You can see the archived poll results on the Wayback Machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20221220093741/https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/72636
Well, it really depends on a lot of factors, such as the need for the extra capacity, high or low load, and price.
If you were hosting a giveaway, I would prefer the 3400mAh though. 
3400mAh are a bit longer and more expensive. Otherwise they are better.
I would definitely do a giveaway but I only have 2 people interested in Keeppower batteries right now. I am hoping to make an order by the end of this weekend. Here is a link to the thread: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/20180
Yeah, I was kidding about the giveaway, but I think Keeppower might have a hard time competing with FT and Wallbuys’ prices.
Agreed. I see no reason to buy Keeppower.
3400mah protected Keeppowers are about the best protected cells you can buy IMO. They have been tested up to 11.5A before hitting its protection. And there are fairly small for a protected 3400 cell. I think ET’s are slightly shorter though.
If you decide to stock some - the protected ones - I would certainly use you as my #1 source anytime I needed more 18650’s.
I was originally interested in getting more Keeppower 26650's, but lost interest since they won't fit in the XinTD X3. They're too long to fit in one of my other lights too...I can't remember which.
The one advantage you have, should you choose to take advantage, is quick shipping. If you can ship by the next day even using USPS First Class, you'll beat the chinese vendors by at least a day if the stars align for the chinese vendors and you're shipping from opposite corners of the country, but probably by well over a week in the vast majority of cases.
I may order from you eventually, but it won't be planned, and I won't order if you're slow about shipping.
As far as your cells, I really like that they're both short. They will fit in the Convoy S7 I want to build, and less unnecessary mass for my headlight. The NCR18650B can still deliver 3000+ mAh at 5A. I don't even need that much current, but I want more capacity because more capacity can result in less weight and hassle, so I'd want the NCR18650B.
As long as we can get the genuine Panasonic NCR18650B at less than half the price as most other re-branded 3400 Panasonic cells I see no reason to spend more money for a different wrapper unless they are smaller. So far, my torches all work with the Panasonic protected 3400’s in the Panasonic wrapper.
I personally like the 2600mah battery because of the discharge curve. I also recharge most of my batteries at ~3.5v because that is when most of my budget lights become noticeably different.
I like the Sanyo 2600 mAh because they have much greater capacity to 3.5 volts than the Panasonic 3400 mAh cells.
I voted for the NCR18650B’s, however, as you said, I think it depends on the flashlight being used. In a high drain light, the 2600’s will last longer.
With a 5A current draw, the Sannys are way ahead of the Pannys all the way to 3.0v! With a 3A draw, same thing ’til 3.2v.
I’m like you, I don’t run batteries all the way down.
Hey guys,
Why no one asking for Panasonic NCR18650PD?
Plenty of people claim that this far better cell than Sanyo 2600 red and it is most recommended for high current applications.
Yesterday I had first bad experience with sanyo 2600 red from fasttech.
Fully charged both and measured at 4,2V… I have put that in my tuned Jacob…
With one battery I was getting full power and with other one 15% less… To be sure I did test several times… Light meter can’t lie… One was worse than other one.
So I guess internal resistance is not same in each cell? I can not explain this…
So next order from FT will be this Panasonic NCR18650PD batteries… Hope this will be better choice
UR18650FM all the way Joe! Even though I probably won’t be ordering from you because I live in Australia. But for my kind of uses I would be picking the UR18650FM over the NCR18650B.
I hardly ever run my lights on low mode, and if I need to do that I’ll just chuck in my NCR18650As (older 2900mAh model).
Protected NCR18650PDs are expensive.
I don’t use protected cells…
At FT 5sets NCR18650PD with blf discount code would cost around 12$ 2 pcs
You can get Sanyo 2600 red unprotected for 9,5$ 2pcs, and protected version Sanyo 2600 UR18650F for 10$
I think Pana should be more reliable cell, and 2$ is not great difference?
I completely agree. If someone is looking for a great unprotected battery I think the NCR18650PD would be a great choice.
I re-checked testings and reviews of 4,2 18650 batteries.
Panasonic NCR18650PD beats them all (yes even 3400 and 3100 Pana brothers) under higher current loads(3A - 5A)
I looked discharge rate up to 3,6V which is very important for AMC7135 based drivers(most common driver in BLF and probably in a world).
But however at 2 amp current load discharge rate up to 3,6A is almost same as Sanyo 2600 red.
So for higher current this Panasonic NCR18650PD is better choice than NCR18650B & NCR18650A
For 2 amp current and discharge up to 3,6V Sanyo 2600 red is most reasonable choice and it beats(equals) much expensive Pana brothers.
Out of the very best batteries ? Funny because I naively believed that the more mAh, the better.
I voted for 2600 UR18650FMs because all my lights are high drain these 2600s perform better up to my recharge voltage per HKJ’s test results. I don’t allow my batteries to run less than 3.5 volts. In addition to that, they’re much cheaper too.