CategoriesBrand vs BrandProject FarmGuidesThe LosersAbout
Which Rechargeable AA Battery (NiMH) Brand Wins?
2019 test14 productsBatteries & Power Banks

Which Rechargeable AA Battery (NiMH) Brand Wins?

This head-to-head test of 14 rechargeable aa battery (nimh) options has the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.

Some figures on this page were transcribed from the test video and have not been independently re-verified. Treat the numbers as a close guide and watch the full video for the exact readings.

The verdict
Harbor Freight Thunderbolt was the best mAh-per-penny value among the 10 main NiMH brands tested, though the presenter distrusts the brand generally; Kirkland was the best value among the 4 addendum AA battery brands
Budget pick

Harbor Freight Thunderbolt was the best mAh-per-penny value among the 10 main NiMH brands tested, though the presenter distrusts the brand generally; Kirkland was the best value among the 4 addendum AA battery brands

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The measured results

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

Round 1, 500 mA charge/discharge

  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh

    produced 2435 mAh, very impressive for the copper top

  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh

    produced 2346 mAh

  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh

    produced 2410 mAh, very impressive

  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh

    produced 2177 mAh

  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh

    produced 1329 mAh

  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh

    produced 1816 mAh

  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh

    produced 1903 mAh

  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)

    produced 1883 mAh, presenter expected better

  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh

    produced 2344 mAh, just over 90 percent of rated capacity, disappointing for such an expensive battery

  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh

    produced 2478 mAh, only 88.5 percent of rated capacity

  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)
    not tested
  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)
    not tested
  • 13ACDelco AA battery
    not tested
  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)
    not tested

Round 3, 300 mA charge/discharge

  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh

    exceeded rated capacity by a little

  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh

    just barely missed reaching 100 percent of rated capacity

  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh

    exceeded rated capacity by a little

  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh

    exceeded rated capacity by a little

  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh

    exceeded rated capacity by a little

  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh

    achieved 95 percent or greater of rated capacity

  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh

    achieved 95 percent or greater of rated capacity

  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)

    achieved 95 percent or greater of rated capacity

  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh

    underperformed its rating by nearly 300 mAh, only 88 percent of rated capacity

  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh
    not tested
  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)
    not tested
  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)
    not tested
  • 13ACDelco AA battery
    not tested
  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)
    not tested

Round 4, 1000 mA charge/discharge

  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh

    produced 2457 mAh, just over 100 percent of rated capacity

  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh

    produced 2331 mAh, a very impressive 97 percent of rated capacity

  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh

    produced 2374 mAh, a very impressive 96.9 percent of rated capacity

  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh

    produced 2085 mAh, just under 95 percent of rated capacity

  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh

    produced 1105 mAh, only 82 percent of rated capacity, really struggled

  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh

    produced 1725 mAh, only 91 percent of rated capacity

  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh

    produced 1772 mAh, only 88.6 percent of rated capacity

  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)

    produced 1781 mAh, only 89 percent of rated capacity

  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh

    produced 2406 mAh, just under 86 percent of rated capacity

  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh
    not tested
  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)
    not tested
  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)
    not tested
  • 13ACDelco AA battery
    not tested
  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)
    not tested

Round 2, 500 mA charge/discharge (repositioned)

  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh

    achieved 95 percent or higher of rated capacity

  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh

    achieved 95 percent or higher of rated capacity

  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh

    achieved 95 percent or higher of rated capacity

  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh

    the only brand of the ten to exceed its rated capacity

  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh

    did slightly worse than round 1, but still achieved 95 percent or higher

  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)

    barely missed the 95 percent mark

  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh

    only achieved 91.4 percent of rated capacity

  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh

    finished dead last, only 88.2 percent of rated capacity

  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh
    not tested
  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh
    not tested
  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)
    not tested
  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)
    not tested
  • 13ACDelco AA battery
    not tested
  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)
    not tested

100 mA discharge test

  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)
    2011 mAh

    beat the other three addendum brands

  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)
    1456 mAh

    described as doing great considering its bargain price

  • 13ACDelco AA battery
    1521 mAh3rd
  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)
    1656 mAh2nd
  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh
    not tested
  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh
    not tested
  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh
    not tested
  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh
    not tested
  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh
    not tested
  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh
    not tested
  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh
    not tested
  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)
    not tested
  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh
    not tested
  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh
    not tested

300 mA discharge test

  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)
    1627 mAh

    beat the other three addendum brands again

  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)
    1509 mAh

    finished last of the addendum group

  • 13ACDelco AA battery
    1535 mAh3rd

    a respectable third place

  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)
    1611 mAh2nd
  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh
    not tested
  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh
    not tested
  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh
    not tested
  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh
    not tested
  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh
    not tested
  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh
    not tested
  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh
    not tested
  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)
    not tested
  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh
    not tested
  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh
    not tested

Value

  • 11Kirkland AA battery (Costco brand)

    by far the best value of the addendum group at nearly 69 milliamp hours per penny

  • 12Sunbeam AA battery (Dollar Tree brand)

    a terrific value at 58 cents per milliamp hour

  • 13ACDelco AA battery

    third place value at nearly 48 cents per milliamp hour

  • 14IKEA AA battery (addendum test batch, discharge tested separately from the IKEA LADDA above)

    finished in the middle of the pack in terms of value, presenter said he did not get a very competitive price on them

  • 1Duracell NiMH rechargeable, rated 2450 mAh
    not tested
  • 2Amazon Basics high capacity silver, made in Japan, rated 2400 mAh
    not tested
  • 3IKEA LADDA, rated 2450 mAh
    not tested
  • 4Harbor Freight Thunderbolt, rated 2200 mAh
    not tested
  • 5Rayovac NiMH rechargeable, rated 1350 mAh
    not tested
  • 6Amazon Basics black, made in China, rated 1900 mAh
    not tested
  • 7Energizer NiMH rechargeable, rated 2000 mAh
    not tested
  • 8Panasonic Eneloop, rated 2000 mAh per the presenter's testing (the video description notes the true rating may be 1900 mAh, not 2000)
    not tested
  • 9PowerEx NiMH rechargeable, rated 2600 mAh
    not tested
  • 10EBL NiMH rechargeable, rated 2800 mAh
    not tested

How it was tested

  • round 1: charge and discharge at 500 mA, measuring milliamp hours delivered versus rated capacity
  • round 2: repeat 500 mA charge/discharge with batteries repositioned on the tester
  • round 3: charge and discharge at a slower 300 mA rate
  • round 4: charge and discharge at a faster 1000 mA rate to simulate high drain devices
  • addendum: 100 mA and 300 mA discharge tests on four additional AA battery brands, plus a price per milliamp hour value comparison

More Batteries & Power Banks

Batteries & Power Banks2025

Which AA Batteries Brand Wins?

Energizer Ultimate Lithium

See the results
Batteries & Power Banks2025

Which Rechargeable Hand Warmers Brand Wins?

DeeKom

See the results
Batteries & Power Banks2024

Which AA Batteries (alkaline And Lithium) Brand Wins?

Blinkspower

See the results