is perfect for those who want a small starter selection of batteries or want to add to their current collection. |
Amazon Basics 24-pack rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries | A bulk pack of AA rechargeable batteries that won’t break the bank. AA batteries are everywhere, and this is a budget way to replace them. |
Amazon Basics 16-pack rechargeable AAA Ni-MH batteries | A budget bulk pack of AAA rechargeable batteries. AAA batteries aren’t as common, but if you need them, here’s the kit you need. |
Lankoo D Cell Batteries USB and Type-C Rechargeable Lithium Ion D Batteries | Lithium Ion D rechargeable batteries that don’t need a separate charger. These are super convenient for use in toys or flashlights. |
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There’s not an awful lot to rechargeable batteries. But still, here are some things to take into consideration before buying some:
- Which ones do you need? The most common battery in use nowadays is the AA, with the AAA coming in second place.
- How many? No point buying a dozen of each size if you only need two AA for a remote control. Similarly, if you need a good selection then a starter pack might be the way to go.
- Which charger do you need? If you have a lot of batteries to shuffle then you might need an all-singing, all dancing charger that takes multiple batteries. But if you only have a few batteries in use, you might be able to get away with a more basic unit.
- How much do you want to spend? Set a budget and stick to it. You can always buy more batteries down the line at a later date.
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I’ve been testing and using rechargeable batteries for many years, some great, a lot junk. Over that time, I’ve narrowed down the field to the batteries and chargers that offer the best performance.
Here’s what I look for:
- Longevity: I need them to last dozens of recharge cycles over many months.
- Performance: I want batteries that give decent performance with each recharge, as I don’t want to be swapping the batteries in my TV remote control every few weeks. I test the capacity of batteries both with real-world usage and benchmark drain tests using a variety of loads.
- Value for money: Sometimes, it works out much cheaper to buy a big pack of batteries than it is to buy them in packs of two or four. In this list, we’ve included the packs that offer the best bang for your buck.
- Good shelf life: Most people charge up a rechargeable and store it in a box until needed. I demand that rechargeable batteries can hold at least 80% of their charge capacity for a year.
- Safety: During tests, I check the batteries’ temperature both during recharging and under heavy load to ensure they remain safe.
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mAh stands for milliampere-hour, a unit of electric charge commonly used to describe the capacity of batteries. It is a measure of how much electric charge a battery can store and deliver over time.
The mAh rating indicates the total amount of energy a battery can deliver at a constant rate over a period of one hour. For instance, a battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh can deliver 1000 milliamperes of current for one hour before it is fully discharged. Alternatively, it could deliver 500 milliamperes for two hours, 250 milliamperes for four hours, and so on, assuming the discharge rate remains constant and efficient.
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A recharge cycle (or charge cycle) refers to the process of charging a rechargeable battery from 0% to 100% and then discharging it back to 0%. It is a complete cycle of battery use and recharge.
A recharge cycle can happen two ways.
There’s a full cycle where the battery is charged from 0% to 100%, then the battery is used until it drops back to 0%.
The other, more common way is partial cycles, where the recharge cycle can also be made up of several partial charges and discharges. For example, charging from 75% to 100% and then using the battery down to 75% would be a quarter of a cycle. Four of those would be a full cycle.
The number of recharge cycles a battery can undergo before its capacity significantly decreases is a measure of its lifespan. For instance, a battery might be rated for 500 recharge cycles before its capacity drops to 80% of its original value.
Over time, as the number of recharge cycles increases, the battery’s ability to hold a charge decreases. This is normal wear and tear — called chemical wear — and it mean the battery will not last as long between charges as it did when it was new.
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Ni-MH stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride, which is a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in various consumer electronics, power tools, and hybrid vehicles. It is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, offering better performance, higher capacity, and a more environmentally friendly composition.
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No, don’t do this.
Regular “disposable” batteries, also known as primary batteries, are not designed to be recharged. These include common types such as alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. Attempting to recharge these batteries can be dangerous and is generally not recommended because of the risk of leakage or even explosion.
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Are there any other alternatives worth considering?
Yes, check out these other picks we cam across during our research and testing.
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ZDNET Recommends
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