High capacity batteries review

Finding the best way to keep your digital gadgets going.
 
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  • Updated:14 Jun 2008
 

02.Results

What to buy

Rechargeable (price for four)

  • DURACELL Rechargeable 2650mAh - $20
  • ENERGIZER Rechargeable 2500 mAh - $23
  • KODAK Rechargeable Digital Camera 2500mAh - $20
  • FUJIFILM Rechargeable 2500 mAh - $20
  • DSE NiMH 2200mAh - $24

Non-rechargeable (price for two)

  • ENERGIZER e2 Lithium - $10
 

 

Results table

  Performance Specifications Costs
Brand / model
(in rank order)		 Overall score1
(%)		 Performance score2
(%)		 Value score3 (%) Number of shots4 Sets of 2 per 10,000 shots5 Type Manufacturer/
distributor		 Origin Price6
($, set of two / four)		 Cost7 for 10,000 shots ($)
ENERGIZER e2 Lithium 87 92 81 620 16 Lithium Energizer USA 10 160
ENERGIZER Rechargeable 2500 mAh 85 77 92 480 2 NiMH (A) Energizer Japan 23 70
DURACELL Rechargeable 2650 mAh 84 76 92 470 2 NiMH (A) Gillette Japan 20 70
KODAK Rechargeable Digital Camera 2500 mAh 84 76 92 470 2 NiMH (A) Network Communications Japan 20 70
DSE NiMH 2200 mAh 83 73 92 450 2 NiMH (A) DSE China 24 70
FUJIFILM Rechargeable 2500 mAh 83 74 92 460 2 NiMH (A) Fujifilm Japan 20 70
# VARTA 15 minute Charge&Go 2000 mAh 73 54 92 270 2 NiMH (A) Remington China 20 70
INCA AA Lithium 72 80 63 510 20 Lithium Adeal China 15 300
# GP Digi 1 64 40 87 140 71 Nickel zinc Powercell China 1.5 110
PANASONIC Oxyride 61 46 76 200 50 Oxy alkaline Panasonic Japan 4 200
DURACELL Pix Power 59 47 71 210 48 Nickel oxy hydride Gillette Japan 5 240
KODAK Digital Camera 58 45 71 190 53 Oxy alkaline Network Communications Japan 4.5 240
# MEMOREX Energy 49 32 65 70 143 Alkaline International Media Corporation China 2 280
EVEREADY Gold 48 35 60 100 100 Alkaline Energizer China 3.2 320
ENERGIZER e2 Advanced 46 37 53 120 83 Alkaline Energizer Singapore 4.6 380
DURACELL Ultra 45 37 53 110 91 Alkaline Gillette China 4.2 380
SONY Stamina Platinum 43 34 51 90 111 Alkaline Sony Indonesia 3.5 390
DSE Exxtra Alkaline 39 31 47 60 167 Alkaline DSE China 2.5 420
PANASONIC Alkaline 29 31 27 60 167 Alkaline Panasonic Thailand 3.5 580
 

Table notes

# Discontinued.
(A) Rechargeable.

1 Overall score
This is made up of:

  • Performance score: 50%
  • Value score: 50%

2 Performance score
We tested 10 samples of each battery using an international standard test that simulates the power used when taking a photo with a digital camera. We counted the number of photos each set of two sample batteries could take, and converted it to a score out of 100. While this is a good comparative test, in reality you’re unlikely to get that many photos from each battery set because other things, such as zooming and leaving the display on, also use up the battery power but aren’t taken into account in this test.
3 Value score
This is the cost for 10,000 shots (see Table note 7) converted to a score our of 100.
4 Number of shots per set of two
This is the average number of shots we counted that were taken in the standard test.
5 Sets of two per 10,000 shots
The number of sets of two batteries required to take 10,000 shots with a digital camera, based on our results.
6 Price (set of two/four)
This is the price for two non-rechargeables or four rechargeables, rounded to the nearest five cents. Some brands of non-rechargeable batteries only come in a packet of four, so the price is only indicative. We’ve listed the price for four rechargeable batteries so you can use one set while recharging the other.
7 Cost for 10,000 shots
For the non-rechargeables this is the number of sets of two batteries required to take 10,000 shots multiplied by the price for two batteries, as provided by the manufacturer.
For the rechargeables we based the cost on two sets of two batteries (so you can use one while the other is recharging) and a $50 charger. In fact you’re likely to get a lot more than 10,000 shots from rechargeable batteries as you can charge them several hundred times, so this figure is something of a bad-case scenario. Prices are rounded to the nearest $10.

 

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