X2 Power battery vs Optima – the unknown compared to the known

Car batteries are important; they are your basic source of movement and portability. Therefore, it is always important to choose the right one for your automotive machine, at least for the sake of your own progress.

Having your car break down in the middle of the road is not a fun experience, and neither is trying to find a solution to the problem when there are few options available to you at that time.

That makes it important to continuously prepare yourself with the right battery for these situations, as they will help to diagnose the problem and rectify it; sort of like a ‘first aid’ for your car.

However, with so many brands on the market, choosing the right battery can be a challenge to say the least, and you are unsure many times if your choice is actually the right one.

If this is the case, then it is always helpful to check reviews of different brands. This leads us to our review of the X2 Power battery vs. Optima, and seeing which one fits the bill on your needs.

What are the differences between X2 Power and Optima batteries?

Battery model	X2 Power	Optima
Cold cranking amps	850 to 900	720 to 800
Weight (in lbs.)	40	32
	Check here	Check here

X2 Power vs. Optima – how these two compare

These two forms of battery do not have very many differences, as they both provide good service and cold cranking ability. There are a few things to note though, which are:

Their cold cranking differences

Cold weather and winters are not ideal times to rev up a car, as the engine likely struggles before you can make something out of it. The hard conditions also make the car slow down or keep breaking down, especially when it gets very cold. It is always good to choose the right batteries that can handle the situation at hand, which you can know through checking the CCA, or cold cranking amps.

The X2 and Optima batteries are similar in their CCA rating, although the Optima has a greater CCA range compared to the X2. This allows you to use it more in a variety of environments, and rev up different engines, even in very bad winter weather.

The X2, being similar to models such as Odyssey batteries, has about the same attributes to serve a more casual use approach, but the Optima chooses to specialize in different environments and make their batteries suitable for each place. They will also add reliability, resistance to heavy vibration problems (a great issue for many car batteries) and a good performance.

Designs

The design of these two is different, as the X2 employs the use of AGM plate design much more than the Optima, which uses a Spiral-Cell design of the plates. The AGM design in the X2 means that it is greater on delivery and efficiency while taking up as little space as possible, which is where it beats the Spiral design of the Optima cell.

AGM batteries are fairly new when it comes to the improvement mechanisms of batteries, and they came onto the scene in the 1980s. Rather than using the spiral plate terminals of a normal car battery, they sue plates instead, which are comprised of thin fiberglass that is tightly compressed together.

The result is that the battery will release excess pressure rather than the electrolyte, and eliminates the need of frequent topping up with water or the battery electrolyte. It also leads to a 95% higher electrolyte saturation, making it more efficient than the traditional battery – and this is the design that the X2 uses.

If your car or automobile use is occasional, then the spiral cell design of the Optima will not be an issue for you. However, it can present a problem if you want greater levels of power and efficient use of energy, in which case the X2 is a better choice.

X2 Power vs. Optima – A comparison review

X2 Power battery – Overview and key features

Not much is known about X2 Power batteries, as they are relatively new and not as frequently used as other car battery brands. They do, however, share many similarities to the Odyssey batteries, since they are made by the same manufacturer. This also means that their technological aspects help them to stand out from other batteries.

Their design allows for a greater coverage of surface area, which is about 15% more than the usual car battery, and it also allows them to have a greater surface area to extend their operation. The greater surface area makes them hardy and strong, as well as classifying them in batteries that are heavy-duty types.

Similar to the Optima battery, they also rev up your engine in colder weather, though they cannot go as low as other batteries you might see. The minimum they can get is at -20^OF, but the good news is that they come to you fully charged – so you do not need to spend time charging them after buying them.

The battery primarily uses AGM (absorbent glass mat) technology, which means that there is little sense of wasted space when you have them. That is also why they seem to have a good cycle life, and are very useful when it comes to winching tasks. They are also deep cycle types, having a depth of discharge of 70 to 80% and a cycle rate of 350 to 400.

They have several batteries in their range of models, which include:

Northstar Pure lead 27F battery

This aims to deliver greater reserve capacity and power to you, in order to power all the electronics items you have on board; not just your car. It can exceed the conventional battery lifespan, while delivering greater performance in the long term.

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NorthStar Ultra High performance AGM battery

This is an AGM battery, and will share many of the same features with other AGM battery types. It also has threaded terminals, which enable it to have a greater capacity than the usual battery, along with cold cranking amp ratings of 1150 CCA – quite an impressive feat.

