INTRODUCTION
About 8 years ago, I posted the results of the battery tests that my then 4th Grade son and I conducted. It’s called, “6,560 Flash Pops Later: The Results of “AA” Rechargeable Battery Tests”: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=677074. As years went by, I’ve had numerous requests from POTN members to conduct update tests, but each time I declined. The reason for declining was that I basically knew that the results would be approximately the same as the original test results. The rechargeable battery technology doesn’t change fast. Basically, with the higher mAh, you get more flash pops AND faster recycle time, two most significant attributes that all photographers appreciate. You throw in a long shelf life and you’ve got yourself an ideal rechargeable battery. As the original tests showed, if you want the most number of flash pops and the fastest recycle time, you go with Powerex. If you want the longest shelf life, you go with Eneloop. It was the case of either/or. So, why update the tests now?
DISCLAIMER
A few months ago, out of the blue, I was contacted by the Powerex representative who asked me if I’m willing to update the 8-year-old tests if they provide all the necessary equipment. That was all he asked. No attached conditions – nada -- except to support the tests with the hardware. Still, that was not enough of a motivation for me to pop thousands of flashes all day long and for weeks and meticulously record the data during the Christmas holiday break. What ultimately triggered my motivation to update the tests, however, was that I became highly intrigued by Powerex’s development in the last few years of their batteries in Low Self-Discharge (LSD) production, such as Powerex “Precharged.” Back in 2009 when I did the original test, I distinctly remember looking forward to the day – years down the road -- that we can actually have both the highest mAh of Powerex and the most impressive low-self-discharge (LSD) of Eneloop all rolled into one cell.
To tantalize my excitement further, the Powerex representative broke the surprising news in the middle of my testing that they’re in the production stage of the brand new battery model that they’ve tentatively called “Powerex Pro.” Shortly after the announcement, I received a sample package of these batteries to include in my test. This new beast is 2700 mAh AND claims LSD with the retention up to 75% of charge after one year of storage. This new product officially debuted today in the market:
https://www.amazon.com …keywords=powerex+2700+pro
Do we now have the ideal rechargeable battery that combines the most power with the long shelf life of LSD in a single AA cell?
While the current test report exhibits the number of flash pops and the recycle time, I intend to leave the last section of the report to actually testing the LSD performance for the duration of one full year or until the battery completely drains.
The report presented here is strictly based on my test results and in no way represents any external influences. I’d encourage others to replicate any part of the tests to confirm the veracity of my reports. Just keep in mind that there is some degree of inevitable variations with each flash unit and each battery cell used even with identical brands.
TEST EQUIPMENT USED
For conducting the tests, Powerex supplied me with the following:
3 units of YongNuo Speedlite 600EX-RT; 1 unit of Canon 430EX III-RT
3 units of flash counting module
3 units of Powerex MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger-Analyzer
2 units of Powerex MH-C800S 8-Cell Smart Charger
And the following multiple sets of batteries, in alphabetic order (with the current, normal market cost per a set of four batteries on Amazon. Keep in mind that these prices are fluctuating):
1) Amazon Basics 2400 mAh ($8.99)
2) Duracell 2450 mAh ($14.99)
3) EBL 2800 mAh ($9.99)
4) Eneloop (original white, 4th generation - BK-3MCCA) min 1900 mAh ($13.99)
5) Eneloop Pro (2nd generation - BK-3HCCA) min 2450 mAh ($16.99)
6) Powerex Precharged 2600 mAh - min 2450 mAh ($14.16)
7) Powerex 2700 mAh - min 2500 mAh ($12.89)
8) Powerex 2700 Pro mAh - min 2550 mAh ($16.95)
For testing the % of battery power, I used my own ZTS Pulse Load Multi-Battery Tester.
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METHODOLOGY
All tests were conducted in the ambient indoor temperature fluctuating between 63F to 72F and that is the condition in which the LSD test will be conducted in one-year duration.
Initially, all 3 YN600EX-RT units were hooked up to the flash counting modules that were programmed to pop the flash as soon as pilot button turns red. The devices were further programmed for 20 consecutive flash pops, followed by 10 minutes of a cooling period. In spite of this non-strenuous procedure, one YN600-EX-RT unit burnt out on the first day of testing. Before the unit completely fried and became useless, I discovered that there existed a huge discrepancy among three YN units. With the same new battery brand, for example, all three units yielded a wide range of different results, as much as 90-/90+ flash pops from one another.
Once one of the YN units fried, I requested Powerex for a Canon flash, and I received one unit of Canon 430EX III-RT. In order to connect the counting module to this flash, I employed a flash hot shoe adapter with PC sync port. However, the combination of connecting these devices to the flash ended up a failure. Ultimately, I started the tests all over again with the remaining two YN flashes and averaging all results to maintain consistency.
