Energizer MAX AA Batteries Review: Reliable 8.6/10
A Best Buy reviewer summed up the vibe in five words: “they keep going and going.” Energizer MAX AA Batteries (16 Pack) lands as a dependable, mainstream pick for everyday devices—especially low-to-medium drain gear like remotes and clocks—with a verdict of 8.6/10.
**Quick Verdict**
Conditional Yes — strong choice for household staples and “I just need batteries that work” situations; less compelling if you’re trying to optimize for high-drain performance-per-dollar or avoid single-use waste.
| What shows up in feedback | Evidence from users | Who it matters to | Tradeoff to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-lasting in everyday devices | Best Buy user Cap Tin Turbo said: “these batteries will keep going and going and going.” | Remote/clock households, families | High-drain devices may feel costlier |
| Reliable, consistent power | Best Buy user Humber Tom said: “consistent and dependable power output… without any fluctuations.” | Business use, smart home, controllers | Not everyone cares about consistency wording |
| Value improves on sale/bulk | Best Buy user SD Cult said: “better when on sale.” | Bulk buyers, offices | Some still see pricing as high |
| Packaging/shipping issues | Amazon reviewer noted: “package looked like it had been tampered with.” | Gift buyers, storage planners | Product quality vs fulfillment quality |
| Non-rechargeable drawback | TheGunZone reviewer wrote: “single-use design can be wasteful.” | Eco-minded buyers, high-usage homes | Rechargeables may fit better |
**Claims vs Reality**
Energizer’s own positioning leans hard into two ideas: batteries that last longer, and batteries that won’t wreck devices. Digging deeper into user reports, the “lasts a long time” theme is backed repeatedly—but the “value” story depends heavily on price and use-case.
Claim: “Long-lasting power” / “up to 50% longer lasting than basic alkaline.”
The day-to-day narratives match the direction of that claim: Best Buy user ChrisB said: “long lasting still have it in my remote,” and Best Buy user Lena said: “they last a long time and a great price deal.” For families constantly feeding toys and controllers, the longevity becomes the product. Best Buy user Khush Boos described heavy toy use: “my son use toys almost everyday and still the battery is going good.”
But “long-lasting” shifts with device demand. While marketing copy speaks broadly, independent lab-style scoring points to a split: CHOICE rated low-drain performance high (83%) and low-drain endurance 91%, while high-drain performance was lower (52%) and high-drain endurance 58%. That matches the real-world pattern where remotes and clocks feel like easy wins, while high-drain use is more nuanced.
Claim: Leak protection for up to two years after fully used.
Some users explicitly cite leak anxiety as a reason to stick with the brand. On the Best Buy-sourced review page, a reviewer said: “i like that fact that they don't leak.” TheGunZone reviewer also framed durability and device safety as a deciding factor: “I’ve never experienced any leaking or corrosion issues… very important… avoiding damage to the powered device.”
At the same time, the most visible “problems” in the data skew toward packaging and fulfillment rather than leaks in-device. An Amazon reviewer reported: “package was broken and the batteries were strewn all over the box,” and another wrote: “batteries arrived loose not in package.” Those complaints aren’t the same as leakage, but they do undercut the “protected and reliable” purchase experience.
Claim: Long shelf life (often described as up to 10 years in storage).
User language frequently circles back to expiration confidence. Best Buy user Oled 4 Ever praised “lengthy expiration date,” and Best Buy user Humber Tom mentioned “exceptional shelf life.” For emergency kits and backup drawers, that shelf-life story is part of the appeal—buyers aren’t just paying for runtime today, but for confidence months later.
**Cross-Platform Consensus**
**Universally Praised**
“There’s nothing flashy here—just batteries that do their job,” is the through-line across platforms, and the praise clusters around longevity, reliability, and broad compatibility. A recurring pattern emerged: people don’t celebrate these AAs for peak performance in one niche device; they celebrate them for being the boring solution that keeps the house running.
For parents and toy-heavy households, the clearest benefit is fewer battery swaps mid-play. Best Buy user Khush Boos said: “i bought it for my son’s toys… my son use toys almost everyday and still the battery is going good.” In the Best Buy (16-pack) page, one reviewer framed it as ongoing dependability rather than a one-time win: “they keep going and going and going,” wrote Cap Tin Turbo. That kind of statement tends to come from users who are tired of constantly replacing cells.
