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Consumer Reports Tests Double-A Batteries

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Now that all of the Christmas gifts are opened, you might be in need of some batteries for those gadgets. Double-As are still the most popular size.

And Consumer Reports ShopSmart Magazine sifted through test results to find out which will keep you powered up for less.

You could spend a bundle on batteries and still wind up with duds.

So Consumer Reports put 15 Double-A batteries to the test, both lithium and alkaline, to help you get the most for your money.

In the lab, batteries are connected to machines, which cycle them on and off, over and over, simulating use in both toys and flashlights.

The most expensive alkaline tested - Panasonic Digital Power - came in last.

With the top two performers, you get almost two hours more power. Both are lithium - the Energizer Ultimate Lithium and the Energizer Advanced Lithium.

But they cost more than $2 per battery.

For people who use a lot of batteries, Consumer Reports ShopSmart Magazine found some good, less expensive options.

"You know lithiums last a long time, but you'll pay a lot more for them," said Jody Rohlena, of Consumer Reports. "Plus, we found some long-lasting alkalines and they cost a lot less."

The Duracell Quantum Double-A alkaline batteries give you almost the same amount of hours in both flashlights and toys as the top-rated lithiums, for about a dollar each.

The Kirkland Signature Double-As from Costco are the biggest bargain, at just 27 cents apiece.

They kept up with the Duracells in toy tests and gave up less than a half an hour of use in flashlights. Both will keep you rolling along, for less.

To make batteries last longer, there's no need to store them in the refrigerator, but Consumer Reports says it does pay to store them in a cool, dry place.

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