Review & Comparison of 1.5V Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

Every year, AA and AAA batteries are widely used in consumer electronics, toys, and household appliances. Therefore, in today’s era marked by the relentless pursuit of sustainability and efficiency, rechargeable batteries become very important in powering our digital lives. Among them, 1.5V lithium rechargeable batteries have emerged as a crucial player, offering several advantages. In this blog post, we delve into the 1.5V lithium rechargeable battery review, to help you find the proper one.

Understanding 1.5V Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

1.5V lithium rechargeable batteries are very special types. In these cylindrical battery, there are essentially two elements. They have a 3.6V lithium battery core inside. A smart chip inserted at the terminal, firstly, monitors the battery’s condition, preventing overcharging and over-discharging. It also converts the battery voltage to the required 1.5 volts. During charging, the input voltage is converted to 4.2 volts, which is necessary for the battery.

The main advantage of such batteries is that they deliver a stable 1.5 volts throughout the entire discharge cycle, which sets them apart favorably from rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries and regular alkaline batteries.

AA and AAA NiMH batteries output voltage of 1.2V. The rechargeable 1.5V Lithium batteries have a longer lifespan, with up to 1200 charge cycles, resulting in cost savings and reduced waste. You can read more differences between the rechargeable 1.5V lithium and NiMH AA batteries.

1.5V Lithium Rechargeable Batteries Review and Comparison

The review of 1.5V lithium rechargeable batteries, including the XTAR brand and others. Firstly, I tested the capacity of these batteries, as it is the first factor we would consider when consider investing in a battery. For this purpose, I used my trusty old iMax B6 Mini charger. With its help, I discharged fully charged batteries with a current of 300 milliamps and obtained the capacity data. I tested the AA and AAA batteries separately.

Among the four AAA batteries, here are the data for price, energy, capacity and voltage:

AAA batteries
Brand	Price	Energy	Capacity	Voltage
XTAR Li-ion	$4.15	1139mWh	754mAh	1.51V
ZNTER Li-ion	$8.20	915mWh	610mAh	1.5V
GP NiMH	$3.50	1174mWh	978mAh	1.2V
GP Super Alkaline	$0.70	918mWh	798mAh	1.15V

Among the four AA batteries, here are the data for price, energy, capacity and voltage:

AA batteries
Brand	Price	Energy	Capacity	Voltage
XTAR Li-ion	$6.00	3100mWh	2123mAh	1.46V
Smartools Li-ion	$4.00	2313mWh	1542mAh	1.5V
GP NiMH	$4.00	2092mWh	1743mAh	1.2V
GP Super Alkaline	$0.70	2353mWh	1994mAh	1.18V

The XTAR batteries showed good results. these AAA batteries delivered 754mAh, which, considering the voltage, amounts to 1139mWh. This is very close to the stated 1200mWh, with losses due to converters totaling about 60mWh.

the AA battery delivered 2123mAh, which, considering the voltage, gives us 3100mWh. It’s evident that XTAR accurately stated the capacity, and around 200mWh were lost due to conversion.

To determine the best battery in terms of cost-effectiveness, we take the VR game controllers for example. The controller requires a current draw of 150mA for 1 hour per day. Also consider the recharge cycle difference, the XTAR Li-ion battery emerges as the most cost-effective option, providing consistent performance and longer gameplay duration at a relatively lower cost per hour. The ZNTER and Smartools USB 1.5V Li-ion batteries also offer favorable performance, making them worthy alternatives.

The rechargeable 1.5V lithium batteries are perfect for the medium-drain devices that require stable voltage output, like VR controllers, game players, kids’ toys, etc. While the NiMH and disposable alkaline batteries are most suitable for devices that require high require high instantaneous current, such as camera flashes and RC 4WD cars.

Factors to Consider When Choosing 1.5V Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

Capacity and Energy

One important factor to consider is the battery capacity. Batteries with higher capacity and energy will provide longer runtime and higher power output, making them suitable for devices with high energy demands. However, it is essential to pay attention to the actual capacity. The rated capacity of a battery may not necessarily equal its actual capacity. Rated capacity is the capacity measured by the battery manufacturer under standard discharge conditions in the laboratory. It is an important technical parameter for electronic devices or equipment, enabling users to select and compare products. While the actual capacity may be affected by various factors such as manufacturing precision, material quality, and temperature changes. Some low-quality batteries may overstate their capacity and energy, leading to significantly lower performance than the nominal value. Therefore, when selecting a battery, it’s best to check real test reviews.

Charging Time and Compatibility with Chargers

Charging speed determines how long you need to wait for the battery to fully charge. Quick charging is particularly helpful during urgent situations. For devices that are used frequently or have high power consumption, like kids’ toys, VR game controllers, and trail cameras, fast-charging batteries ensure that the device is available when necessary.

Additionally, ensure that the batteries are compatible with commonly available chargers or come with their own charger to avoid compatibility issues. Due to the unique nature of 1.5V rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, they are not compatible with standard 18650 battery chargers. Therefore, each brand manufacturer provides specialized chargers for charging them. Recently, XTAR has introduced a charger, the MiniMixer MX4, which can charge four types of batteries. It is compatible with the rechargeable 1.5V lithium, 3.6/3.7V cylindrical lithium, 1.2V NiMH and 3.2V LifePO4 batteries.

Battery Lifespan

Battery lifespan plays a crucial role in long-term usage and cost-effectiveness. Having a longer lifespan means the battery can endure more charge-discharge cycles before needing to be replaced. Look for batteries that offer a high number of recharge cycles to maximize their longevity. Most of the rechargeable 1.5V lithium batteries have 1000 – 1200 times of recharge cycles.

Safety Features and Certifications

As we mentioned before, the 1.5V rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have a built-in step-down circuitry, so it’s essential to consider their safety features and certifications. Look for batteries that have built-in safety mechanisms to prevent overcharging, over-discharging, and short circuits. Additionally, certifications like CE, FCC, RoHS indicate that the batteries meet certain safety standards and have undergone rigorous testing.