Amazon Basics 6-Pack LR44 Alkaline Button Coin Cell Battery, 1.5 Volt, Long Lasting Power, Mercury-Free

A dead digital caliper mid-project or a mute kitchen thermometer right before dinner is the sort of small frustration that sends me hunting for reliable button cells. I’ve been using the Amazon Basics LR44s across a handful of small devices over the past few months to see if they’re a trustworthy, low-cost staple or just another disposable compromise. In short: they deliver steady, predictable performance for most everyday gadgets, with a few caveats worth knowing.

Packaging, labeling, and first impressions

The six-pack arrives in child‑resistant packaging that’s sturdy without being impossible to open. I could peel open a single cell without scattering the rest across a drawer, and the remaining pockets kept their seal after the first opening. Each cell is cleanly engraved with “LR44,” which sounds trivial until you have a mixed stash of coin cells—being able to identify them quickly saves time and avoids wrong installs.

There’s a clearly printed expiration date on the back of the card, and my pack had plenty of runway left. These are mercury‑free alkaline cells, which doesn’t make them “green” in the grand scheme, but it’s a meaningful safety and environmental improvement over older formulations.

Compatibility: the LR44 vs. SR44 nuance

LR44 is the alkaline type (nominally 1.5 V). You’ll often see SR44 (silver oxide, typically labeled 1.55 V) listed as an equivalent. Many devices accept both, but they aren’t identical:

• Alkaline LR44: Slightly lower nominal voltage and a discharge curve that sags more over time. They’re inexpensive and fine for most low‑to‑moderate drain uses.
• Silver oxide SR44: Slightly higher, flatter voltage and typically longer life under steady load, often preferred for precision instruments and older cameras/meters that expect that stable 1.55 V.

In practice, I ran these Amazon Basics LR44s in digital calipers, a kitchen probe thermometer, a keychain LED light (three in series), a laser pointer, and a digital tire pressure gauge. Everything powered on immediately and behaved normally. If your device manual specifically calls for SR44 or “357/303” silver oxide, you might still be okay with LR44s, but for critical gear (light meters, older film cameras, medical devices), I’d match chemistry to spec.

One more compatibility note: you’ll sometimes see a long list of “equivalents” that includes zinc‑air types (e.g., 675), which are intended for hearing aids. Don’t swap in or out of zinc‑air for general gadgets. Stick to LR44 or SR44 for typical consumer electronics.

Real‑world performance

Fresh out of the pack, every cell I tested measured within the expected range on a multimeter. There were no duds. Across devices:

• Digital calipers: After weeks of on‑off use in the shop, the display remained crisp without early “brown‑out” flicker. Alkaline cells sometimes show their decline as slower wake‑ups or dim segments; I didn’t see that until well into use.
• Kitchen probe thermometer: Readings stayed stable during cooking sessions. Thermometers are a good barometer for voltage droop—you’ll notice odd resets or lag when cells fade. None here during the test period.
• Keychain LED light: Three LR44s ran the LED sufficiently bright for quick tasks. As expected with alkaline, brightness tapered gradually rather than dropping off a cliff.
• Laser pointer: No hesitation in activating, with consistent output during a classroom session spanning several short demonstrations.
• Tire gauge: Kept in the glove box and used a handful of times. No issues starting up even after a cold night.

Amazon claims performance across a wide temperature range. I can’t verify the extremes in a lab sense, but after leaving the tire gauge in near‑freezing conditions overnight, the cells still woke the device without complaint and readings were normal. If you need guaranteed performance in severe cold, silver oxide still has an edge, but these alkalines didn’t stumble in typical winter scenarios.

Handling, storage, and safety

The child‑resistant packaging is a good safeguard, but button cells are still a serious ingestion hazard for kids and pets. A few practical tips that served me well:

• Store spares in the original card, in a drawer out of reach.
• Install with clean contacts—wipe the holder and cell edges with a dry cloth to reduce intermittent contact issues.
• Watch the polarity. Many holders are cramped and it’s easy to flip a cell in a stacked arrangement.
• If a device will sit unused for months (a seasonal decoration or seldom used laser), remove the cells to reduce leakage risk.

On leakage: I didn’t see any during my usage window, and the cells came out of devices clean. Alkaline chemistry can leak over very long storage or after deep discharge, so the removal rule of thumb stands.

Longevity and consistency

Button cells are tough to measure apples‑to‑apples without a controlled rig, but the seat‑of‑pants judgment was favorable. None of my gadgets exhibited early‑life dimming or resets. The calipers and thermometer, which are my most frequently used, are still on their first cells. The LED light’s gradual dimming curve is typical alkaline behavior; it took several evenings of short use before I noticed tapering brightness.

Consistency across the pack matters as much as outright life—having one weak cell in a three‑cell stack can cause flicker or odd resets. All six cells performed similarly. That predictability is exactly what I want from a budget pack.

Value proposition

The best reason to buy these is cost per cell. They’re typically priced well below name‑brand alternatives, and because small gadgets often use two or three at a time, costs add up quickly. For tools, toys, small lights, remotes, and the like, the Amazon Basics LR44s strike a solid balance: dependable enough at a price that encourages keeping a pack on hand.

If you use a device that truly benefits from silver oxide’s flatter discharge (precision meters, certain cameras), step up to SR44 for those specific cases. For everything else, I’d pocket the savings.

What I’d improve

• Clearer equivalence messaging: I’d prefer packaging that distinguishes “works in many devices that accept SR44” instead of listing silver oxide part numbers as plain equivalents. Chemistry matters in some applications.
• Longer dated stock: My pack had ample shelf life left, but coin cells can sit in distribution. I’d love to consistently see three or more years remaining to make multi‑pack storage a no‑brainer.

Neither point is a deal‑breaker; they’re just areas where a good product could be even better.

Who they’re for (and not for)

Good fit:
- Everyday gadgets: calipers, thermometers, small toys, keychain lights, laser pointers, tire gauges, calculators, some watches.
- Users who value cost and availability and don’t need silver oxide’s flatter voltage curve.
- Households that want a safe, clearly labeled, mercury‑free option with decent packaging.

Not ideal:
- Precision instruments and older photo gear that specify silver oxide for accuracy and meter linearity.
- Long‑duty or high‑drain use cases where alkaline droop becomes a nuisance.

Bottom line

The Amazon Basics LR44s do exactly what I expect from a general‑purpose alkaline coin cell: they’re easy to identify, safe to store, and—most importantly—predictable in common devices. Across my mix of tools and small electronics, they powered up cleanly, lasted respectably, and didn’t give me any surprises. That reliability, paired with a friendly price, makes them a practical default choice to keep in a drawer.

Recommendation: I recommend these LR44s for most everyday applications where alkaline chemistry is acceptable. They’re affordable, consistent, and thoughtfully packaged. If your device explicitly prefers or requires silver oxide (SR44/357), choose that chemistry instead; otherwise, these Amazon Basics cells are a dependable, cost‑effective way to keep small electronics running.