Best Rechargeable AA and AAA Batteries 2024: Our favourites rated and reviewed
Better for the environment, better value over their life span and, often, more powerful, rechargeable batteries are typically better than their disposable equivalents.
It used to be that rechargeable batteries suffered from high battery drain, losing a considerable amount of power while sat idle, which made them unsuitable for many jobs. For example, in remote controls, rechargeable batteries would run out of power at more regular intervals than standard disposable batteries, making them an annoying choice. However, improvements in technology now mean that there are rechargeables that can compete with alkaline models for longevity.
On top of that, rechargeable batteries can deliver more power than their alkaline equivalents, as demonstrated in our performance tests, where we measure the capacity of every battery. That makes rechargeables better for game controllers, toys and even torches.
There are a few products that require the use of alkaline batteries, such as smoke alarms; check the manual of the device that you want to use to see if it can be used with rechargeables. In the majority of cases, you will be able to. Where you must use regular batteries, check out our guide to the best AA and AAA batteries.
Best rechargeable AA and AAA batteries at a glance
- The best overall rechargeable batteries: GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA – check price
- The best AA rechargeable batteries for high-power devices: Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh – check price
- The best budget AA rechargeable batteries: HiQuick AA 2800mAh – check price
- The best AA rechargeable batteries to replace alkalines: Eneloop AA – check price
- Best AA rechargeables for a quick turnaround: GP Recyko Charge 10 AA – check price
- The best overall AAA rechargeable batteries: Amazon Basics Rechargeable AAA 800mAh – check price
- The best AAA rechargeables for high-power devices: Ansmann Micro AAA 1100mAh – check price
How we test
We take four batteries from the same manufacturer, so that we can average our results. We test all rechargeable batteries using an Ansmann Energy XC 3000 battery test. Using this, we charge the batteries and confirm that they have a starting voltage of at least 1.2V.
Next, we put the batteries through 10 charge and discharge cycles using a standard high-drain load of 600mA (+/-20%), stopping when the voltage hits 0.94V. This gives us our initial capacity figure in mAh (milliamp hours), with the higher the figure the better.
We then repeat this test four more times (50 cycles), taking results after each ten cycles to ensure that battery performance doesn’t degrade with use. This lets us work out which batteries are best. We do take into account the final use, too: high capacity batteries may be great for torches, but cheaper lower-capacity ones may be more suitable for remote controls or solar lights.
- Huge number of recharge cycles
- Holds charge well
- Powerful
- Expensive
- High capacity
- Long lifetime
- Stable performance
- Expensive
- Excellent value
- High number of charge cycles
- Keeps charge well
- Didn’t hit their full rated capacity in my tests
- Huge number of charge cycles
- Retain their charge for a long time
- Expensive
- 90% charge in just 10 minutes
- High capacity
- Low self-discharge
- Fast-charging reduces battery life
- Great value
- Holds charge well
- 1000 charge cycles
- Only available in bigger packs
- Very high capacities
- High number of charge cycles
- Well priced
- Relatively expensive
GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA
The best overall rechargeable batteries
Pros
- Huge number of recharge cycles
- Holds charge well
- Powerful
Cons
- Expensive
If you have lots of devices that run on batteries then the GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA batteries are a worthy purchase. Although slightly more pricey than other rechargeable batteries, the GP ReCyko Pro are long-lasting and powerful.
On average one rechargeable battery replaces 500 alkaline batteries which is a pretty impressive statistic when you consider the cost and environmental impact of 500 single-use batteries. The GP ReCyko Pro AA however go even further and claim a lifetime of up to an impressive 1,500 cycles – triple the amount of a standard rechargeable battery.
This is particularly noteworthy if you’re put off by the initial high cost as overtime you can easily save yourself a substantial amount of money by no longer needing to replace drained batteries.
The GP ReCyko Pro can also conveniently hold up to 70% of their charge after five years which means you can charge your batteries upon purchase and keep them in storage, ready for use whenever you need them.
In our tests we found that the initial voltage of a GP ReCyko Pro battery was 1.4V, which is impressive as rechargeable batteries should have an initial minimum voltage of 1.2V, so already the GP ReCyko Pro exceeds this.
We then measured the initial capacity of the batteries with a high-drain test. Again the GP ReCyko Pro wowed us by scoring an impressive 2218mAH which is higher than the rated value.
Finally we concluded our tests by checking if the batteries suffered any adverse effects from multiple charging cycles. This is key for all rechargeable batteries however as the GP ReCyko Pro claim they can last up to 1,500 recharges this was a particularly important test. As expected we found no evidence of reduced capacity over time, proving GP ReCyko Pro’s long lifespan.
