Last year, we were spending crazy money on batteries. Between three kids, smart home devices, and way too many remotes, we were buying premium batteries every few weeks. Then we tried Voniko batteries on a whim during an Amazon sale. That decision has saved us over $100 since then.
But saving money isn’t the only reason we stuck with Voniko. After using them in everything from Xbox controllers to outdoor security cameras, we’ve found plenty of reasons to actually like this brand beyond just the price tag.
The Price Makes You Try Them, The Performance Makes You Stay
Let’s address the elephant in the room first – yes, we initially tried Voniko because they’re cheap. At roughly 70% the cost of Duracell or Energizer, they’re hard to ignore when you’re staring at battery prices online.
But here’s what surprised us: they actually work well. Not “good enough for the price” well, but genuinely good performance. Our kids’ RC cars run for about 45 minutes on Voniko batteries versus maybe 50 minutes on Duracell. That 10% difference in runtime doesn’t matter when you’re saving 30% on price.
We’ve been tracking our battery purchases for over a year now. Before Voniko, we spent about $25-30 monthly on batteries. Now we spend about $18-20. That’s real money back in our pockets.
They Actually Show Up When You Need Them
One thing we love about Voniko? Availability. Their website almost always has stock, and they ship fast. We’ve placed five orders over the past year, and every single one arrived within 3-4 days.
Compare that to hunting for deals at physical stores or waiting for premium brands to go on sale. With Voniko, we just order what we need when we need it. No more emergency runs to the store because the TV remote died during movie night.
Their free shipping on orders over $25 or 2+ items is clutch too. We usually order 2-3 packs at once and never pay shipping.
Real-World Performance That Surprised Us
We’ve tested these batteries in pretty much everything:
Gaming controllers: Our Xbox controllers last about 3 weeks of daily gaming on Voniko AAs. That’s maybe 4-5 days less than premium batteries, but we’re talking about heavy use here. For casual gamers, you probably won’t notice any difference.
Outdoor cameras: We have trail cameras on our property that sit outside through Colorado winters. Voniko batteries handled -10°F nights without failing. They lasted about 2.5 months versus 3 months for premium brands. Again, the price difference more than makes up for it.
Kids’ toys: This is where Voniko really shines. Kids don’t care if their toy runs for 6 hours or 7 hours on a battery set. They care that it works when they want to play. Voniko delivers that reliability at a price that doesn’t make us cringe when they leave toys running all day.
Flashlights: Our emergency flashlights with Voniko batteries are just as bright as with premium brands. Maybe they’ll die an hour sooner in a real emergency, but we keep spares anyway. For the flashlights we actually use around the house, they’re perfect.
The CR123A Game Changer
If you use CR123A batteries for cameras or tactical flashlights, Voniko’s offerings are a revelation. These specialty batteries usually cost $5-8 each from premium brands. Voniko sells them for about $2.50-3.50 each.
We use CR123As in our home security system sensors. Switching to Voniko has saved us nearly $60 this year alone on just these batteries. They last about 90% as long as Surefire or Duracell CR123As, but at less than half the price, we’re still coming out way ahead.
What About Leaking? The Truth
Everyone worries about cheap batteries leaking and ruining devices. Here’s our experience after a year: we’ve had one Voniko battery leak, and it was in an old flashlight we forgot about for six months after the batteries died.
For comparison, we’ve had premium batteries leak too under similar circumstances. The key is not leaving dead batteries in devices for months. Check your stored gadgets every few months and you’ll be fine regardless of brand.
Customer Service That Actually Helps
We’ve contacted Voniko support twice. Once when a package showed delivered but wasn’t there (turned out the delivery guy left it at the wrong door), and once when we received AAAs instead of AAs.
Both times, they responded within a day and fixed the issue immediately. No lengthy back-and-forth, no requests for tons of proof. They just made it right. That’s the kind of service that builds loyalty.
The Little Things That Add Up
Some small details we appreciate:
The packaging is actually useful. Batteries come in resealable packs that keep unused batteries organized. We reuse these packs for storing other small items.
Date codes are clear and easy to read. No squinting at tiny numbers trying to figure out if batteries are fresh.