TEST RESULTS
NUMBER OF FLASH POPS:
YN600EX-RT Flash “A” -- YN600EX-RT FLASH “B” -- Average
1) Powerex 2700 Pro: YN Flash "A": 351 YN Flash "B": 450 Average: 400.5
2) Eneloop 2450 Pro: YN Flash "A": 346 YN Flash "B": 427 Average: 386.5
3) Powerex 2600: YN Flash "A": 333 YN Flash "B": 428 Average: 380.5
4) Powerex 2700: YN Flash "A": 326 YN Flash "B": 417 Average: 371.5
5) Amazon Basics 2400: YN Flash "A": 322 YN Flash "B": 397 Average: 359.5
6) EBL 2800: YN Flash "A": 307 YN Flash "B": 356 Average: 331.5
7) Duracell 2450: YN Flash "A": 284 YN Flash "B": 311 Average: 297.5
8) Eneloop White 1900: YN Flash "A": 252 YN Flash "B": 337 Average: 294.5
RECYCLE TIME (each brand tested at 5th, 100th, 200th, 300th, and 400th pop):
@ 5th Pop
1) Powerex 2700 mAh Pro @ 1.48 sec
2) Amazon Basics 2400 mAh @ 1.58 sec
3) Eneloop 2450 mAh Pro @ 1.64 sec
4) Eneloop White 1900 mAh @ 1.68 sec
5) Powerex 2700 mAh @ 1.70 sec
6) Duracell 2450 mAh @ 1.78 sec
7) EBL 2800 mAh @ 1.81 sec
8) Powerex 2600 mah @ 1.84 sec
@ 100th Pop
1) Eneloop 2450 mAh Pro @ 1.92 sec
2) Powerex 2700 mAh Pro @ 2.02 sec
3) Amazon Basics 2400 mAh @ 2.03 sec
4) Eneloop White 1900 mAh @ 2.1 sec
5) Duracell 2450 mAh @ 2.178.8 sec
6) EBL 2800 mAh @ 2.178.9 sec
7) Powerex 2600 mAh @ 2.18 sec
8) Powerex 2700 mAh @ 2.2 sec
@ 200th Pop
1) Amazon Basics 2400 mAh @ 1.93 sec
2) Powerex 2700 mAh Pro @ 2.1 sec
3) Eneloop 2450 mAh Pro @ 2.2 sec
4) EBL 2800 mAh @ 2.25 sec
5) Powerex 2600 mAh @ 2.3 sec
6) Powerex 2700 mAh @ 2.33 sec
7) Duracell 2450 mAh @ 2.5 sec
8) Eneloop White 1900 mAh @ 3.5 sec
@ 300th Pop
1) Eneloop 2450 mAh Pro @ 2.5 sec
2) Powerex 2700 mAh Pro @ 2.7 sec
3) Powerex 2600 mAh @ 2.9 sec
4) Amazon Basics 2400 mAh @ 3.5 sec
5) Eneloop White 1900 mAh @ 3.6 sec
6) EBL 2800 mAh @ 4.2 sec
7) Powerex 2700 mAh @ 5.8 sec
8) Duracell 2450 mAh @ 10.2 sec
@ 400th Pop (Only those batteries that had 400 + flash pops from YN600EX-RT Flash “B” are ranked; no batteries had 400 + flash pops from Flash “A”)
1) Eneloop 2450 mAh Pro @ 3.2 sec
2) Powerex 2700 mAh Pro @ 3.6 sec
3) Powerex 2600 mAh @ 4.7 sec
4) Powerex 2700 mAh @ 6.2 sec
BATTERY LOW SELF-DISCHARGE (over 1 year duration):
8 batteries from each brand employed. All batteries fully charged on January 24, 2017. Monthly tested and updated. (Last Updated: January 24, 2017)
1) Powerex Pro 2700 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 8 @ 100%
Mar 24: 8 @ 100%
Apr 24: 5 @ 100% 3 @ 80%
May 24: 8 @ 80%
June 24: 8 @ 80%
July 24: 8 @ 80%
Aug 24: 8 @ 80%
Sept 26: 8 @ 80%
Oct 24: 8 @ 80%
Nov 24: 8 @ 80%
Dec 24: 8 @ 80%
Jan 24, 2018 8 @ 80%
2) Amazon Basics 2400 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 8 @ 100%
Mar 24: 8 @ 100%
Apr 24: 6 @ 100% 2 @ 80%
May 24: 8 @ 80%
June 24: 8 @ 80%
July 24: 8 @ 80%
Aug 24: 8 @ 80%
Sept 26: 8 @ 80%
Oct 24: 8 @ 80%
Nov 24: 8 @ 80%
Dec 24: 8 @ 80%
Jan 24, 2018: 8 @ 80%
4) Eneloop Pro 2450 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 8 @ 100%
Mar 24: 8 @ 100%
Apr 24: 8 @ 100%
May 24: 8 @ 100%
June 24: 6 @ 100% 2 @ 80%
July 24: 5 @ 100% 3 @ 80%
Aug 24: 4 @ 100% 4 @ 80%
Sept 26: 8 @ 80%
Oct 24: 8 @ 80%
Nov 24: 8 @ 80%
Dec 24: 8 @ 80%
Jan 24, 2018: 8 @ 80%
3) Powerex 2700 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 8 @ 100%
Mar 24: 7 @ 100% 1 @ 80%
Apr 24: 8 @ 80%
May 24: 8 @ 80%
June 24: 8 @ 80%
July 24: 8 @ 80%
Aug 24: 8 @ 80%
Sept 26: 8 @ 80%
Oct 24: 8 @ 80%
Nov 24: 8 @ 80%
Dec 24: 8 @ 80%
Jan 24, 2018: 8 @ 80%
