A toy without batteries stinks. That would be like giving your wife a new car without giving her the keys.
We count on batteries for lots of tasks, but which ones should you buy? There are so many to choose from, with claims like 'world`s longest lasting' and 'lasts up to nine times longer.'
“There`s a lot of misinformation and hype out there, and in the end it can cost you money if you make the wrong choice,” says Dan Declerico with Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports evaluated 15 kinds of AA batteries, both lithium and alkaline.
One test rack measures how long batteries last. It mimics the use of devices like flashlights or digital cameras.
The Toys 'R' Us Ultra alkalines delivered just four hours of flashlight time and 49 shots from a digital camera.
Compare that to Energizer Ultimate Lithium, the top-rated battery that racked up more than seven hours of flashlight time and 609 shots.
“Although they`re more expensive, lithiums can provide up to five times the power of an alkaline under certain circumstances,” says Declerico.
The extra lithium boost is worth it for digital cameras and gaming controllers and devices that need more power.
But Consumer Reports says alkalines are the way to go for toys that are used less often.
The Duracell Quantum proved the best alkalines and are half the price of the lithiums.
And that`s nothing to cry about.
