Whether they’re used for powering your TV remote or making sure that any electronic gifts given on Christmas Day are ready to go right out of the box, having a selection of batteries on hand is essential for any household. Of course, with so much choice out there, it can be difficult to know whether or not you’re always getting the most bang for your buck, but that’s why our collection of the best AA and AAA batteries can help you out.
If you’re looking to stock up on batteries (at least enough to last you until next November) then you couldn’t have picked a better time. As you may have already spotted, the Black Friday sale is now on across tons of online retailers including Amazon and Currys. While there’s plenty of discounts on tech, the humble battery can also get swept up in the frenzy, making now the ideal time to buy and simultaneously save a small fortune.
At Trusted Reviews, we don’t rely on anecdotal advice when it comes to recommending batteries – we put each cell through a series of industry-standard tests to see how quickly they drain during moments of active use, whilst also monitoring the drain over time when placed in devices that are used infrequently, like remotes.
All of that data is then fed into our reviews and then weighed up against the listed price to determine whether or not a certain battery is worth your hard-earned cash. If a battery fails to live up to our high standards then it won’t be featured anywhere near this list, but if it passes every test with flying colours only then will it be considered for submission.
While standard AA and AAA batteries can be handy in a pinch, if you’re looking for a long-term solution then you may be better suited by our guide to the best rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. Those types of batteries can end up being more cost-effective for devices like game controllers that are likely to be used more frequently, and it’ll save you from constantly having to make regular trips to the shops.
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Learn more about how we test alkaline batteries
We test four batteries from the same manufacturer and then average the results. We test all alkaline batteries using an Ansmann Energy XC 3000 battery tester or, for newer batteries, an Xtar VX4. Using these, we first test that the batteries have a starting voltage of at least 1.5V.
Next, we measure capacity in mAh (milliamp hours), which is a standard rating for batteries. Our battery tester discharges batteries. After an initial test, we give the batteries an hour to cool down, and then run the test again to see if there’s any additional charge.
We present all three figures: initial capacity, capacity after the second drain, and the final total capacity. The first figure tells us how good the battery is under high-drain loads, such as games controllers and torches; the total figure tells us how much capacity the battery holds and how useful it is for low-drain use, where not much power is required, such as for remote controls.
Pros
- Low price
- High capacity
- Available in wide range of pack sizes
Cons
- Higher drain batteries available
Pros
- Excellent high-drain performance
- High capacity
- Low price
Pros
- High capacity
- Perform well under high loads
- Excellent value
Cons
- Amazon doesn’t quote detailed specs
Pros
- Very high performance
- Performs well for high-drain use
- Widely available
Pros
- Can replace alkaline batteries
- Carry case and four-way USB-C cable provided
- Solid capacity
Pros
- Two- or four-pack choices
- Integrated USB-C charging
- Constant 1.5V output
Cons
- Low capacity compared to NiMH batteries
- Expensive
Low price
High capacity
Available in wide range of pack sizes
Higher drain batteries available
The GP Ultra AA are a fantastic choice for most households as they offer great value for money, are available in a wide-range of pack sizes and are designed for all types of use. Although we’ve reviewed batteries that boasted higher capacities, the overall flexibility and price of the GP Ultra AA easily make them our most recommended choice.
GP states that the Ultra AA batteries have a service life of 19.5 hours based on a 10-Ohm discharge resistance, which essentially means they are designed for power-hungry devices such as remote-controlled toys and torches.
To trial this ourselves we used an Ansmann Energy XC 3000 to drain the batteries to determine how long they take to consume power. We concluded that this resulted in one of the highest initial capacities we had seen across all our battery tests, with the batteries ending at 0.94V.
We then left the batteries to cool down and re-ran our test to check if there was any charge remaining. Impressively, the Ultra AA boasted the highest result of any alkaline batteries we’ve reviewed, as the total capacity was an average of 1680.5mAh.
Essentially this shows that the GP Ultra AA are not only optimum for high-drain applications but also low-drain devices such as remote controls and radios, and can keep them powered for a good amount of time.
As the GP Ultra AA batteries are versatile, can support both high and low drain capacities and has a generous RRP across all pack sizes, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value set.
Excellent high-drain performance
High capacity
Low price
Although one of the more budget-friendly options in our list, the Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA (also available in AA) are easily some of the best batteries we’ve ever tested.
