Automotive · Head-to-head
NOCO Genius5 5-Amp Smart Battery Charger vs CTEK MXS 5.0 Battery Charger
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Car Battery Chargers & Maintainers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The NOCO Genius5 is the charger to buy first because it charges, revives, and maintains nearly any battery you own, including lithium, in one compact unit. The CTEK MXS 5.0 is the premium alternative worth its price if you specifically want the most thorough recovery and upkeep for lead-acid and AGM batteries.
NOCO Genius5 5-Amp Smart Battery Charger
Buy itA pocket-sized charger that handles almost every 6V or 12V battery chemistry, recovers dead ones, and maintains for months.
- Charges 6V and 12V lead-acid (flooded, gel, AGM, deep-cycle) and lithium LiFePO4 from one unit
- Repair mode uses pulse charging to detect and reverse sulfation on tired batteries
- Force Mode can wake batteries that have dropped near zero volts, which most chargers refuse to touch
- Thermal sensor adjusts the charge for hot or cold ambient temperatures
- At 5 amps it is not the fastest way to bulk-charge a large, deeply drained battery
- The many modes and LED icons take a read of the manual to learn
CTEK MXS 5.0 Battery Charger
Buy itA premium 8-step charger that specializes in gently reviving and reconditioning neglected lead-acid and AGM batteries.
- Eight-stage cycle including desulfation, a dedicated AGM mode, and a RECOND step that can restore deeply discharged batteries
- Independent testing and owner reports praise its gentle, thorough charging and long service life
- Fully automatic connect-and-forget maintenance you can leave on all winter
- Weatherproof, spark-free, and reverse-polarity protected
- Does not charge lithium LiFePO4 batteries, which need CTEK's separate lithium model
- 12V only, so no 6V classics or powersport batteries
- Costs noticeably more than equally capable lead-acid chargers
Side by side
| NOCO Genius5 5-Amp Smart Battery Charger | CTEK MXS 5.0 Battery Charger | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants one charger for the car, motorcycle, mower, and lithium powersport batteries alike. | Owners of AGM-equipped or seasonally stored vehicles who want the most thorough lead-acid recovery and upkeep. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the NOCO Genius5 5-Amp Smart Battery Charger - A pocket-sized charger that handles almost every 6V or 12V battery chemistry, recovers dead ones, and maintains for months. Choose the CTEK MXS 5.0 Battery Charger instead if owners of AGM-equipped or seasonally stored vehicles who want the most thorough lead-acid recovery and upkeep.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Car Battery Chargers & Maintainers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).