E-Fest/Sony VCT 4 battery the same ?

[bsidb]

flat.htmlEfest IMR 18650 2100mAh 3.7V Protected Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Flat Top Battery - Boxed (SONY-VTC4-18650-2100MAH-FLAT)

Thought this was odd

 

[ImThatGuy]

I think it's been discussed before...numerous times I think, that those Efest batteries are rewrapped Sony VTC4s, but 'bottom of the barrel' units.

 

[bsidb]

oh, thanks, first iv heard of it

 

[bsidb]

kinda expensive

 

[K_Tech]

kinda expensive

RTD vapor has VTC4s for $7.65:
Sony US18650VTC4 2100mAh

 

[sonicbomb]

Don't buy Efest batteries. End of line.

 

[mightymen]

I use only 18650 batteries.

One Efest 2500 mah - 35A don't last long.
Two Efest 3000 mah - 35A very good life.
Four Sony vtc4 somehere in the middle.

I like the EFEST 3000 mah 35A a lot more give them four starts out of four.

 

[dwcraig1]

Regarding the link in the first post.
There are no protected IMR cells that I'm aware of and the picture is not of the Efest cell.
Those two things would stop me from buying them from there.

 

[Beeker]

You probably already know this: US18650 VTC4 and VTC5 batteries are no longer being manufactured by SONY (as of about a year ago). Anything genuine available on-line is old stock--even other companies OEM branded batteries manufactured by SONY. They are currently undergoing a $300 Million dollar recall of their batteries due to safety concerns. Check this ECF post as well: "Sony" 18650 30a Vtc5 2600mah Us18650vtc5

I confirmed this information from a company that makes battery packs for the USAF.

High quality IMR cells are in high demand, so there are many fakes on the market...even reputable vendors are being duped as the fakes are hard to spot. The OEM SONY cells are imprinted directly on the metal case under the translucent shrink wrap so if you have one with printing on the wrap it's fake.