Best 18650 Li-Ion Batteries 2021
The Sony is the best overall 18650 li-ion battery for 2021. It gives a capacity of 2600mAh and a CDR of 25A. Model for all purposes but the cell will show its true largeness in ultra high drain devices.
Best Vape 18650 Battery
The Molicel P26A 18650 Battery with a 2600mAh capability and 35A CDR is considered the best vape battery in the market nowadays. While many companies strictly prohibit the use of their batteries in vaping devices, Molicel is another thing.
Due to the high degree of security testing completed, they have approved their batteries for use in vaping devices as well, these are some of the best-performing cells of all 18650’s.
Best Flashlight 18650 Battery
The Epoch 18650 3500mAh 8A Protected Button Top battery is a great option for lithium-powered flashlights as well as many other accessories.
This battery is powering electronic vehicles, electronic bikes, power tools, and so many more purposes. It has great security with a 3500mAh capacity and 8A CDR. Truly, one of the best batteries on the market today.
Safest 18650 Battery
While all lithium-ion batteries are secure when considered properly, the Samsung 20S is recognized as one of the safest choices. The CDR of 30A is the highest true rating among all lithium-ion 18650 batteries and it has been tested to maintain a low running temperature at up to 40A CDR.
This high current rating does come with a cost as the Samsung 20S has a capability of only 2000mAh, so you will see yourself charging these batteries more often.
Choosing The Best 18650 Battery
The first thing to acknowledge when choosing a 18650 battery for your device is the battery brand. Not all brands are designed equal and often you will see are not very honest in their battery ratings. This is particularly true when considering the Chinese re-wrapping brands.
Any manufacturer or brand aims to sell as many batteries as possible, but some companies have been known to expand their ratings to seem to offer a better product than the other.
This method of expanding battery specs is unlawful and can be very risky to consumers if gone unchecked. Thankfully, there is a watchdog in the lithium-ion battery production known as the battery mooch who gives thorough testing and will call out these brands for their unlawful usage.
Chemistry 18650 Battery
Battery chemistry is not a quality most customers need to be knowledgeable of when choosing a 18650 battery. A battery should be decided based upon the factors listed above;
- Brand
- Capacity
- Discharge Rating
- Voltage
- Temperature
With that being said some chemistry confusions are more active than others, and we have listed these in terms of least active to most active.
- LFP lithium-iron-phosphate, Least Volatile
- LMO lithium-manganese-oxide
- NMC nickel-manganese-cobalt
- NCA nickel-cobalt-aluminum
- LCO lithium-cobalt-oxide LiPo, Most Volatile
Lithium-ion 18650 batteries are produced and sold for the intended use of system combinations with proper protection circuitry or battery packs with a battery management system or circuit board. These batteries are neither created nor intended to be used with an e-cigarette, vaporizer, or similar equipment.