X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert deal-hunting staff showcases the best price drops and discounts from reputable sellers daily. If you make a purchase using our links, CNET may earn a commission.

Stock up on batteries with 25% off AmazonBasics alkalines

The discount applies to lithium and hearing-aid batteries as well. Plus: Improve your Roku or Fire TV remote for $20.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
amazonbasics-aa-batteries

A lot of batteries for not a lot of money.

Amazon

So many tech items these days rely on rechargeable batteries, it's easy to forget we still need regular old alkalines for lots of things: game controllers, drone remotes, TV remotes, kids' toys, garage-door openers, smoke alarms and so on.

Good news: For a limited time, Amazon is taking 25% off many AmazonBasics batteries when you apply promo code POWER25 at checkout. That code should also work with lithium and hearing-aid batteries.

So, for example, you can get a 48-pack of AA alkaline batteries for just $10.49 with that code. Or get an eight-pack of 9-volt batteries for just $7.20 -- because you're long overdue to swap out the all the smoke-alarm batteries, right? Just make sure to choose the One-time Purchase option, unless you want to start receiving batteries on a subscription basis.

These AmazonBasics bulk batteries are already a killer deal compared to, say, the Duracells you'll find at the drugstore. At CVS, for example, a measly eight-pack of Duracell Coppertop AAs costs $10.79.

Ah, but how do the two brands compare? Surprisingly well, according to Consumer Reports' AA battery ratings. (You need a membership to see the results. I have one, lucky for you.) The AmazonBasics scored a 71 overall. Duracell's Coppertop earned an 80.

I'll add that I've used Amazon's batteries for several years and have found them to be fine overall. Even if I've had to replace them a bit more often than I would another brand, with this big a price difference, I don't mind.

Read more: The 9 best tech items from AmazonBasics (soon to be updated!)  

Watch this: How to save money on nearly everything you buy online

Bonus deal: Give your Apple TV, Fire TV or Roku remote a Sideclick for $20

sideclick-for-roku-angled-view.jpg

The Sideclick adds programmable buttons to your Roku remote.

Sideclick

Yep, "Sideclick." Sounds like "sidekick," right? Exactly the idea. This clever accessory adds TV-control buttons to your streaming-device remote, effectively turning two remotes into one.

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Sideclick Universal Remote Attachment for $19.99. Regular price: $29.99.

There are four versions available, one each for Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Nvidia Shield . The Sideclick is basically a clip-on strip of buttons you can program to control TV power, volume, channel up/down, input and so on.

If your remote already does some or all of that -- you have an actual Roku TV, for example -- then you can use the Sideclick for something like your Blu-ray player or sound bar .

Like I said: clever. And for $20, a very affordable way to help you cut down on remote-juggling.


CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones , gadgets and much more. Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter!