If you got a vape that uses rechargeable batteries, it's only a question of time before the included batteries start failing.
Rechargeable batteries can last you for years if you take care of them properly. However, in most cases, we just don't have the time or patience never to overcharge the battery or not let it drain completely. And even if you don't take good care of the rechargeable battery, you will still have a good year of stable charge before it starts failing.
Once the battery fails, you'll be left with a useless vape.
Thankfully most vapes use standard 18650 batteries, which are relatively easy to get a hold of. Unfortunately, not all 18650 batteries are built to the same quality standard. If you're not familiar with these products, you can quickly end up with a battery that will lose its charge in the first couple of months.
Thankfully, you're in the right place. We've done all the necessary research for you! In this article, we'll review the 6 best batteries for vape, and we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about vape batteries.
Best Vape Batteries Compared
We understand that not everyone has the time to go through all the reviews in this article. This is why we compiled this nifty little table that lists all the most essential specs of batteries for vaping we reviewed.
Product | Type | Capacity | CDR |
|---|---|---|---|
18650 | 2600 mAh | 30 A | |
20700 | 3300 mAh | 30 A | |
18650 | 3000 mAh | 15 A | |
18650 | 3000 mAh | 20 A | |
Cartridge | 900 mAh | N/A | |
Cartridge | 380 mAh, 650 mAh, 960 mAh | N/A |
6 Best Vape Batteries Reviewed
After many hours of research and hundreds of products considered, we give you the six best batteries for vapes you can buy in the current market.
We made sure to include some of the most popular battery brands and some that are not so popular so you can get a clear picture of what to expect when you go out shopping.
If you're looking for the best 18650 battery for your vape mod, look no further than the Sony VTC5. This battery is so popular among vaping enthusiasts that it's one of the most counterfeited 18650 batteries on the market. This is why we recommend you buy these batteries from verified sellers only. Otherwise, you're risking purchasing a counterfeit battery that can kill your vape.
Just like all 18650 batteries, it measures around 2.5 inches in length and 0.7 inches in diameter. This is an important spec to keep in mind because most counterfeit Sony VTC5 batteries don't measure the same as the original.
With dimensions out of the way, it's time to talk about the essential specs. Sony VRC5 are some of the best 18650 batteries on the market because they feature 2600mAh and a continuous discharge of 30A. If you talk with any vaping enthusiast, they will tell you that any battery that can output 30 amps continually is a good battery.
Of course, it's not all about the charge and CDR. There's also the question of thermals. 18650 batteries can get quite hot in high drain devices like vapes. Thankfully, the Sony VTC5 vape battery doesn't warm up at all. You can drain this battery all day long, and it won't get hot at all. The same goes for Sony VTC6 batteries.
- Best vape battery on the market
- 2600 mAh and 30A CDR
- Compatible with almost any vape
- Massively counterfeit
- A bit less powerful than Sony VTC6
If you own a vape that uses 20700 rechargeable batteries, you've surely had problems finding the best one for your needs. Since they're still new to the vaping market, there are quite a few products that are not viable for vaping devices. With Sanyo NCR20700A batteries for vaping, your search has come to an end.
These batteries for vaping measure 2x75 inches in length and around 0.8 in diameter. This is not much bigger than a 18650 battery, so in theory, you could fit a 20700 battery inside a 18650 slot. Still, we don't recommend doing that.
The best thing about this battery is its charge capacity. Sanyo NCR20700A is rated at 3300mAh, which means it can last up to four days of moderate vaping. On top of that, it has 30 amps of continuous discharge, so you can use it with hit wattage vaping devices.
Another cool thing about these batteries for vaping is how cool they remain, no matter how much you vape. These batteries won't get any warmer than the room temperature even if you hog the vape.
The only issue we have with Sanyo NCR20700A batteries is finding a compatible charger. If you have a vape that can charge the battery via USB, you're good. Otherwise, you will have trouble finding the right charger.
- Rated at 3300mAh
- 30 amps of continuous discharge
- Doesn’t heat up
- Not compatible with many battery chargers
If you have a 18650 compatible vape and are looking for a decent rechargeable battery, you should try out Samsung's 30Qs. While not as popular as Sony VTC5 and VTC6, which are some of the best 18650 batteries. Samsung 30Qs are still quite capable.
