An increasing number of electronic devices rely on built-in rechargeable batteries, but we have not outgrown our need for single-use batteries. In the alkaline arena, the two heavyweight contenders are Duracell and Energizer, but in the shelf life contest, who reigns supreme? This question ultimately led Duracell to file a lawsuit against Energizer, accusing its competitor of misleading advertising. If you’re looking for a data-driven answer, it’s Energizer, but only with the brand’s Lithium Ultimate line.
Based on pure capacity, which is measured in milliamp-hours, Energizer wins by a mile, but only its premium Energizer Ultimate brand. In comparison, the more affordable Energizer Max is almost neck and neck with Duracell, with Energizer holding a marginal advantage. If you were to compare the two, Energizer Max would probably only provide a minute or two of extra energy. Standard Energizer batteries, on the other hand, are no match for Duracell or most other batteries.
It is essential to note that environmental conditions can impact battery life. Winter weather slows chemical reactions inside alkaline batteries, producing electrical current, the same way cold weather slows ions in phone batteries, reducing their performance, battery life, or both. During the winter, Energizer batteries – again, particularly Energizer Ultimate – last the longest because their lithium chemistry is less vulnerable to low temperatures.
Duracell is the sprinter, Energizer is the marathoner
While overall life is a solid metric for many batteries, it’s not the only one. What good is a battery that can last a long time if it can’t provide enough power to your device?
The lifespan of a battery is not as important as its stability. Voltage and resistance are essential for stability as they affect the performance and efficiency of the gadget. Although the voltage is about equal across the board for the Energizer, Energizer Max, and Duracell batteries, the Duracells have the lowest resistance. Meanwhile, Energizer Ultimate has the highest voltage and resistance. Simply put, Duracells generally provide greater power stability in devices that use a ton of power, while energizers are generally better suited to gadgets that slowly deplete at full capacity.
Price is also a factor. Although Energizer Ultimate blows out the competition in terms of overall performance, you’ll spend more money for an eight-pack than you would for a 20-pack of Duracells or 24 Energizer Max. Additionally, even though a single Energizer Ultimate gets more out of a Duracell or Energizer Max, a pack of Energizer Ultimates won’t last as long as the others. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with standard Energizer Max or Duracell because they work almost the same.