Head-to-head · Best Car Battery Chargers

Battery Tender Junior vs CTEK MXS 5.0

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Battery Tender Junior comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about budget-conscious users needing reliable maintenance charging — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Car Battery Chargers

Battery Tender Junior

4.3

2 sources1 derived$37.95as of Aug 1

The Battery Tender Junior 800 is a plain, reliable battery maintainer built for long-term storage and upkeep. Reviewers praised its durability and the range of battery types it handles, with one noting it has served continuously for years in a shop environment. Charging is slow and the leads are short, but the build quality and automatic operation make it a solid no-fuss maintainer. Car and Driver recommended it as the best option for powersports, and Hank OHop called it a worthwhile investment over cheaper alternatives.

Strengths

— Simple and automatic operation with LED charge indicators
— Works with multiple battery types including AGM, flooded, gel, and lithium
— Durable build quality with inline fuse and reverse polarity protection

Watch-outs

— Slow charging speed at 800mA
— Relatively short 12-foot leads

$37.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Car Battery Chargers

CTEK MXS 5.0

4.2

3 sources2 derived$114as of Aug 1

The CTEK MXS 5.0 is a smart 12V battery charger for lead-acid batteries that also handles AGM, GEL, EFB, MF, and CA/CA types. Reviewers described the 8-step automatic charging process, which covers desulphation, reconditioning, and maintenance modes. Ease of use is the recurring theme, along with the ability to connect and forget, leaving a battery hooked up long-term without damage. The catch is that this is a European model with a Schuko plug, so it won't work with standard US 120V outlets without an adapter. Car enthusiasts and anyone storing vehicles for extended periods are the recommended buyers.

Strengths

— Automatically runs through 8-step charging program including desulphation and reconditioning
— Supports multiple battery types including AGM, GEL, EFB, MF, CA/CA, and wet batteries
— Features maintenance charging mode that allows long-term connection without battery damage

Watch-outs

— European model with Schuko plug, not directly compatible with US 120V outlets
— Higher price point compared to basic battery chargers

$114 · Buy at rahoerr.com Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Battery Tender Junior

The budget maintainer at $39 — far cheaper than the NOCO Genius 5 or CTEK MXS 5.0, but its 0.75A output is trickle-maintenance only, not fast charging like the NOCO Genius 10.

CTEK MXS 5.0

A premium 4.3A maintainer with an 8-step cycle and reconditioning mode; priced near the NOCO Genius 10 but at lower amperage, trading raw speed for CTEK's refined charging algorithm.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Battery Tender Junior	CTEK MXS 5.0
Voltage	12V	12 V
Output Current	800mA	4.3 A
Battery Type	AGM, flooded, gel, lithium	WET,MF,Ca/Ca,AGM,EFB,GEL
Charging Stages	Not explicitly stated	8 step charging program
Protection	Fuse, reverse polarity	Spark proof and reverse-polarity protected
Input Voltage	120V AC	230V AC
Output Voltage	12V DC	12V DC
Max Charging Current	750mA	5A
Battery Compatibility	AGM, GEL, Flooded (wet cell), Sealed Maintenance-Free	AGM, GEL, EFB, MF, CA/CA, Wet
Cable Length	10.8 ft DC	Mains: 140cm, Output: 108cm
Weight	0.65 lb	0.44 lb
Dimensions	2.9"D x 2.15"W x 4.4"H	5.91"D x 11.02"W x 2.36"H
IP Rating	—	IP65

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