What cannot be seen from my test is how they handle multiple uses. I test new batteries and I do not do a few hundred cycles too see how well they last.
Good point indeed.
Would you be willing to test some two year old cells that had erratic daily cycles in solar garden lights? I’m not challenging, just interested how well those cheap chinese cells do on the long run. I think those BTI NiMH are a good deal but would be wrong if their performance declines fast - and it’s not obvious on solar lights.
Does anyone have any experience with the new Panasonic NCR18650BM 3200mah protected batteries with 10A rating? Might be a good battery for HKJ to consider testing if he has the time. Thanks.
That links to an unprotected cells' sale, SKV89.
Another (overrated in my opinion) cell from the big four. Actual minimum capacity may hit 3.0+Ah with decent discharge rate. Great if sold at a nice price. 
Cheers ^:)
According to Gearbest it has some protection specs. Is this not the same as protected cells?
Type: Battery
Battery: 18650
Battery Type: Lithium-ion
Head Type: Flat Top
Rechargeable: Yes
Protected: Yes
Capacity (mAh): 3200mAh
Voltage(V): 3.7V
Charging Time.: 5h
Over Current Protection: Yes
Over-charging Protection: Yes
Over-discharging Protection: Yes
NKON have a new Keeppower 26650 cell, rated at 6000mAh in protected and unprotected variants at a very good price (assuming the quality is there):
Protected at €8.95 each:
https://eu.nkon.nl/rechargeable/26650/kp-26650-6000.html
Unprotected at €7.95 each:
The known-good 5200mAh versions are going for €13.50 and €12.95, respectively, so this may be a temporary introductory price to get people to try them. I thought I’d mention it as a potential money saver if you’re planning to test them anyway.
With Keeppower being a decent brand and NKON being a reputable dealer, I have thrown caution to the winds and ordered four protected cells 
Shipping to Scotland is a bit painful at about €8, but the cells are still cheaper overall, compared to any other option I’m aware of. That’s especially true now that the likes of Banggood & Gearbest have stopped shipping cells to the UK.
Have you tested any of these……
https://liionwholesale.com/products/efest-imr-16340-700mah-7a-button-top-battery-wholesale-discount?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkq6Ix4-Q2QIVVLbACh0llAsmEAQYASABEgJ3bPD_BwE&variant=4431248580
Or these, possible same battery……
https://www.imrbatteries.com/imren-16340-700mah-flat-top-battery/
I don’t Know of any 16340’s that will hold voltage well over about 3 amps. Hoping these might.
moderator007, quite literally the current 16340 leader in HKJ's test is the TrustFire IMR16340 650mAh (red-gold). Affordably available at FastTech.
Cheers :-)
I seen those but I ran across the batteries mentioned above mostly in the vape sites. So most vape devices draw quite a bit of current so I’m thinking they may even beat the trustfires at holding voltage under a 3 amp load or more. I searched the web looking for some kind of test on either of them and never found anything that was hard data.
I have modded a Klarus Mi1C to pull 3amps and the batteries (Klarus Lir, Fenix ARB-L16, Nitecore NL166) I have seem to be hitting the low voltage cut off pretty quick, The light steps to high from turbo, so I’m on the hunt for a better 16340 battery. I have 2 of the Efest’s Imr’s on the way. For all I know the efest, imren and trustfire IMR could all be the same battery. I have a hobby charger which I can test them with. But HKJ can do a much better job than me and be seen by way more people, to help people that are on the search for a better 16340 like me.
moderator007, yes it “could” be the same cell but, are you willing to take the risk?
IMREN has been spanked by Mooch (E-CigaretteForum tester) more than once, and also Efest but to a lesser extent.
Maybe only one OEM produces these “high current” 16340s. 
Cheers 
The Efest IMR14500 650mah (purple) is the best high drain 14500 out right now. They did it once, can they do it in a 16340.
Its gonna cost me 10 bucks to find out. 
No need to test the Efest IMR16340mah 700mah (red). Appears to me to be the same cell as the Klarus Lir16340 700mah (red) from your test graph. Still can’t hold there voltage very well under a 3 amp load. Trustfire (red and gold) is still the king at the moment. I have 4 ordered from Fasttech, Hoping they will perform as in your test.
The On The Road 16340s have been talked as good batteries even in higher drain lights.
Taobao sells them
I cannot read that website!
Any chance of you getting ahold of any of the Klarus 16340UR70 or Olight RCR123A Micro USB ?
Alternatively, anyone know where these companies are getting these batteries from?
Just interested in seeing a test of these batteries and how they hold up under load. These “16340” batteries are actually 16300 batteries with a Micro-USB + protection circuit added on top, so they are the same dimensions as a normal unprotected 16340. That means they are claiming 650-700 mAh out of a 16300 battery, which seems like a lot. Would like to see what kind of energy you can get out of them at loads you would see in a 600 lumen flashlight.
I do not have them, but if anybody has good link where I can get them (Remember I am i EU) I am interested.
Sorry HKJ and thanks Agro!!
This is more likely to be readable, I hope
http://www.engtaobao.com/shop.html?action=list&tp=taobao&key=on+the+road+16340&file=&file=
As talked before, these seem pretty good cells! I have 4, but I can’t test them correctly! But the perform well on the lights where I use them!
Maybe if you can get some we can clear the doubts!!
Apparently Nitecore and Fenix offer similar batteries, and the charging circuit on all them look identical. Best guess is that all of these companies are buying these from the same place, and putting their own wrappers on them.
That’s why I’m curious if anyone can find the company making these things, might be easier to source them from there. Or if somebody could find a source for any of these brands in Europe, I’m guessing they will all perform similarly.
I have the Klarus16340. It’s 1 month old, charged once. I can lend it.