Energizer MAX AA Batteries Review: Strong Buy (8.8/10)
“Only downside? they work so well i might not need to buy batteries again until 2025!” Reddit user Ronald Martin said: “okay, so i finally caved and bought the energizer max aa 20-pack… and let me tell you – these things are legit.”
Energizer MAX AA Batteries comes across in user feedback as a dependable, mainstream AA alkaline pick with unusually strong satisfaction for everyday devices—especially toys, remotes, controllers, and smoke alarms. Verdict: strong buy for most households and small businesses, with one notable asterisk around leak experiences when purchases go sideways. Score: 8.8/10.
Quick Verdict
Conditional Yes — If you’re buying from a trusted retailer and want long-lasting alkaline AAs for low-to-mid drain devices, the feedback is consistently positive.
| What users emphasize | Upside (what people liked) | Downside (what people didn’t) | Where it showed up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longevity in real devices | “last forever” in toys/remotes/controllers | Some say “they’re batteries” (nothing special) | Reddit, Best Buy |
| Leak protection | “haven’t leaked at all” in stored flashlights | A rare but serious “found them all leaking” incident | Reddit, Groupon |
| Value in bulk | “saved like $5” vs stores; “great value” packs | Price complaints appear occasionally | Reddit, Fakespot, Best Buy |
| Availability & convenience | “always in stock”; “convenient” | Few substantive negatives beyond pricing/leaks | Best Buy |
| Consistent, reliable power | “maintain the longest charge” | Not everyone sees advantage over other brands | Best Buy, ReviewIndex |
Claims vs Reality
Marketing claim #1: long storage life (“hold power for up to 10 years in storage” on Amazon; Energizer pages also reference 10–12 years). Digging deeper into user reports, this plays out less as people timing shelf-life and more as people trusting “fresh” packs to be ready when needed. In aggregated reviews, one recurring phrasing is about basics done right—TheReviewIndex includes quotes like: “keeps the charge” and “these batteries are still going strong five months later.” For users stocking spares, the “ready when you need them” message aligns with what they describe.
At the same time, it’s not a clean, measurable confirmation of “10 years” from the community—most stories are shorter horizon (weeks/months). Best Buy reviewers echo practical reliability more than storage math, like: “they work wonderfully! i love how these batteries take a long time to run out.”
Marketing claim #2: leak protection (“designed to protect… against damaging leaks for up to two years after fully used”). The most vivid alignment comes from Reddit user Ronald Martin, who frames it as device insurance after past bad experiences: “the leak-resistant thing is huge for me… these haven't leaked at all, even in our garage flashlights that sit unused for months.” For households with emergency flashlights or rarely used devices, that’s exactly the risk they care about.
But the gap shows up when shopping experiences vary. A Groupon buyer described a scenario where the delivered product didn’t match expectations and ended in a worst-case outcome: “groupon sent me the duracell procell… today, i took another box out to use and found them all leaking.” While that complaint may involve a substitution and not Energizer MAX itself, it’s still a cautionary tale about buying batteries online and assuming the listing equals the box you receive.
Marketing claim #3: “up to 50% longer lasting” (often compared to Eveready Gold or basic alkaline). Users don’t benchmark against Eveready in detail, but they do make brand-to-brand comparisons. A Best Buy reviewer stated: “worked better than the duracell batteries that i previously purchased.” Another Best Buy line pushes the same theme: “energizer definitely lasts longer though than other brands!” These are subjective comparisons, but they match the thrust of the claim: people notice longer run time in demanding-ish household use like controllers.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A recurring pattern emerged: the “problem solved” stories are almost always about interruptions—kids’ toys dying mid-session, controllers dropping out, smoke alarms chirping at night. Reddit user Ronald Martin bought them because “my kid's toys kept dying mid-playtime,” then reported: “my daughter's screaming unicorn has been running non-stop for weeks now.” For parents, that’s less about lab capacity and more about peace at home.