5) Eneloop White 1900 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 8 @ 100%
Mar 24: 8 @ 100%
Apr 24: 8 @ 100%
May 24: 4 @ 100% 4 @ 80%
June 24: 4 @ 100% 4 @ 80%
July 24: 1 @ 100% 7 @ 80%
Aug 24: 1 @ 100% 7 @ 80%
Sept 26: 8 @ 80%
Oct 24: 8 @ 80%
Nov 24: 8 @ 80%
Dec 24: 8 @ 80%
Jan 24, 2018: 8 @ 80%
6) Powerex 2600 mAh “Precharged”:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 7 @ 100% 1 @ 80%
Mar 24: 8 @ 80%
Apr 24: 8 @ 80%
May 24: 7 @ 80% 1 @ 60%
June 24: 6 @ 80% 2 @ 60%
July 24: 6 @ 80% 2 @ 60%
Aug 24: 6 @ 80% 2 @ 60%
Sept 26: 8 @ 60%
Oct 24: 1 @ 80% 4 @ 60% 3 @ 40%
Nov 24: 5 @ 60% 3 @ 40%
Dec 24: 5 @ 60% 3 @ 40%
Jan 24, 2018: 5 @ 60% 3 @ 40%
7) Duracell 2450 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 2 @ 100% 6 @ 80%
Mar 24: 2 @ 100% 6 @ 80%
Apr 24: 1 @ 100% 5 @ 80% 2 @ 60%
May 24: 1 @ 100% 4 @ 80% 2 @ 60% 1 @ 40%
June 24: 5 @ 80% 2 @ 60% 1 @ 40%
July 24: 1 @ 80% 6 @ 60% 1 @ 40%
Aug 24: 1 @ 80% 5 @ 60% 2 @ 40%
Sept 26: 1 @ 80% 3 @ 60% 3 @ 40% 1 @ 20%
Oct 24: 1 @ 80% 2 @ 60% 4 @ 40% 1 @ 0%
Nov 24: 1 @ 80% 5 @ 40% 1 @ 20% 1 @ 0%
Dec 24: 1 @ 80% 3 @ 40% 1 @ 20% 3 @ 0%
Jan 24, 2018: 1 @ 80% 3 @ 40% 1 @ 20% 3 @ 0%
8) EBL 2800 mAh:
Jan 24: 8 @ 100%
Feb 24: 4 @ 80% 4 @ 60%
Mar 24: 3 @ 80% 3 @ 60% 2 @ 40%
Apr 24: 3 @ 60% 3 @ 40% 2 @ 0%
May 24: 2 @ 60% 3 @ 40% 3 @ 0%
June 24: 3 @ 40% 1 @ 20% 4 @ 0%
July 24: 3 @ 40% 5 @ 0%
Aug 24: 2 @ 40% 6 @ 0%
Sept 26: 8 @ 0%
CONCLUDING NOTES
In two categories of tests -- number of flash pops and recycle time -- both Powerex 2700 Pro and Eneloop Pro stand out above the rest of the pack. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether the differences between these two are significant to you or not. It'd be interesting to see how their LSD performances unfold in the duration of a year. I will be updating the LSD performances on the 24th of each month. What truly constitutes an LSD performance is a bit unclear. Some brands specifically state, "Low Self-Discharge," while some others are vague about it. From my own personal experience, not all brands that claim anything approximate are true LSD batteries. Well, to sort out the real from the pretenders, only time will tell.
While both Eneloop Pro and the newly announced Powerex 2700 Pro are impressive and stand above the pack, I was surprised by how well Amazon Basics did overall and, on the other hand, how unimpressed I was with EBL with the claim of "2800 mAh."
We all love rankings, but be mindful of what the actual numbers tell you in terms of practical day-to-day, utility value and, most importantly, what kind of a photographer you are. If you're one of those photographers who obsessively recharge batteries before each use, then you don't need to pay attention to the LSD performance test results. Just purchase the battery that offers the most number of flash pops while yielding the fastest recycle time. On the other hand, if you're one of those photographers who need the LSD batteries for OCF flashes, transmitters/receivers, remotes, and other electronic devices, then it'd be worth paying attention to how they perform over a period of time. They can make a significant difference in the way you work. The combined factors of battery performance in all categories, their cost, and the way you operate as a photographer need to be well considered in picking the right battery for you.
What you're proposing is a test of these batteries' longevity or mine. 