While Amazon doesn’t provide much detail on the specs of the batteries, it does state that they have a 10-year shelf life, are suitable for both high and low drain jobs and are built to prevent leakage during storage.
The Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA are available in packs of eight, 12, 20, 48 or 100 with prices ranging from 75p per battery down to 30p (depending on the quantity you opt for), making them some of the cheapest to buy.
To begin our tests we selected four batteries at random from the box and checked their starting voltage. All four had a voltage of 1.5V which is exactly what we’d expect to see from alkaline batteries.
Next up was our first drain test, which saw the batteries achieve a capacity of 560mAh. Not only does this result show they can be efficiently drained at high load but it is also among the best results we’ve ever seen from other AAAs we’ve tested.
After letting the batteries cool down for a few hours, we then repeated the drain test to check if there was any charge leftover, which returned an average of 25mAh for a total overall capacity of 585mAh.
What our testing concluded is that the Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA batteries can be efficiently drained at high load, making them a great choice for torches or toys, but also their overall high capacity means they’re good for low-drain devices too, such as remote controls.
Overall, given that the batteries are impressively versatile, can cope with both high and low drain tasks and are available in different pack sizes to best suit your needs, it’s clear as to why the batteries have achieved a perfect five-star rating.
High capacity
Perform well under high loads
Excellent value
Amazon doesn’t quote detailed specs
The word ‘budget’ often has bad connotations, but the Amazon Basics Alkaline AA batteries avoid that trap. While these are undoubtedly cheap batteries, particular when bought in bulk.
Running these batteries through our normal tests, we measured them with an initial capacity of 1376mAh, which is only slightly behind the Duracell Plus AA. This amount of power shows that these batteries are an excellent choice for high-drain uses, such as torches and toys.
We then ran the batteries through a second drain test, which delivered an additional 219mAh, for a total capacity of 1595mAh, which is only just behind the GP Ultra AA batteries. That makes these batteries a good choice for lower-drain use, such as clocks and remote controls.
While the GP Ultra batteries may be slightly more flexible, if you’re on a tighter budget, these are a great choice, particularly if you want to buy in bulk.
Very high performance
Performs well for high-drain use
Widely available
The Duracell Plus AAs are easily the best set of batteries we have ever tested, although their power comes at quite a high cost.
When you think of battery brands (which admittedly may not be as often as us) the first company likely to spring to mind is Duracell and this is with good reason, thanks to its promise of a 10-year shelf life and efficiency.
A long shelf life is especially important as it means you can stock up and have the batteries to hand whenever you need them, without fear of expiration.
Using an Ansmann Energy XC3000 tester, we picked four batteries at random from the pack and measured their initial voltage. The Duracell Plus batteries averaged at 1.5V which is exactly what we’d expect to see from a fresh set. As voltage drops when batteries are used, any lower would have been a cause for concern.
We then turned to our drainage test, which discharges batteries with a 600mA load and stops when the voltage hits 0.94V. After the initial drain, we saw a total capacity of 1442mAh remaining, which is the highest we’ve seen in any set of batteries.
After this test, we left the batteries to cool for a few hours before testing them again to determine the remaining capacity. We found that there was 176mAh of additional charge which results in an impressively high total of 1618mAh.
Such a high overall capacity indicated that the Duracell Plus batteries should last for a long time across multiple use cases, from low-drain applications such as remote controls to more demanding needs like toys.
If you don’t want to compromise on power and are willing to spend a bit more then we can’t recommend the Duracell Plus AA batteries enough, as they provided the best results we’ve seen. On the other hand, Amazon Basics AA batteries are considerably cheaper and still fared well in our tests.
Can replace alkaline batteries
Carry case and four-way USB-C cable provided
Solid capacity
The proble with traditional rechargeable batteries is two-fold: they lose charge relatively quickly and they’re rated at 1.5V. The Paleblue AA USB-C batteries have neither issue, as they use Li-ion.
Rated at 1.5V and able to hold a charge for ages, they can work in the majority of situations that a regular alkaline battery can, such as in a smart lock.
Available in a four-pack, each battery can handle 1000+ charge cycles. So, even though they seem expensive up-front, over time they’ll save money compared to buying disposable alkaline batteries.
Charging is via the USB-C port on the side of the (you can’t use a regular battery charger), and there’s a four-way USB-C splitter in the box, so you can charge all four from a single USB-A port.
