I've just received a lone 30Q from a local retailer that looks a little different from the other ones that I have. All of my other 30Q have a second thick clear wrap over the pink wrap, this one didn't. Also the external pink wrap extends beyond the button top.
Is this just a difference of batches?
NB: I'll stick it on an analyzer at some point on the weekend. I'm just curious about the inconsistency in appearance.
My 30Qs from Gearbest and other sources have no second clear wrap. Just one pink wrap and the white “disc” around Bat+.
Mine are new and unused but at least 1 year old (at storage voltage/never charged).
Cool, it sound like minor manufacturing changes. I'm not really suspicious of counterfeits from either vendor, just more curious of the inconsistency, as all of my Panasonic 18650s are 100% alike.
I’d be suspicious of that 30Q too. They come from the factory as a flat top wrapped with printing on the wrap. The factory doesn’t install the button on top, third party people do.
Can you clarify, are you comparing flat top or button top 30Q?
Flat tops should be as they were when left the Samsung factory, with flat top, pink wrap, no clear overwrap.
Button tops or raised tops do no come straight from Samsung - the extra button top is added by a third party, and there are several (many?) of them (none of whom are battery OEMs). As such, they will typically have an added clear overwrap, and some variation in appearance.
Yup! That's exactly what it is. I saw your post, and thought "I'll check that again when I get home". Not sure why I just assumed that all of the 30Qs were button tops - I'll order a couple more now though, because the flat tops are a much easier fit into battery holders etc.