BATTERY BRANDS RANKED FROM WORST TO BEST

7. Tenergy and Ansmann

Tenergy is best known for its battery chargers, but they also make quality NiMH AA rechargeables. Wirecutter found that their 800 mAh cells delivered close to the advertised capacity, even after 50 charge cycles. Trailcam Pro tested their performance in the cold and found that the Tenergy Premium AAs retained 86% of their room temperature capacity even at 5°F.

Next up is German brand Ansmann. Their NiMH batteries also performed well in lab tests, though they can be hard to find in physical stores and are somewhat pricey. We looked at two models—2500 and 2850 mAh—and both came close to their rated capacity at 0.1 amps. The 2850 mAh cell was among the highest-capacity batteries tested. However, that capacity comes with a downside: a higher self-discharge rate. Notably, Ansmann publishes detailed datasheets for their products—something many competitors skip. Their alkaline batteries also score well on Amazon, earning about 70% five-star ratings on the 20-pack.