9 best 18650 batteries

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Recently, we have been using conventional batteries less and less. Yes, they have a low cost – you can even buy a set consisting of a pair of batteries for 100 rubles. But we must not forget that the charge of the batteries dries up quickly enough, especially if they are not used in the remote control. Of course, replacing them regularly won't ruin you. But think about nature! Each kit pollutes the environment. Of course, in theory, batteries can be recycled. But are there many collection points for used batteries in your city? In short, now you understand why more and more people are starting to pay attention to the so-called 18650 batteries. These are lithium-ion power supplies in the form of a regular battery. These batteries can be recharged regularly without having to look for or buy new batteries. It is about such power sources that we will talk about in this article.

Rating of the best 18650 batteries

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of the best 18650 batteries	1	Fenix ​​18650 ARB-L18-3500U	RUB 1,899
	2	Olight 18650 ORB-186P36	RUB 1,500
	3	Sony 18650 VTC5	476 r
	4	ROBITON 18650-3000 with protection	RUB 539
	5	Panasonic NCR18650B	430 RUB
	6	ANSMANN Li-Ion 2600 mAh 18650	650 RUB
	7	Rombica NEO X8 18650	750 RUB
	8	Samsung ICR18650-26HM 2600 mAh unprotected	310 RUB
	9	Bright BEAM YLP SA1826 18650 2600mAh	569 r

Fenix ​​18650 ARB-L18-3500U

Rating: 4.9

This battery differs from its cheaper counterparts in good protection means. As you know, if you use such a power source for one and a half to two years, then gas can accumulate inside it. This leads to the risk of explosion. This is practically impossible here. First, the cells are arranged in such a way that practically no gas appears. Secondly, under a special pad there are two pressure relief buttons – they are embedded just in case. Also, the product has short circuit protection. It consists of a strong metal shell – the only way to damage the battery is with an ax. In a word, the battery is as safe as possible.

Externally, the battery is almost identical to an ordinary AA-battery. The only difference is the presence of a micro-USB port here, used for recharging. By the way, it is during connection to the mains that the second difference becomes noticeable – a light indicator lights up at one of the ends. If it glows red, the battery is being charged. If the product is fully charged, the indicator turns blue – in this case, the wire can be removed from the aforementioned connector.

It should be noted that the battery that got into our rating is slightly longer than a regular battery. This is due to the presence of the protection board – it is located in the anode. It protects the power supply from overcharge, overdischarge and overheating. Perhaps, the level of protection here is no less than in power banks designed to recharge a smartphone and other devices. The cathode block turned out to be a little less thick – it contains only thermal control. The battery also has a microporous separator.

In total, this battery is designed for 500 charging cycles. It seems that this is enough for the vast majority of users. It is even difficult to imagine how long such a battery will provide for an electric guitar. And there is nothing to say about the flashlight – most likely you will change several flashlights, and the Fenix ​​18650 ARB-L18-3500U batteries will continue to work. And it is not at all necessary to throw these batteries away after five hundred charging cycles. After such a number of them, the batteries remain operational, just their capacity will be reduced by 70-75%.

In Russian online stores, one such battery is sold for 1800-2000 rubles. This may seem like a brutal cost. However, this feeling disappears after you find out that the capacity of one battery is 3500 mAh. This is almost the maximum in this form factor! But in one device you will use two or even three such batteries. In short, it is the best choice for, for example, a bicycle flashlight!

Please note that such a battery should not be charged with an AC adapter with high current output. Try to find a charger that gives out only 1 A (smartphones that did not support fast charging technology were equipped with this). Ideally, you should get hold of a proprietary charger from the same company Fenix ​​(it will produce a current of 0.8 A).

Advantages

• Extra large capacity;
• There are ventilation holes for gas release;
• Easy charging via micro-USB port;
• The body was created from stainless steel;
• Triple protection against overheating;
• The capacity is maintained for 500 charge cycles.

disadvantages

• Very high cost;
• Slightly extended length.

