A 26650 battery is larger than the typical 18650 battery, where it gets its name 26mm in diameter and 50mm in length. The extra height gives the battery outsized capacity and output. So it can last longer, take more recharges, and outperform other vape batteries. However, the battery is still not commonly used in vaping devices. And it is geared toward customized mechanical mods that have been modified to run on them.
Christina MatthewsUpdated: March 9, 2023
Most popular
Smiling Shark Rechargeable Lithium Battery
10/10
5500mAh capacity
4.2V charging rate
Safety features
The Smiling Shark rechargeable lithium battery is a 26650 cell with a 5500mAh capacity with a nominal voltage output of 3.7V. The cell al...
Even though the 26650 battery is slowly phased out, a few cells are still worth checking out for their extended life and amperage output. Below are a few selections that are compatible for use with 26650 mods or mods that have special 26650 adapters.
The Smiling Shark rechargeable lithium battery is a 26650 cell with a 5500mAh capacity with a nominal voltage output of 3.7V. The cell also has a charging voltage of 4.2V, so it can charge at a rate of 2A or 1.5A. In addition, the Smiling Shark cell has safety features like overcharge protection, over-current protection, and anti-reverse protection.
Reasons To Get This:
You want to try a 26650 cell
You have a device that can take a 26650
You want to have a backup battery for your other batteries
This 26650 cell from MXJO has an internal capacity of 3550mAh and a high voltage output of 4.2V. The battery has a high discharge rate of 35A, which is in a Pulse setting. The cell, under normal circumstances, can go as high as 20A. The cell itself has a flat-top design and weighs about 86.6g. It is compatible with many sub-ohm regulated and unregulated devices that can output triple-digit wattages.
The Geteed IMR is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an internal 4200mAh power. Also, the maximum output is 3.7V. The highest maximum voltage is 4.2V, which is standard for this cell type. The Geteed IMR also has several safety features to protect vapers or anyone using it from overheating and overcharging. The cell has a wrapped exterior, and the lowest resistance that it can withstand is 25ohms.
Reasons to Get This:
You want a backup battery
You want a battery for your custom mech mod
You want a battery for other high-drain electronics
The Feilong rechargeable battery is a lithium-ion cell. It features an internal 4000mAh capacity and uses a distinctive blue wrapping. The battery has a nominal voltage of 3.7V and can charge at various rates depending on the internal charge in the battery. The Feilong battery has different charging capacities but struggles to maintain the charge over a long period.
Reasons To Get This:
You want a backup for your other batteries
You want a battery that is wrapped and protected
You want a battery for other household electronics
The BestFire IMR rechargeable Li-HP battery features a solid build with a flat-top design and a wrapped body to provide added protection. The BestFire also features an internal 4500mAh power. But the device’s actual ability hovers somewhere between 3500 and 4000mAh. The cell also has several safety features, including overcharge and overload protection.
The BASEN IMR 26650 is a high-drain lithium-ion manganese battery. It can output 60A of continuous discharge. The cell is wrapped and protected and features a 30A continuous current perfect for high-wattage box and mechanical mods. The IMR cell also has an internal capacity of 4500mAh and a nominal voltage of 3.7V.
Reasons to Get This:
You want a high-drain battery for your mechanical mod
The Golisi S43 IMR rechargeable Li-ion battery is a high-drain cell with an internal capacity of 4300mAh. But it is more like 3400mAh, according to the retailer. The cell has a continuous discharge rate of 35A and is equipped for speedy 2A charging. The Golisi is also outfitted with a safety chip to prevent shorts and has a gold-skinned, wrapped exterior.
Reasons to Get This:
You want a battery that is wrapped and protected
You want a backup battery for your high-drain devices
You want a cell that has a flat-top design
Pros:
Wrapped and protected
Flat-top design
Long-lasting capacity
Thousands of recharge cycles
Cons:
Inaccurately rated capacity
4 Top 26650 Battery: Reader's Choice
Category
Battery
Price
Rating
Best 26650 battery
Smiling Shark 26650
$11.01
10
Best Battery for Vaping
MXJO IMR 26650
$8.79
9.5
Best Vape Battery
BestFire IMR 26650
$10.44
8.5
Best Lithium Battery
Golisi S43 26650
$17.10
8
Choosing the Best 26650 Battery
The best 26650 battery can easily outlast less powerful batteries, as their larger mass allows them more capacity. But they are not all alike. These batteries have varying abilities and perform in different ways. So choosing the best one means knowing what you want it for and how you expect it to perform.
Unregulated mech mods that use 26650 batteries are rare and usually in the realm of advanced. Expert vapers who create their devices to support tri-coil or quad-coil setups specifically. Users could also try 26650 regulated mods, even though they are not huge power-pushers and max out at around 100W.
