Reviewed by Marcus Knapman, BSc (Hons) Computing ·
Researched from 100+ Amazon customer reviews
· How we review
At 64p per battery, Duracell Plus AAs aren't cheap. But when the remote dies mid-Netflix binge or your smoke alarm starts its 3am chirping routine, cheap batteries suddenly feel like a false economy. Duracell's latest Plus range promises up to 150% extra life thanks to something called Power Boost Actives — a blend of lithium and nickel that sounds more like a sports drink than battery chemistry. I've been digging through the specs and real-world performance data to see if these premium alkalines justify their price tag. The short answer? For most households, they probably do.
Duracell's Power Boost Actives technology is essentially a proprietary lithium-nickel blend added to standard alkaline chemistry. The 150% extra life claim comes from digital camera testing against IEC standards — high-drain devices that really push batteries hard. That's encouraging, but most of us aren't running digital cameras anymore.
What matters more is performance in everyday kit: TV remotes, wireless mice, door sensors, and wall clocks. Based on the technical specs, the lithium addition should help maintain voltage under load better than standard alkalines. In practical terms, that means your devices should run longer before that annoying low-battery warning appears.
The superior nylon top closure is worth highlighting. Battery leakage is genuinely annoying — it can destroy expensive devices and leave you with a corroded mess to clean up. Duracell's nylon seal technology has been solid in my experience, and it's one area where the brand consistently outperforms cheaper alternatives.
The 10-year shelf life is standard for quality alkalines, but it's still worth noting. Buy these in bulk and stick them in a drawer — they'll be ready when needed. Though honestly, if you're bulk-buying batteries, you might want to consider Eneloops instead.
The 0% plastic packaging is a welcome change. Traditional blister packs are awful for the environment and absolutely infuriating to open. Duracell's moved to recyclable cardboard, which feels like common sense finally prevailing. It's not revolutionary, but it's progress.
The packaging is also more practical — no sharp edges or wrestling with impossible-to-open plastic. Small win, but I'll take it.
At £15.45 for 24 batteries, you're paying premium money. That's roughly 2.5x the cost of supermarket own-brand AAs. For devices that chew through power — gaming controllers, digital cameras, LED torches — the extra performance might justify the cost. For low-drain devices like remote controls or wall clocks, you're probably wasting money.
The sweet spot is medium-drain devices: wireless keyboards, door sensors, bathroom scales. These benefit from the steady voltage delivery without needing the absolute peak performance of expensive lithium primaries.
The biggest issue is simply the price. Unless you genuinely need the extra performance, these are overkill for most applications. The 150% life claim also comes with asterisks — it's based on specific high-drain testing that won't apply to your TV remote.
There's also no individual expiry dates on the batteries themselves, just batch coding. Not a deal-breaker, but annoying if you're mixing old and new stock.
Buy these if you have medium to high-drain devices that justify the premium. Skip them for basic remotes and clocks — cheaper alkalines will do fine. The leak protection alone makes them worth considering for expensive electronics.
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