Olight 18650 ORB-186P36

Rating: 4.8

This AA battery pack also has a very high capacity. To be precise, this parameter reaches 3600 mAh here. It turns out that installing two power supplies will give you 7200mAh. Even the most powerful bicycle lantern with such batteries will be able to shine for a whole night. Well, and even less powerful devices such a reserve of capacity is generally enough for some almost endless period.

It should be noted that this is a slightly less expensive battery. For one copy in Russian retail, they ask about 1,500 rubles. It is produced by a company controlled by Panasonic. Already knowing this, you can not doubt the quality of the product.

This battery is a lithium-ion battery. Unlike cheaper competitors, this model has a fast charging speed. The manufacturer also tried to reduce the self-discharge to a minimum value.

The battery is based on an electronic safety board. This structural element controls both internal and external stress. It also monitors current loads. This microcircuit protects against overcharging above 4.25 V. It also saves from discharging below 2.7 V. And this battery is also perfectly protected from short circuits. As for overheating, it is also excluded – for this one should thank the built-in thermal fuse, which disconnects the load circuit if any problems arise.

The casing of this battery has a pleasant turquoise color. The manufacturer recommends putting your creations in high-power devices. In particular, such a battery will come in handy for the owner of a powerful flashlight, including a bicycle one. For you to understand, this power source is capable of delivering a maximum discharge current of 10 A!

The battery is very reliable. The manufacturer assures that the battery will withstand at least 500 charging cycles. And even after such a period, the power source can be used, just its capacity will decrease slightly. To recharge this battery, you must use a device that produces a current of no more than 1 A.

Unfortunately, there are no pressure relief vents here. But you shouldn't be afraid. Gas formation is only possible if the battery is even slightly damaged. It seems that you are unlikely to throw it on the asphalt and perform other similar actions with it. But the lack of a micro-USB port will definitely disappoint someone. This means that the owner of such batteries will also need a charger in which AA batteries are installed.

In a word, if the Olight 18650 ORB-186P36 has some drawbacks, then they are completely insignificant. If you see this representative of our rating in the nearest store, then you can safely make a purchase – you will definitely not be disappointed in such a power source!

Advantages

• High discharge current;
• Good short circuit protection;
• Overdischarge, overcharge and overheating are practically excluded;
• High capacity;
• Standard length;
• Withstands up to five hundred discharge cycles.

disadvantages

• No ventilation holes for gas discharge;
• No micro-USB socket;
• The cost may seem prohibitive.

Sony 18650 VTC5

Rating: 4.7

The Japanese company Sony has been producing batteries and accumulators for many years. Its AA batteries have been regularly used by us in cassette and CD players. Now the manufacturer has switched to creating batteries that belong to the same cylindrical form factor. In particular, in stores you can find a battery called 18650 VTC5. Surprisingly, when designing it, the Japanese decided to focus on the final cost of the product, and not on its characteristics.

Let's start with the fact that this battery has the most simple design. The Japanese did not supply the battery with a beautiful logo and other drawings. Instead, a green battery is waiting for you, which only has a stamp with the production date and some other technical information. As for the capacity, it is 2600 mAh. The maximum product can deliver a current of 30 A. This will be enough even for the brightest bicycle flashlight, not to mention less powerful devices.

This battery takes approximately three hours to charge. However, this parameter depends on the charger used – it is possible that you will have to wait a little longer. But we can say for sure about the insecurity of the battery. The fact is that the manufacturer did his best to lower the price tag. As a result, they ask for no more than 550 rubles for the product, which seems like a penny against the background of the two models discussed above. That is why there is no protection against short circuits and other problems. In short, use the Sony 18650 VTC5 with maximum care. A charged battery does not need to be hit with heavy objects, and the charger must not deliver too much current. If you follow all the rules of operation, then such a battery will last about one and a half to two years.

If you are intimidated by the simplest design, then additionally buy a heat shrink. A set of four usually costs 140-150 rubles.