Full review: GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh
The best AA rechargeable batteries for high-power devices
Pros
- High capacity
- Long lifetime
- Stable performance
Cons
- Expensive
The Ansmann Digital AA HR6 batteries offer excellent performance and boast an impressively long lifespan, making them ideal for power-hungry devices. The only caveat is that they are a more expensive option than others on this list.
Rated at an enormous 2850mAh, the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 are some of the highest-capacity batteries we’ve reviewed. Not only that but they are also rated to last for 1000 charges and should retain 60% of their power for over a year.
Having said that, there are other rechargeable batteries that discharge their power even slower than the Ansmann HR6. If you are planning on buying these batteries for devices like remote controls which have less-demanding needs, then you’ll be better off with a low-capacity yet low-discharge option, such as the GP Recyko Charge 10 AA.
However, for demanding appliances such as microphones or cameras, the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 batteries are a great choice.
To put Ansmann’s claims to the test, we first used a battery tester to measure the starting voltage of the batteries and found they were slightly above the expected 1.2V of rechargeable batteries, with a solid 1.3V rating.
We then tested the initial capacity of the batteries following a full charge and established their value was 2911mAh, which is impressively higher than the rated 2850mAh, solidifying the batteries as the most powerful rechargeable set we’ve ever tested.
Finally, we cycled the batteries over 50 times to determine how stable they were and how long their lifespan is likely to be. After numerous cycles of charging and draining, the batteries kept to their 2911mAh capacity without much fluctuation.
Although an expensive set, the Ansmann Digital AA HR6 are reliable and hard-working AA batteries, boasting a huge capacity, exceptional performance and a long lifespan. If you use power-hungry devices then these batteries are a particularly good investment.
Full review: Ansmann Digital AA HR6 2850mAh review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
HiQuick AA 2800mAh
The best budget AA rechargeable batteries
Pros
- Excellent value
- High number of charge cycles
- Keeps charge well
Cons
- Didn’t hit their full rated capacity in my tests
If you’re after a hard-working set of rechargeable batteries but begrudge spending too much money on such a purchase then the HiQuick AA 2800mAh batteries are an excellent option. Not only are they competitively priced, undercutting many similar batteries, but they’re also impressively versatile and can cope with different types of uses.
Rated to last for up to a massive 1200 charge cycles, the HiQuick AA 2800mAh batteries fall only slightly behind the much more expensive GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh which promises 1500 charge cycles. Despite this, you can still expect a good few years of use from HiQuick’s offering.
The HiQuick AA batteries also promise to hold their charge well and drop to just 80% after three years of use. This is particularly important if you plan on using your batteries for low-drain devices, such as remotes, where the batteries aren’t necessarily exerting much power but need to last.
To test the batteries we first measured their initial voltage. All rechargeable batteries should have a starting voltage of at least 1.2V but we measured the HiQuick’s voltage to be 1.41V, which is actually closer to a standard non-rechargeable battery.
We then took a capacity reading to determine the power of the batteries. While we did find the batteries delivered a lower 2321mAh of power, which is less than the rated 2800mAh, we did find the capacity remained consistent which is equally as important.
Overall, the HiQuick AA 2800mAh batteries don’t quite reach the maximum capacity of their rivals but they still boast an impressive amount of power especially when you factor in their relatively cheap cost.
If you’re on a budget and require a decent set of rechargeable batteries for mixed uses, then you can’t do much better than the HiQuick AA 2800mAh.
Full review: HiQuick AA 2800mAh
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Eneloop AA
The best AA rechargeable batteries to replace alkalines
Pros
- Huge number of charge cycles
- Retain their charge for a long time
Cons
- Expensive
The Eneloop AA batteries are built to do pretty much everything that alkaline batteries can do, so are perfect replacement in some situations.
First, the Eneloop AA batteries can be charged 2000 times (or more), which means they’ll last for a long time. These batteries take more recharge cycles than any others that we have reviewed.
Incredibly, they’ll also hold 70% of their charge for ten years, so you can use them in low-drain devices, such as remote controls without fear that they’ll just discharge naturally. That’s also good news if you want batteries that you can charge and have ready to go.
The flipside is that capacity isn’t so high. Eneloop rates these batteries at 1900mAh, and our tests showed that capacity was 2101mAh, with very little fluctuation over our 50 test cycles. For higher-drain use, such as game controllers, you’ll probably want higher-capacity batteries, such as the GP ReCyko Pro 2000mAh AA.
