Older cells can have higher internal resistance, but it depends on the cell. I’ve had some Samsung 2800 and 3000mAh (4.3 and 4.35v) cells that had a very bad increase in internal resistance after just 1-2 years on the shelf.
On the flip side, I just cracked open a new old stock laptop battery pack with Sanyo 2400’s. The cell were made over 11 years ago and still perform like new. Resistance is maybe a tad higher (~52 mili ohms @ 1Khz AC), I imagine when new they were in the 45-50 mili ohm range. Capacity was 2380mAh on average from these 11 year old cells. Simply amazing!
Interesting to know that it can be good after 10 years,
Maybe NCR18650PF as someone suggested is cheapest, safest and longest lasting among them... Up to 10A is more than enough for flashlights. We should not underestimate that cell
They are on the slow boat unfortunately. I wasn't in a rush to get them, so at qty 4 for under $6 each, I went with the BangGood deal on them (Discount code: BLF), qty 4 for $23.40 shipped with tracking. Otherwise, I would have probably ordered them from Richard.
I got qty 4 of the 30Q's on order from BangGood - ordered Aug 7th, shipped Aug. 19th and still not in the country.
Just to follow up a little more on protected cells, there are many brand name cells out there that can sell for a lot of money. The KeepPower Pana 18650B's (3400) used to be the best all-around with an efficient good design protection circuit. The no-name protected version of the Pana 3400's proved to have problem - high resistance and/or the protection circuitry not even working properly.
Today, things are different, but the same. I'll use BG as an example since they have a large selection.
Richard does his homework in researching the protection circuitry and tests them before offering them to sell on his site. Plus on these cells his prices are very competitive. I think these are the best known good protected cells around.
The MJ1 protected is all-around the best deal - 10A ratd cell w/quality protection circuitry. If you don't care for the LG brand, then the SANYO GA protected is there for a little more money. The Pana B is a lower performing cell with slightly lower capacity - not the leader anymore.
Sorry, for the risky ones, I'm going by memory of the BLF posts on them. I bought some to save a few bucks way back, and regretted it after reading the dismal details on their effectiveness. For Richard's, just read the description under the Pana B protected cell listing. You won't find those details like that anywhere else I know of. I'm not saying Olight brand and NiteCore brands aren't as good, but I know what Richard has gone through in researching these from posts he had done way back. On BLF since I joined, it was always a challenge to get quality cells at resonable prices - many attempt were made to resell good ones both privately known and publicly known, but I think Richard finally got it pretty much right.
I have some gold-bottom ones with TXY8205 mosfets opposed to the AO8814 mosfets that the EVVA ones are advertised to use. I don’t know which one is better. The IC on mine says G2JF. I think that’s Seiko, but not totally sure.
I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, I’m still waiting to see a review of the GA made by HKJ or dampfakkus.
AFAIK a protected version of the LG MJ1 does not exist yet.
It is no problem in usage of unprotected high drain 18650 cells for most BLF members but it is a problem if you want to sell your light and other guy does not have any clue what he's doing.