Those regulated mods, however, are not always in production and may be hard to find. The manufacturers pivot to creating 20700 or 21700 mods with higher capacity but more compact and portable. Looking for the best 26650 battery should then entail knowing the following:
The capacity
The discharge rate
The resistance range
The life cycle
How We Picked the Best
The batteries were chosen after carefully reviewing their test results and parameters. There are many online resources that many vapers use to make sure they are getting quality, safe batteries that are not fakes or have misleading metrics.
For these reasons, the Battery Mooch is an invaluable resource for finding and choosing the best batteries for any class. Only, even BM has stopped rating and reviewing 26650 batteries as they quickly fall out of favor, given the rise of 20700 and 21700 batteries.
Who Makes the Best 26650 Battery?
It is hard to say who makes the best 26650 battery. All the major battery makers – LG, Sony, and Samsung – do not make them anymore. But other manufacturers have stepped in to fill the void, like Aspire, Hohm Grown, iJoy, and Nitecore. The latter is a well-known maker of battery chargers. So it has the expertise and knowledge needed to develop a safe and long-lasting cell.
Hohm Tech is another vape maker turned battery maker that also makes chargers. All these brands have good reputations among vapers and consistently put out well-made batteries.
Battery Comparisons
There are several battery classes. But the most popular ones regarding vaping are the 650 and 700 types of batteries. The cells in this class range from 18650, 26650, 20700 and 21700. These four battery types power most modern vaping devices, but they are different.
26650 vs. 18650
The 18650 cell is the most popular battery for vaping devices and is familiar to all. The cell’s size, portability, and efficiency make it a favorite for anyone who uses high-wattage devices.
It is also popular for the number of safety features they carry to prevent shorts, thermal leaking, or overcharging. But, of course, 26650s can also come with many safety features. And a single 26650 cell can last much longer and take many more recharges than two 18650 batteries. But the 18650 remains the go-to battery for most modern vaping devices.
26650 vs. 21700 vs. 20700
The 20700 and 21700 batteries are newer generation batteries. They have become increasingly popular and more widespread since their introduction. The cells are longer and broader than the 18650, offering larger capacities and higher nominal voltage levels than others.
The batteries are popular because only 21700 or 20700 can work with two 18650 batteries. It means mods that take those batteries are smaller, lightweight, and more portable. Of course, a 26650 is larger than either of these devices, but the 26650 cell is not as popular as the others. As a result, vape manufacturers have bet big on the 20700 and 21700 types of batteries. And they have started to make more devices that accommodate them than the 26650.
26650 vs. AA
There is no comparison between a 26650 and a regular AA battery. An AA battery is suitable for household electronics (flashlights, lamps, clocks, remote controls, etc.). A 26650 is also found in many household appliances or electronics. Still, the size and capacity of a typical AA battery are nothing compared to the output and capacity of a single 26650 cell.
FAQ About 26650 Cells
How Long Does a 26650 Battery Last?
The 26650 batteries have a charge/recharge cycle of about 500-1000 cycles. How long a single 26650 cell can power a mod depends on your use. Despite its size, a 26650 battery, if used at a high wattage and a low-resistance coil, can last one or two hours.
What is the highest capacity 26650 battery?
The highest capacity 26650 battery available on the market was the Acebeam IMR26650 5000mAh battery. However, it is always recommended to check for updated information as battery technology continues to evolve.
How to Charge a 26650 Battery?
A vaper can use an adjustable 18650 charger to charge a 26650 cell. As long as the user’s manual says the charger supports 26650 batteries. The cells share the same nominal voltage and can charge at the same rate. If the charger supports 2A charging, it might charge faster.
How Long Does It Take to Charge a 26650 Battery?
A large-capacity cell like the 26650 can charge for 3-5 hours if the charging current is only 1A. However, it could take about two to four hours if the charging current is 2A or 2.5A.
What battery can I use instead of 26650?
Some common alternatives to the 26650 battery include the 18650 and 21700 batteries.
26650 batteries were never as popular as the 18650 for most regulated vaping devices. They always stayed within the stratified air of custom-vape makers who wanted to push the limits of their devices. There are, or were, 26650 regulated mods that used the cell as its primary power source. Still, as the other two battery types emerged as the heirs-apparent to the 18650, the older, larger-model battery was pushed to the side in favor of efficiency and compactness.
Still, some people enjoy, even seek out, 26650 mods because of their status. And they have a mythical status in the vaping community. The cells offer unprecedented power output and capacity. And they are more suited to vapers who want extended battery life from their mods.
Have you used 26650 batteries? Have you used any 26650 mods? Did you like their performance? Did they last longer than other types of cells? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Posted by
Christina Matthews
I love the written word, and in my career as a journalist, I strive to provide the facts about everything I write about. There are too many false and alarmist stories out there about life and vaping mainly.
My mission is to make e-cigarettes less scary to people with informative articles and extensive research on not only the possible evils of cigarettes and Big Tobacco, but the objective side of e-cigs.
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