SR44 vs 357
Two codes for one silver oxide cell: SR44 is the IEC designation, 357 the industry number, both 11.6 × 5.4 mm at 1.55 V.
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These are the same battery. SR44 is the international standard code; 357 is the number the watch and camera trade prints on the packet. Same silver oxide chemistry, same 1.55 volts, same 11.6 × 5.4 mm size. If your device asks for one and the shop only has the other, buy it.
- Verdict:
- The same cell — SR44 is the standard code, 357 the retail number
- Interchangeable:
- yes — the same cell under two codes
Side-by-side specifications
| Specification | SR44 | 357 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Silver Oxide | Silver Oxide |
| Type | Button Cell | Button Cell |
| Nominal voltage | 1.55 V | 1.55 V |
| Diameter | 11.6 mm | 11.6 mm |
| Height | 5.4 mm | 5.4 mm |
| Typical capacity | 170–200 mAh | 150–190 mAh |
| Rechargeable | No | No |
| Also sold as | 357, 303, SR44W, V357 | SR44W, SR44, V357, SG13 |
Size comparison
Both cells share an identical 11.6 × 5.4 mm footprint, so physical fit is not the deciding factor here.
Why two codes exist
IEC names a cell after its chemistry and shape — S for silver oxide, R for round. The three-digit numbering grew up separately in the watch trade. Neither scheme replaced the other, so most packets carry both.
What actually varies
Capacity figures differ a little between brands, not between the codes. A 357 from one maker and an SR44 from another are the same cell built to the same size and voltage.
The W and SW suffixes
Where a packet reads SR44W or SR44SW, that marks the high-drain and low-drain constructions. The 357 corresponds to the W variant; the low-drain one is sold as 303.
Which number a packet shows
Watch and camera retailers lead with 357; general electronics suppliers and IEC-facing catalogues lead with SR44. Most packets carry both somewhere on the card, and where only one appears it tells you which trade the seller is in rather than anything about the cell.
Where a real difference can hide
Manufacturers do build high-drain and low-drain variants of this cell, marked SR44W and SR44SW. 357 corresponds to the high-drain W. If a packet says only SR44 it is usually the W type, but a device that draws current in bursts is worth matching deliberately.
Do not read price as quality
Because the two codes sit in different retail channels, the same cell can carry very different prices depending on whether it is sold as a watch battery or as a component. Compare the chemistry and the size, then buy the cheaper of the two.
Can I use a 357 instead of an SR44?
Yes. The SR44 and the 357 are the same cell — 11.6 × 5.4 mm, 1.55 V, silver oxide. The two codes come from different naming schemes, not from different batteries, so whichever you find on the shelf will work.
Check before you swap. Batteries with similar dimensions are not always interchangeable. Always verify voltage, chemistry and the requirements printed in your device manual before fitting a replacement.
SR44 vs 357: common questions
Is the 357 a direct replacement for the SR44?
These are the same battery. SR44 is the international standard code; 357 is the number the watch and camera trade prints on the packet. Same silver oxide chemistry, same 1.55 volts, same 11.6 × 5.4 mm size. If your device asks for one and the shop only has the other, buy it.
What is the difference between the SR44 and the 357?
Two codes for one silver oxide cell: SR44 is the IEC designation, 357 the industry number, both 11.6 × 5.4 mm at 1.55 V. In short: the same cell — SR44 is the standard code, 357 the retail number.
Are the SR44 and the 357 the same size?
Yes. Both measure 11.6 × 5.4 mm, so either fits where the other does. Whether they are interchangeable is an electrical question, not a physical one.
Which lasts longer, the SR44 or the 357?
The SR44. It is rated at 170–200 mAh against 150–190 mAh for the 357 — roughly 1.1× the capacity, though real runtime depends on how much current your device draws.
Background reading
The wider questions behind these two codes.
Mostly the same words — where it matters, coin means the thin 3 V ones
Silver oxide for precision, alkaline for price
Not alternatives — different voltages for different jobs
L is alkaline, S is silver oxide — the number after is the size