Gamers and gadget-heavy households repeatedly come up too. Reddit user Ronald Martin said they worked in “xbox controllers (teenage boy approved),” and Best Buy reviewers talk similarly about sustained performance across devices. One Best Buy customer wrote: “ive always used and purchased energizer batteries for all my electronics. they maintain the longest charge on everything i utilize.” Another Best Buy reviewer focused on the backup-stock angle: “great value for the package size. handy to have on hand for easy replacement.”
The “it just works” reliability theme also shows up in aggregated review snippets. TheReviewIndex highlights buyers saying: “they're dependable,” “will buy again because they last for quite some time,” and “they seem to last longer then other brands.” For office managers, classroom supply closets, or small businesses, that kind of predictable performance matters more than squeezing the last fractional percent of capacity.
Finally, buying convenience and perceived savings are part of the praise. Reddit user Ronald Martin emphasized price advantage: “the amazon price is insane compared to stores. i saved like $5 getting them here.” Best Buy reviews also reflect this bulk-buy logic: “i really like the large package for the value and to save money.”
Key praise themes (after the stories):
- Long-lasting in toys, remotes, controllers (Reddit, Best Buy)
- Reliable, consistent power delivery (Best Buy, TheReviewIndex)
- Bulk packs feel like good value (Reddit, Best Buy)
Common Complaints
The biggest “complaint” pattern isn’t performance—it’s that many buyers don’t have much to say because the product is uneventful. A Best Buy reviewer summed it up: “they work. they're batteries, i don't know what else to say...” That’s not exactly negative, but it signals that for some users, the difference versus other AAs isn’t dramatic in everyday use.
Pricing pops up as a real friction point in some corners of the dataset. Fakespot’s extracted highlights include: “i dislike the price for these batteries.” For bargain hunters, that cost sensitivity can outweigh brand comfort—especially when batteries are treated as commodity supplies.
The most serious complaint category is leakage—but it’s concentrated in a specific buyer story tied to an order mismatch and a different brand arriving. A Groupon reviewer wrote: “groupon sent me the duracell procell… found them all leaking… cannot use anymore.” This matters because it shows how battery purchases can fail at the fulfillment layer, and the outcome is catastrophic for trust—even if it’s not representative of typical Energizer MAX experiences elsewhere in the data.
Common complaint themes (after the stories):
- Some buyers see them as “just batteries” (Best Buy)
- Price sensitivity exists for some shoppers (Fakespot)
- Leakage fears flare up when fulfillment goes wrong (Groupon)
Divisive Features
The “best value” argument is where opinions can split depending on where someone shops and what they compare against. Reddit user Ronald Martin framed online purchase as a clear win: “saved like $5 getting them here.” Meanwhile, other buyers still focus on cost pain, like the Fakespot highlight: “i dislike the price for these batteries.” The product can feel like a bargain in a bulk deal—or overpriced when compared to cheaper generics.
Another subtle divide is whether users perceive meaningful brand advantage versus competitors. Some explicitly claim an edge—Best Buy includes: “worked better than the duracell batteries that i previously purchased”—while others don’t treat the brand as special and simply confirm functionality: “works as expected. perfect for the price. great brand.”
Trust & Reliability
Digging deeper into trust signals, one thread in the dataset is about review integrity and marketplace dynamics. Fakespot’s page notes: “our engine has detected that amazon has altered, modified or removed reviews from this listing,” alongside its own assessment that “over 80% high quality reviews are present.” That doesn’t validate performance directly, but it does reflect why some shoppers stay cautious when a listing has massive review volume.
For durability over time, the most story-like evidence comes from Reddit and Best Buy’s longer-horizon claims. Reddit user Ronald Martin describes months-long storage use without leaks in “garage flashlights that sit unused for months.” A Best Buy reviewer makes a bolder longevity claim in a specific device: “best batteries work for three years in my smoke detector.” While individual experiences vary by device and drain, these quotes capture what reliability means in real life: fewer surprises, fewer emergency runs to the store.
Alternatives
Only a few competitors are explicitly mentioned in the provided data, and they shape the comparison narrative.
