NOCO Genius Vs. Genius PRO: Which Is The Better Battery Charger Series?

(Last Updated On: March 14, 2024)

If you are in the search for a trustworthy NOCO automotive battery charger that offers the best value for your money, it might get overwhelming. There is a wide range of very similar products available, and deciding which one to purchase or use can be challenging. In this comparison piece between Genius and Genius PRO, you will be provided with all the distinctions and commonalities between the two.

NOCO Genius is a line of products commonly used on vehicles with 6V or 12V battery systems. NOCO Genius Pros are mainly designed for heavy-duty trucks.

Every NOCO battery charger in each category has its features and capabilities. With this detailed review of Genius and Genius Pro, you will understand every product to make an informed decision.

NOCO Genius Vs. Genius PRO: Complete Comparison Table

NOCO Genius Vs. Genius PRO: The Similarities?

Battery Types And Chemistries

Both NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro are series of battery chargers, maintainers, and desulfator that largely support the same battery types and chemistry, with the exception of the Genius2D. They are designed for lead-acid automotive, marine, and deep cycle batteries such as flooded, gel, AGM, lithium-ion, calcium, enhanced flooded and maintenance-free batteries.

Automatic Charging

Both NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro are automated battery chargers. So, you don’t have anything to worry about. They will safely charge your battery from start to finish without your involvement. These battery chargers can also auto-detect damaged batteries and attempt to repair them. Once hooked, you can rest easy knowing that your automotive battery is properly maintained all year round without your intervention. Also, the battery chargers have safe circuitry that prevents overcharging your battery.

Thermal Compensation

Both NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro have an integrated thermal sensor that constantly monitors temperature variation and automatically adjusts the charging cycle. These automotive battery chargers guarantee an accurate and fully charged battery and indicate any charging errors.

Battery Detection And Force Mode

Both NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro have charging modes for different battery types. They will quickly detect batteries at 1V and above to charge them, otherwise, there’s a force mode that allows these chargers to charge the batteries.

NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro have forced modes. This mode is used to charge batteries that are drained to below 1V. When triggered, all charge modes LED lights flash, and the LED for the mode comes on.

Desulfation Mode

NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro have an automatic desulfation mode. That allows them to apply appropriate voltage and current to the battery to break down sulfate crystals in the charge cycle. The battery can be recovered and charged to its capacity.

Safety Features 

NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro are built with safety features to protect your battery and improve its lifespan. They can monitor the battery charge status to prevent overcharging, which mainly causes battery damage. These chargers also have reverse polarity protection, thereby protecting your automotive battery.

In summary, the NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius PRO product series all have the following safety features:

• Short-Circuit prevention;
• Open-Circuit prevention;
• Overheating prevention;
• Overcharge prevention;
• Spark-Proof;
• Reverse Polarity detection.

Warranty

NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro battery chargers have a 3-year hassle-free warranty and support.

NOCO Genius Vs. Genius PRO: The Differences?

Charging Volts

The charging voltage differs between NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro. NOCO Genius automotive battery chargers are compatible with either 12V or 6V batteries, while NOCO Genius Pro supports 6V, 12V, and 24V batteries. If you are looking for a battery charger and maintainer for your heavy-duty vehicle, choose NOCO Genius Pro.

Charge Modes

Charge modes also vary between NOCO Genius Pro and NOCO Genius, but it depends on the particular product. NOCO Genius1, Genius2, Genius2X2, and Genius2X4 have 6V and 12V, 12V AGM, and 12V Lithium charging modes. However, Genius2D is only compatible with 12V batteries. Genius5 and Genius10 have an additional 12V repair mode for repairing old, idle, damaged, stratified, or sulfated batteries. The Genius10 also has the 12V supply mode for supplying DC voltage needed to power any 12V equipment.

The NOCO Genius Pro battery chargers have more charging modes than NOCO Genius. The GeniusPro25 and GeniusPro50 have additional 6V AGM, 6V Lithium, 6V Repair, 24V AGM, 24V Lithium, and 24V Repair modes. They also have 12V and 24V DC separate outlets for supplying equipment requiring such voltages.

Dual Voltage

NOCO Genius battery chargers don’t have a dual voltage power supply. In fact, only Genius10 has a single 12V power supply. All other Geniuses don’t have a power supply mode. NOCO GeniusPro25 and GeniusPro50 have a dual 12V and 24V DC voltage supply for powering instruments and equipment requiring such voltages.

Reduced Charge Current Mode

NOCO Geniuses don’t have the reduced charge current mode. This mode allows the battery charger to operate at a lower charge current for batteries with smaller capacities or maintenance. GeniusPro50 has 10A reduced charge mode, while GeniusPro25 has 5A reduced charge modes.

Charge Levels

NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro have 6 charging levels. They both indicate when the battery is below 25% charged, 50% charged, 75% charged, and 100% charged. Also, when the charge is complete, both show a solid green LED.

The difference in charging levels is at the optimization level. In NOCO Genius, this mode is shown by a pulsating green LED, indicating that the bulk charge is complete and the battery is optimized for extended life. This is equivalent to the 100% charged mode in Genius Pro.

In NOCO Genius Pro, optimization is shown by the LED bar that turns off once the optimization is complete. It is the equivalent of maintenance in NOCO Genius. This charging mode allows the battery chargers to be connected to the battery indefinitely.

Advanced Diagnostic

For NOCO Geniuses 1, 2, 5, and 10, advanced diagnostics include high voltage, bad battery, reverse polarity, standby mode, and temperature. Any of these states or issues will be indicated by the respective LEDs. For high or low temperatures, all error LEDs flash. The battery charging will only resume when the temperature is back to the operating limits. Other NOCO Geniuses also have these advanced diagnostic functions, but the indication is different. You should check the product you buy to understand it.