The batteries are also quite expensive, but if you need a direct replacement for a set of alkaline batteries, there’s nothing better.
Full review: Eneloop AA review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
GP Recyko Charge 10 AA
Best AA rechargeables for a quick turnaround
Pros
- 90% charge in just 10 minutes
- High capacity
- Low self-discharge
Cons
- Fast-charging reduces battery life
The issue we all face with rechargeable batteries is that they’re not ready when we need them. In many cases, we’ll turn to alkaline batteries when they’re needed straight away. The GP Recyko Charge 10 AA are here to solve that issue, as they can get to 90% charge when speed is of the essence, provided you use them with the dedicated charger.
That’s great for convenience, but be aware that fast charging does reduce battery life: fast charging gets you only 250 cycles, while slow charging extends life to 700 cycles. We recommend fast charging only when you absolutely have to.
Capacity is rated at just 1700mAh, although we found that they managed 2045mAh when slow charged, a chunk above that rated capacity. On a fast charge, power was 1769mAh.
If you need the flexibility to charge batteries quickly, then there’s nothing quite like these models from the competition. If you can pre-charge sets, there are high-capacity alternatives.
Full review: GP Recyko Charge 10 review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Amazon Basics Rechargeable AAA 800mAh
The best overall AAA rechargeable batteries
Pros
- Great value
- Holds charge well
- 1000 charge cycles
Cons
- Only available in bigger packs
The Amazon Basics Rechargeable AAA 800mAh show that decent rechargeable batteries don’t have to cost a fortune, particularly if you need to buy them in bulk.
These batteries are rated to last for 1000 charging cycles, which is a huge amount of time, and higher than much of the competition. And, these batteries will retain 80% of their charge after two years, which makes them a brilliant choice if you need batteries that you can charge or store, or for low-drain use, such as in remote controls.
Capacity is rated at 800mAh, which is fairly standard for AAA batteries. We found that this figure was correct and measured capacity at 844mAh, with little variation over 50 testing cycles.
Overall, the combination of longevity, price and power make the Amazon Basics Rechargeable AAA 800mAh the best rechargeable AAA batteries that you can buy.
Full review: Amazon Basics Rechargeable AAA 800mAh review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Ansmann Micro AAA 1100mAh
The best AAA rechargeables for high-power devices
Pros
- Very high capacities
- High number of charge cycles
- Well priced
Cons
- Relatively expensive
While most devices that draw a lot of power require AA batteries, there are some, such as some torches, that run on AAA batteries. For these kinds of device, the Ansmann Micro AAA 1100mAh are the best choice.
These are the highest-capacity AAA batteries that we have tested, with a rated capacity of 1100mAh. In our tests, over 50 cycles, we saw a capacity of 1050mAh, which is a little under the rated value, but the highest of any AAA batteries.
Longevity is good, too. The Ansmann Micro AAA 1100mAh are rated to last for 1000 cycles, and they’ll hold 80% of their charge for a year, too.
The Amazon Basics are better value and will suit most people’s needs, but if you need extra power, these are the ones to get.
Full review: Ansmann Micro AAA 1100mAh review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
We also considered…
FAQs
All rechargeable batteries will naturally discharge over time. That is, they lose power when sat in a drawer doing nothing. How important this is, depends on the use. If you want batteries that you can pre-charge and leave ready for use, then look for models that retain a higher percentage of their charge over a year or more (our reviews, above, have more information). Likewise, look for batteries that retain their charge for low-drain devices, such as remote controls, where little power is required but over a long time.
Batteries that don’t retain as much charge tend to have higher capacities and are best suited to more powerful devices, such as toys and torches.
Not quite, but in most cases. Rechargeable batteries have lower starting voltages (1.2V) compared to alkaline batteries (1.5V), which some people say is important; however, alkaline batteries quickly discharge voltage, whereas rechargeable batteries do so more slowly. As a result, most devices will work at lower voltages, although you may get some minor issues: our smart lock complains that its battery is low when using rechargeables, even though it works properly.
Some devices require alkaline batteries for safety reasons, such as smoke alarms. Where it’s stated that you must use alkaline batteries, you should do so.
Power is quoted in milliamp hours (mAh), such as 2000mAh. With this example, used with a device that draws 2000mA, the batteries would last for one hour; used with a device that draws 1000mA, the batteries would last for two hours. What you really need to know, is that the higher the number, the more power the batteries hold.
How important this is, depends on the type of device that you’re using. See the question about the discharge rate (above) for more.