​18650 vs 21700 - Best Vape Battery for Your Kit?

There are two ways to power your all-important vape kit and get the oomph you need to enjoy your favourite e-liquids. That’s with an internal or external battery, which has benefits and drawbacks.

With an internal battery vape, all you need is a USB type-c fast charging cable and somewhere to plug in your device to get it back to a usable level. Alternatively, there are external battery vapes. If you have a couple spare, plus what’s in the vape kit, you’ll never run low, providing the ultimate convenience!

The purpose of today’s review is to compare the top external battery choices for many vapers – the 18650 and the 21700 batteries.

What are the Different Types of Batteries for Vaping?

The numbers seen such as 18650, 21700, and even other types that are lesser known like 22650 and 18350 refer to the size of vape batteries.

Often used in other appliances like laptops, tablets and mobile phones, lithium, also shortened to ‘li-ion batteries’ is the most popular type used today and is rechargeable to provide long-lasting current.

External batteries like the 18650 or the 21700 are ideal for vape kits because they are small and can be recharged with an external charger.

Bear in mind that not all batteries for vaping are the same. Some are smaller, offering different densities to supply energy efficiently. The duration of a battery, the rate at which it can charge, and the cost are all key factors.

What is the Best Battery for Vaping?

External batteries are the perfect accessory for vaping large Sub-Ohm clouds when needed without the fuss of seeking a charging cable and plug to boost the energy levels of your vape kit. The best battery for vaping depends on how you prefer to vape. There are some ideal benefits to vaping with an external battery.

For instance, you can keep spares so that you don’t have to wait in between charging. Plus, it’s a better investment because with an internal battery vape, once the life of that battery diminishes, you’ll need to purchase a new kit.

But with external batteries, once the performance diminishes, simply swap for another set of batteries. So, which do you choose? While the 18650s are very popular and you’ll find many Sub-Ohm vape kits support 18650s, 21700s also have additional benefits.

Are the 18650s Better Than the 21700s?

There are a few key differences between the classic 18650 batteries that many love and the fashionable 21700s (you can find vape kits requiring singular and dual 18650s or 21700s).

While the 21700s have more capacity, this also means they reduce power at a faster rate, especially when used with larger wattage devices for Sub-Ohm vaping. For lower resistance coils, at Sub-Ohm levels of power, 21700s will perform better than 18650s.

The advantages of the 18650s are:

• Smaller compact size (18650s are 18mm in diameter and 65mm in length, while the 21700s are 21mm in diameter and 70mm in length)

• 18650s are also lighter than 21700s

• Cross-compatibility with more devices

• Cheaper cost for 18650s than 21700s

• Shorter charge time

The advantages of the 21700s are:

• Higher energy density

• Last longer with more charge

• Greater capacity (max of 5000mAh compared to 3500mAh for 18650s)

• Less prone to short circuit issues

• Compatibility: 21700 batteries might not fit in devices that use 18650 batteries

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – a simple yet useful guide to summarise the key differences between the two main external batteries you will see most vape kits support – either the 18650 or the 21700. Which one you pick will depend on first whether you have a device and what that type of kit requires. And if you don’t have a device yet, to acknowledge the main points we have referenced the two types of batteries.

If you seek a battery that takes less time to charge and has a higher density which means it can last for longer and a larger capacity, go for the 21700. Although it might cost slightly more, the added expense is worth it in the long run. However, 21700 batteries are slightly bigger and do not fit all devices.

We advise checking the device you’re after and weighing up the pros and cons of both before buying your final choice. All in all, an external battery is the way to go if you don’t want to save time waiting for the device to charge while out and about. Simply swap for a new external battery that’s precharged, so you can vape as and when you need it!

For any further questions about vape batteries, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team who are more than happy to help by guiding you to the correct page to find the ideal battery for your vape kit.