If a flashlight, security sensor, or digital camera takes a battery that is not one of the usual AA, AAA or coin cell sizes, there is a good chance it takes a CR123A. It is one of the more common cylindrical lithium batteries once you get past household electronics, and it is also one of the easier ones to accidentally buy the wrong version of.
What a CR123A actually is
A CR123A is a 3.0V lithium battery, 17mm in diameter and 34.5mm long, noticeably shorter and fatter than an AA. It uses lithium-manganese dioxide chemistry, the same family as a coin cell but built for much higher current draw, which is why it turns up in devices that need a real jolt of power on demand rather than a slow, steady trickle.
What actually uses a CR123A
- Tactical and high-output flashlights, where the high current draw of a bright LED needs a battery that can deliver it without sagging in voltage.
- Digital cameras, particularly older film and some digital point-and-shoots that specify CR123A or 2CR5 in the manual.
- Home security sensors and alarm systems, door and window sensors especially, where long shelf life matters more than raw output.
- Memory backup and specialist industrial equipment, anywhere a compact, high-drain, non-rechargeable cell with a long shelf life is specified.
The mix-up to actually avoid
The one thing worth knowing before you buy: a rechargeable cell, usually labelled RCR123A or 16340, is sold in the same physical size and is easy to confuse with a genuine CR123A. The problem is voltage, not just chemistry. A genuine CR123A is 3.0V. An RCR123A is a lithium-ion rechargeable cell that runs at 3.7V nominal, and can read even higher fully charged, meaningfully more than the device was designed for.
Some modern flashlights are built to accept either and regulate the extra voltage safely. Plenty of older flashlights, cameras, and security sensors are not, and pushing 3.7V into a circuit designed for 3.0V can shorten the device's life or damage it outright. If your device's manual specifies CR123A without mentioning RCR123A or 16340 compatibility, stick to the genuine non-rechargeable cell rather than assuming a rechargeable one is a safe drop-in upgrade.
CR123A vs CR2: not the same battery
A CR2 is a different, smaller lithium cell, 15mm diameter and 27mm long, also 3.0V but with less capacity. The two are sometimes confused because both show up in film cameras and small electronics, but they are not interchangeable, a CR2 is physically too small for a device that specifies CR123A. Check the code on your old battery or your device's manual rather than assuming. If your camera or device specifically calls for a CR2 (also labelled CR15H270), see our genuine Panasonic CR2 rather than substituting a CR123A.
Buying it in Singapore
Our Panasonic CR123A 3V Lithium Battery is a genuine, non-rechargeable cell at 3.0V, the safe default for any device that specifies CR123A without explicitly supporting a rechargeable RCR123A/16340 alternative. Ships from Singapore.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a rechargeable RCR123A instead of a CR123A?
Only if the device explicitly supports it. RCR123A cells run at 3.7V nominal versus a genuine CR123A's 3.0V, and devices not designed for the higher voltage can be damaged by the difference.
Is a CR123A the same as a CR2?
No, a CR2 is a smaller, lower-capacity 3.0V lithium cell, 15mm diameter versus the CR123A's 17mm. They are not interchangeable, a CR2 is physically too small for a CR123A-specified device.
What voltage is a genuine CR123A?
3.0V nominal, non-rechargeable lithium-manganese dioxide chemistry.
How long does a CR123A last unused?
Lithium primary cells like the CR123A have a long shelf life, typically several years, thanks to a low self-discharge rate, which is part of why they suit security sensors and backup equipment that sit unused for long stretches.
Can I recharge a genuine CR123A?
No. A genuine CR123A is a non-rechargeable primary cell. Attempting to recharge one is unsafe; a purpose-built RCR123A rechargeable cell is a different product for devices that specifically support it.
