CR123A Batteries
CR123A Batteries put high output into a small lithium cell, a common fit for compact tactical flashlights, high-performance EDC lights, and other high-drain gear. They also hold a charge for years, ready for backup and emergency use. CR123A is single-use cell. If you're looking for Rechargeable CR123A Batteries, check out our 16340 Battery page.
Is CR123A Right for You?
CR123A is a 3-volt lithium primary cell, which is a long way of saying it pushes strong, steady power and lasts a long time on the shelf. That shelf life is the real draw for backup and emergency lights, since a CR123A can sit in a drawer or a pack for years and still fire up a light when you reach for it. The trade is that it is single-use, so once it runs down it gets replaced. For a light you only touch in a pinch, that is a fair deal.
The Case for Rechargeable
If you run a light often, rechargeable 16340 batteries share the CR123A size and pay off over time instead of buying primaries again and again.
One Caution: a 16340 sits at a higher voltage than a CR123A, and not every light rated for CR123A will accept it, so check what your flashlight supports before swapping.