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What we like

• A long warranty available, lasts about 2 years
• Long shelf life
• They are quite flexible in mounting ability
• They have a longer life cycle and deep cycle abilities
• Long service life for any issues down the road (the maximum is 10 years)
• Good reliability

What we do not like

• Tend to have issues with overcharging
• There is not much information on X2 power batteries, which makes it hard to narrow down your choices

What can you see with the X2 Power battery?

• Has AGM construction, which reduces the tendency to spill electrolyte
• The lead plates are easy to recycle
• Rugged and durable construction
• Very wide range of cranking abilities and deep cycle performance

Optima battery – Overview and key features

Optima batteries are famous – some people love them, while others loathe them. It is easy to understand why this is the case when you look at the claims that Optima makes in their advertising claims, saying that the battery can withstand all conditions you can even imagine and still come out on top. The truth of the matter is complicated though; while it does stay true to some of its marketing claims, others are off-beat by a wide margin.

There is one feature that makes Optima batteries distinct, regardless of the type you are dealing with – the Spiral Cell feature. This helps them to maintain high levels of efficiency when you use them, while also preventing the common annoying issues of vibration and shock.

There are three types of Optima batteries, each being suitable for certain environments and uses. It is therefore essential that you select the type that fits your needs best, since they cater to different scenarios. They are:

BlueTop battery

Also referred to as the ‘marine version of Optima batteries’, these work best for boats and water vessels – so organize for one if you regularly go fishing on the lake or go cruising in the ocean.

They also carry the best attributes of the other two types, as they have elements of very fast charging rates, high durability, and 3 times greater capacity of storage of energy. They will also serve you well even where other batteries cannot, since they feature a rugged and durable build as well.

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RedTop battery

Among the three, these are the most famous of the bunch and many owners of Optima batteries enjoy or prefer to use them. They are quite versatile, and can handle cars and machines that require high cold cranking amps, such as off-road cars, street rods, SUVs, and trucks.

The design features a greater extent of the SpiralCell technology, which allows them to have high charge storage for the ignition scenarios, when you need quick startups of at most 5 seconds – and they can help when you want to reduce the instances when sudden failure of your car battery occurs.

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YellowTop battery

This is the most versatile option among the Optima batteries, and it tends to work very well or scenarios when you need high use of power in a car. The reason is because of their fast recovery rates, as well as their capacity to meet the strictest of peak performance standards – as well as their quick cranking and cycling power.

They can work very well for you if you have an automotive lying around and it needs high performance to stay in action – such as a commercial car, trucks, or cars that have high-power stereo systems.

The low internal resistance of a YellowTop is responsible for their high performance, thanks to the low internal resistance and shorter charging time.

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What we like

• They all have a quick ignition, regardless of the external conditions
• Spiral Cell technology increases their efficiency rates
• Low maintenance and design is leak-proof
• Easy to mount in any position
• Have high strength against vibration issues
• Have a large reserve capacity

What we do not like

• They tend to be more expensive than most brands
• Some of them have lower battery life problems

What can you see with the Optima battery?

• They have good resistance to vibration problems
• Have a battery capacity of 12V
• Spiral Celltechnology makes them leak-proof and efficient compared to other batteries
• Powerful energy starting mechanism
• Long lifespan compared to most batteries

Verdict: So which is better? The X2 Power battery or the Optima?

The narrowing down of the choice between these two are difficult, as the X2 does not have a lot of information about it, while the Optima has let down many people due to the price and that some models have issues with quick discharging. However, we must narrow it down to one choice, and the Optima comes out on top as its advantages are greater than the drawbacks – especially if you can afford it.

Frequently asked questions

Are GAM Batteries safe to use?

Improvements in technology bring with them other ways to increase the safety factor – so yes, they are safe to use as well. Since the battery does not drain out the electrolyte but instead the excess pressure, the manufacturer adds a backup protection to prevent explosions. This factor is usually placed at the battery’s end.

Why is it important to use AGM batteries?

The answer to this lies in two major reasons; it will always save the consumption of fuel that your car or vessel uses, and it will aid in the further development of the car itself. This is mainly due to the fact that the AGM battery carries a greater charge capacity compared to a normal car battery type, and it can also handle many more charge cycles without the risk of long term damage.

How long does a car battery last?

This will vary widely according to several factors. these include the frequency of use, the charging methods you use, the maintenance levels you take, and the temperatures your battery is in, both when the car is on and off.

It is also important to note that many issues relating to batteries are due to parasitic voltage or bad charging issues, which result in faster draining rates.