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$20 Eneloop Pro vs. $5 Ikea LADDA batteries: which recycle faster?

by 15 Comments

Many items from IKEA can be useful for photography. But what about their batteries? Martin Cheung has decided to perform a test and check which batteries recycle faster: Panasonic Eneloop Pro or two times cheaper Ikea LADDA. The result is a really pleasant surprise.

Martin uses two Godox TT685C speedlights for the test. One uses Eneloop Pro batteries, and the other is powered by Ikea LADDA. He triggers both flashes at the same time to test how long does it take for each to recycle. Note that he doesn’t compare how many times each flash goes off because it would take too long. Also, he points out that it’s more important that the batteries recycle fast so you don’t miss the moments. When they get worn out, you can always replace them with a fresh set.

In the test, the left flash uses Eneloop Pro, and the right one uses Ikea LADDA batteries. They both use the identical settings. At one point, Martin switches the batteries between flashes, and the result is the same. In the video above, you can see what happens when both flashes fire, and you can conclude that the one containing Ikea batteries recycles faster.

AirborneSurfer argues that Ikea LADDA and Eneloop Pro are actually the same. He refers to the history of Eneloop and analyzes their specs compared to Ikea batteries. Apparently, Ikea LADDA and Eneloop batteries could come from the same source and thus have the same specs.

I don’t deny Eneloop batteries are great, and I’ve used them for ages. But, they really are pricey, especially if you need a charger with them too, or you need batteries for more than just one speedlight. For example, a 4-pack costs $17 and up, whereas four Ikea LADDA batteries cost $7. If you need a charger along with four batteries, it’s around $26 for Eneloop and $7 for Ikea LADDA.

For me, the time has come to buy a new batch of batteries, and I’ve been delaying it because I don’t feel like spending $20 on a 4-pack. So, I think I’m gonna try with IKEA this time. Have you used their batteries? What are your impressions?

[via ISO 1200]

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  • The test will be in how many shots you can get from a set, and how many times they can be recharged. Now one could buy a whole lot of the Ikea batteries for what the Panasonic’s cost.

  • Are the ikea low discharge? Regular nMh batteries are faster than low discharge ones

    • The Ladda battery are produced in the same factory (FDK) in Japan than Eneloop 🙂 There are basically identical

      • This explains everything 😉

    • g_disqus

      Yes. It’s “ready for use” i.e. LSD

  • Do they hold a ladda power?… I’m sorry, I’ll go sit in the corner.

    • MegaNickels

      Lmao oh geezus XD

  • Jimmy Harris

    All NiMH AA batteries will have an output of around 1.5 volts when fully charged (if properly functioning). Flash speed recycling time is a function of battery output voltage (which controls how long the capacitors take to charge). Therefore all fully charged NiMH batteries should have the same recycle times in the same flash when fully charged. As the batteries lose their charge, their voltage will drop, and this will lengthen recycle times in that flash. It all has to do with chemistry. The brand name on the label has nothing to do with it. No battery company is allowed to break the laws of physics, so they’re all pretty much going to be the same (though theoretically some company could use purer chemicals and offer a very miniscule advantage over one using less pure of chemicals). The only real difference is the mAh rating, which doesn’t determine the voltage of the battery, but rather how long the battery will last, and thus how fast the voltage will fall over time with use. They all start out around 1.5 volts at 100% charge, drop to around 1.2 volts at 50% charge, and drop to around 1.0 volts when they’re nearly discharged. So the mAh rating effects how long it takes the battery to drop in voltage. The higher the mAh, the longer it will last and the longer it will stay with a higher voltage.

    Alkaline batteries are similar, though due to their different chemistry, they can offer up to 1.65 volts when full and usually don’t drop below 1.1 volts until they’re completely discharged. So they will likely offer a slight speed increase in flash recycling time across their lifespan versus NiMH batteries, like the ones listed here.

  • Paul Willy Brown

    Too bad Ikea does not do mail order (or I’ve missed it).
    Individuals are selling these on ebay for the same price as the well known brands.

    Volts are nice but the electrical current capacity (amps) is what gives you the energy needed for lots of flashes. As batteries are used, their internal resistance goes up which causes voltage drop and inability to push the full rated current into the load.

    Flash units contain an inverter to take the battery energy up to the hundreds of volts to charge their capacitor. The inverter wants energy but voltage goes down proportionately as internal resistance increases and it cannot take the current it needs.

    Physically bigger batteries have larger working surface are of their internal plates giving lower internal resistance and more area for the chemical reaction to run. They make more amps but not more voltage which is a characteristic of the chemistry.

    This article did not take the time to properly characterize and compare batteries. A flash unit is not needed to do the comparison.

    • Stuart Pike

      I’m happy to entertain mail order of Ikea batteries if you’d be willing to cover the cost.

  • Marko

    The Ladda have 2450 mAh and 1.2 vol so the Eneloop equivalent would be the Enelopp Pro which are double the price.

  • They are now $6.99 in Maryland

  • Brittany Teichert

  • I always used the 2900mah AA from 7 Day Shop.com

    That is until I started using the Godox V860 speedlites with their lithium power pack

  • cycleguy55

    I’m going to pick up some of those LADDA batteries next time I’m near an IKEA store.

    The best thing I ever did for my NiMH batteries was buy a couple of MAHA battery chargers (MH-C801D AA/AAA, MH-C808M AA/AAA/C/D). They are both 8-cell chargers with conditioning and slow charge options. Most chargers ‘gang’ the batteries, either charging them in pairs or in sets, but the MAHA chargers charge each cell separately and it makes a huge difference in performance.

    These chargers aren’t cheap, but they’re darn well worth it.

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