CR123 vs CR2 batteries

sawman · **on:** February 06, 2014, 04:38:50 PM

Can anyone tell me how CR123 and CR2 stack up against each other besides from the CR2 being slightly smaller in size?

NutSAK · **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2014, 05:16:44 PM

CR123 have about 60% more capacity (on average) and are much easier to find in brick and mortar stores.

gregozedobe · **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2014, 08:49:00 PM

Lots more devices take CR123, not so many for CR2. Looking long term if CR2 doesn't end up popular you may struggle to buy them in 5-10 years time.

sawman · **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2014, 08:52:10 PM

I saw CR2's for sale at my local Home Depot not that long ago. I'm not sure what all takes them, but I have a 47's MLR 2 which uses them and I found them online around $2 ea.

NutSAK · **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2014, 09:18:00 PM

The only benefit to CR2 over CR123 that I can see is physical size.

I can buy quality CR123 batteries online for $1.55 each. Considering that CR123 have ~60% more capacity than CR2 and are 3/4 the price of CR2, ($1.55/$2), they are a much better investment if they are not too large for you.

Let's break this down:

CR2 @ 750 mAh @ $2.00 each = $0.2666 per mAh

CR123 @ 1600 mAh @ $1.55 each = $0.0967 per mAh

2666/967 = 2.76

So, considering price and capacity, a CR2 will cost you 2.76 times as much as a CR123 for the same capacity/runtime (mAh).

In other words, it costs you nearly 3x more to power that MLR2 than it does to power an ML. But, the MLR2 does take up a little less space in your pocket.

enki_ck · **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2014, 09:22:49 PM

Quote from: sawman on February 06, 2014, 08:52:10 PM

I saw CR2's for sale at my local Home Depot not that long ago. I'm not sure what all takes them, but I have a 47's MLR 2 which uses them and I found them online around $2 ea.

I can buy some off brand ones locally for $5

or 10x panasonics online for $2,5 from France. Mostly used in flashlights and cameras. There are some rechargable ones but they have a much lower capacity (300mAh I think)

Agree with NutSAK on the financial aspect of these but have to add that it's oh so cool

to get 170 or so lumens out of something so small and pocketable.

powernoodle · **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2014, 10:47:44 PM

Both flavors can be found in a rechargeable format too, for "free" light, but the rechargeable CR123 ("RCR123") is much easier to find. Another good thing about rechargeables is that you can always start out the day with a full battery.