23 Guide to the Best Hearing Aid Batteries (Size 10, 13, 312 675)
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If you’ve been around long enough, you probably remember old-fashioned hearing aids. Not long ago, your hearing aid wasn’t something you just popped into your ear. Instead, you had a big blocky device in your. with earbuds and wires connected. These older hearing aids usually used AA batteries, and were inconvenient to use. As technology got smaller, these big batteries were replaced by watch-style batteries. Modern hearing aids use an array of little tiny button-style cells for power. And because they’re more advanced, these batteries last as long as the AAs in old-school hearing aids.
That said, you don’t want to use just any old hearing aid battery. The last thing you want is to get caught out in public with a dead battery. Not only that, but the cost of batteries adds up over time. Sure, a single battery costs less than a dollar. But when you’re going through them day after day, that can turn into a considerable cost. You want a battery that’s effective, reliable, and long-lasting. You also want packaging that’s easy to transport. Since you’ll inevitably need to change your batteries on the go, it’s important that they’re convenient to carry. So far from being an insignificant choice, finding the best hearing aid battery can be a huge benefit.
We’re about to review three of the top hearing aid batteries available in the four most common sizes. We’ll start with the Duracell Activair. This is your favorite copper-top brand, with all four major sizes available. Next, we’ll take a look at the Powermax hearing aid batteries. This is a more affordable brand, which offers all sizes except 675. Last but not least, we’ll consider the Amazon Basics hearing aid batteries. This is a readily-available alternative that ships in all sizes. But which brand is going to be the optimal choice for your needs? To answer that question, we’ll need to dig deeper, and take a look at their various features. Then, we’ll be able to make a fair comparison. Let’s get started!
What Size Battery Do I Need?
Before we talk about any particular batteries, let’s start with the basics. What are the different hearing aid battery sizes, and which size do you need? For the most part, hearing aid batteries come in four sizes. From smallest to largest, these are Size 10 (sometimes called 230), Size 312, Size 13, and Size 675. The exact quality of the battery depends on the manufacturer. That said, larger batteries have more power and capacity. As a result, you might expect them to last longer than smaller batteries, but that’s not always the case. Hearing aids that require larger batteries typically draw more power. As a result, your battery life will depend on the battery quality, your hearing aid, and your volume.
All four standard hearing aid battery sizes are very small, with less diameter than a dime. By international standard, they’re not just standardized by size. The pull tabs on the backs also come in standardized colors. As a result, the tab color is the easiest way to tell what size battery you need. If you’re fresh out of new batteries and don’t have a tab to compare, don’t fret. The battery size will be stamped somewhere on the battery itself. The numbers can be very small, though, so you’ll need to put on your reading glasses. Here are the details of the four battery sizes:
- Size 10 (or 230) batteries are the smallest type, and come with a yellow tab. They have a diameter of 5.8mm, and a thickness of 3.6mm. They’re most commonly used for In the Canal (ITC) and Completely in Canal (CIC) devices.
- Size 312 batteries are the next size up, and they come with a brown tab. They have a diameter of 7.9mm, with the same 3.6mm thickness as the Size 10. They’re most commonly used for ITC and In the Ear (ITE) hearing aids.
- Size 13 batteries are the second-largest size, and come packaged with an orange tab. They have the same 7.9mm diameter as the Size 312, but with a beefier thickness of 5.4mm. As a result, it can easy to get the two size confused, so make sure you’re careful with these sizes. The Size 13 is most commonly used in ITE and Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids.
- Size 675 batteries are the largest size of all, and ship with a blue tab. Like the Size 13, they’re 5.4mm thick, but they have a much larger diameter, at 11.6mm. These are typically used in BTE hearing aids with more complex circuitry. That said, these batteries are bulkier and heavier than the other varieties.
Keep in mind that these are only the four most common sizes. While almost all modern hearing aids will use one of the four, that’s not always going to be the case. There are some hearing aids that take other sizes of watch-type battery. For example, there’s the Size 5 battery, which comes with a red tab. But those are only used in a tiny percentage of hearing aids.
No matter what size battery you need, it’s important to keep your hearing aids clean and dry. If you don’t already have cleaner, check out our list of the best hearing aid cleaners and dryers. Sooner or later, you’ll be glad you did.
What’s the Best Type of Hearing Aid Battery?
