HOUSTON – Households need to stock up on batteries to keep all those new gadgets and toys from Christmas up and running. But which brands work the best and last the longest?
Consumer Reports tested 13 AA batteries, which are the most widely used. When a shopper needs batteries to last, go for the Duracell Quantum AA Batteries. Consumer Reports granted them a score of 91 out of 100 after putting them to the test in a flashlight and a toy.
Duracell's Coppertop AA Batteries came in second place, with a score of 84. But it's not all about how much it costs.
Consumer Reports picked Kirkland Signature AA batteries as a "best buy" with a score of 84. At $0.27 each, it was the cheapest brand tested. The most expensive, Panasonic's Digital AA, scored the lowest. At $1.42 each, the batteries eked out a 58.
Consumer Reports said customers can make a difference in the performance, like always use identical batteries to avoid leaks. And never store loose batteries with metal objects like change, because that could cause them to short circuit. Lastly, cleaning contact surfaces and battery compartments with a pencil eraser or cloth can also prevent leaks.