We measured capacity at 1828mAh, which is mid-level for rechargeables, although it compares favourably with alkaline batteries. If you have certain devices that won’t work with standard rechargeable batteries and want to be more eco-friendly, these are a great choice.
Two- or four-pack choices
Integrated USB-C charging
Constant 1.5V output
Low capacity compared to NiMH batteries
Expensive
Another set of Li-ion batteries, the Trust USB-C Rechargeable cells are also rated at 1.5V and hold their charge for a long time, making them an option for a straight swap with regular alkaline batteries.
That’s true even in situations where regular rechargeable batteries aren’t accepted.
These batteries are available in two- or four-packs, depending on your needs.
Charging is via the USB-C port on the side, and you can’t use a regular battery charger.
With the four-pack, you get a four-way splitter so that you can charge all four batteries using a single cable.
These batteries delivered a capacity of 534 mAh, which is slightly low compared to most rechargeable batteries, though similar to most alkaline batteries on this list.
Each battery can be charged and discharged at least 800 times, so you can save a lot versus buying disposable alkaline cells.
FAQs
What are the benefits of alkaline batteries over rechargeable ones?
Alkaline batteries hold their charge and don’t dissipate power when not in use. That’s an important consideration with devices such as smart locks: if you use rechargeable batteries, power will dissipate over time, and your lock may suddenly not work; with alkaline batteries, you’ll get a warning and a chance to replace them.
Alkaline batteries have a higher starting voltage than rechargeable models, of at least 1.5V. However, most devices that take AA or AAA cells are rated to work at lower voltages, so this generally isn’t an advantage. Besides, alkaline batteries rapidly lose voltage over use, so devices need to be able to cope with this voltage drop. That said, alkaline batteries are a requirement for some devices, such as smoke alarms.
We’ve also found that some devices can complain if rechargeable batteries are used: our smart lock warns of low battery power when we use rechargeable batteries.
Are any rechargeables able to replace alkaline batteries?
Li-ion rechargeable batteries will work in most situations that an alkaline battery will: they are rated at the same 1.5V and hold their charge well. In testing, we’ve found that Li-ion batteries work in most devices that require alkaline batteries, such as smart locks; however, we did find one radio controlled clock, which wouldn’t set its times automatically unless alkaline batteries were installed.
Does capacity differ with use?
Yes, it does. Most batteries will show a higher capacity when used with lower-power devices, and lower charge when used with higher capacity devices. Our results still indicate which batteries are better overall.
Why do alkaline batteries seem to u0022come back to lifeu0022 when left?
It’s all to do with how the batteries are created and the chemical construction. After use, a battery’s voltage will drop to the point where it can no longer be used. When left to rest, the voltage can recover, giving batteries a shorter second wind. For that reason, we test alkaline batteries twice: for an initial drain, and then again after a rest.
Test Data
GP Ultra AA
Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA
Amazon Basics Alkaline AA
Duracell Plus AA
Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries
Trust USB-C Rechargeable AAA
Battery tested capacity
1681 mAh
858 mAh
1595 mAh
1618 mAh
1828 mAh
534 mAh
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Full Specs
GP Ultra AA Review
Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA Review
Amazon Basics Alkaline AA Review
Duracell Plus AA Review
Paleblue AA USB-C Rechargeable Batteries Review
Trust USB-C Rechargeable AAA Review
UK RRP
£8.99
–
£3.99
£13.18
–
–
Manufacturer
GP
Amazon
Amazon
Duracell
–
–
Battery
–
–
–
–
1700 mAh
500 mAh
Size (Dimensions)
x x INCHES
x x INCHES
x x INCHES
x x INCHES
x x INCHES
x x INCHES
ASIN
B000UZ5Y8S
B07KX2N355
B00MNV8E0C
B093C9B1HK
–
–
Release Date
2021
2021
2021
2021
2025
2025
First Reviewed Date
11/01/2022
24/01/2022
12/01/2022
12/01/2022
–
04/12/2025
Model Number
GP Ultra AA
Amazon Basics Alkaline AAA
Amazon Basics Alkaline AA
Duracell Plus AA
–
Trust USB-C Rechargeable AAA
Battery type
Non-rechargeable
Non-rechargeable
Non-rechargeable
Non-rechargeable
Rechargeable
Rechargeable
Battery technology
Alkaline
Alkaline
Alkaline
Alkaline
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion
Battery size
AA
AAA
AA
AA
AA
AAA