When it comes to hearing aid batteries, there’s only one acceptable choice, and that’s zinc-air. All of the batteries we’ve listed today use zinc-air technology. Zinc-air batteries have a major advantage over other technologies, because the surrounding air actually becomes part of the battery. This reduces the amount of material required to make a battery, so they can be smaller and lighter. So, how does this work?
The back of the battery is actually made out of a specialized, high-tech material. While it looks like bare metal, it’s actually a waterproof membrane that allows gas to penetrate. This facilitates oxygen passing from the air into the battery. As oxygen enters, it reacts with the internal zinc material to produce electricity. As the zinc is used up, the weight of the battery slowly decreases. Because of the way they’re designed, these batteries are not rechargeable. You’d have to open them up and replace the zinc anode itself. At that point, simply buying a new battery is a better alternative.
One major advantage of zinc-air batteries is that they have an incredibly long shelf life. As long as the tab is left in place, the membrane is covered, and no air can penetrate. In this state, a zinc-air battery will only lose about 2 percent of its capacity per year. That said, the opposite is also true. Once the tab is removed and air can penetrate, the chemicals inside will immediately start to dry out. This starts to happen within five seconds of removing the tab. Once the tab is removed, you need to start using the battery immediately. Otherwise, it will drain itself fairly quickly.
Another advantage of zinc-air technology is that it has a very high energy density. Compared to the density from lead-acid or Lithium-ion batteries, you’re getting way more bang for your buck. Once again, though, the opposite is also true. While there’s a lot of energy density, zinc-air batteries can’t deliver a lot of power all at once. If you wanted to use one for industrial applications, it would have to be enormous. That’s why zinc-air batteries are almost exclusively used for low-voltage applications, like hearing aids. The only exception is when extreme levels of reliability are needed. In that case, you will indeed see huge zinc-air batteries at railway safety lamps and other key infrastructure. But with those few exceptions, the only time you’ll see this technology is in a hearing aid or watch battery.
Duracell Activair
If you’re looking for a reliable battery brand, it’s tough to do better than Duracell. Along with Energizer, they’re one of the two premier brands on today’s market. As a result, they make a good choice. This is especially if you’re willing to pay a bit more to get the best quality.
One thing we liked about these batteries was the secure packaging. Normally, we don’t get too excited about packaging, but this is one of the rare exceptions. With a lot of hearing aid batteries, the packaging is a bit of a problem. You open a multi-pack, take two batteries out, and then you have to be careful not to lose all the others. The Duracell batteries, on the other hand, come in a convenient plastic package with a locking tab. Even after you’ve taken out some batteries, the others will remain secure. You can carry the package around in your or purse without worrying about losing your batteries.
The Duracell hearing aid batteries come in all four common sizes. The size 10 batteries come in an 80-pack, with 10 packages of 8 batteries apiece. All the plastic cases come in a single cardboard box, which makes them easy to store. The design of the cases also makes the batteries easy to remove, with the tabs easily accessible. The other sizes come in different quantities, but the general principle is the same. The size 312 batteries come in a 60-pack, with 10 cases of 6 batteries each. The size 13 batteries come in an 80-pack, with 10 8-battery cases. The size 675 batteries come in the lowest quantity, with 10 cases of 4 for a total of 40 per pack.
Option 1. Alkaline Direct AG3 Battery Replacements
Direct replacements for the AG3 include LR41, LR192, 92A, LR736, 192, 384, and AG341. These are all button cells with alkaline chemistry and have a zinc anode with a manganese or carbon-based cathode.
These cells also have the same dimensions as the AG3 and have similar high-performance profiles.
The table below shows the main features of the direct battery replacements.
Expert Tip: The common denominator among the direct battery replacements is the alkaline chemistry, size and voltage. If any of the main parameters differ, it isn’t a direct replacement.
Option 2. Silver Oxide Longer-Lasting AG3 Battery Replacements
If you want a replacement that provides a longer life span, you can swap the alkaline AG3 batteries for button cells with silver oxide chemistry.
They have a higher power output per unit size than alkaline batteries, delivering an energy density of 500 Wh/L—double the density of alkaline batteries. Silver oxide batteries also deliver a stable operating voltage. This means a longer useful life since the voltage will only drop when the battery is spent.
The batteries also have higher leakage resistance than alkaline batteries. The leak-proof seals prevent the electrolyte from seeping out and damaging your devices which is a common concern with alkaline batteries.
The table below shows the common silver oxide batteries with similar dimensions and voltage profiles to take the place of the AG3.