For remote controls, clocks, and the “everything drawer,” these show up as a default brand pick. TheGunZone reviewer described using them in “remote controls… wireless computer mouse… clocks,” and concluded they delivered “reliable, consistent power.” Best Buy user NicholasW echoed the multi-device reality: “i have used them on various devices.” The narrative isn’t about one heroic use—it’s about not thinking about batteries until you need them.
For business and practical buyers, reliability is the product. A Best Buy reviewer (on the Best Buy-sourced page in the Twitter/X section) said: “needed them for my business. all good and will buy them again.” Best Buy user Humber Tom used near-spec language: “consistent and dependable power output… stable performance without any fluctuations.” In other words, users who value predictability—thermometers, workplace devices, routine electronics—seem especially satisfied.
After those stories, buyers often reduce the experience to brand trust. Best Buy user TSmith said: “i love this brand of batteries they last a long time!” and Best Buy user Xavi called them “good quality, long lasting and reliable.” That brand trust is reinforced when the batteries sit in storage: Best Buy user Oled 4 Ever highlighted “lengthy expiration date,” aligning with the shelf-life messaging.
- Most-cited strengths: “long lasting,” “reliable,” “good value” (especially in larger packs or sales)
- Common device mentions: remotes, toys, flashlights, wireless mice, clocks
**Common Complaints**
The most consistent negative thread isn’t that the batteries fail quickly—it’s that buying and receiving them can be messy. Digging deeper into the Amazon review snippets, multiple users describe packaging that feels compromised or sloppy. One Amazon reviewer wrote: “package looked like it had been tampered with,” and another warned: “batteries arrived loose not in package. unsure if product has been used.” Even when buyers believe the cells themselves are fine, that kind of arrival experience can trigger distrust—especially for emergency stockpiles or gifts.
Price friction appears in several places, and it’s often framed as “worth it… but expensive.” One Amazon reviewer said: “the only downside is that these are very expensive, but worth it.” On Best Buy’s other listing (E91TP-16), user Superk 734 complained: “priced too high… on the rack the price said one thing and when i got to register it was more… i wouldn’t buy again.” That story isn’t about battery chemistry—it’s about purchase context, and it’s the type of complaint that can push shoppers toward store brands if they’re not chasing maximum reliability.
There’s also a subtle mismatch in some user comments that hints at category confusion. Best Buy user Ramanpreetb said: “i like the fast charging. fully charge in an hour,” which conflicts with the product being disposable alkaline. That doesn’t necessarily indicate a product flaw; it suggests some reviews may be misattributed, mistaken, or written generically—something to keep in mind when weighing individual anecdotes.
- Repeating negative themes: packaging integrity, “too expensive,” occasional review irrelevance/confusion
- Who gets hit hardest: bulk buyers, emergency stash planners, price-sensitive shoppers
**Divisive Features**
The biggest divide is whether “paying more for a name brand” is justified. Some users treat Energizer MAX as the dependable standard and are willing to pay for fewer failures. Best Buy user Sflex said: “you can’t go wrong with these… only lithium energy ones are a tiny bit stronger.” On the other hand, price-sensitive buyers frame the purchase as acceptable only when discounted. Best Buy user SD Cult captured that: “better when on sale.”
The non-rechargeable nature also splits opinion by lifestyle. TheGunZone reviewer called out the downside plainly: “single-use design can be wasteful,” and noted “environmental impact.” For high-consumption households (kids, gaming controllers, lots of gadgets), that can push people toward rechargeables; for low-drain households, the convenience wins.
**Trust & Reliability**
Concerns about “scam” behavior don’t show up as classic counterfeit claims in the provided dataset, but trust issues do surface around fulfillment and packaging. Amazon feedback includes: “package looked like it had been tampered with” and “batteries arrived loose not in package,” which can create a “were these used?” suspicion even if the batteries work fine. That’s less about Energizer’s chemistry and more about the supply chain experience users are actually living through.
Long-term dependability stories are more straightforward: Best Buy user Cap Tin Turbo wrote after “owned for 10 months” that “these batteries will keep going,” and Best Buy user Xavi said they’ve used Energizer for “1.5 years” and found them “long lasting and reliable.” TheGunZone reviewer also framed repeat purchasing over time: “over the years, i have repeatedly purchased these… generally very positive,” emphasizing no leaking or corrosion in their experience.
