CR2032 or CR2025 are micro-batteries, also known as a button or coin cells/batteries, that are used to power small portable devices such as pocket calculators, hearing aids, watches, and even children’s toys. Any electronic device that is very small in size is more often than not powered by a micro battery. Moreover, the familiar button cells that one comes across in the market are only a type of micro battery.
There are various options in micro-batteries beyond Lithium-ion batteries that are still being developed. Nevertheless, most people still use Lithium batteries. The ‘CR’ in the names CR2032 or CR2025 refers to Coin Manganese Dioxide Lithium batteries. Of course, a CR2025 vs CR2032 analysis will reveal subtle differences between the two micro-batteries; however, they are placed under the same category as they are lithium batteries.
Similarly, ‘SR’ stands for Silver Oxide batteries and ‘LR’ for Alkaline Manganese batteries. Certain products that come with CR micro-batteries also mention other models or types of micro-batteries, such as SR or LR, in case you don’t have a CR micro battery by your side. In comparison, CR batteries are often high voltage and high energy density batteries. You can use them at any temperature, and thus, they have a wide application. That’s why you’ll mostly find CR micro-batteries in most products.
CR micro-batteries become especially important in electronic medical devices such as hearing aids because a hearing-impaired person would not be able to conduct their day-to-day business without them. Thus, it’s often recommended that anyone who uses electronic medical equipment keep a few extra batteries handy. Moreover, micro-batteries such as CR2032 and CR2025 are essential in today’s digital and electronically-dominated world.
So, what’s the difference between CR2025 and CR2032?
Technical specifications of CR2025 and CR2032
CR2025
- Manganese dioxide lithium micro battery.
- Operates at 3.0V nominal voltage but has a cut-off voltage of 2.0V.
- Maximum electrical current: 0.14A (lesser than CR2032).
- Weights around 2.8 grams.
CR2032
- CR2032, like CR2025, is a manganese dioxide lithium micro battery.
- Operates at 3.0V nominal voltage.
- Maximum electrical current: 0.19A.
- At 200C, its capacity is around 200mAh.
- Non-rechargeable.
- When in use, it self-discharges at a rate of 1% (which is quite minimal).
- The battery itself weighs around 3 grams.
A comparison between the two
CR2025 weighs less than CR2032, but a difference of 0.2 grams doesn’t really make a difference. This disparity in weight arises due to the fact that CR2032 is 0.7 mm thicker than CR2025. Due to it being thicker, CR2032 is able to provide more capacity and has a longer-lasting life than CR2025.
Both of these micro-batteries are manufactured by known brands such as Duracell, Panasonic, Energizer, Philips, etc. CR2025 is more suited to children’s toys and pocket calculators. Children’s toys anyway do not last that long and are not considered a critical piece of electronic device, unlike hearing aids. Thus, the shorter lifespan of the micro battery doesn’t really make a difference. It is more likely that the toy will break before the battery runs out. In the case of calculators, it is not used continuously, unlike watches and hearing aids.
CR2032 becomes a better option as it has a longer lifespan. CR2025 has an estimated life of 680 service hours at around 20-25 degrees celsius. CR2032, on the other hand, can last much longer. In-car key fobs, for example, can last up to 6-7 years. However, the battery life depends upon many factors such as climate, temperature, handling, storage condition, quality of material used, and storage time. Yet, if you ensure that all the conditions are ideal, CR2032 will last much longer than CR2025.
That doesn’t mean, however, that CR2025 becomes completely irrelevant. It is still viable for electronic devices that do not have the space for a 0.7mm thicker coin micro battery. The amp-hours for both the micro-batteries also depend upon the load they receive.
In conclusion, it is best to first identify the purpose of the micro battery that you will be buying. Will it be for a children’s toy or a medical hearing aid? Once you’ve decided the purpose, you should decide between CR2025 and CR2032. Moreover, you will also have to consider the different brands and the quality of micro-batteries that they offer. This is important as that can affect the performance of the micro battery. A CR2032 micro battery that is not up to the mark quality-wise will have an inferior lifespan than a CR2025 micro battery manufactured by a quality brand.