14500 battery vs 18650 battery: Comparison Analysis

Portable electronic products often use 18650 and 14500 batteries, and these two batteries also have differences in application. Although there are applications on the market that are compatible with various batteries, using the wrong battery will adversely affect the device. So let’s learn about 14500 battery vs 18650 battery in this article.

Lithium batteries are not limited to small electronic devices. In energy storage batteries, outdoor power supplies, and electric vehicles, battery packs are composed of batteries connected in series and parallel to provide higher voltage and capacity. If you are interested in DIY, electronic equipment and the battery industry, compare the parameters of 14500 and 18650 battery, such as size specifications, charging and discharging performance, applications, etc., so that you can make an informed decision before choosing a battery.

What is an 18650 battery?

Since the industry standard dimensions are: diameter of 18mm, length of 65mm, and cylindrical appearance, the name 18650 rechargeable lithium battery was obtained. Capacity: 1200mAh – 3600Ah, nominal voltage: 3.2-3.7v, no memory effect, can be fully charged and fully discharged, but cannot be overcharged or over-discharged.

18650 lithium-ion battery is rechargeable, lithium is a metal element, why do we call it lithium battery? Because it is a battery with “lithium cobalt oxide” as the positive electrode material. There are also many batteries on the market now, including batteries with lithium iron phosphate, lithium manganate and other positive electrode materials.

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, lithium is a metal element, why do we call it lithium battery? Because it is a battery with “lithium iron phosphate” as the positive electrode material. There are also many batteries on the market now, including batteries with lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganate and other positive electrode materials.

What is a 14500 battery?

14500 battery is also a rechargeable lithium battery. According to the cell material, it is divided into lithium iron phosphate battery and lithium cobalt oxide battery. The voltage of lithium cobalt oxide battery is 3.7V, and the voltage of lithium iron phosphate battery is 3.2V. The characteristics of 14500 lithium battery are high temperature resistance, high rate, and long life.

Industry standard dimensions: diameter 14mm, length 50mm, hence the name 14500 rechargeable lithium battery, nominal voltage 3.2v-3.7V. Capacity 600mAh-1000mAh, small size, large power, long running time, although the battery is small, it has excellent performance and capacity.

Dimensions are the same shape and size as standard AA batteries. The difference is that the voltage of alkaline AA batteries is 1.5v. In terms of performance, there is a huge difference. Compared with AA nickel-metal hydride batteries, 14500 cylindrical lithium batteries have the characteristics of lighter weight, less self-discharge, and superior discharge performance. Therefore, 14500 lithium batteries are deeply loved by the electronic and digital product market.

How 18650 battery and 14500 battery work

18650 and 14500 batteries are composed of electrolyte, separator, anode and cathode. The working principle of lithium-ion battery refers to its charging and discharging principle. When the battery is charged, lithium ions are generated on the positive electrode of the battery, and the generated lithium ions move to the negative electrode through the electrolyte. The carbon used as the negative electrode has a layered structure with many micropores. The lithium ions that reach the negative electrode are embedded in the micropores of the carbon layer. The more lithium ions are embedded, the higher the charging capacity.

Similarities between 14500 battery vs 18650 battery

From the chemical properties, 18650 and 14500 batteries are basically ternary lithium and lithium iron phosphate materials. Since the materials are the same, the voltages are also similar, both 3.2v-3.7V, with a maximum voltage of 4.2V. Regardless of other specifications, such as weight, capacity, size, and battery box space, the same device can be powered. Of course, in some cases, the discharge rate needs to be considered.

What are the differences between 14500 vs 18650 battery?

Dimension

18650 lithium battery size is larger than 14500 size

18650 lithium battery size, diameter 18mm, length 65mm
14500 lithium battery size, diameter 16mm, length 50mm

Capacity

Due to the larger size of 18650 battery, generally, 18650 batteries have a larger capacity than 14500 batteries.

18650 capacity: 1200mAh to 3500mAh
14500 Capacity: 500mAh to 1000mAh

Discharge rate

The discharge rate of 18650 battery is usually 1-1.5C. EV battery that can discharge at 3C, and it can have a maximum discharge capacity of 10C at high rates.

14500 battery generally supports 0.5-1C.

What should we consider when buying 14500 and 18650 batteries?

Battery box size

Purchase according to the size of the battery box of your electronic device. Batteries of the wrong size cannot fit into the battery box properly.

Output Power

Generally, the power of 14500 battery is smaller than that of 18650 battery. Pay attention to the rated power of the device when selecting the battery. Insufficient battery power will reduce the performance. Exceeding the rated power may cause equipment damage. Working in equipment with inconsistent battery power for a long time may cause battery damage or heat and cause fire risks.

Charging current

The charging current is generally calculated based on the charging rate. Charging is generally 0.2C to 0.5C. It is recommended to use a dedicated charger to avoid battery damage.

Charging time

Lithium batteries generally have a charging rate of 0.2C. You can choose a fast charger, which generally takes 1-2 hours to fully charge.

Battery quality

Make sure to purchase batteries from compliant manufacturers. Batteries that are too low-cost may have fake capacity standards or have been cycled.

Application

18650 battery application fields

Consumer electronics products that require high battery capacity, such as laptops, tablets, flashlights, e-cigarettes, etc.

Power and energy storage equipment, such as: power tools, electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, electric vehicles, RVs, marine batteries, etc.

14500 battery application fields

Widely used in electronic devices such as cordless devices, power tools, electric coffee grinders, flashlights, digital cameras, e-cigarettes, electric toothbrushes, etc.

Which one is better, 18650 or 14500 battery?

The choice of battery depends on the use case, and either type of battery may be the best choice for powering different devices. There is no better, only suitable.

First, you need to clarify the battery power requirements of the device, battery power requirements, space constraints, battery life requirements, etc., and then select the battery.

For example, the remote control does not have high power supply requirements, mainly considering the convenience of holding it. The smaller and lighter 14500 battery is more suitable, and usually the 18650 battery cannot be installed in the battery box of small electronic equipment.

And power tools, power batteries, electric vehicles, marine batteries, two-wheeled trams. Battery life, capacity and discharge rate are the key points, so 18650 is more suitable.

Can 14500 and 18650 battery use the same charger?

Both 14500 and 18650 battery can be charged, the voltage is 3.2-3.7v, but you need to use the charger recommended by the manufacturer. Different specifications of batteries can support different charging and discharging currents. Current overload may damage the battery and charger. 14500 and 18650 battery are not recommended. 18650 chargers are mixed.

Can 14500 batteries charge AA batteries?

No, the output voltage of alkaline AA batteries is 1.5V, and the output voltage of lithium-ion 14500 batteries is 3.2-3.7V, so the AA battery charger cannot charge 14500 batteries, and AA and 14500 batteries cannot be mixed.

14500 and AA batteries are the same size, but they are completely different batteries with different voltage, power, specifications and chemical properties.

Usually AA batteries cannot be recharged. You can also find rechargeable AA nickel-metal hydride batteries and AA lithium batteries on the market. However, compared to nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries, 14500 lithium batteries have the advantages of light weight, less self-discharge, and superior discharge performance.

Summarize

Both 14500 and 18650 are lithium batteries, but their output power, size, and capacity are different. With a wide range of electronic products and equipment, choosing a battery requires matching the battery that meets the equipment parameters and obtaining the battery from a reliable supplier.

NPP is a lithium battery OEM manufacturer that has obtained CE, MSDS, UN38.3, UL and other certifications. Welcome to contact us.