Just like all 18650 batteries, Samsung 30Qs measure around 2.5 inches in length and have a diameter of 0.7 inches. This means they'll fit most battery chargers and all 18650 compatible vapes.
When it comes to charge capacity, Samsung 30Q batteries are rated at 3000mAh. This is almost 400mAh more than Sony's VTC5 batteries. Unfortunately, even with a higher capacity, Samsung 30Q batteries lack in one aspect - CDR. Unlike Sony, Samsung 30Qs can output only 15 amps of continuous discharge.
With 15 amps of CDR, you can still power most vapes. Just make sure your vape is compatible with these batteries from Samsung before you buy them. You won't be able to use high-ohm, high drain vapes. Instead, these batteries are intended for vapes that use sub-ohm coils.
Thankfully, besides the low CDR, Samsung 30Q 16850 batteries don't have any drawbacks. The heat output is negligible even if you hog the vape. The temperatures we recorded rarely went above room temperature, which just shows how much Samsung has advanced in its battery production.
- Affordable
- Rated at 3000mAh
- Low heat output
- 15 amp CDR
- Can only be used with sub-ohm vapes
While Sony dominates the market of high power, high drain batteries, LG rules the market on low amp batteries. LG HG2 are some of the best 18650 batteries you can buy if you own a sub-ohm vaping device. Let's take a closer look and see why these batteries are so popular.
Just like all 18650 batteries, LG H2 batteries measure 2.5 inches in length and 0.7 inches in diameter. The only thing that makes them any different from other 18650 batteries is their dark-brown color.
When it comes to capacity, these batteries are rated at 3000mAh. While this doesn't make them the best 18650 batteries out there, this is still more than enough charge to last you for up to four days.
Like we mentioned above, these are not high power, high drain batteries. LG HG2 can muster up only 20 amps of continuous charge. This isn't enough to power a high-ohm vaping device, but is more than enough to power a sub-ohm vape.
The only issue we have with these batteries is their temperature output. These batteries can get quite hot in high drain situations. We once measured the surface of the battery, reaching 50 degrees Celsius.
While these high temperatures won't break your vaping device, that's still a bit too hot for our comfort. If you don't mind your vape getting a bit hot after an intensive vaping session, you won't have any issues with these batteries.
- Very affordable
- Rated at 3000 mAh
- Almost tailor-made for sub-ohm vapes
- Can get quite hot
So far, we've talked about some of the best 18650 batteries you can buy. However, if you're new to the world of vaping, you're probably not using an advanced box mod. Instead, you are probably using one of the AIO vaping devices like Ego e-cigarettes.
What happens when your Ego e-cig's battery dies? You can go and buy a new device, but that way you're just wasting money. Besides the battery, you'll also be purchasing a new tank, coils, and mouth tips. So, as you can see, you'll be just wasting money.
Thankfully, you can also buy just a battery for your Ego AIO e-cig. By buying only the battery, you're saving quite a lot of money. Just make sure your tank is compatible with this battery before you buy it.
But is the battery just as good as the original one? Well, since these batteries are built by the same company that makes the e-cigs, they're almost identical to the original batteries.
These batteries are rated at 900mAh, just like the one you get with the original ego device, and are compatible with all EGO tanks, so don't worry about compatibility. We only wish they offered beefed up batteries, but 900mAh is still more than enough for a full day of vaping.
You also get to choose between four colors. Ego e-cig batteries are available in pink, black, gray, and green.
- Cheaper than the entire Ego AIO kit
- Easy to use
- Compatible with 808 threaded tanks
- Rated at only 900mAh
The last place in our list goes to more vape batteries for cartridges. If you own an e-cig that has a 505 thread or the original 510 Vapor Zeus, you can easily use it with the 510 Vapor Zeus battery. If you're interested in the entire Zeus vaping starter kit, you can check out our review.
When it comes to this battery, it's entirely identical to the one you get with the Zeus Vapor starter kit. This means you can choose between small (380mAh), medium (650mAh), and large (950mAh) battery sizes. Keep in mind that the more capacity, the bigger the battery. The 950mAh battery is almost as big as a Cuban cigar!
With a 950mAh battery, you'll be able to enjoy vaping for up to 9 hours before you completely drain it. And even if you go for a small battery, you will still have around four hours of use before you completely drain it. One thing is for sure, these batteries will output a consistent voltage even during high drain situations.
