Lithium vs Nickel Cordless Tool Battery: Which One Should You Buy?
Lithium vs nickel cordless tool battery: lithium wins for cordless tools, and four 20V lithium listings are compared on capacity, safety and warranty.
On this page
Top picks at a glance
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- 1
Extended 18V Cordless Electric Ratchet Wrench Set 3/8" Drive9.6/10View on Amazon - 2
SUZUME 24-piece Flex Head Ratcheting Wrench Set Metric & SAE9.7/10View on Amazon - 3
AOBEN Cordless Electric Ratchet Wrench Set9.4/10View on Amazon - 4
Biswaye LBXR20 20V Lithium Battery Compatible with Black &View on Amazon - 5
Milwaukee Electric Tool 48-11-1820 Red Lithium 2.0 CompactView on Amazon - 6
POPULO 20V Max Lithium Ion 2.0Ah Battery Pack PPLBPView on Amazon - 7
Milwaukee 48-11-2420View on Amazon - 8
Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 Cordless 3/8" Lithium-Ion RatchetView on Amazon - 9
Milwaukee 2625-20 M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless HackzallView on Amazon
Lithium vs nickel cordless tool battery is a settled question for anyone buying today: lithium wins for cordless tools, and every one of the four listings here is lithium. Nickel batteries, the older NiCd and NiMH chemistries, self-discharge faster on the shelf, and NiCd in particular suffers from memory effect; the Biswaye listing states its lithium batteries have no memory effect and hold a charge for up to 500 charges. Buy lithium, match the voltage to your tools, and pick capacity by how long you work between charges.
More options to compare
Biswaye LBXR20 20V Lithium Battery Compatible with Black &Check price on Amazon
Milwaukee Electric Tool 48-11-1820 Red Lithium 2.0 CompactCheck price on Amazon
POPULO 20V Max Lithium Ion 2.0Ah Battery Pack PPLBPCheck price on Amazon
Milwaukee 48-11-2420Check price on Amazon
Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 Cordless 3/8" Lithium-Ion RatchetCheck price on Amazon
Milwaukee 2625-20 M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless HackzallCheck price on Amazon
GarageToolHQ earns a commission when you buy through links on our product pages, at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Lithium vs nickel cordless tool battery: the short answer
Nickel chemistries are the past of cordless tools: heavier for the same runtime, prone to memory effect (NiCd especially) if recharged before they are empty, and quick to self-discharge on the shelf. Lithium-ion improved on all three, which is why the listings here are uniformly lithium. The BLACK+DECKER 2.0Ah battery states high quality lithium-ion cells with self-regulating technology that monitors voltage and temperature to protect against overloading. The Biswaye 4.0Ah listings state multi-layer safety against overcharge, over-discharge, short-circuit, overcurrent, overvoltage and overheating, plus FCC, RoHS and CE compliance. No nickel battery appears in these listings, so there is nothing to compare on the nickel side beyond the chemistry’s known drawbacks.
The four lithium listings in this guide
Four 20V MAX lithium listings, ranked by our scores. No nickel battery was included in the listings for this comparison.
| Battery | Stated capacity | Chemistry | Safety stated | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biswaye LBXR20 2-pack | 4.0Ah (4000mAh) | Lithium Ion | FCC, RoHS, CE; multi-layer protection | 1-year support |
| Biswaye LBXR20 single | 4.0Ah | Lithium Ion | FCC, RoHS, CE; protection microchip | Not stated |
| BLACK+DECKER LBXR2020 | 2.0Ah | Lithium Ion | Self-regulating voltage and temperature | Not stated |
| BLACK+DECKER LCS1620B | Charger, not a battery | N/A | UL listed | 2 Year Limited |
Biswaye LBXR20 2-pack. Two 4.0Ah 20V lithium batteries stated as compatible with Black & Decker 20V MAX tools, with 4000mAh capacity each. The listing states multi-layer protection against overcharge, over-discharge, short-circuit, overcurrent, overvoltage and overheating, and FCC, RoHS and CE compliance. It states no memory effect and up to 500 charges, and offers 1-year support. One quirk: the spec table lists 8 ounces item weight against 882 g battery weight; trust the 8-ounce item weight for the 2-pack as listed.
Biswaye LBXR20 single. A single 4.0Ah 20V lithium battery with the same stated Black & Decker 20V MAX compatibility. The listing states a built-in microchip against overcharging and self-discharge, no memory effect, up to 500 charges, and FCC, RoHS and CE compliance. The spec table lists 7.2 ounces item weight against 436 g battery weight; trust the 7.2-ounce item weight. No warranty term is stated.
