5 Cylindrical Battery Options for Small Business Equipment

Motion sensors, smart door locks, security cameras and flashlights often run on the same small cell: the CR123A. 

When one dies mid-shift, a spare in the drawer saves a callout or a dead alarm zone. This shortlist compares five CR123A primary lithium batteries on published specifications, storage life and purchasing options. 

We reviewed manufacturer and retailer information rather than running hands-on tests, so treat it as a sourcing guide for keeping the right spares on hand.

Key Takeaways

• GP Lithium CR123A is our top pick for its published specifications and storage guidance.
• Energizer 123 Lithium offers a verified UK single-cell listing at £1.35 including VAT.
• Panasonic CR123A offers detailed documentation with a retailer-specific sourcing caveat.
• Duracell High Power 123 has an explicit ten-year storage guarantee.
• VARTA CR123A offers a verified ten-pack option for planned replenishment.

How we picked

We reviewed manufacturer specifications, storage conditions, cross-reference codes, regional purchasing information, pack prices and limited customer feedback. 

This is an editorial procurement shortlist, with no weighted scores or independently measured performance behind the order.

Check the equipment manual for the required chemistry and designation. Primary lithium and rechargeable lithium-ion are different; this shortlist does not recommend rechargeable substitutions.

Prices were observed on 16 October 2026 and exclude delivery. Shelf life describes unused batteries stored under stated conditions, not their service life inside equipment.

GP Lithium CR123A

GP Lithium CR123A pros

• Published 3V nominal voltage and 17mm diameter by 34.5mm height.
• Up to ten years’ storage when unused, cool, dry and away from direct sunlight.
• Manufacturer-listed temperature range of -40°C to +60°C.
• Leak-resistant construction, with safety testing by UL and the United Nations, per GP.

GP Lithium CR123A cons

• Hong Kong shipping terms do not establish UK delivery.

Why we picked GP Lithium CR123A

We put GP first for its useful combination of clear core specifications, storage guidance and a published temperature range.

For buyers searching for a lithium ion cylindrical battery, GP’s Hong Kong collection provides a commercial catalogue to browse. 

GP CR123A is a primary (single-use) lithium cell, not a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

GP lists CR17345, 123 and DL123A as equivalent models, which makes it quick to match against the designation in an equipment manual.

GP Lithium CR123A pricing

The Hong Kong page displayed HK$28.50 on 16 October 2026; pack quantity and VAT treatment were not established. 

A comparable UK quote was not verified. Assess value through suitability and storage needs, without treating this regional price as a like-for-like UK comparison.

Energizer 123 Lithium

Energizer 123 Lithium pros

• UK page cross-references CR123A, DL123A, CR17345 and K123LA.
• Up to ten years in storage, according to Energizer.
• Verified UK single-cell listing.

Energizer 123 Lithium cons

• The quoted price covers one retailer’s single-cell pack, so other packs need a separate cost check.

Why we picked Energizer 123 Lithium

We picked Energizer for straightforward UK replenishment and clear label cross-references. Equipment requirements still govern suitability. 

Halfords records 4.8/5 from 5 reviews on Halfords’ Energizer 123 two-pack listing. That is a small sample, and it covers a different pack size from the price below.

Energizer 123 Lithium pricing

Battery Station displayed £1.35 including VAT (£1.13 excluding VAT) for one cell on 16 October 2026. Compare the delivered order total before choosing a pack; delivery is excluded here.

Panasonic CR123A

Panasonic CR123A pros

• Manufacturer publishes an industrial-model specification table.
• Explicitly classified as primary lithium.
• Up to ten years’ storage for unused cells kept at room temperature.

Panasonic CR123A cons

• Battery Station’s single-pack listing is discontinued.
• Industrial specifications do not automatically apply to every regional retail pack.

Why we picked Panasonic CR123A

We picked Panasonic for buyers who want detailed documentation before ordering. Its industrial-model nominal capacity is not a measured runtime comparison with consumer packs. 

Panasonic CR123A pricing

No purchasable UK price was verified on 16 October 2026. Battery Station’s discontinued listing is a retailer-specific sourcing limitation. 

Confirm the exact retail product and current availability with a supplier before planning a reorder.

Duracell High Power 123

Duracell High Power 123 pros

• Manufacturer explicitly guarantees ten years in storage.
• Verified UK single-cell listing.

Duracell High Power 123 cons

• Sampled single-cell price is higher than Energizer’s at the same retailer.

Why we picked Duracell High Power 123

We included Duracell for its explicit storage guarantee, a clear published term for buyers keeping spare stock. 

The guarantee concerns storage rather than time powering equipment. We could not verify a product-level review figure, so we have omitted a rating.

Duracell High Power 123 pricing

Battery Station displayed £2.59 including VAT (£2.16 excluding VAT) for one Duracell DL123 CR123A cell on 16 October 2026, excluding delivery. 

We would weigh the storage guarantee against purchasing requirements rather than assume the higher price means longer runtime.

VARTA CR123A

VARTA CR123A pros

• Up to ten years’ shelf life advertised for the lithium cylindrical range, including CR123A.
• Verified UK ten-pack purchasing option.

VARTA CR123A cons

• Ten cells may exceed a small replacement requirement and leave surplus stock.

Why we picked VARTA CR123A

We picked VARTA for planned replenishment where several devices already specify CR123A. A ten-pack can reduce repeat ordering, provided the quantity matches expected demand. 

Logging which devices take CR123A cells, and when each was last changed, works on the same principle as smarter infrastructure tracking: you see replacements coming instead of reacting to failures.

We found 10 user reviews on idealo for VARTA Professional Lithium 6205 201 401, but idealo discloses paid Cimenio reviews, which limits their usefulness as independent evidence.

VARTA CR123A pricing

Battery Station displayed £15.75 including VAT (£13.13 excluding VAT) for ten cells on 16 October 2026, excluding delivery. 

Check that the pack fits your replacement schedule before committing to surplus spares.

Conclusion

GP Lithium CR123A remains our top pick for its documented specifications and storage guidance. 

Its -40°C to +60°C operating range and up to ten years’ shelf life make it a practical choice for keeping spares on hand. Confirm regional purchasing terms before ordering.

For UK single-cell replenishment, consider Energizer. Panasonic needs a sourcing check, Duracell offers an explicit storage guarantee, and VARTA suits planned ten-pack orders. 

Match the manual first, then compare pack quantities, VAT and delivered totals.

FAQs

What is a CR123A battery?

It’s a 3V primary lithium cylindrical cell, about 17mm wide and 34.5mm tall. It’s also sold as 123, DL123A or CR17345.

Can I use a rechargeable battery instead?

Only if the equipment manual allows it. Rechargeable lithium-ion versions run at a higher voltage, which some devices can’t handle.

How long do CR123A batteries last in storage?

All five brands here advertise up to ten years for unused cells kept in suitable conditions. That figure covers shelf life, not runtime inside a device.

How should I store spare cells?

Keep them cool and dry, away from direct sunlight, and in their original packaging so the terminals don’t touch.