In the portable electronics market, common battery types are 18650 batteries and 14500 batteries. Both battery types serve specific purposes, so be careful not to confuse them. Choosing the right battery for your device is critical to preventing damage to your device and ensuring its durability.

Next, this article will introduce and compare 18650 batteries and 14500 batteries, hoping to help you understand them and make the right choice when needed.

 1. Understand the 18650 battery and 14500 battery

-18650 battery: The 18650 battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with industry-standard dimensions of 18mm wide and 65mm high, with a capacity typically ranging from 1200mAh to 3600mAh. 18650 batteries can be fully charged and discharged without affecting their performance.

-14500 Battery: The 14500 battery is also a rechargeable lithium battery, which is the same shape and size as a standard AA battery. But there is one difference that needs to be emphasized: the voltage of a standard alkaline AA battery is 1.5 V, while the 14500 battery is 3.7V.

 2. Compare the 18650 battery with the 14500 battery

-Material selection: Most 18650 batteries and 14500 batteries are made of NiCoMn ternary material, but some 18650 batteries are also made of LiFePO4 material.

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-Voltage parameters：Both the 18650 battery and the 14500 battery are able to withstand a maximum voltage of 4.2V.

-Dimension：The common 18650 battery measures approximately 18mm x 65mm, while a 14500 battery measures about 16mm x 50mm.

-Battery Capacity:The 18650 battery has a capacity range of 1200mAh to 3500mAh, while the 14500 battery has a capacity range of 500mAh to 800mAh.

-Discharge Rate: Generally speaking, the high-rate 18650 battery can reach a discharge rate of 10C at most, while the current 14500 battery on the market can only support a discharge rate of 05-1C.

-Life span:Generally speaking, 18650 batteries can be charged and discharged 800-1000 times, while 14500 batteries can be cycled 500-800 times.

 3. The working principle of the 18650 battery and 14500 battery

Both the 18650 battery and the 14500 battery are lithium-ion batteries, which are composed of positive electrodes, negative electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. When the battery is working, the positive electrode, negative electrode, and electrolyte act as conductors for lithium ions, while the separator acts as a barrier between the positive and negative electrodes, allowing free flow of charge but preventing contact between the electrodes.

The cathode of a lithium battery is composed of metal oxide and the anode is composed of porous carbon. During discharge, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte and separator. When lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, the direction of charge flow is reversed.

 4. Application field of 18650 battery and 14500 battery

-18650 battery: can be used in energy storage, power, digital, and other products, such as clean energy storage, battery cars, electric toys, portable electronic equipment, etc.

-14500 battery: It is mainly used in consumer electronics products, such as wireless audio, electric toys, digital cameras, etc.

 5. Some things to note before purchasing 18650 batteries and 14500 batteries

-Size:Different electronic products usually have different battery compartment capacities, and larger batteries cannot fit into smaller battery compartments. The size of the 18650 battery is larger than that of the 14500 battery. When purchasing, you can first estimate the battery compartment of the device and then compare which battery to buy.

-Output Power: It is important to consider the power rating of the device. Low power consumption can cause device failure and degraded performance, while exceeding power limits can damage the device and cause the battery to overheat, creating a fire risk. The 14500 battery has less power than the 18650 battery, so when selecting a battery it is important to match it to the power requirements of your device.

-Charging current: The charging current of the 18650 battery is similar to that of the 14500 battery. When charging the battery, pay attention to using the specified charging current to avoid damage to the battery.

All in all, the 18650 battery and the 14500 battery are two different but similar Li-ion batteries with different sizes, capacities, output power, and unique uses. From the current point of view, these two types of batteries can be widely used in various electronic products and play an important role in our lives.

Finally, if you want to learn more about batteries, you can visit BatteryMall.com/support.