BLACK+DECKER LBXR2020-OPE. The OEM 20V MAX 2.0Ah lithium battery with POWERCONNECT, stated for the 20V MAX range of DIY and outdoor tools. The listing states self-regulating technology that monitors voltage and temperature against overloading, and a secure easy-release latch. The weight is 14.08 oz. The warranty field reads only “Blend” with no term, so no warranty term is stated.
BLACK+DECKER LCS1620B. A 12V/20V MAX lithium charger, not a battery: it charges slide-pack 1.5Ah batteries in 40 minutes or less, with a green indicator for charging and full. The spec table states UL and a 2-year limited warranty. The weight is 3.84 oz.
What the listings state about safety
Lithium batteries need protection circuitry, and the listings describe it in their own words. BLACK+DECKER states self-regulating technology on the 2.0Ah battery and UL on the charger. Biswaye states multi-layer protection and a protection microchip on the batteries, with FCC, RoHS and CE compliance on both. None of the four is a nickel battery, so the listings say nothing about nickel-specific handling; the practical takeaway is the one the listings agree on, which is to use the charger and voltage your tool maker specifies.
Buying advice: matching a battery and charger to your tools
Start with capacity and the job. The BLACK+DECKER OEM battery here is a 2.0Ah pack the listing pitches at DIY projects and quick home and yard cleanups, and the listing itself points longer or heavier jobs toward a 3.0Ah battery or higher. The Biswaye replacements are 4.0Ah (4000mAh) each against the OEM battery’s 2.0Ah, which matters on a leaf blower or a long drilling session and matters little on a flashlight. No listing here states a runtime in minutes, so compare the stated amp-hours and the tool’s draw, not a time estimate.
Check compatibility by model number. The Biswaye listings name dozens of Black & Decker 20V MAX tools, from LST201 and LST300 trimmers to LDX220C drills, and name the LCS1620, LCS1620B and BDCAC202B chargers as compatible. The BLACK+DECKER charger here is the LCS1620B: it recharges slide-pack 1.5Ah batteries in 40 minutes or less, shows a green indicator while charging and when full, carries UL and states a 2-year limited warranty. If your charger is a different model, check its listing before assuming it fits.
Read the protection claims the way you read the capacity. BLACK+DECKER states self-regulating technology that monitors voltage and temperature to protect against overloading on the 2.0Ah battery. Biswaye states multi-layer protection against overcharge, over-discharge, short-circuit, overcurrent, overvoltage and overheating, plus a protection microchip on the single pack, and lists FCC, RoHS and CE compliance. These are the makers’ stated claims, not independent verification.
Finally, weigh the warranty you actually get. The LCS1620B charger states a 2-year limited warranty and the Biswaye 2-pack offers 1-year support, while the BLACK+DECKER battery’s warranty field reads only “Blend” with no term and the Biswaye single states no warranty term either. A stated term beats a support promise, and both beat silence.
Lead-acid batteries can release hydrogen while charging, so charge in a ventilated space away from sparks and flames, connect positive first and negative last, set the charger to the battery type (flooded, AGM, gel, lithium), and wear eye protection. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lithium better than nickel for cordless tools?
Yes. Lithium has no memory effect, holds its charge on the shelf and weighs less for the same runtime. All four listings here are lithium; none is nickel.
What does no memory effect mean?
The Biswaye listing states its batteries have no memory effect in any charge state, so topping up a half-used battery does not reduce its capacity. Nickel-cadmium batteries lose capacity when recharged before they are empty; nickel-metal-hydride suffers less, but both self-discharge faster than lithium.
Which of these has the most capacity?
The Biswaye 4.0Ah batteries, 2-pack and single, at a stated 4000mAh each. The BLACK+DECKER OEM battery is 2.0Ah. The LCS1620B is a charger, not a battery.
Which state a warranty?
The BLACK+DECKER charger states a 2-year limited warranty, and the Biswaye 2-pack offers 1-year support. The BLACK+DECKER battery and the Biswaye single state no warranty term.
Are the Biswaye batteries compatible with my Black & Decker tools?
The listings state compatibility with Black & Decker 20V MAX tools and list dozens of model numbers, and state compatibility with the LCS1620 and LCS1620B chargers. Check your exact model number against the listing before buying.
Related: the battery charger vs battery maintainer, AGM vs flooded battery charger and 12V vs 20V cordless drill guides.