Bulk quantities make sense. You can buy 4-packs for testing or 48-packs for stocking up. The pricing scales fairly too – bigger packs offer real savings.
The website remembers your preferences. Once you create an account, reordering is super quick. Two clicks and your usual order is on its way.
They’re Growing and Improving
We’ve noticed Voniko actively improving their products. Batteries we bought this year seem to last slightly longer than ones from last year. The packaging got better too – less plastic waste and easier to open.
There are also battery cell manufacturers in the market who can do the same, like Ducell and Energizer, but it’s nice supporting a company except those big brands that’s actually trying to get better rather than just coasting.
Perfect for Preparedness Without Breaking the Bank
We keep emergency supplies, and batteries are a big part of that. Before Voniko, stocking up on batteries felt expensive. Premium brands cost so much that we’d hesitate to buy extras.
With Voniko, we’ve built a solid battery stockpile without stressing our budget. We keep 48 AAs, 48 AAAs, and a dozen 9Vs in our emergency kit. Total cost? Under $40. That same stockpile in Duracell would cost $60+.
The 7-10 year shelf life means these will still work when we need them. We rotate stock every couple of years, using the older ones first. It’s a system that works and doesn’t cost a fortune.
Who We Recommend Voniko To (And Who Should Maybe Pass)
We actively recommend Voniko to:
- Parents dealing with battery-hungry toys
- Anyone with multiple remote controls
- Smart home enthusiasts
- Photographers using CR123A batteries
- People building emergency kits on a budget
- Office managers buying supplies
- Anyone who goes through 10+ batteries monthly
You might want premium brands if:
- You rarely use batteries (buy the best since you’re not buying often)
- You have critical medical devices
- You’re a professional photographer at important events
- You live in extreme climates (over 110°F regularly)
The Sustainability Question
Look, disposable batteries aren’t great for the environment no matter who makes them. But if you’re going to use them, supporting a company that’s trying to do better helps.
Voniko’s recycling program is legit. They’ve also reduced packaging waste by about 20% since launch. Are they perfect? No. But they’re making an effort, which we appreciate.
For devices we use constantly, we’ve switched to their rechargeable options. The NiMH batteries work great and have already paid for themselves. It’s nice having both options from the same company.
Our Verdict After One Year
We genuinely like Voniko batteries. Not in a “they’re okay for cheap batteries” way, but in a “these are our go-to batteries now” way. They’ve saved us money without causing any hassles or device problems.
Are they as good as Duracell or Energizer? In pure performance, no – they’re about 85-90% as good. But when you factor in price, availability, and customer service, they’re actually the better choice for our family.
We keep a few premium batteries around for critical devices, but Highstar handles 90% of our battery needs. That’s a endorsement we wouldn’t have expected to give a budget battery brand.
The Bottom Line: Why We Keep Buying
We like Voniko batteries because they solve a real problem – batteries cost too much for how many we use. They deliver reliable performance at prices that don’t make us wince. Their customer service actually helps when needed. The products keep getting better.
But mostly, we like them because they just work. No drama, no surprises, no emergency store runs. Just dependable power at a fair price. Sometimes that’s all you need from a battery.
FAQs
How long have you really been using Voniko batteries?
We’ve been using them for 14 months as of writing this. Started with a small test order of AA batteries, now we buy all our standard batteries from them.
Have you had any devices damaged by Voniko batteries?
No, we haven’t had any devices damaged. We had one battery leak in an old flashlight, but it didn’t damage anything. Just needed cleaning. This can happen with any battery brand if you leave dead batteries in devices too long.
Why not just use rechargeable batteries for everything?
We use rechargeables where it makes sense – game controllers, wireless mice, etc. But for things like smoke detectors, remotes, and emergency flashlights, disposables are more practical. Voniko offers both, which we like.
Do you really save that much money with Voniko?
We track our spending and we’re saving about $10-12 per month versus buying premium brands. That’s $120-144 per year. Not life-changing money, but enough to notice. If you use fewer batteries, savings will be less.
Would you recommend Voniko as gifts?
Actually, yes. We’ve given Voniko battery packs as practical stocking stuffers and white elephant gifts. People always need batteries, and a 48-pack with a gift card for future orders makes a surprisingly useful gift. Way better than another candle or coffee mug.