Batteries are an expensive but necessary part of life. You can save money in the long run if you buy rechargeables, but those are even pricier than regular batteries. Amazon has a solution in its Basics line: a pack of rechargeable batteries that costs about half that of competing brands. For instance, this 12-pack of rechargeable batteries is just $11, with a unit price of $0.86 per battery. A 12-pack of Energizers is almost double the price at $17. With Christmas just around the corner and a bunch of battery-eating gadgets on the way, you’ll want to stock up now — they’ll get here before Christmas.

Why is this a good deal?

Batteries are expensive, especially name-brand batteries. These little power packs from Amazon match the quality of Energizer and Duracell and are less than $1 each.

Why do I need this?

Amazon offers five quantities: four, eight, 12, 16 and 24 batteries per pack. The larger the pack, the less the per-battery cost. The 12-pack is a sweet spot that’s affordable and gives you plenty of batteries. After all, how many devices do you have that still require more than a couple of AAs?

Amazon promises that these batteries can be recharged 1,000 times before they need to be replaced. To put that in perspective, you’re saving potentially hundreds of dollars on batteries with a single pack of rechargeables.

These batteries are rated for five years of shelf life, too, so you can keep them stashed away in case of emergencies without worrying that they will have lost their charge. These batteries provide a consistently outstanding experience and value.

What reviewers say

“Great quality and long lasting,” says a fan. “After fully charged, these last just as long as Duracell rechargeables.”

One five-star reviewer said these were the go-to batteries of choice for critical uses. “Every year I always purchase a set of these as our standby AAs for the wireless microphones at our church. … We do not want a microphone to go dead in the middle of a service. … Through the years, the Amazon Basic AA batteries have been consistent in terms of quality. Make sure to get the standard capacity Amazon Basic,” the reviewer warns, noting anecdotally that the high capacity version “will start to fail if left on a trickle charger 24/7.”

A parent praised the batteries for their multi-kid household: “I bought these in AA and AAA sizes and they work great for remotes, video game controllers, and toys. I have 5 kids, so we go through a lot of batteries. I had tried rechargeable batteries several years ago but wasn’t happy with the longevity. These are great. They’ve come a long way since then. One charger works for both sizes.”

Amazon Basics

With up to 1,000 recharges and the ability to maintain capacity for up to two years, these batteries are an excellent option.

$11 at Amazon

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

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