Today, I will compare the newly purchased XTAR 1.5V AA 4150 lithium battery with the Eneloop 1.2V 1900mAh Ni–MH battery, recording their performance and runtime in small night lights and trail cameras.

In this test:

Specifications

Brand	XTAR	ENELOOP
Nominal Voltage	Constant 1.5V	1.2V
Type	Lithium-ion	Ni-MH
Capacity	2500mAh	1900mAh
Rated Energy	4150mWh	~2280mWh
Cycle Life	1200+	500+
Recommended Applications	High-drain devices	Low-current devices

On paper, the XTAR stores nearly twice the usable energy per charge — but specs don’t tell the whole story. Here’s what happened in real devices.

Unboxing and First Look

The set I purchased includes eight AA batteries, a USB charging cable, and an eight-slot BC8 charger. Each battery has a small indicator light showing its charging status. The batteries are now fully charged, and the top indicator lights have turned green.

The BC8 charger is compatible with 1.5V AA/AAA lithium batteries and 1.2V AA/AAA Ni-MH batteries, covering most everyday charging needs.

Real-World Use

1. Handheld Game Controllers Test

I noticed that devices with electronic circuits — like game controllers — are quite sensitive to voltage. With 1.2V batteries, they tend to run poorly or feel less responsive.

The newly purchased XTAR 1.5V lithium-ion batteries, when used in the My Arcade Atari 50th Anniversary Pocket Player Pro, allowed the device to run very smoothly, whether during the startup animation or while playing games.

XTAR 1.5V AA battery in My Arcade Atari Pocket Player Pro game controller

2. Run time Test in Night Light

I fully charged both the XTAR and Eneloop batteries and tested their run time in a night light.

XTAR：

• Initial brightness is noticeably higher than Eneloop.
• Begins to dim after 27 hours.
• Completely turns off after 28 hours.

Eneloop：

• Begins to dim after 20 hours.
• Completely turns off after 31 hours.

Based on their runtime performance, I created a chart to give a clearer, more intuitive comparison. From the chart, it is clear that although the Eneloop batteries last slightly longer overall, their brightness drops more quickly. The XTAR lithium batteries, with their 1.5V constant voltage output, keep the light brighter and more stable throughout.

Overall, I consider XTAR the winner in this test.

3. Run time Test in Trail Camera

I installed fully charged XTAR 1.5V AA batteries in one trail camera and fully charged Eneloop AA batteries in a second, identical camera, then left both outdoors for several weeks.

XTAR 1.5V AA:

• The battery shows 100% charge when fully charged — the camera’s battery gauge reads accurately from day one.
• Throughout the entire testing period, the 1.5V constant voltage output ensured more stable camera performance and more reliable image capture.
• No premature low-battery warnings, no missed triggers.

Eneloop 1.2V AA:

• Even when fully charged, the battery shows only 65% capacity — the camera can’t “see” the full charge of a 1.2V Ni-MH cell.
• After 2–3 weeks of use, the capacity drops to around 20%.
• Because Ni-MH voltage sags as it discharges, the camera can trigger a low-battery shutdown while the cell still holds energy — meaning lost photos and a wasted trip to the camera.

Why the voltage gap matters in trail cameras: Trail cameras are designed around 1.5V alkaline logic. A 1.2V Ni-MH cell starts below that threshold, so the camera either under-reports battery level or shuts down early. The XTAR’s constant 1.5V output keeps the gauge honest and the camera running. For a full photo-count endurance comparison, see our Energizer vs Eneloop vs XTAR trail camera battery test — XTAR delivered 2,601 more photos per charge than Eneloop Pro.

XTAR vs. Eneloop: Which Is Better for Your Device?

There’s no universal winner — it depends on the device:

Choose XTAR 1.5V lithium if you use:

• Trail cameras and game cameras — constant voltage means accurate battery gauges and no early shutdowns
• High-drain electronics like game controllers, RC transmitters, and flash units
• Devices that need full brightness or full speed until the battery is empty

Choose Eneloop Ni-MH if you use:

• Low-drain devices: TV remotes, wall clocks, wireless keyboards
• Devices where the slightly lower voltage doesn’t affect performance
• Situations where the lowest upfront cost matters most

For a dedicated buying guide covering more brands, see: the most efficient rechargeable batteries for trail cameras.

Conclusion

Based on the multi-scenario tests, I have drawn the following conclusions:

• Voltage Stability: XTAR 1.5V lithium batteries provide constant voltage output, making them more suitable for high-drain electronic devices than Eneloop 1.2V batteries.
• Output and Runtime: In both the night light and the trail camera, the XTAR battery delivered more stable brightness and better overall performance.
• Versatile Charging: The new XTAR L8 charger can charge multiple AA/AAA batteries simultaneously, offering convenient operation and meeting most everyday charging needs.

For handheld game controllers, trail cameras, and other voltage-sensitive devices, the XTAR 1.5V AA 4150 lithium batteries excel in stability, brightness, and runtime, making them a superior choice among high-performance AA batteries.You can also find the complete solutions for trail camera batteries, including more real field test data.

→ Running trail cameras through winter? Cold temperatures are the other big battery killer — read our winter trail camera battery guide before you deploy.

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