I just ordered some Accupower 2900 mAh NiMH AA batteries. They were the highest I could find. Is there anything better out there?
e: And just out of curiosity, how high do non-rechargeable AAs go?
First, this is not a simple question.
What is important is your particular application. If your battery-powered device is going to have long periods of OFF time, you are probably going to be better off using a battery with less capacity and lower self-discharge, like the Sanyo Eneloops. I’ve seen NiMH batteries rated as high as 3200 mAH, but I suspect that they are just fakes. I find my best performing batteries to be the 2500 mAH Eneloops.
AFAIK, Eneloops only come in 2000 mAh for the AA size.
But I will second their recommendation. They’re great batteries, and they keep a charge for a long time in storage. I used to be so frustrated with grabbing my second camera once a month or so only to find that the batteries were dead. (“I swear…they were charged last I checked.”) The low self-discharge is a terrific feature.
FWIW, I’m using them in my wireless Xbox 360 controllers, which do get used pretty much every day (if not always by me, then by my roommate), often for several hours a day, so that’s why the higher capacity was important in my decision.