Option 3. Zinc-Air Higher Capacity AG3 Battery Replacements
If you’re looking for cells with more stored energy, opt for zinc-air batteries. They have a lower voltage at 1.45 volts but a much higher capacity of approximately 180 mAh—about 6 to 7 times the capacity of silver oxide batteries, making them more reliable.
Note: Capacity shows how much active material you’ll find in the battery. It’s an indicator of the battery’s energy under normal conditions.
The high capacity of the zinc-air batteries makes them suitable for high drain applications.
Common zinc-air batteries with similar dimensions to AG3s include:
The batteries work through a chemical reaction between zinc metal and oxygen in the air.
Due to their chemistry, they are designed with small openings that allow air to enter. There will be a special sticker covering these holes to prevent the cells from activating while in storage. You should only remove it when you install the battery.
Expert tip: When you peel off the sticker, leave the cell to rest for about 5 minutes to activate before placing it into the gadget for maximum efficiency.
LR44 Battery Applications
LR44 is an alkaline 1.5 V battery. The most common LR44 battery equivalent batteries are:
Silver Oxide Equivalent Batteries
LR44 can be also replaced with a silver oxide battery. The most common silver oxide equivalents are:
To summarize, a comparison of LR44 battery equivalents and replacements are given in the following chemistries cross reference chart:
LR44 vs. 357 Battery
Overview of 357 Battery
357 Battery
The 357 battery is a tiny battery with many uses. This 1.5-volt size 357 battery is used in watches, medical equipment, laser pointers, and more. Size 357 batteries are silver oxide batteries, while A76 batteries are alkaline batteries.
Difference in Features
High-cost performance has been achieved owing to the use of manganese dioxide as a cathode material.
Stable voltage output is available during the high-drain pulse discharge.
Murata-unique sealing structure, coupled with special sealing-material treatment, has helped accomplish excellent leakage resistance.
This product does not contain Mercury(Hg), Cadmium(Cd), nor Lead(Pb), and conforms to EC regulation values. (Directive 2006/66/EC, 2013/56/EU)
The battery pack is excluded from the RoHS directive. (DIRECTIVE 2011/65/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment)
- Chemical System: Silver Oxide (Zn/Ag2O)
- Designation: ANSI-1131SO, IEC-SR44
- Nominal Voltage: 1.55 Volts
- Typical Capacity: 150 mAh (to 1.2 volts)
- Capacity Test: 6.8K ohm continuous drain at 21°C
- Typical Weight: 2.3 grams (0.08 oz.)
- Typical Volume: 0.57 cubic centimeters (0.035 cubic inch)
- Impedance (40 Hz): 5 to 15 ohms
The Difference in Specifications
2 battery equivalent chart
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LR41 Battery Specifications
The nominal voltage for the LR41 battery is 1.50 V. The two most important factors to take into account when selecting the best battery for an application are capacity and voltage rating.
This is due to the fact that the battery’s voltage rating reveals both the cell’s strength and its electrical potential. Given below lists the specifications of the LR41 battery:
What is an LR41 Battery used for?
LR41 batteries are used in a variety of applications. Since it is compact sized, it is used in portable electronic devices with low power consumption. The following is a list of some LR41 usage examples.
- Battery Pack Application
- Memory Backup
- Medical Devices and Instruments
- Wrist Watches
- Security System Panel
- Flashlight
- Laser Pen
- Calculator
- Digital Thermometer
- Interactive children books
- Single function clocks
- Cholesterol testers
- Heart rate monitors
- Voice recorders
- Glucometers
FAQs
What is the difference between LR41 and SR41 batteries?
The nominal voltage of LR41 is 1.5 V whereas the nominal voltage of SR41 is 1.55 V. Thus SR41 provides more power to devices than LR41. The SR41 has a current capacity of 45 mAh, whereas the LR41 has 25-32 mAh capacity.
Is LR41 a lithium battery?
The LR41 is not a lithium battery, but an alkaline battery. The LR41 battery is usually confused with a lithium battery due to the letter L. But The nomenclature is based on IEC 60086-3 standard in which the first letter stands for the battery chemistry. Accordingly, L stands for alkaline chemistry.
Are LR41 and 312 batteries interchangeable?
The 312 battery has a slightly lower voltage of 1.40-1.45 volts, but it has a much bigger capacity, usually around 160 mAh.