Best CR123a Battery and Buyers Guide

CR123a batteries are cylindrical lithium-ion batteries. They are high-energy batteries that can be used to improve the performance of your electronic devices.

Find the best cr123a batteries here.

Although they are marketed as camera batteries or batteries for photography equipment they can also be used in other electronic devices like security cameras, smoke detectors, water meters, flashlights and even toys.

In a hurry? Here’s our top picks;

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Best Single Use
Tenergy 3V CR123A Lithium Battery, High Performance 1500mAh CR123A Cell Batteries PTC Protected for Cameras, Flashlight Replacement CR123A Batteries, 12 Pack (Non-Rechargeable)
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Energizer 123 Batteries, Lithium CR123A Battery, 6 Battery Count
Best Budget
CR123A Lithium Batteries,16Pack 3V 1500mAh Non-Rechargeable CR17345 CR123 Battery with High Capacity PTC Protection for Smoke Detector, Flashlight, Camera, Toys (- NOT Compatible with Arlo Cameras)
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Tenergy
Energizer
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Amazon Prime
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Best Single Use
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Tenergy 3V CR123A Lithium Battery, High Performance 1500mAh CR123A Cell Batteries PTC Protected for Cameras, Flashlight Replacement CR123A Batteries, 12 Pack (Non-Rechargeable)
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Tenergy
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Amazon Prime
Best Premium
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Energizer 123 Batteries, Lithium CR123A Battery, 6 Battery Count
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Energizer
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Amazon Prime
Best Budget
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CR123A Lithium Batteries,16Pack 3V 1500mAh Non-Rechargeable CR17345 CR123 Battery with High Capacity PTC Protection for Smoke Detector, Flashlight, Camera, Toys (- NOT Compatible with Arlo Cameras)
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Best CR123a Batteries

Tenergy 3V CR123A Lithium Battery

Product Specifications

  • Brand: Tenergy
  • ASIN: B003EOMVX8
  • Voltage: 3 volts
  • Compatible Devices: Security camera, camera, sensors, light meter, torch
  • Pack Size: 12 pack
  • Capacity: 1500 mAh
  • Variation: Non-rechargeable
Tenergy high performance lithium battery with low self discharge are great for electronic gadgets.

The Tenergy CR123A lithium batteries are high-performance batteries that are PTC protected (pressure, temperature and current). These 1,500 mAh batteries deliver high performance and are the perfect power source if you want to maximize the ability of your electronic devices.

With a ten-year shelf life and run time almost three times that of regular alkaline batteries, these offer value for your money.

Let’s take a look at some of the features, pros and cons of this product.

Features

  • High-energy one-time-use battery
  • Pressure, temperature and current protection safety features
  • 10-year shelf life
  • UL, UN and ROHS certifications
  • Operating temperature between 20 and 60-degree celsius

Pros

  • Can be used in place of CR 123, DL 123A,  K123A, EL123AP, VL123A, 5018LC, and CR17345 batteries.
  • Long shelf life helps save money as you can buy at bulk rates and store them at home.
  • These batteries last three to five times longer than alkalines even when used in high-draining devices.
  • Compatible with a wide variety of devices like smart sensors, security cameras, alarm systems and much more.
  • Built-in safety features ensure that lithium cells last longer.

Cons

  • Battery drains quickly when used in Arlo cameras.
  • They are not rechargeable.

Energizer 123 Lithium Batteries

Product Specifications

  • Brand: Energizer
  • ASIN: B0036QL1JY
  • Voltage: 3 volts
  • Compatible Devices: Flashlights, digital cameras, digital camcorders, smart home devices, flash units, lasers
  • Pack Size: Pack of six
  • Variation: Not rechargeable
Energizer lithium cr123a are available in a pack of 12.

The Energizer Lithium 123 batteries are primarily photo batteries that have been made to improve the performance of your camera and photography equipment. However, they are compatible with a lot of other high-tech devices as well which makes them a versatile investment.

These products boast of a long shelf life and can be bought in bulk and stored till you actually need them.

Let’s take a look at some of the features, pros and cons of this product.

Features

  • They have a shelf life of ten years
  • Leak-proof design
  • Weighs 40 grams
  • Manufactured for use in high tech camera and photography equipment

Pros

  • Long shelf life ensures that you can keep them in storage and always have battery power at hand.
  • Can be used in place of DL123A, CR17345, CR123A, and K123LA batteries.
  • Compatible with photography equipment as well as other high-tech devices like smart home units, flash units, lasers and much more.
  • Suitable for use in extreme temperatures.