**Alternatives**
Only a few competitors are explicitly mentioned in the user data, and the comparisons are mostly experiential rather than technical.
Duracell is the most direct rival in the conversation. Best Buy user Lally said: “i would recommend energizer just as good as dure cell,” while Best Buy user Big Snoop went further: “last longer than store brand, duracell and amazon batteries.” The theme is that some users see Energizer MAX as at least equal, and sometimes better—especially in perceived longevity.
Store brands and “generic” batteries show up as the foil. Best Buy user Stingray said they “last longer than generic brands,” and Best Buy user Big Snoop positioned them above “store brand.” For shoppers weighing cost versus consistency, those statements are the core narrative: pay more upfront to replace less often, at least in the devices these users care about.
**Price & Value**
Price perceptions shift sharply depending on where and when people buy. Best Buy shows the 16-pack around the ~$20 range in the captured listing, and that’s where sale timing matters. Best Buy user SD Cult said they’re “better when on sale,” while Amazon’s reviewer described them as “very expensive, but worth it.” Walgreens’ listing highlights the psychology of discounting—showing a sale price and savings—suggesting many buyers will wait for promotions.
Resale/market listings on eBay cluster around roughly $12–$15 with free shipping in the provided snapshots, which can look attractive for bulk planners. But that channel also amplifies the packaging theme: one eBay listing describes “open box… may be missing the original packaging,” and another says “only the packaging have some wear and tear.” Given that Amazon users already complain about “unsealed product,” bargain channels can be a fit for price hunters but a stressor for trust-focused buyers.
Buying tips emerge indirectly from user behavior: bulk buyers like KarenK said: “glad to find a large pack… you are always in need of batteries,” while parents describe constant consumption in toys. That suggests the best value comes from matching pack size to your household’s burn rate—and buying during sales if price sensitivity is high.
**FAQ**
Q: Do Energizer MAX AA batteries actually last a long time in real use?
A: Yes—especially in low-to-medium drain devices. Best Buy user Cap Tin Turbo said: “these batteries will keep going and going and going,” and Best Buy user ChrisB noted: “long lasting still have it in my remote.” CHOICE testing also shows strong low-drain endurance (91%) for remote-type loads.
Q: Are there complaints about leakage or device damage?
A: Direct leakage complaints weren’t prominent in the provided reviews; some users specifically praise leak resistance. A Best Buy reviewer wrote: “i like that fact that they don't leak,” and TheGunZone reviewer said: “I’ve never experienced any leaking or corrosion issues.” The main negatives were packaging and delivery condition rather than in-device leaking.
Q: What devices are people using these AA batteries in most often?
A: The most common stories involve remotes, toys, flashlights, mice, and clocks. TheGunZone reviewer listed “remote controls… wireless computer mouse… toys… flashlights… clocks,” while Best Buy users mention remotes and toys frequently, like Khush Boos: “my son’s toys… almost everyday.”
Q: Is the packaging reliable when ordering online?
A: Not always, based on Amazon anecdotes. One Amazon reviewer said: “package looked like it had been tampered with,” and another reported: “batteries arrived loose not in package.” Other users received intact products, but these reports suggest checking seller/shipper handling matters if packaging integrity is important.
Q: Are they worth the price compared to Duracell or store brands?
A: For many buyers, yes—if you prioritize longevity and fewer replacements. Best Buy user Big Snoop said they “last longer than store brand, duracell and amazon batteries,” while another user (Lally) said Energizer is “just as good as dure cell.” Price-sensitive shoppers often prefer buying “when on sale,” per Best Buy user SD Cult.
**Final Verdict**
Buy if you’re stocking up for remotes, clocks, flashlights, toys, and everyday electronics and want a mainstream alkaline AA that people repeatedly describe as “long lasting” and “reliable.” Best Buy user Humber Tom called them a “dependable and long-lasting power solution,” and Best Buy user Khush Boos highlighted kid-toy stamina.
Avoid if you’re extremely price-sensitive at full retail, or you need maximum value in high-drain devices; CHOICE scoring suggests a stronger showing in low-drain scenarios than high-drain performance.
Pro tip from the community: time purchases around deals—Best Buy user SD Cult said Energizer batteries are “better when on sale.”
