Best 26650 Batteries: A Powerful Cell for High-Drain Vapes

The Best 26650 Batteries for Vaping

Even though the 26650 batteries are being slowly phased out, there are still a few cells that are 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.

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 specifically support tri-coil or quad-coil setups. Users could also try 26650 regulated mods, even though they are not huge power-pushers, and max out at around 100W of power.

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 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 type of batteries. The cells in this class range from 18650, 26650, and 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 the one that 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 and offer larger capacities and higher nominal voltage levels than other cells.

The batteries are popular because only a single 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 two devices, but the 26650 cell is not as popular as the other two. As a result, vape manufacturers have bet big on the 20700 and 21700 type 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 is nothing compared to the output and capacity of a single 26650 cell.

FAQ About 26650 Cells

Final Thoughts

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.