Cons

  • These batteries are meant for one-time use only.
  • Some customers received batteries that were close to the expiry date.

Morpilot 3V CR123A Lithium Battery

Product Specifications

  • Brand: Morpilot
  • ASIN: B07L69TQ1H
  • Voltage: Three volts
  • Compatible Devices: Camcorder, calculator, camera, smoke alarm, torch, toys
  • Pack Size: 16 pieces
  • Capacity: 1,500 mAh
  • Variation: Non-rechargeable
Morpilot offer high quality, long lasting, high capacity batteries.

These high capacity CR123A batteries from Morpilot offer value for money. Boasting a shelf life of up to ten years and an active use life that lasts more than three times that of a regular alkaline battery, these are reliable sources of power.

Featuring a safe and sturdy design that has passed quality and safety certifications, this product combines superior quality with safety.

Let’s take a look at some of the features, pros and cons of this product.

Features

  • Up to ten years of shelf life
  • Compliant with UL, CE and ROHS safety and quality certifications
  • High output of 1,500 mAh
  • Works in temperatures ranging from -40 ℃ to  85 ℃
  • Equipped with top-quality battery cell and smart kernel
  • Has a unique explosion-proof cap with an air hole
  • Exterior shell made of thickened steel
  • Built-in PTC protection (pressure, temperature, current)

Pros

  • Compatible with a large number of everyday devices like digital cameras, smoke detectors, flashlights, water meters, toys and more.
  • High power output that lasts three to five times longer than ordinary alkaline cells.
  • Built-in safety features prevent overheating and current overloads.
  • The air hole in the cap ensures that the battery doesn’t explode.
  • The thickened shell exterior makes the battery corrosion proof and leakproof.
  • Suitable for use in different environments as they work well even in extreme temperatures.
  • These batteries can be used in place of the following models: 23, 123A, BR2/3A, CR123, CR123R, CR17335, CR17345, DL123A, EL123AP, K123LA, L123A, SF123A, VL123A, 5018LC.

Cons

  • Not compatible with Arlo cameras.
  • Some customers found that not all batteries in the pack were at full charge.

Best cr123a Battery for Arlo

Waattor CR123A Rechargeable Batteries

Product Specifications

  • Brand: Waattor
  • ASIN: B08K43ZFV5
  • Voltage: 3.7 volts
  • Compatible Devices: Arlo wireless security cameras, flashlights, toys and other electronic equipment
  • Pack Size: 12 pieces in a pack
  • Capacity: 750 mAh
  • Variation: Rechargeable

The Waattor CR123A batteries are rechargeable batteries that are made specifically for Arlo wireless security cameras. They are an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to disposable batteries. They create less waste and you don’t have to buy them as often as they can be reused repeatedly.

Make sure that the batteries are fully charged batteries before first use. After they run out of charge, you can recharge up to four units simultaneously. The charging progress is visible on the LCD monitor and the automatic cut-off ensures that the batteries aren’t overcharged.

Apart from Arlo cameras, these batteries are also compatible with other electronic devices.

Let’s take a look at some of the features, pros and cons of this product.

Features

  • Batteries and charger combo pack
  • A charging station that can recharge four batteries at a time
  • LCD progress indicator display on charging dock
  • Batteries equipped with integrated fault and heat protection mechanism
  • The charger has built-in fail-safe circuitry
  • One-year warranty on batteries and charger
  • Reverse polarity protection mechanism on the charger
  • Operates in temperatures ranging from -4°F to 140°F

Pros

  • Compatible with the following Arlo wireless security cameras: VMC3030, VMK3200, VMS3330/ 3430/ 3530.
  • They can also be used in other electronic devices including flashlights and toys that require CR123a batteries.
  • These rechargeable batteries are more eco-friendly as they don’t create as much waste as disposable varieties.
  • They reduce costs as well since they can be reused multiple times.
  • Charger cuts off automatically when batteries have reached full charge to prevent overheating and overcharging.
  • Batteries operate well even in environments with extreme temperatures.

Cons

  • At 750 mAh, these batteries have a lesser power capability than the disposable varieties.
  • The 3.7 volts battery may cause some devices to malfunction.

Let’s take a look at why CR123a batteries are a popular choice when it comes to high-tech devices.

