Reviewed by Marcus Knapman, BSc (Hons) Computing ·
Researched from 100+ Amazon customer reviews
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I'll be blunt: most people buying CR2032 batteries are either replacing the one in their AirTag or stocking up because they've got tired of that low battery notification. At £5.82 for four batteries, these Duracell CR2032s aren't the cheapest option on Amazon, but they're making some bold claims about extra life and safety that caught my attention.
The standout feature here isn't the usual marketing fluff about longevity — it's what Duracell calls 'Baby Secure Technology'. After diving into the spec sheets and cross-referencing safety data, I found this actually represents a genuine innovation in coin cell design. The question is whether you're paying a fair price for features you might not even need.
Duracell has applied a bitter-tasting coating called Bitrex to both sides of these CR2032 cells. This isn't just a token gesture — the European Association of Paediatrics has backed this technology specifically for 2032, 2025, and 2016 coin cells. Having read through numerous case studies about coin cell ingestion incidents, this feels like a sensible precaution rather than a gimmick.
The packaging reinforces this safety focus with a double blister design that genuinely requires scissors to open. I've wrestled with plenty of battery packaging that seemed designed to frustrate rather than protect, but this strikes the right balance between child-resistance and adult accessibility.
Duracell specifically recommends these for Apple AirTags, and after examining their test methodology, the '70% extra life' claim is based on the IEC standard test for 2032 lithium coins. That's a meaningful comparison, though your mileage will vary depending on how often your AirTag pings and how you've configured its settings.
The 10-year storage guarantee is standard for quality lithium coin cells, but it's worth noting if you're buying in bulk. I've seen too many people stockpile cheap batteries only to find them dead when they actually need them.
Here's where it gets tricky. At £5.82 for four, you're paying roughly £1.46 per battery. That's premium pricing in the CR2032 world, where you can find alternatives for half that cost. The safety features justify some premium, but only if you've got young children around or work somewhere that child safety is a concern.
For most AirTag users, cheaper alternatives will do the job perfectly well. The extra life claim, whilst genuine, probably won't translate to dramatically longer intervals between replacements in real-world use.
The bitter coating, whilst effective for safety, does mean you'll want to wash your hands after handling these batteries — especially before eating. It's not harmful, but it's unpleasant if you accidentally touch your mouth.
The premium pricing also means you're paying for features you might not need. If you don't have children and you're just keeping an AirTag running, there are more cost-effective options that'll serve you just as well.
If you've got young children or work in child-focused environments, the Duracell CR2032's safety features justify the premium. For everyone else, they're well-made batteries that do exactly what they promise, but cheaper alternatives will power your AirTag just fine.
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