# What are the highest capacity rechargeable AA batteries on the market?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries-on-the-market/473278>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 18, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries-on-the-market/473278 "2008-11-18T14:36:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries-on-the-market/473278/1 "2008-11-18T14:36:09Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries-on-the-market/473278/2 "2008-11-18T14:40:55Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries-on-the-market/473278/3 "2008-11-18T14:56:32Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-highest-capacity-rechargeable-aa-batteries-on-the-market/473278/4 "2008-11-18T15:07:54Z")

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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.