TLDR: Both Noco and CTEK have a long pedigree in manufacturing chargers for batteries, so you are going to get a quality product. The CTEK has been around longer and has a much longer warranty period. Pricing of the CTEK is slightly cheaper too. Unless you manage to bag the Noco Genius5 for a bargain, or you really need to be able to charge 6v and lithium batteries, then I would choose the CTEK MXS 5.0.
Buy the Noco Genius5 on amazon | Review & guide: Noco Genius5
Buy the CTEK MXS 5.0 on amazon | Review & Guide:CTEK MXS 5.0
Functionality
Winner: CTEK MXS 5.0
A much longer warranty and proven in-car charging ability gives it the edge here. Although it’s worth mentioning that for non-automotive uses the Noco is also able to charge 6v and lithium batteries.
| Feature | CTEK MXS 5.0 | NOCO Genius5 |
| Automatic detection of stratification & attempts to destratify | Yes | No |
| Temperature compensation during charging | Yes | Yes |
| Supports small and large batteries | Yes | Yes |
| Supports in car charging (i.e. don’t have to disconnect / remove the battery)* | Yes | Yes |
| Supports in car charging with Repair mode (i.e. don’t have to disconnect / remove the battery)* | Yes* | No |
| Power rating | 5 Amps | 5 Amps |
| Use to maintain and trickle charge batteries | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty period | 5 years | 2 years |
*for most / typical car electrical systems – check with your manufacturer first. CTEK support have confirmed it is fine in most applications.
Design and physical features
Winner: Draw
| Feature | CTEK MXS 5.0 | NOCO Genius5 |
| Spashproof | Yes | Yes |
| Compact | Yes | Yes |
| Extension lead available | Available separately | Available separately |
| Battery Clamps | Yes | Yes |
| Fixed battery charging connections | Available separately | Yes – Provided battery clamps convert to eyelet connection* |
*If you convert the clamps of the Noco charger to eyelets, then you won’t have any battery clamps to use.
Supported battery types / technologies
Winner: Draw
| Feature | CTEK MXS 5.0 | NOCO Genius5 |
| 12v | Yes | Yes |
| 12V AGM | Yes | Yes |
| 12V Lithium | ? | Yes |
| 6V | No | Yes |
| Force Mode | NA (Handled automatically in RECOND mode) | Yes |
| Repair / Recondition | Yes + attempts destratification automatically | Yes – to be run separately once charged |
*Lithium and 6V modes are pretty specialised use cases – the ease of using CTEK’s recondition mode is superior to the Noco unit.
Conclusion
The CTEK just clinches it for me, but there really isn’t that much in it. The Noco is a much more recent entry to the european market and more of an unknown to me. I like that the CTEK has been recommended/used by some big brand EU car manufacturers for a while now and won several Best Buy / recommendations. It also checks for sulphation on every charging mode. Finally the Warranty period is five years (compared to three years for the Noco) and CTEK’s support has been super helpful and responsive in the past.
If you need to charge 6v and lithium batteries (or you are seduced by its sleek black design and branding) then it’s the Noco. But for my purposes, and given its reputation and longer warranty, the CTEK is the one staying in my garage.
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