GP Ultra AAA Review
Cheap batteries good for remote controls
Verdict
Decent overall capacity shows that the GP Ultra AAA could be suitable for less demanding tasks, but fluctuating results in my high-drain tests results in a low average capacity for more demanding jobs. Price-wise, they’re decent, but other batteries performed better in my tests.
Pros
- Good value
- High overall capacity
Cons
- Low high-drain result
- Big variance in tested batteries
Availability
- UKRRP: £8.99
Key Features
- Battery typeThese are AAA alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries.
Introduction
The GP Ultra AA batteries are some of the best I’ve tested, so I had high hopes for the GP Ultra AAA’s performance. Overall, total capacity in my tests was good, but the initial high-drain test didn’t deliver the results I’d hoped for.
These batteries are available in a wide range of pack sizes and compete well on price against both the big names and budget brands. To test these batteries, I bought a pack from Amazon and then ran them through my battery tester.
Performance
- High-drain test was a little disappointing
- Overall capacity is excellent
GP quotes the performance of the Ultra AAA as a service life of 18.5 hours, based on a 20-ohm discharge resistance, quoting a starting voltage of 1.6V down to an end-point of 0.9V. These figures are quoted within 30 days of manufacture, so with a shelf-life of 10 years, expect some variation in packs that you buy.
I measured the starting voltage of the batteries that I bought at 1.52V, which is above the 1.5V threshold that I’d expect for alkaline batteries.
To test capacity, I used an Ansmann Energy XC-3000 tester, which runs a battery drain at 600mA (+/- 20%), ending at a voltage of 0.94V. This is a relatively high drain. After the initial test, I found the batteries had an initial capacity of just 364mAh – that’s almost 200mAh less than the Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA.
Looking at the results, there was a great deal of fluctuation in each of the batteries tested, with the highest returning a capacity of 523mAh and the lowest 243mAh.
I then left the batteries for a few hours to cool down, thereafter re-running the test to see if there was any current remaining. Here, I recorded the GP Ultra AAA with 234mAh, giving a total capacity of 598mAh. That’s actually the highest total capacity of any of the AAA batteries I’ve tested.
My results would suggest that these batteries are better for low-drain devices, such as remote controls, rather than higher-drain usage in such items as a torch.
Latest deals
You can buy the GP Ultra AAA in pack sizes of between four batteries (around 88p per battery) up to a 40-pack (around 35p per battery). I’ve listed the 20-pack here (around 45p per battery), since it’s a good balance between the total number of batteries and price.
Should you buy it?
If you want branded batteries for low-drain use, such as remote controls, then these have a high-capacity in my tests.
If you want more flexible batteries, there are AAA batteries that have similar overall capacity but that performed better in our high-drain test.
Final Thoughts
Overall price and capacity are very good, but the GP Ultra AAA didn’t perform particularly well in my high-drain tests. On balance, the Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA are a better choice, with similar overall capacity but much better high-drain results.
How we test
Unlike other sites, we test every alkaline battery we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
We use an Ansmann Energy XC 3000 to drain batteries, so that we can test capacity in mAh. After the first run, we allow the batteries to cool and then retest to give us a second reading.
We measure the initial voltage of the batteries, checking that the starting voltage is at least 1.5V.
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