As you already understood, this is one of the most affordable batteries in our rating. It is not surprising that many online stores sell them, while buying the models discussed above is much more difficult.

Advantages

• Very high recoil current;
• Standard dimensions;
• Widespread prevalence;
• Long service life;
• Low cost.

disadvantages

• The capacity cannot be called a record;
• There is almost no protection;
• There is no charging connector.

ROBITON 18650-3000 with protection

Rating: 4.6

The manufacturer of this 18650 battery even decided in the name to indicate that its product is protected. Indeed, despite the low cost, the battery received protection from overcharging and discharging. And is it important! For example, if you do not turn off a powerful bicycle flashlight in time, it can drain the battery from Sony 'to zero'. After that, you will no longer be able to charge it. This cannot happen with a ROBITON 18650-3000. He is also not afraid of a cheap charger, which is not able to determine the moment when the battery is fully charged.

This battery has a familiar design – the insulation contains the manufacturer's logo, capacity, and other technical characteristics. By the way, the product's capacity is 3000 mAh. Not a record, but this parameter cannot be called low either. As for the cost, in Russia it is about 700 rubles. It turns out that buying a pair of batteries will cost 1,500 rubles, even taking into account delivery. It seems to us that this is an acceptable amount. Remember power banks – 6000 mAh units are slightly cheaper. Well, you definitely can't connect them to a flashlight.

The manufacturer claims that it creates this battery based on Samsung batteries. Unfortunately, the discharge current here does not exceed 3.5 A. This is sad. It is possible that this will not be enough for some especially powerful lamps, including those designed for night cycling. However, the manufacturer had to save money! The low level of short circuit protection should also be noted. The insulating layer turned out to be not very strong, therefore, this battery should not be subjected to physical stress, it is fraught with an explosion or simply damage to the battery.

There is no doubt that this product is capable of surviving 300 charge cycles. Even if you do night cycling all summer long, this will last for several years of battery life. If you mean a more rare use of batteries, then you never need to replace them at all.

Perhaps this is the best choice for those who do not want to spend a lot of money on 18650 batteries. Of course, you will not get the maximum level of protection, but it is difficult to find fault with the rest of the characteristics. If you do not talk about the power of the current output, of course.

Advantages

• There is at least protection against overcharge and overdischarge;
• Not very high cost;
• Decent capacity;
• Can be found in many stores.

disadvantages

• Not very high discharge current;
• There is no charging connector.

Panasonic NCR18650B

Rating: 4.5

If you remember the Japanese companies, whose batteries we used 10-15 years ago, then the Panasonic brand immediately comes to mind. The batteries that spread under it usually had a very low cost, while they were enough for a fairly long operation of the device. It's almost impossible to find such batteries now. But the stores sell NCR18650B batteries.

As with Sony batteries, these batteries are also colored green. Here, too, there is no manufacturer's logo and other design delights – there is only a stamp with technical and some other information on the insulating layer. For example, the nominal capacity is reported here as 3400 mAh. This is an excellent result that will satisfy even the owners of powerful flashlights and other devices that consume electricity with great appetite. Such people should also be satisfied with the discharge current, which can vary from 1.6 to 6 A. By the way, it is the first value that makes it clear that 18650 batteries are not suitable for use in Tetris or a remote control – they need batteries with low current output.

The manufacturer warns that its products must be inserted into devices with a discharge controller. The fact is that the Panasonic NCR18650B does not include a protection board. This means that the battery itself is in no way protected from overdischarge. He does not understand the power source and the moment when it is fully charged, therefore, the choice of the charger must also be approached wisely.

In a word, this is the simplest battery that should be purchased if necessary to save money. For one copy in Russian stores they ask about 430 rubles. But don't rely on a long product life. It is unlikely to survive 300-500 charge cycles.

Advantages

• High capacity;
• Decent discharge current;
• Low cost;
• Standard dimensions.

disadvantages

• There is no protection board;
• There is no charger connector;
• The battery is unlikely to last long.

