Reviewed by Marcus Knapman, BSc (Hons) Computing ·
Researched from 100+ Amazon customer reviews
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At £11.50 for 20 AA batteries, Duracell Plus sits firmly in premium territory — that's nearly 58p per battery when you can grab no-name alkalines for half that. The question is whether Duracell's Power Boost Actives formula and anti-leak design justify the extra cost, especially when you're loading up the TV remote or kids' toys.
I've spent time digging through the technical specs and customer feedback to see if these batteries deliver on their bold claims. Duracell promises 150% longer life than basic alkalines, plus that crucial leak protection that can save your expensive gadgets from corrosive damage. The 10-year storage life is handy too, though let's be honest — most of us don't plan our battery purchases a decade in advance.
Duracell's headline feature here is their patented Power Boost Actives — essentially a blend of lithium and nickel mixed into the alkaline chemistry. The spec sheet claims this delivers that 150% performance boost, though it's worth noting this comparison is against basic alkaline batteries, not other premium brands.
From what I can gather from technical documentation, this isn't just marketing fluff. The lithium addition does help maintain voltage under high-drain conditions, which means your digital camera or gaming controller should run longer before the dreaded low-battery warning. Whether you'll notice this in a TV remote is debatable — those barely sip power anyway.
The nylon top closure is where Duracell's engineering background shows. I've seen too many horror stories of cheap batteries destroying expensive electronics, and Duracell's track record here is solid. The superior seal design genuinely reduces the risk of alkaline leakage, though no battery is completely immune to this problem if left in a device for years.
This is particularly relevant for UK households where devices might sit unused during summer months or holiday periods. The last thing you want is to return from a fortnight in Spain to find your wireless mouse destroyed by battery acid.
The 10-year storage guarantee is impressive on paper, though I suspect most people will use these well before that point. Still, it means you can buy in bulk without worrying about degradation — useful given how battery prices keep creeping up.
The zero-plastic packaging is a nice touch for environmentally conscious buyers, though the cardboard does make the pack slightly bulkier than traditional plastic blister packs. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if you're tight on storage space.
Based on customer feedback and independent testing data, these batteries genuinely do last longer in high-drain devices. Digital cameras, gaming controllers, and motorised toys all benefit from the improved power delivery. For low-drain applications like wall clocks or smoke detectors, the difference is less noticeable.
The voltage curve remains more stable throughout the battery's life, which means devices maintain consistent performance rather than gradually slowing down. This is particularly noticeable in digital cameras where flash recycle times stay quick even as the battery depletes.
However, at 58p per battery, you're paying a significant premium. Basic alkalines will do the job for most applications, and you could buy nearly twice as many for the same money. The question becomes whether the extra performance and leak protection justify the cost for your specific needs.
Duracell Plus batteries are worth the premium if you're powering high-drain devices or want maximum leak protection for expensive electronics. For basic applications like TV remotes, cheaper alternatives will do the job just fine.
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