Comparison of 18650 & 21700 lithium-ion cells from Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, Panasonic/Sanyo, and mainstream Chinese manufacturers (like EVE, Lishen, CATL, BAK, DLG, etc.).
The comparison focuses on key battery characteristics: performance, reliability, energy density, cycle life, safety, and price.
Battery Cell Manufacturer Comparison
(18650 & 21700 Li-ion Cylindrical Cells)
| Feature / Brand | Samsung SDI | LG Energy Solution | Panasonic / Sanyo | Chinese Brands (EVE, Lishen, BAK, etc.) |
| Cell Types | 18650, 21700 | 18650, 21700 | 18650, 21700 | 18650, 21700, 26700, custom |
| Energy Density (Wh/kg) | 250–270 | 240–260 | 260–280, highest | 200–250 average |
| Cycle Life
(0.5C–1C) |
800–1200 | 800–1000 | 1000–1500 | 500–800
(varies by brand) |
| Max Discharge Rate | 5C–15C
(some power cells 30C burst) |
3C–10C | 3C–10C | 2C–10C
(some high-power cells 15C) |
| Consistency | ★★★★☆ (High)
(±1–2%) |
★★★★☆ (High)
(±1–2%) |
★★★★★
(Excellent) (±1% or better) |
★★☆☆☆
(varies greatly) (±3–8%typical) |
| Charge Temperature Toerance | 0°C to 45°C | 0°C to 45°C | 0°C to 50°C | 0°C to 45°C |
| Discharge Temperature Tolerance | –20°C to 60°C | –20°C to 60°C | –30°C to 60°C | –10°C to 55°C typical |
| Self-Discharge | <2%/month | <2%/month | <1.5%/month | 2–5%/month (more variation) |
| Safety / QC | ★★★★☆ (strong BMS and test history) | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★
(Tesla supplier level QC) |
★★☆☆☆ (some lack full QC) |
| Availability | Global, broad range | Global, broad range | Limited for public, OEM focused | Widely available (Alibaba, etc.) |
| Typical Use Cases | Power tools, EV packs, e-bikes | E-bikes, energy storage | EVs (Tesla), industrial applications | Flashlights, scooters, budget power banks |
Performance Summary by Format
| Brand | Best 18650 Model | Best 21700 Model |
| Samsung SDI | INR18650-30Q (3000mAh, 15A) | INR21700-50E (5000mAh, 9.8A) |
| LG Energy | INR18650-MJ1 (3500mAh, 10A) | INR21700-M50LT (5000mAh, 7.3A) |
| Panasonic | NCR18650GA (3450mAh, 10A) | NCR21700A (5000mAh, 10A) |
| Chinese Brands | BAK N18650CK (2600mAh, 5C) | EVE INR21700/50V (5000mAh, 10A) |
Pros & Cons Overview
| Brand | Pros | Cons |
| Samsung | High energy density, reliable, widely used, good balance | Can be costly, some fakes on market |
| LG | Strong performance, efficient cells, trusted OEM | Some heat sensitivity on older models |
| Panasonic | Most stable and long-life, best QC (used by Tesla) | Price premium, less accessible |
| Chinese Brands | Cheap, good for mass deployment, wide range | Less consistency, shorter lifespan, more fakes and spec inflation |
Notes:
Chinese manufacturers are improving rapidly (EVE, Lishen, REPT, CALB, etc.) and some high-end cells now rival Korean/Japanese brands.
Fakes are common, especially for Samsung/LG/Panasonic 18650 cells sold through unofficial channels.
Always verify with datasheets and request MSDS + test reports when sourcing.
