Do you have any flat, silver, and round batteries lying around your home? If so, you probably have a CR2025 or CR2016 battery among those in your collection. These batteries are fairly common in electronic devices like calculators, but they are not the same.
Are you curious about what each of these button batteries has to offer, or if you can switch the two without issue? Our guide is here to help you learn more about these two button battery labels and what they mean for your devices.
What is a CR2025 battery?
A CR2025 battery is a “button battery” that is round, silver, and small. This button battery is used in small electronic devices like key fobs, watches, doorbells, thermometers, and calculators. In many cases, a CR2025 battery is included in purchases.
A CR2025 battery has a diameter of 20 mm, which is actually the exact same as a CR2016 battery. They also carry the same voltage, which is 3 volts. Unlike other button cell batteries, this is not a rechargeable battery.
You can generally use a CR battery type in situations and devices that cannot handle a regular battery. They offer efficient power solutions for low-voltage, low mAh products. So, it’s not quite your typical AA battery.
A CR battery is a Lithium Chemistry (C) battery with a round (R) shape. The first “20” denotes the millimeter diameter, while the last two digits are related to the height of the battery to the tenth of a millimeter.
Knowing this can help you find the right battery for your device. With that said, there are a handful of exceptions to this rule. So while you can usually guess the dimensions of each battery, it’s always best to look at the recommended battery type.
What is a CR2016 battery?
A CR2016 battery is a button battery that has similar uses to the CR2025. In fact, they can often be used interchangeably because they both have the same 20 mm diameter! Like others on the CR battery line, this is a fairly petite battery meant for electronics.
A CR2016 battery, like its cousin, the CR205, is not a rechargeable battery. They are disposable. Thankfully, both the CR2025 and CR2016 are fairly affordable, so there’s little need to worry about it burning a hole in your wallet.
Much like the CR2025, the CR2015 is a lithium coin battery. In other words, it’s flat, round, and mildly textured. They don’t look like the cylindrical batteries we’re often more familiar with. These two batteries are also some of the most common of their kind.
You can find CR batteries online, at most electronics stores, or at grocery stores. Companies like Sony, Kodak, Varta, Rayovac and Energizer all make this type of battery.
CR2025 vs CR2016
Now that we have given you a brief introduction on what these disposable batteries are like and where to find them, let’s talk about the unique differences that make each battery the right pick for you.
1. Height
Right off the bat, the names of each battery denote different thicknesses in their dimensions. A CR2016 battery has a thickness of 1.6 millimeters. Meanwhile, the CR2025 is thicker at 2.5 millimeters.
This means that these batteries can often be used in the same applications, but the CR2025’s thickness may make it too big for certain replacements. There’s no guarantee that you can always replace a CR2016 with a CR2025 due to the difference in housing.
2. Equivalent Batteries
The cool thing about CR batteries is that they have a lot of equivalents you can use if you need to find an extra one in a pinch. Each of these batteries has its own equivalents (and can also be used in one another’s place).
From time to time, you might be able to use a CR2025 in a CR2016 chamber. The same can be said the other way around. But, it’s not an ideal way to switch things out. There are cases where the chamber or the mAh readings may make them incompatible.
The best way to handle this issue is to use an official equivalent of the battery. Each type has its own equivalents. Here is a list of some of their more common official equivalents:
- CR2025:DL2025, ECR2025
- CR2016: BR2016, CR2016, DL2016, ECR2016, KCR2016, KECR2016, KL2016, SBT11, and L2016 batteries
Certain small devices (like car keys) may have a couple of recommended battery options that you can choose from to replace them. Check to see if there’s any fine writing in your manual regarding battery options.
3. Capacity
Capacity is a big difference between these two batteries, and it’s good to keep in mind. The higher the capacity, the longer you can use the same battery. Fewer battery replacements can mean a lot of peace of mind.
The CR2016 has a lower capacity, at 90 mAh. The CR2025, being thicker, has a higher capacity of 165 mAh. This means that you have about 1.5 times as much battery life in a CR2025 as you do with a CR2016.
If long-lasting power is what you need, then the clear winner is going to be a CR2025. If your device cannot handle a high capacity, then it’s best to stick to a safe CR2016. Otherwise, it could cause a small explosion or just fry out your item.
PRO TIP – Most of the appliances that use CR batteries don’t need much juice when it comes to running them. A CR2016 will give you the nominal voltage you need to power things like pens or small fitness appliances.
4. Usage
For the most part, both battery types are used in small appliances that are handheld and easy. It’s possible to find CR2016 batteries powering the same items as CR2025’s, especially with all the extensive development scientists have in terms of efficient electricity usage.
However, there is a very slight nuance to the traditional uses of this battery. CR2025 batteries are more commonly geared towards luxury watches, like a Citizen or Sony watch. Occasionally, they also find their ways into clocks, calculators, and garage door openers.
On the other hand, CR2016 batteries tend to be for even smaller items. It’s more common to see these batteries in things like handheld laser pens, pedometers, calorie counters, and key fobs.
Both types of batteries are also frequently found in memory backup devices. So, if your memory device needs power to work, it’s safe to assume a CR2016 will do the trick.
5. Price
Are you on a shoestring budget when it comes to your batteries? It might be a bit weird, but it’s okay. There is a notable difference in the price of a CR2016 and a CR2025. In general, the CR2025 will be a more expensive battery than the CR2016.
Obviously, both come in their own secure packages—and can come in different multiples. If you want to save cash, it’s best to buy more than one battery even if you only need one right now. Both battery types have a shelf life of 10 years, so stocking up is smart.
6. Rechargeability
Officially, neither the CR2025 nor the CR2016 are rechargeable. They’re designed to be disposable batteries. However, certain engineers got crafty and made battery rechargers that allegedly allow you to recharge CR-type batteries.
These CR-friendly battery rechargers can technically recharge both CR2016 and CR2025 batteries. Doing this is not advisable as it can pose a safety risk. Despite the safety risks, some people still do it.
Anecdotal evidence says that the CR2025 has better rechargeability through this method than the CR2016. Your mileage may vary, but this is what has been circulating on websites and online forums.
For the record, we do not suggest trying to recharge batteries that are not meant to be rechargeable. It’s not worth the risk. Things are engineered that way for a reason.
In conclusion
If you found a little round button battery somewhere, it can be hard to determine what kind of battery it is. However, there’s a fairly good chance that it might be a CR2025 or a CR2016. These two batteries are remarkably similar, and potentially interchangeable.
The big difference between these two batteries is their size. One is slightly thicker than the other, and that design change helped increase its capacity and more. If you want to choose the higher-powered option, then it’s a CR2025. The smaller one is the CR2016.
Overall, both of these batteries are great for small electronics. You might be wise to stock up on them, as there’s always a toy or key fob that needs a new battery. Happy charging!