ANSMANN Li-Ion 2600 mAh 18650

Rating: 4.4

The best choice, if necessary, to save money, can be considered the products distributed under the ANSMANN brand. However, this does not mean that such a battery has an extremely low price tag. No, Russian online stores ask for almost 800 rubles. But you get a protected battery. The manufacturer assures that his creation is protected from short circuit and deep discharge. This means that a device with ANSMANN batteries installed inside can be damaged – it is unlikely that this will lead to an explosion or even fire. Well, protection against deep discharge allows you to use these power sources in devices without a power controller – for example, in cheap flashlights.

The protection circuit installed here also saves the product in case of overload. This means that even some kind of malfunction in the electronic cigarette will not lead to the fact that the purchased batteries will have to be thrown away. By the way, such a power source will definitely suit the owners of such devices. This is evidenced by at least the discharge current, which can reach 5 A.

What did the manufacturer save on? Firstly, he did not build a micro-USB connector here. This means that you have to get yourself a charger that accepts AA batteries. But the biggest disappointment is the capacity of ANSMANN 18650 batteries. Here it is 2600 mAh. Very far from the record that we talked about at the very beginning of this rating. However, only owners of bright lamps can complain about this parameter. They really have to spend money on some bigger batteries. The rest, as it seems, the above-mentioned capacity reserve is quite enough.

Advantages

• Very low self-discharge;
• The discharge current can reach 5A;
• There is protection against deep discharge and short circuit;
• Not afraid of overload;
• Not the highest cost;
• Withstands a large number of charging cycles.

disadvantages

• There is not enough charging connector;
• Low capacity.

Rombica NEO X8 18650

Rating: 4.3

At the very beginning of this collection, it was said about the 18650 battery, which supported charging using a USB cable. But that copy had a very high price tag. Are there similar cheaper options? Oddly enough, yes. The micro-USB connector has a power supply called Rombica NEO X8 18650. Moreover, this battery is equipped with a corresponding cable! But many people will immediately throw it away. The fact is that the wire has a very short length – about 10 cm. Of course, such a battery can literally be hung under the charger if it is plugged into a wall outlet. But it looks unaesthetic.

So, what else can such a battery boast of? Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is cost. 1000 rubles is far from the lowest price. However, you are unlikely to find an even more affordable 18650 battery with a charging connector, if we talk exclusively about products from well-known brands. Also, someone will appreciate the nice design with a figure eight for the entire battery. By the way, next to the technical information is the PCT logo. This means that high quality is guaranteed.

As expected, the product received a charging indicator. With its help, you will know in time that the battery is fully charged. However, this battery can be kept connected to the mains as long as you like – it is protected from overcharging. The only pity is that the manufacturer does not inform about other means of protection. It is completely unclear if the battery is protected against short circuits? Can it be used in devices that do not have a power controller – for example, in flashlights? No, all 18650 batteries can be used in similar flashlights. But not all of them are protected from deep discharge, after which the power supply can be thrown away. In a word, I would like to get answers to these questions, getting rid of experiences.

Unfortunately, this is one of the smallest representatives of our rating. If you want to use a battery like this in a powerful bike light that illuminates the entire park, then 1900 mAh may not seem enough. And some electronic cigarette will be enough, not to mention simpler devices.

Perhaps this is a great option for those who do not have a specific charger designed for use with AA batteries. However, try to charge the Rombica NEO X8 18650 using the simplest possible power adapter. You shouldn't use a powerful 2 A charger – it's not a fact that the built-in protection board will be able to limit the current.

Advantages

• The cost varies from 800 to 1000 rubles;
• There is a charger connector;
• The set includes a USB cable, albeit a very small one;
• Long service life;
• Standard sizes and minimum weight.

disadvantages

• Low capacity;
• The protection board is hardly complete;
• Not very high discharge current.

