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26650 vs 18650 Batteries Comparison: Capacity, Dimensions, Equivalents & Brands

26650 vs 18650

With the variety of battery types, brands, sizes, voltages, and names including seemingly random letters and numbers, batteries might be one of the most confusing topics for discussion.

However, understanding the basics just once can help you find a suitable and long-lasting battery for your device that won’t burn or break it.

26650 and 18650 are rechargeable flashlight batteries that are generally Lithium-Ion (Li-ion). Both are some of the most powerful batteries in their class used in devices consuming much power, including flashlights, vape pens, and toys.

Despite being used in similar devices, there is a number of differences between 26650 and 18650 batteries that you need to know about.

Learn more about them from our comparison article!

26650 and 18650 Batteries Quick Comparison

26650 Rechargeable Li Ion Battery 18650 Rechargeable Battery
Contains Lithium Manganese Oxide with a voltage of 3.6 to 3.7 volts and a maximum of 4.4 charging voltage Generally, a Lithium-Ion battery with a maximum of 4.2 volts of charging voltage
Specifically designed to power high-drain devices, including flashlights, toys, vape pens. Mostly used to power flashlights, vape pens, but also other devices.
Charging time takes an average of 4 to 6 hours Charging time takes an average of 4 hours

26650 vs 18650 Batteries: Basic Features

26650 Rechargeable Battery is a rechargeable lithium ion battery capable of generating high voltage to efficiently power high drain devices like tactical flashlights, toys, vape pens, and so on.

The 26650 battery is available in two different types; Protected and Unprotected. The protected battery has a built-in protective circuit that prevents it from overcharging, over-discharging, and shorting.

18650 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery is a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that generally has a standardized industry size of 3.6/3.7 volts and has between 1200mAh and 3600mAh energy capacity.

There are two types of 18650 batteries: Protected and Unprotected . It is an extremely popular battery source for flashlights. The charge time varies depending on the battery charger and battery type. The average charge time for a 18650 battery is usually 4 hours.

Check the comparison between 18650 and 20700

26650 vs 18650 Batteries: Differences

26650 rechargeable battery with scull on it

The difference between a 26650 rechargeable battery and a 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery will be discussed, relying on two major factors; Capacity and Size.

Capacity

This refers to the length of the battery’s life.

A 26650 rechargeable battery has a large capacity of about 5000 mAh (may vary between brands) which enables a long run time between charges. As a result of its high capacity, it can be utilized in variable vape (VV) box mods.

The capacity of a 18650 rechargeable battery, on the other hand, is between 1200mAh and 3600mAh. The capacity of this battery is supported by most vape box mods.

Size

When it comes to size, the main difference between a 26650 rechargeable battery and a 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery is the diameter. A 26550 battery is 65 mm in length and 26 mm in diameter, while a 18650 battery is 65 mm in length and 18 mm in diameter.

Due to a larger diameter, the total size and weight of the 26650 battery are bigger, so it may not fit in some devices. Check the specifics of your particular product to find out.

Usage

A  26650 rechargeable battery and a 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery can be used alone or with other batteries depending on the purpose of the device to be built or the device to be powered.

However, both batteries come highly recommended for vaping devices, flashlights, toys, and torches.

Equivalents

18650 and 26650 are the two closest alternatives to each other. In some cases, AAA (triple-A), AA (double-A), or 14500 can be used instead of 18650 or 26650 battery. Take into account the differences in power capacity:

  • 18650 or 26650 = 3.6/3.7v (nominal capacity)
  • AA battery – AAA battery = 1.2 – 1.5v

Make sure to check your device characteristics before replacing old with a new battery.

Battery Brands

Some popular brands of 18650 and 26650 rechargeable batteries are:

  • EBL
  • Tokeyla
  • Energizer
  • Panasonic

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Last update on 2023-05-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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