Although these batteries are meant to be used with 510 Vapor Zeus smilomizers, you can technically use it with any cartomizer that has a 505 thread. You just have to make sure the cartomizer you have is drag activated because the Zeus Kit is drag activated.
Our only issue with this product is that it's incredibly expensive. For the same amount of money, you can buy a 10 pack of 18650 batteries.
Read more —
- Available in three sizes
- Consistent power output
- Technically compatible with any 505 threaded cartomizer
- Ridiculously expensive
Read more —
Vape Batteries Frequently Asked Questions
What is the longest-lasting vape battery?
When it comes to picking a vape battery that lasts the longest, you shouldn't search for a specific brand. The spec that dictates how long a vape battery lasts is its mAh (milliamp hours) rating.
The greater the mAh rating, the longer the rechargeable battery will last. For vaping, you should look for batteries that have at least 1200 mAh. A 1200 mAh battery will last you for about two days of moderate vaping. Of course, you can also go for batteries that have 2000 mAh if you don't like having to recharge your vaping device every two days.
Unfortunately, it's not all about the mAh. Another important spec is the Continuous Discharge Rate or the CDR. This spec represents the maximum power the battery can discharge continuously before it fails.
You must get a battery that has CDR that's compatible with your vape. Otherwise, the vape won't work, or you'll cause the battery to vent or even blow up.
The 18650 battery can have a low mAh rating and a high CDR rating. In fact, this is a general rule of thumb. If you own an e-cig that requires a high CDR, you should go for a 18650 battery that has a low mAh rating.
What type of batteries do vapes use?
When it comes to the type of battery, vapes can either come with an inbuilt battery or with replaceable batteries. Almost all inbuilt batteries are Lithium-Ion. This means they use lithium strips and a gel core to produce a current.
When it comes to replaceable vape batteries, you can choose between the industry standard 18650 battery and a relative newcomer, the 21700 battery cell. Since 21700 are a recent addition to the rechargeable battery family, there are only a handful of vape mods that use them. This is why many of these vapes come with an adapter for a 18650 battery.
18650 battery cells are the industry standard when it comes to vape mods. They're quite slim, compact, and can be found just about anywhere. These batteries are used in laptops, portable power tools, cars, flashlights, and many other devices.
18650 batteries are built by almost every large tech brand, including Samsung, LG, and Sony. In fact, some of the best vape mod batteries are manufactured by Samsung and Sony.
If you're looking for the best 18650 battery, we recommend you stick with better-known brands. The market is saturated with cheap knockoffs that can potentially damage your vape.
What vape mod has the best battery life?
When it comes to vape mods that use rechargeable batteries, the only thing limiting the battery life is the number of battery slots. The more slots a vape mod has, the longer you'll be able to enjoy vaping. Most vaping mods use only one 18650 battery. However, there are quite a few mods that have two, even three 18650 batteries for vaping.
If you're looking for a vape mod that uses rechargeable batteries and has a long battery life, we recommend you check out our review of the SMOK Mag P3.
We reviewed this vape a while back, it features two 18650 battery slots. You can purchase two Sony VTC6 batteries as a part of the bundle!
Best for | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
Best 18650 Battery | Sony VTC5 | |
Best 20700 Battery | Sanyo NCR20700A | |
Best 18650 Batteries For Sub-Ohm Vapes | Samsung 30Q | |
The Most Affordable 18650 Batteries | LG HG2 18650 | |
The Easiest to Use Batteries | EGO E-CIG BATTERY | |
The Best Compatibility | 510 VAPOR ZEUS |
Conclusion
Before you go, let's tally up all the results.
If you own a high-end mod box, you should go for Sony VTC5 batteries. These are definitely some of the best 18650 batteries on the market. They offer a decent charge capacity, have a fantastic CDR, and don't cost too much.
If you own a 20700 compatible mod box, you should go for Sanyo 20700A batteries. Thanks to their 3300mAh capacity and 30A of CDR, you won't have any trouble powering even the hungriest of high-ohm e-cigs.
And if you own a sub-ohm e-cig, you should go for Samsung 30Q batteries. They have a decent capacity of 3000mAh and have 15A of CDR, which makes them perfect for any sub-ohm e-cig or mod box.