NOCO GeniusPro25 and Pro50 also have the same diagnostic functions. The only difference is how low and high temperatures are indicated. For NOCO Genius Pros, a red thermometer LED illuminates if the charger’s internal temperature is high. It informs you that the charging has been stopped and will resume once the temperature goes down. If the ambient temperature is too low, all error LEDs flash.  

Genius

Genius1

Genius1 is an all-in-one solution, being able to charge, maintain, and desulfate batteries. This automotive battery charger is designed for all types of 6V or 12V batteries, including flooded, gel, AGM, and maintenance-free, plus lithium-ion batteries. It is also compatible with all vehicles.

Genius1 has four charging modes: 6V and 12V, 12V AGM, 12V Lithium, and supply 1A of current. That allows you to use it for maintaining different batteries. Like all other NOCO battery chargers, Genius1 is automated and equipped with safety features and thermal compensation.

Genius2

Genius2 is similar to Genius1 in many aspects, such as the charging modes and battery types supported. This automatic battery charger and desulfator is equipped with thermal compensation. It, however, produces a higher charging current of 2A and can handle batteries of higher capacities.

Genius2 allows you to automatically repair and improve the performance of your battery. Everything is automated. So, just hook it up to the system and forget about it. It is designed with safety features to prevent overcharge and extend the lifespan of your battery.

Genius5

Genius5 has an improved charging current of up to 5A and a 12V repair mode, which the previous two versions did not have. It allows you to repair damaged or sulfated batteries to be fully charged again.

Like all other Genius battery chargers mentioned, Genius5 is also automated and equipped with safety features for protecting your battery from the premature end of life. It also has an integrated thermal sensor that constantly monitors the temperature variations and adjusts accordingly.

Genius10

The main highlights of Genius10 compared to the previous products include more charging modes and higher charging currents of 10A. It is the only Genius automotive battery charger with a 12-volt DC power supply and 6V AGM charge mode. It also has a 12V repair mode as Genius5.

When going for this product, be aware that it also has thermal compensation, automatic battery detection, and intelligent charging. It is compatible with 6V and 12V flooded, gel, AGM, and lithium-ion batteries.

Genius2D

Genius2D is similar to Genius2 in all aspects. The only difference is that it supports only 12V lead-acid batteries. That means you should only choose it if your vehicle has a 12V battery system. All other features such as charging current, charging modes, and safety features remain the same.

Genius2D is also automated and has protection features such as reverse polarity and overcharge. Thermal compensation enables it to accurately charge the battery to its capacity.

Genius2X2

Unlike Genius2D, Genius2x2 has a higher charging current of 2A on each of the two banks and supports both 6V and 12V batteries. You can use it for flooded, gel, AGM, and lithium-ion batteries on any automotive. Genius2x2 has 6V, 12V, 12V AGM, and 12V Lithium charge modes, just like Genius1, Genius2, and Genius2D.

You can rely on Genius2x2 to maintain your automotive battery and improve its service life. This battery charger is automated to safely charge the battery and do maintenance. With thermal compensation, the charge will be accurate.

Genius2X4

Compared to Genius2x2, Genius2x4 has a much higher charging current of 2A on each of the 4 banks. With it, you can charge up to 4 devices at once with 2A charging current. All other features remain the same. Genius2x4 is compatible with 6V and 12V flooded, gel, AGM, and lithium-ion batteries on any vehicle.

Genius2x4 also features advanced technologies that allow it to safely charge and protect your battery from overcharging and reverse polarity. Automation and thermal compensation are universal features of any NOCO Genius battery charger, and Genius2x4 is not exceptional.

Genius PRO

Genius PRO25

Genius Pro25 is a more advanced battery charger compared to Geniuses. What they have in common includes thermal protection, safety features, battery types supported, automatic battery charging and detection, and desulfation mode. Beyond that, Genius Pro25 becomes a tool on another level.

Genius Pro25 supports 6V, 12V, and 24V batteries, making it the best option for heavy-duty vehicles with 24V battery systems. It can supply a charging current of up to 25A for 1000Ah 6V or 12V batteries and 12.5A for 500Ah 24V batteries. This battery charger is also a dual-voltage power supply, outputting 12V and 24V.

Genius PRO50

Genius Pro50 is in the same league as Genius Pro25, with a few differences. This battery charger can supply up to 50A charging currents for 2000Ah 6V and 12V batteries and 25A for 1000Ah 24V batteries. All other features are duplicated from Genius25.

Genius Pro25 boasts a dual 12V and 24V power supply and multiple charging modes. It bears all other features of NOCO Genius automotive battery charges.

Final thoughts

NOCO automotive battery chargers are designed for an ordinary user without expert knowledge. They help you maintain your battery and lengthen its lifespan. This brand has NOCO Genius and NOCO Genius Pro products that you can buy according to your needs. If you own a light-duty vehicle with either 6V or 12V battery system, Genius10 would be the most recommended choice. It may be priced higher than other products in this series, but it is worth every penny.

Genius Pro25 is the high-end battery charger recommended to heavy-duty vehicle owners. It is cost-effective compared to the Genius Pro50 but offers most functions the latter does. It will help you to automatically charge and maintain any 24V battery on your truck.

Read more:

• Best 12V Battery Charger: Top 10 Picks 2021 (Review and Buying Guide)
• NOCO GEN Vs. GX: Which Battery Charger Should You Choose?