Duracell is the most direct foil in user commentary. One Best Buy reviewer reported a clear preference shift: “worked better than the duracell batteries that i previously purchased.” That kind of statement is especially relevant for controller users and households that notice performance dips quickly.
Eveready Gold appears as the benchmark in the official Amazon copy: “up to 50% longer lasting than eveready gold in demanding devices.” Users didn’t echo Eveready comparisons in the provided quotes, but the claim frames Energizer MAX as the step-up option for “demanding devices” like toys and flashlights.
Energizer Ultimate Lithium is referenced in official materials as a higher-tier alternative for “high-tech and smart devices” and “extreme temperatures.” While there aren’t user quotes here comparing MAX to Ultimate Lithium, the data positions lithium as the premium route when alkaline isn’t enough.
Price & Value
On Amazon US, the 48-count listing shows $24.98 (about $0.52 per count) for Energizer MAX AA, and the pitch is bulk convenience plus long storage life. Reddit user Ronald Martin reinforces the bulk-value perspective: “the amazon price is insane compared to stores. i saved like $5 getting them here.”
Resale and marketplace pricing on eBay varies widely depending on pack size and shipping. Listings include “energizer max aa batteries - 24 count” around $17.98 new, with many results where shipping can dwarf the sticker price. For deal hunters, that suggests the best “value” isn’t just per-battery cost—it’s total delivered cost and how quickly you’ll actually use a large pack.
Buying tips implied by user chatter:
- If you burn through AAs in toys/controllers, bulk packs align with “stock up” logic (Reddit, Best Buy).
- If you only need a few for a remote, smaller packs may feel less painful upfront (Best Buy pack-size variety).
- Watch the seller and fulfillment details; one bad shipment story can dominate perceived risk (Groupon).
FAQ
Q: Do Energizer MAX AA batteries actually last longer in real devices like toys and controllers?
A: Many users describe noticeably longer run time in common household devices. Reddit user Ronald Martin said his kid’s toy ran “non-stop for weeks,” and a Best Buy reviewer wrote Energizer “worked better than the duracell batteries that i previously purchased.” Multiple Best Buy comments also emphasize they “take a long time to run out.”
Q: Are they really leak-resistant, or is that marketing?
A: Feedback often supports the leak-resistant reputation, especially for stored devices. Reddit user Ronald Martin said: “these haven't leaked at all, even in our garage flashlights that sit unused for months.” But a Groupon buyer described an order that arrived as a different brand and found “them all leaking,” highlighting fulfillment risk more than a consistent MAX pattern.
Q: Are they good for smoke alarms?
A: Several users use them in smoke alarms and value reliability. Reddit user Ronald Martin mentioned using them in “smoke alarms (no annoying midnight beeps yet).” A Best Buy reviewer claimed: “best batteries work for three years in my smoke detector.” Actual lifespan will depend on the alarm model and usage conditions.
Q: Is it worth buying the big packs, or should I buy smaller packs?
A: Bulk packs are praised when households go through batteries frequently. Reddit user Ronald Martin said: “i might buy another pack just to stock up at this price,” and Best Buy reviewers call larger packs a “great value” and “handy to have on hand.” If you only replace a remote occasionally, smaller packs may feel more economical.
Q: How do they compare to Duracell or cheaper brands?
A: Some users explicitly prefer Energizer MAX over Duracell. A Best Buy reviewer wrote: “worked better than the duracell batteries that i previously purchased,” and another said Energizer “definitely lasts longer… than other brands.” Other buyers are neutral and simply say “works as expected,” suggesting perceived differences depend on device and expectations.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a parent juggling power-hungry toys, a gamer rotating through controllers, or someone who wants dependable AAs for remotes, flashlights, and smoke alarms. Reddit user Ronald Martin’s experience captures that household use-case: “used them in everything from xbox controllers… to smoke alarms.”
Avoid if you’re extremely price-sensitive and don’t care about brand reassurance—some buyers still say, “they’re batteries,” and others mention they “dislike the price.”
Pro tip from the community: shop around for bulk deals. Reddit user Ronald Martin said: “the amazon price is insane compared to stores… honestly might buy another pack just to stock up at this price.”