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying The Best CR123a Battery

Capacity

Milliamp hour or mAh is a unit that measures the energy capacity of a battery. It measures the electric power the battery can deliver over time. Generally, a higher mAh indicates higher battery life. But comparing the mAH of batteries powered by two different chemicals will not give us any useful information.

Alkaline batteries may have higher capacity ratings than lithium batteries, but when used in high draining devices they run out of power way quicker. Lithium batteries on the other hand have a run time that’s at least three times that of alkaline batteries.

However, you can compare the capacities of batteries powered by the same core chemical.

CR123 batteries come in rechargeable as well as non-rechargeable variations. The rechargeable variations have a lower mAh than the non-rechargeable ones which means they run out of power faster.

Typically non-rechargeable CR123s have a capacity of 1,500 mAh and rechargeable ones have ratings of 500 to 800 mAh.

Shelf Life

Non-rechargeable lithium batteries such as the CR123a have the longest shelf life out of all other kinds of batteries. They can be stored in a battery storage container for up to 10 years or 12 years before they begin to deteriorate.

Rechargeable lithium batteries on the other hand do not have such a long shelf life. After a year of storage, they lose 10% to 30% of their capacity to store charge. At most these batteries have a shelf life ranging between two to four years.

Price

Lithium batteries are usually pricier than alkaline batteries. However, they can be used on high-draining devices and they last longer. In the long run, getting batteries that last longer works out to be cheaper.

Since non-rechargeable lithium batteries have a higher capacity than rechargeable ones,  they are more expensive. Once they run out of charge you will have to throw them out and get new batteries as well.

This makes rechargeable lithium batteries an attractive option to those looking to save some money in the long run. Not only is the initial investment cheaper, but you also won’t have to keep spending money every time your batteries are out of charge.

This also means that rechargeable batteries create less waste than disposable ones making them an eco-friendly option as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

CR123 vs CR123A What Is the Difference?

There is no significant difference between the chemical properties of CR123 and CR123a cells. They are interchangeable batteries that can be used in a variety of electrical devices.

Both CR123 and CR123a are cylindrical lithium-ion batteries that typically have a diameter of 17 mm. The difference exists only in labeling. The labeling changes depending on the manufacturer but they are essentially the same. CR123a batteries are also known as K123A, EL123AP, 5018LC, VL123A batteries.

However, there are differences between rechargeable and non-rechargeable CR123a batteries. Both have their specific applications and you must be careful when interchanging the two kinds.

The non-rechargeable variation is a disposable battery that is meant for one-time use only. They usually have a nominal voltage of 3V and a capacity of 1500 mAh. You can check the state of your batteries using a small household battery tester, this will show you the voltage and condition of the battery.

The rechargeable variation is a reusable battery that has a voltage ranging between 3.6 and 3.7 volts and a capacity ranging between 500 to 800 mAh.

For How Long Will My CR123a Battery Last?

The life of a CR123a battery while in use will depend on the equipment being powered using the battery. People usually get CR123a batteries as they have a high-energy output that can power high-drain devices for longer durations than regular alkaline batteries.

Disposable batteries of 1500 mAh will obviously last longer before they have to be replaced than rechargeable batteries with capacities ranging between 500 and 800 mAh.

If you are looking to store batteries for future use, disposable CR123a batteries have a longer shelf life than rechargeable ones. In fact, disposable batteries have a shelf life of 10 years.

How Many Volts Is a CR123a Battery?

Non-rechargeable CR123a batteries have a nominal voltage of 3 volts. This means that they can be safely used in a variety of electrical equipment including high-drain devices.

Rechargeable CR123a batteries usually have a higher voltage ranging from 3.6 to 3.7 volts. This means that you should be careful when using rechargeable batteries in your equipment as sensitive devices may malfunction due to the higher voltage.

Check your device’s voltage requirements before using any kind of battery to ensure optimal performance.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons to consider switching to CR123a batteries. They are economical in the long run as they last longer than regular batteries and have a longer shelf life. Since you need to replace them less often you are also generating less waste.

And if these reasons aren’t compelling enough, their high-energy output and stable voltage optimizes the performance of your equipment and prevents it from malfunctioning.

There are three things to keep in mind when buying CR123a batteries—Mah, shelf life and price. This detailed overview of the best CR123a batteries on the market helps you compare these features and choose the brand that suits your needs.

Last update on 2024-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API