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With so many batteries on the market, finding the correct one for your device can be confusing. There’s something uniquely frustrating about scratching your head over battery types and finally making a decision only to realize you’ve made the wrong purchase. Small electronic devices like watches, electric car keys, calculators and even some pacemakers rely on round batteries, such as CR2032 and CR2025 batteries. These may look very similar, and in a lot of ways they indeed are, but there are some important differences. You might be wondering exactly how these little batteries differ, and if they’re practically (and safely) interchangeable with each other. Rest assured these questions will be answered in our comparison of CR2032 vs. CR2025 below.
CR2032 vs. CR2025: Side-By-Side Comparison
| CR2032 | CR2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3g | 2.5g |
| Dimensions | 3.2mm (height) x 20mm (diameter) | 2.5mm (height) x 20mm (diameter) |
| Nominal voltage | 3V | 3V |
| Battery type | Coin | Coin |
| Battery size | 210 – 225 mAh | 150 – 170 mAh |
| Storage life | 10 years | 10 years |
| Operating temperature | 0 – 60℃ | 0 – 60℃ |
| Materials | Lithium | Lithium |
| Uses | Small electronic devices | Small electronic devices |
| Price | $5.99 for a pack of 10 | $5.99 for a pack of 10 |
- A single 2032 Lithium Coin battery can replace two or more conventional batteries
- Primarily used in devices like watches, computer motherboards, calculators, garage door openers, and toys
- Size is 20 x 3.2mm
- Long shelf life
- Full 3V charge
CR2032 vs. CR2025: What’s the Difference?
While these batteries might seem almost identical at first glance, there are some factors to distinguish the two. We’ll get into these down below.
Naming
It’s pretty obvious these batteries share some similarities when it comes to the name, but differ in the numbers used. They’re known as coin batteries since they happen to be coin-shaped. You’d be forgiven for thinking this is what the “C” in the name refers to, but this actually isn’t true.
The letters come from the naming standard devised by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The first letter “C” denotes the chemical composition of the battery, which, in both of these cases, is a lithium manganese dioxide cell. The “R” refers to the shape, which again, is round in both cases. The numbers that follow tell you the dimensions of the battery in millimeters, first the diameter and then the height (or depth). Since these are 20 x 3.2mm and 20 x 2.5mm for CR2032 and CR2025 respectively, this is how you end up with these names. Most lithium-based coin-shaped batteries are named according to this standard.
Uses
These batteries have very similar dimensions, and an identical nominal voltage and operating temperature, so are mostly used for the same applications. This includes a lot of small electronic devices, such as digital thermometers, laser pens, calculators, watches, pacemakers, electric car keys, PDAs, LED lights, stopwatches and calorie counters. If your device is considerably small, there’s a good chance it’ll rely on one of these battery types. As a rule, higher-powered devices that are used more frequently tend to demand CR2032 batteries.
Dimensions
As previously discussed, the names of these batteries come from their measurements. As such, both batteries share the same diameter, but their height differs by approximately 0.7 mm. It’s not a massive difference, but could potentially be important when it comes to using them in a device, particularly those with more limited space for batteries.
Longevity
As we can see, the storage life for both batteries is around 10 years when not in use. This is only when stored properly, however. Ideally, you want to store unused batteries in their original packaging, and keep old and new batteries separate from each other. As well as this, you’ll want to keep them away from metal objects and humidity, and within their safe operating temperatures.
Both types are both considered non-rechargeable, so once they run out, they need to be disposed of and replaced. Since the capacity of the CR2032 is somewhat higher, you can expect this battery to run for longer than the CR2025. All in all, the usage you get out of it depends on the device. Something that is used sporadically, such as an electric car key, will naturally run for a lot longer than something like a tracking device, which is in near-constant use.
Can You Use CR2032 and CR2025 Batteries Interchangeably?
In many cases, the simpler answer is yes, since the dimensions are very similar, and the composition and voltage are identical. However, it’s not always that simple. Since the height of the CR2032 is slightly greater than the CR2025, the physical space within the battery compartment of your device becomes important to consider.
A lot of the time, the engineers have allowed some leniency in the battery space to account for the different sizes. But this isn’t always true. It’s possible that you could damage a CR2032 battery, for example, when trying to fit it into the battery slot. On the other hand, the space might be too big for the CR2025, which leads to an unreliable connection. There is a fix for this, however, as some recommend placing some folded aluminum foil on the positive side of the battery to secure it in place.
- A single 2025 Lithium Coin battery can replace two or more conventional batteries
- Best for devices like remote controls, thermometers, and toys
- Full 3V charge
- Long shelf life
- 20 x 2.5mm size
CR2032 vs. CR2025: 7 Must-Know Facts
- The name for these batteries is derived from their composition, shape, and dimensions
- CR2032 batteries are slightly bigger than CR2025, by a height of 0.7 mm
- CR2025 batteries tend to be slightly cheaper, but you can often purchase CR2032 for the same price
- Both CR2025 and CR2032 have the same applications, as they have the same chemical composition
- CR2032 tends to last longer, due to its greater capacity
- Both CR2032 and CR2025 batteries are non-rechargeable, so will need to be replaced when they run out
- Both battery types have similar uses, mainly for small electronic devices
CR2032 vs. CR2025: Which One is Better? Which Should You Choose?
Firstly, there isn’t much distinction between these batteries, and you should be able to use them interchangeably. The only major differences are the thickness and the capacity; both of these qualities are greater with the CR2032. The larger capacity of the CR2032 means it will last longer than the CR2025. Most battery spaces will account for the very small height difference between these battery types, but sometimes, it will be too small or too big for the CR2032 and CR2025 respectively. In the latter case, you can try inserting some folded aluminum foil to provide a more secure connection. CR2025 tend to be a bit cheaper, but it’s possible to obtain CR2032 batteries for the same price. In this case, it’s wise to go for the CR2032. If you don’t use your intended device very often, and can find CR2025 for a lower cost, they will be more than suitable.
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- LiCB CR2032 3V Lithium Battery(10-Pack)
- A single 2032 Lithium Coin battery can replace two or more conventional batteries
- Primarily used in devices like watches, computer motherboards, calculators, garage door openers, and toys
- Size is 20 x 3.2mm
- Long shelf life
- Full 3V charge
- LiCB CR2025 3V Lithium Battery(10-Pack)
- A single 2025 Lithium Coin battery can replace two or more conventional batteries
- Best for devices like remote controls, thermometers, and toys
- Full 3V charge
- Long shelf life
- 20 x 2.5mm size
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