To maintain the health and charge of your car’s battery, you should consider one of the best smart battery chargers available. These are the cream of the crop in the world of car battery care. But they can do other things too.
Understandably, you may be wondering what the need or, indeed, the point of a smart battery charger is. Overly flash units that are all show and no go? Granted, there is a price premium compared to a bog-standard unit, but it’s true that these chargers offer so much more and can even help you save cash in the long run. Ultimately, the smartest battery chargers are packed with the most modes and features.
On the face of it, car batteries look to have remained largely the same for yonks – a heavy box with some electrons in it. But modern car batteries are far more advanced than they used to be.
The best smart battery chargers 2024 at a glance:
- The best smart battery charger: CTEK MXS 5.0 Battery Charger – buy on Amazon
- Editor’s pick: NOCO GENIUS5UK – buy on Amazon
- Best budget smart battery charger: Ring Automotive Smart Battery Charger – buy on Amazon
Modern cars demand a lot more power than the cars of yesteryear thanks to safety systems, onboard computers, and even stop/start. Thus, batteries need to be able to hold more charge and charge faster, and in doing so, will not tolerate abuse and poor treatment by owners. Smart battery chargers and subsequent battery trickle chargers are great ways of ensuring your vehicle’s battery and electronics are well-conditioned if you leave it for long periods of time.
The best smart battery chargers 2024
The best battery charger
You get a number of modes which allow you to set the charger for a motorcycle, car, as well as some recondition modes which regulate the amount of charge. The cable is quite short at just over a metre, which does hinder its usability.
We've tested it for ourselves, and I found it to be a great steed when keeping my car's battery maintained. I had to park it up for a while, and every time I went out to start it, I could tell that the MXS 5.0 kept the battery well topped up because it fired up and ran perfectly.
I had the rubber protective case among a couple of extra bits with my test item. These quickly add up to a fairly substantial cost, but the premium build quality of the MXS 5.0 along with its great maintaining capabilities meant it proved its worth by the time I no longer had to use it. I just wish, and this was a big gripe in the depths of winter, that the cable was a bit longer.
Read our full CTEK MXS 5.0 review here.
Pros
- Top-quality materials and construction
- Will recondition batteries and maintain them very cleverly
- Does come with some useful optional extras
Cons
- Cable is too short to reach outside plug sockets
- Optional extras, such as longer cables, do add up the cost
| Dimensions | (L) 168mm x (W) 65mm x (H) 38mm |
| Weight | 0.6kg |
| Current | 5A |
| Voltage | 12V |
| IP rating | IP65 |
| Operating temperature | -20 to 50° C |
Editor's pick
The smart features don't end there, the NOCO is able to restore lost battery power by removing power-sapping plates and through a process called acid stratification. What's so impressive about the NOCO is that it can even charge a battery resting at zero volts, normally something a battery booster would be capable of.
Pros
- Excellent features and varying levels of battery conditioning
- Top-quality build and materials
- Suitable for loads of vehicles from motorcycles to cars and even caravans
Cons
- No AGM battery mode available
- No power bank to charge electronic devices
| Dimensions | (L) 117mm x (W) 74mm x (H) 49mm |
| Weight | 0.45kg |
| Current | 5A |
| Voltage | 12V/6V |
| IP rating | IP65 |
| Operating temperature | N/A |
Best budget smart battery charger
The Ring battery charger is also suitable for all battery types. It even features a cold-weather charging mode for use during the winter months. The instructions aren't brilliant though, which lets the side down next to its competitors.
Pros
- Simple to use with simple features
- Well-made and comes with two terminal types
- Good value for money at under £40
Cons
- Not the most advanced option available, but this is reflected in the price
| Dimensions | (L) 183mm x (W) 101mm x (H) 63mm |
| Weight | 0.88kg |
| Current | 3A or 6A |
| Voltage | 12V, 6V |
| IP rating | IP65 |
| Operating temperature | N/A |
Best quality smart battery charger
Unlike the MXS 5.0, it has a supply mode. This means that in the event that the battery needs to be removed, it acts as a power supply, which coincidentally protects your vehicle's electrical settings. The only issue, one that's repeated with the MXS 5.0 and other CTEK chargers, is the cost of the optional extras. When you equip the 7.0 with extras, the price nearly spirals into the £200 range.
Pros
- Great, premium build quality and materials
- Comprehensive level of charging modes
- Intelligently maintains and conditions your battery to good health
Cons
- Optional extras add up to the cost, like its MXS 5.0 sibling and other CTEK chargers
Best premium smart battery charger
However, the Genius 10 also features thermal compensation. This means it monitors the ambient temperature and adjusts the charging cycle accordingly to avoid under or overcharging. The Genius 10 can charge from as low as one volt. But if the battery is reading zero, there is also a manual Force Mode if you need it.
Pros
- Outstanding performance and includes a desulfator
- Top quality construction and materials
- Suitable for a number of vehicles from motorcycles to caravan batteries
Cons
- Potentially overkill for some car owners
| Dimensions | (L) 183mm x (W) 94mm x (H) 60mm |
| Weight | 1.5kg |
| Current | 10A |
| Voltage | 12V, 6V |
| IP rating | IP65 |
| Operating temperature | -20 to 40° C |
Best versatile smart battery charger
It can also be solar-powered, but the solar panel by CTEK is a pricey option. But if you're determined to make trickle charging work purely by using the sun, it can do it. And do it well.
Pros
- Doubles as power bank, thanks to USB slots
- Quick and clever charging system
- Ideal for camping trips and holidays, if you need an extra power bank
Cons
- Solar panel is an extra, although efficient if you get one
Smart battery charger FAQs
What is a smart battery charger?
A smart battery charger is able to charge and trickle charge, like a traditional budget battery charger, but has charging modes specific to each battery type. Smart battery chargers are also programmed with the ability to recondition car batteries.
What do smart battery chargers do?
A smart battery charger on the other hand, is able to charge and trickle charge like a traditional battery charger, but has charging modes specific to each battery type. Smart battery chargers are also programmed with the ability to recondition car batteries. They’re a lot more sympathetic and gentle than, say, battery jump starters, which burst a load of volts into your battery at once.
Battery reconditioning is the stand-out feature of a smart battery charger – especially from an upmarket brand such as NOCO or CTEK. The battery will work to help restore lost performance by working to remove plate coatings that may form on the battery cells that reduce battery effectiveness, restoring lost performance. Smart chargers have a multi-stage cycle when charging car batteries. This begins with something called desulphation – restoring battery capacity by removing sulphate from the battery’s lead plates. The smart charger will then test the battery to see if it is able to accept a charge.
Are smart battery chargers worth it?
When it comes to storing and/or parking up your vehicle for a short (or long) while, a battery charger that can simultaneously monitor and condition your battery is a useful thing to have. It saves having to buy a new battery or even jumpstart the old one.
Buying a new battery for a lot of newer cars now involves coding or programming it to the vehicle itself, which is a bit of admin that simply isn’t needed when you have a battery charger hooked up.
How we choose
All of these smart battery chargers have been hand-selected by our team of experts who have spent hours investigating and researching smart battery chargers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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