Samsung ICR18650-26HM 2600 mAh unprotected

Rating: 4.2

This rating includes 18650 batteries from well-known manufacturers. But they are all remarkably similar. For some unknown reason, large companies do not want to actively advertise their brand on the packaging of their goods. As you might have guessed, the Samsung ICR18650-26HM battery also has a solid color. No, there is a mention of the trade mark, but only in the form of a stamp, among other technical information.

There is no protection board in this battery. In fact, this is just a blank for some other company specializing in the production of similar products. But this does not mean that the blank cannot be used now.

The capacity of this product is 2600mAh. It seems that this will be enough for most buyers. In fact, even this parameter seems astronomical when you see the price tag. In Russian retail, this power supply is sold for only 270 rubles! The only pity is that you additionally need to get a special charger in which AA batteries are installed. And try to buy a quality model equipped with a fan, otherwise you may face overheating. If everything is in order, then wait for the battery to recharge in just 2.5 or 3 hours.

The manufacturer claims that his creation will withstand approximately 800 charging cycles. It seems to us that the implication is that after so many cycles, the battery will completely lose its capacity. We are confident that certain losses will begin after 150-200 cycles. However, this is also an acceptable number.

There is nothing more to tell about such a cheap battery. This is the simplest food element, the existence of which is justified by a very low price. If you are able to spend a larger amount, then it is better to consider a more reliable battery. It's not for nothing that we talked about so many of them.

Advantages

• Extremely long service life;
• The discharge current can reach 5.2A;
• Very low self-discharge;
• The minimum price tag.

disadvantages

• The capacity will still not suit everyone;
• There is no micro-USB connector;
• There are no remedies.

Bright BEAM YLP SA1826 18650 2600mAh

Rating: 4.1

Recently, batteries distributed under the Russian brand have started to appear on the virtual counters of online stores. Moreover, some of them come in packaging, where most of the information is in English. This suggests that the manufacturer is going to sell his goods not only in Russia, but also abroad. For example, in other countries the Bright BEAM YLP SA1826 will definitely be in demand. This battery is sold for only 500-650 rubles. For a resident of conventional Spain, this is a penny! Importantly, for this money you will get a battery with a charging connector! This means you don't have to look for a charger that is designed for AA batteries. Any AC adapter that accepts a USB cable will work. Whether the battery is charged is indicated by a light indicator located on one of the ends. The cable is not supplied with the battery, but this does not seem to be a problem.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not specify what protection this battery is equipped with. But there is no doubt that overcharge protection is present here – otherwise it would make no sense to endow this battery with a micro-USB port. But there may be no other means of protection here. This means that you need to carefully use the battery in flashlights and other devices that do not have discharge control.

The capacity of the product is 2600 mAh. Again, not a record, but for such a price tag it is quite tolerable. It seems that even such a capacity should be enough for the flashlight to glow throughout the night, no matter how powerful it is.

The battery length is 70 mm. The diameter does not exceed 18.6 mm. Alas, the manufacturer does not mention not only the protection technologies used. He does not write about the discharge current either. However, it is definitely not low, because 18650 batteries are created exclusively for flashlights, electronic cigarettes and other powerful enough devices. But the manufacturer still wrote about the service life. The user is waiting for about 500 charging cycles, only after such a number of them the capacity will be reduced to an unacceptable value.

Such is the result of a domestically produced battery. Perhaps this is the best choice for those who have not yet tried such a battery in practice. It is possible that in the future you will want a more powerful model with a record capacity and enhanced current output. But it is also possible that the battery will suit you for many years.

Advantages

• There is a built-in charging connector;
• Low cost;
• Long service life;
• Can be found in many stores.

disadvantages

• Not very high capacity;
• The length increased by 4-5 mm;
• The capacity of some copies does not correspond to the declared one;
• Few remedies.

Conclusion

This is a list of the best 18650 batteries. Keep in mind that not all devices support the use of such batteries. For example, the smart scales, which I talked about recently, are in standby mode most of the time, and therefore their manufacturers recommend using ordinary batteries. In a word, before installing batteries, be sure to read the instruction manual.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.