Current Check: Best CR2032 Batteries – Gear Hungry (2024)

GearHungry Staff

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1

Duracell CR2032 Batteries

Duracell says it makes its CR2032 batteries with high-purity lithium for long life. Duralock Power Reserve Technology gives the batteries a 10-year guarantee in storage. And they even have a bitter-tasting coating to help keep children from swallowing them.

High-purity lithium would ostensibly be preferable to a contaminated variant. We can’t corroborate whether Duracell’s lithium is particularly special or not. But the CR2032s do enjoy a reputation for being long-lasting, especially in smaller devices. Most verified buyer write-ups use Duracell CR2032’s for car key fobs. In this capacity, they seem satisfactory.

Duracell deploys its proprietary Duralock Power Reserve Technology to make its batteries last in storage (and to give users the confidence to buy in bulk.) The tech, first released in 2012, consists of claimed ingredient purity, a unique separator to protect the anode and cathode, and a highly corrosion-resistant exterior.

Finally, Duracell coats each lithium CR2032 battery with something that tastes bitter, to deter children. One reviewer went so far as to taste it — that individual was disappointed, unfortunately, because the initial shock of tonguing the battery precluded the bitter taste. Despite the results, we have to admire their commitment to testing.

Duracell’s CR2032 batteries promise to keep well on the shelf and perform solidly when installed. Though a few quality control issues seem to exist, they’re bound to pop up when you sell this many batteries. Duracell’s CR2032s are among the internet’s most popular.

Be sure to also browse our list of the best rechargeable AAA batteries for more quality products like this.

Pros

Popular item from a trusted brand

Duralock Power Reserve Technology helps shelf life

Cons

Occasional QC issues or short life span reported

2

Sony CR2032 Batteries 20-Pack

Sony serves up a 20-pack of pedestrian CR2032 batteries at a bargain price. Sony makes no claims that the batteries are particularly special; the deal leads with quantity. As well, the manufacturer has since discontinued the item, leading to a unique availability situation. The 220 mAh capacity batteries come in 4 blister packs of 5 cells each. They are classic lithium manganese dioxide batteries.

Beyond that, there’s not much to tell. Notably, this appears to be some kind of wholesale or liquidation item from Sony. As of this writing, the brand no longer listed CR2032 batteries of any kind on its website. That means that packages of differently aged batteries are indiscriminately available.

The situation generates an interesting roulette effect in terms of the remaining shelf life of Sony CR2032’s purchased online. The “use by” date is printed on the back of the package; it seems the best you can hope for is a high number.

However, among a multitude of Amazon reviewers, results seem consistent. Scouring the available information, it looks like a few batteries have occasionally aged out by the time they get to the user. However, the same thing appears true for many confirmed new packs of CR2032’s.

Apples to apples? We don’t know. Either way, at the time of this writing, you couldn’t beat the deal on Sony’s remaining CR2032 batteries. Are you sold and only wish you could get more in one fell swoop? Check out the bulk 500 pack, of which 2 remain on Amazon.

For more handy power supplies, check out our selection of the top portable power banks.

Pros

Quantity

Brand Recognition

Cons

Product discontinued; various dates of manufacture shipped at random

3

LiCB CR2032 Batteries

LiCB may not be a household brand name, but it makes a case for respectability with its CR2032 batteries. The cells are CE and RoHS certified for product safety, have a 3-year shelf life, and come in 2 packs of 5. The batteries are very popular and overall, highly regarded.

The only quality complaints that exist are the typical ones: instances of batteries dead on arrival, or short life. But more or less, the complaints are as sparse as they are with most of the bigger brands.

As with any unknown brand, it’s reasonable to expect less consistent quality and worse customer service. Big brands have more to protect; some small electronics manufacturers just don’t care. Although LiCB makes no promises when it comes to warranty or troubleshooting, it does seem to deliver a reasonably reliable product.

Put it like this: if you’re shopping for a CR2032 battery to run a critical item like a medical device, you’d do best to stick with the experts. But if all you need is to power your tea lights, the LiCBs may be worth a shot.

You may also be interested in some of the top-quality solar phone chargers from our list. Take a moment to check them out.

Pros

Higher capacity than some CR2032s

Cons

Slightly spotty reputation

4

Nightkonic CR2023 Batteries

Nightkonic leverages the quantity principle to deliver its CR2023 batteries. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to sacrifice quality any more than most of its pricier competitors.

The Nightkonics are nothing special. Not nickel-coated, no special technology; just the thing itself. A 230 mAh capacity is the only semi-noteworthy spec.

The brand differentiates the product with quantity at the price point. As of this writing, you couldn’t get more relatively reliable CR2032 batteries for cheaper unless you perhaps went through illicit channels. Even then, I’m not convinced — if you made your product much cheaper than the Nightkonics, the crime wouldn’t be worth the payoff.

At any rate, the vast majority of all negative comments are typical: short or no life in some pieces on delivery. Complaints are similarly dispersed as more expensive competitors. For your money, Nightkonic might be the way to go if you want a lot of extra ammo.

For some awesome on-the-go gadgets, check out our guide on the best-selling wireless chargers.

Pros

Value/Quantity

Decent reviews

Cons

Some quality control issues observed

5

XLUX Rechargeable LIR2023 Set CR2032 Batteries

XLUX’s rechargeable lithium coin battery set is a good place to start for those interested in reducing their CR2032 waste profile. The wall plug charger comes with 4 LIR2032 batteries (LIR = lithium ion, rechargeable). It’s compatible with both European and United States plug styles.

Increasingly, we’re paying the price for reducing our carbon footprint in increasing lithium extraction. The process is highly water-intensive, and lithium is a non-renewable resource.

Instead of churning through CR2032 batteries (dropping the dead ones off at an approved recycling center), try a rechargeable LIR2032. Be aware, there are a couple critical performance differences between the two.

First, rechargeable LIR2032s sometimes achieve higher voltage than CR2032s. That means they may not be compatible with every device. LIR2032s use higher voltage because their capacity is not as high as CR2032s. That being said, they won’t last as long. Users should calibrate their expectations accordingly; the trade-off is a re-usable, lower performing item versus a single-use, potentially highly performing item.

The charger indicates battery status with LED lights. Some users are skeptical about the charger. It’s important to note it’s possible to misuse the charger: putting regular CR2032s in it can cause a short circuit.

All things being equal, XLUX’s LIR2032 rechargeable battery set promises better sustainability than single-use CR2032s. There is a difference in performance, but it could definitely save heavy coin battery users money over the long haul.

Pros

Rechargeable CR2032 batteries cut down on waste

Never run out of batteries

Cons

Lower capacity

Higher voltage can be incompatible with some devices