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Power Tool Batteries Sep 2023 Test: Which Brand Wins?
2023 test5 productsPower Tool Batteries

Power Tool Batteries Sep 2023 Test: Which Brand Wins?

In our Sep 2023 test we compared 5 power tool batteries options head to head. Milwaukee came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.

The verdict
Milwaukee
Winner

Milwaukee

Price shown in test: $90

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Labtec
Budget pick

Labtec

Price shown in test: $22

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The quick take

The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.

WinnerMilwaukee$90

“When it comes to tool batteries, I typically go with the philosophy of buy once, cry once. And for that reason, I really like the Milwaukee. However, there are some times when the knockoff battery is the way to go. And for that reason, I really like the Lab Tech.”

Best in 3 of 6 measurements, including Maximum torque test, drill driving 5 inch lag bolts, Impact driver speed test, 3 attempts averaged and Internal resistance test.

Budget pickLabtec$22

Best in 3 of 6 measurements, including Impact driver speed test, 3 attempts averaged, Internal resistance test and 1 amp discharge capacity test.

The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Runtime test powering a 150W fan load

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new
    39 minutes 15 seconds

    longest of all batteries by over 10 minutes

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    28 minutes 40 seconds

    outlasted the three knockoff brands by over 3 minutes

  • 3Labtec
    25 minutes 20 seconds
  • 4TENMOER
    21 minutes 44 seconds

    about 4 minutes less than the Labtec

  • 5Amityke
    15 minutes 50 seconds

    worst of the three knockoffs, about 10 minutes less than the Labtec

Maximum torque test, drill driving 5 inch lag bolts

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new
    183 in-lb

    best of all batteries

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    175 in-lb2nd

    almost as good as the new 6.0 Milwaukee, second best overall

  • 3Labtec
    143 in-lb

    worst of the four in this test, 40 in-lb less than the 6.0 Milwaukee

  • 4TENMOER
    146 in-lb2nd

    second best of the four, 3 in-lb better than the Labtec

  • 5Amityke

    only 89 in-lb, worst of all batteries by a wide margin

Impact driver speed test, 3 attempts averaged

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new

    averaged about 6 seconds, best of all batteries, barely edging out the used 5.0 Milwaukee

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old

    averaged 6.08 seconds, moved into the lead over the knockoffs

  • 3Labtec

    averaged 6.31 seconds, best of the three knockoff brands

  • 4TENMOER

    averaged 6.95 seconds, slower than the Labtec

  • 5Amityke
    around7.15 seconds

    worst of the three knockoffs

Angle grinder overload and runtime test

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new
    6 minutes 38 seconds2nd

    about twice as long as the second place finisher

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    2 minutes 42 seconds

    did not smoke like the Tenmoer

  • 3Labtec
    1 minute 52 seconds
  • 4TENMOER
    3 minutes 33 seconds

    best of the three knockoffs in this test, but the battery overheated and smoked heavily since it lacks overload protection, voltage afterward measured just over 2 volts and the Milwaukee charger flashed a fault indicating the battery was likely damaged

  • 5Amityke

    gave up in only 10 seconds, by far the worst of all batteries

Short circuit test with a current meter

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new

    made it to 390 amps before shutting down in about 2.5 seconds, internal fuse style interconnect worked as designed

  • 3Labtec

    made it to 112 amps before powering down, small amount of smoke, smelled hot

  • 4TENMOER

    made it to 227 amps before powering down in under 2 seconds, better short circuit protection than the Amityke

  • 5Amityke

    made it to 123 amps before the current dropped to zero at almost 8 seconds, described by the host as definitely not a safe battery, smoking pretty badly

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    not tested

Internal resistance test

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new
    5.9 milliohms

    by far the best of all batteries

  • 3Labtec
    12.9 milliohms

    best of the three knockoffs

  • 4TENMOER
    13.1 milliohms
  • 5Amityke
    13.4 milliohms

    worst of the three knockoffs

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    not tested

1 amp discharge capacity test

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new
    over1,000 mAh

    more than the second closest competitor, computed to 113 watt hours against a rated 108 watt hour claim

  • 3Labtec
    2,820 mAh

    best of the three knockoffs, computed to about 75 watt hours against a rated 108 watt hour, 6 amp hour claim

  • 4TENMOER

    performed almost as well as the Labtec, computed to about 73.5 watt hours against a rated 108 watt hour claim

  • 5Amityke

    only 1,520 mAh, described as absolutely terrible, computed to about 54.7 watt hours against a rated 108 watt hour claim

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    not tested

10 foot drop test

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new

    held up just fine

  • 3Labtec

    held up just fine

  • 5Amityke

    held up just fine

  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    not tested
  • 4TENMOER
    not tested
All measurements (1 more)+

Teardown and fuse interconnect inspection

  • 3Labtec

    internal fuse style interconnect melted as designed at just over 100 amps, host says the battery passed the test

  • 4TENMOER

    internal fuse style interconnect melted as designed

  • 5Amityke

    came dangerously close to catching on fire when opened up

  • 1Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 6.0, new
    not tested
  • 2Milwaukee Red Lithium XC 5.0, used, about 5 years old
    not tested

How it was tested

  • runtime test powering a 150W fan load
  • maximum torque test in a drill driving 5 inch lag bolts
  • impact driver speed test driving lag bolts, 3 attempts averaged
  • angle grinder overload and runtime test
  • short circuit test with a current meter
  • teardown and fuse interconnect inspection
  • internal resistance test
  • 1 amp discharge capacity test with computed watt hours
  • 10 foot drop test

“When it comes to tool batteries, I typically go with the philosophy of buy once, cry once. And for that reason, I really like the Milwaukee. However, there are some times when the knockoff battery is the way to go. And for that reason, I really like the Lab Tech.”

From the test video verdict.

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