AmazonBasics 8 Pack AAA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries, 1000 Cycle (Typical 800mAh, Minimum 750mAh)..
Special Price AmazonBasics 8 Pack AAA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries, 1000 Cycle (Typical 800mAh, Minimum 750mAh) By AmazonBasics
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311 of 316 people found the following review helpful.
By NLee the Engineer
I have previously tested the original AmazonBasics NiMH Precharged Rechargeable Batteries (in black wrappers) back in 2011. Recently I purchased a set of those new AmazonBasics NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (in white wrappers), because people kept asking me: "Are those rebranded 1st-gen Sanyo eneloop batteries?" Based on my observations so far, the short answer is "NO". But wait, don't leave yet!
I measured the capacities of those AmazonBasics AAA batteries, using my La Crosse BC1000 charger. Here are my findings:
- Right out of the package, the average remaining charge is 562mAh, or 70% of the rated '800mAh' capacity.
- After one recharge/discharge cycle, the average capacity jumped to 797mAh.
- After another 2-3 more cycles, the average capacity leveled off at 821mAh
The above behavior is consistent with my previous test results for original (1000-cycle) eneloop, 2nd-gen (1500-cycle) eneloop and 3rd-gen (1800-cycle) eneloop cells. Note that just as in this case with AmazonBasics cells, all eneloop cells are charged to around 70% when they left factory.
Based on electrical characteristics, I believe that those white AmazonBasics cells are indeed rebranded Sanyo eneloop cells. But it is impossible to tell whether they are in fact 1st- or 2nd-generation eneloop. This is because to the end-user, there are no measureable performance differences between 1st, 2nd or even 3rd-generation eneloop cells beside their cycle life claims.
Because of the '1000-cycle' claim, most people would jump to the conclusion that white AmazonBasics cells are equivalent to 1st-gen Sanyo eneloop. My closer examination, however, suggested that they are more likely to be rebranded SECOND-generation eneloop instead.
Please refer to the picture I uploaded to 'Customer Images' section. Look closely at the positive terminals of those three types of batteries, and you'll notice the difference in their so-called 'vent holes' (the name is misleading because those openings are not actually used for venting):
In the case of AAA cells:
- First-gen eneloop AAA cell has triangular-shaped vent holes
- Second-gen eneloop AAA has vent holes with rounded tops
- White AmazonBasics AAA has vent holes with rounded tops
In the case of AA cells:
- First-gen eneloop AA cell has triangular-shaped vent holes
- Second-gen eneloop AA has no vent holes
- White AmazonBasics AA has no vent holes
Therefore based on their mechanical aspects, I have to say those white AmazonBasics cells are most likely rebranded 2nd-gen Sanyo eneloop cells.
Why would Amazon intentionally sell rebranded 1500-cycle eneloop cells as just 1000-cycle? The answer is Price Differentiation. Manufacturers often de-spec a product when it is sold under different brand at a lower price. Otherwise it will erode the market for their higher-priced brand.
What if I'm wrong and those AmazonBasics cells are 'only' 1000 cycles? Well, you could find out the difference in... TEN years. So for now, just pick whichever brand is on sale and be happy.
44 of 50 people found the following review helpful.
By Lenny
I've been using NiMH batteries since I got my first digital camera, and I've been using NiMH since the Sanyo Eneloops became widely available. I've used them in my digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 950), with my LED flashlights, with my external camera flash, and with my handheld GPS receivers. Even though they are not meant for low drain devices, the low self discharge batteries can usually be used in wireless mouse or a clock. And the low self discharge nature means that I can charge up a set and keep them as spares for months without worrying that they'll be flat when I need them.
So the question is, how do they compare against the king of low self discharge batteries, the Sanyo Eneloop?
Fresh out of the packaging, and after two recharge cycles, they compare very well - I did not do a scientific test of timing how long they last, but using it in my GPS receiver on hikes, they last about 10% - 20% longer than my 1 year old Eneloops. Not only that, according to the GPS receiver's battery meter, the voltage drops slower than the Eneloops. The Eneloops are older, so that's not a big surprise, but I'd say the performance is at least equal to, and possibly better than, the Eneloops when they were brand new. I've only used them for a month, so that's hardly enough time to test how they hold up over time. I have Eneloops that I've been using for almost 6 years now (Amazon records show that I ordered them on December 18, 2007), and although they do exhibit some capacity loss, they still have enough capacity to be useful. Will these last as long? Will their capacity hold up? Time will tell.
I also purchased some of the older black and green AmazonBasics pre-charged NiMH AA, but I haven't had a chance to use them yet. I'll update the review with a comparison when I do. But they're currently the same price, so there's no reason to get that over this if the price is the same.
The only difference in the paper specs between this and the current generation of Eneloop batteries, these state a 1000 cycle lifetime while the Eneloops state a 1500 cycle lifetime. For my application, this is not significant, as I only need to recharge them every 1 to 2 weeks. If you need to recharge them daily, they would last about 2.5 years, compared to 4 years for the Eneloop. If they only need to be recharged once a week, that's 19 years. I'm 100% sure the chemistry of the cells will break down way before then.
My Eneloops typically arrive with about 75% of the charge. These arrive with close to 100% (according to the battery meter of my GPS receiver) but that's because it is a new product and have not been sitting on the shelves for long. Mine didn't have a manufacture date stamped on it either, probably because they are review samples.
The batteries are supposed to be pre-charged with solar energy. I treat that as a gimmick. There's no way for me to verify the claim, and in the overall scheme of things, makes no difference. The energy it takes to manufacture these far outweigh the little amount required to charge them once.
I've been giving advice regarding batteries on online forums for years now, I'll just give a summary here. Almost all devices will take NiMH in place of alkaline batteries. Even though the voltage is 1.2V compared to 1.5V, when a battery supplies current to a device, the voltage will drop. The larger the current, the more the voltage drops. The voltage drops more for alkaline batteries because they have a higher internal resistance. When used in a camera flash, for example, you will find that not only will the NiMH last longer than alkaline batteries, the flash takes less time to recharge after it has been fired, because the NiMH can supply more current.
Does it make economic sense to use rechargeable batteries? Do the math yourself. You need a good charger (such as a LaCrosse BC700, BC1000 or Maha PowerEx MH-C9000 - about $50) and enough batteries for at least 1 set of spares. It paid for itself several times over for me, but everybody's situation is different.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
By TFry
I agree with other reviewers that these batteries seem to be re-branded Eneloop batteries.
Eneloop batteries are great high-quality batteries in my experience, which make these AmazonBasics a good solid choice.
That said, most of these AmazonBasics do not perform at the stated specifications. I ordered 2 packs of AA's and 2 packs of AAA's. For the AA's only 1 out of 8 achieved the minimum 1900mAh while the other 7 were below in the 1800mAh range. For the AAA's 2 out of 8 achieved the minimum 750mAh and the others were below in the 700mAh range. All tested out of the box with a La Crosse charger.
So these AmazonBasics are clearly lower quality Eneloop's, which are still good batteries though.
Overall these are a good choice for lower demanding usages, but I will continue to buy Eneloops for higher demanding applications.
Gave 3 stars because even though they are good batteries, Amazon should make sure AmazonBasics branded items meet their specifications, these do not.
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