Samsung 25R - INR vs. IMR

[akksnv]

I'm looking at batteries and kind of getting a refresher on things. I think for my situation (regulated box mod) either an INR or IMR battery is best in terms of both safety and performance. It sounds like either one is probably fine, but IMR is slightly safer.

However, it looks like INRs are much more common than INRs. I checked the vendors I normally order from, plus a few places I've seen mentioned specifically for batteries (ex. aimed more towards flashlights) and I've only found Samsung IMR 25Rs at one place. Even on Amazon it looks like all of the 25Rs are INR, not IMR. At this point I have to question the one place where I saw a 25R listed as IMR, was that possibly a mistake and all 25Rs are INR? Or is IMR overkill in terms of safety so people don't use them much and places don't bother selling them?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

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[ShowerHead]

Well, I'd avoid the Amazons and EBays of the world and go to one of the following trusted battery vendors.
Liion Wholesale Batteries | Li-ion battery distributor
Illumn.com - Flashlights, Batteries, Carry Gear, Intelligent LED Lighting, and More!

 

[akksnv]

I was looking at Amazon mainly thinking they have everything, so surely they'll have an IMR 25R (whether or not I would actually buy it is another story, just wanted to see it listed for sale).

The first link to provided doesn't work (connection timed out).

I already checked the second link you provided. Searching "Samsung IMR" only results in INRs and ICRs, no IMRs.

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[Mooch]

All 25R's are "hybrid" chemistry batteries, called INR by some companies. There are no 25R's made using any other chemistry.

While the hybrid chemistry batteries aren't quite as safe as true IMR batteries they are much safer than the ICR batteries that use the same chemistry as LiPo batteries. LG uses the ICR model prefix for their hybrid chemistry batteries though, many of which vapers use.

Many vendors and battery companies use "IMR" as a general purpose designation for "non ICR" without regard for what the battery's true chemistry type is. Worse yet, IMR, INR, and ICR aren't chemistry types at all. They're manufacturer model number prefixes. But that's a topic to deal with another time.

 

[akksnv]

Thanks Mooch, that confirms what I was kind of wondering about the 25Rs all being INR, and also gives a possible reason why the one place would list it as IMR.

Just for reference, here's where I found it listed as IMR: Samsung 25R Battery | Accessories | VaporBeast

Looking a little closer at things, it looks like all batteries here are listed as IMR, and no INR, which would add to your theory of them using it as "non-ICR". The thing that gets me is even the sticker on these batteries say IMR, so it's not only the site that sells these that's calling them IMR, but also their supplier. However, if you look at the second picture in the link, you can just barely see the text printed on the battery right above the sticker. The second letter looks like it has to be an "N" and not an "M" (as in "INR" and not "IMR"). So that sounds like the vendor that made the battery (Samsung) labeled it correctly as INR, then whoever put the sticker on it for shipping purposes did so incorrectly by labeling it as IMR.

So having said all that, I think the main conclusions here are that all 25Rs are INRs as Mooch said, sometimes they're labeled as IMRs, being labeled IMR does not indicate a counterfeit battery, and the 25Rs I currently have that are labeled IMR are actually INR, so I wrote be no less safe by getting a 25R that is labeled correctly as INR. Does this all sound about right?

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[Mooch]

Thanks Mooch, that confirms what I was kind of wondering about the 25Rs all being INR, and also gives a possible reason why the one place would list it as IMR.

Just for reference, here's where I found it listed as IMR: Samsung 25R Battery | Accessories | VaporBeast

Looking a little closer at things, it looks like all batteries here are listed as IMR, and no INR, which would add to your theory of them using it as "non-ICR". The thing that gets me is even the sticker on these batteries say IMR, so it's not only the site that sells these that's calling them IMR, but also their supplier. However, if you look at the second picture in the link, you can just barely see the text printed on the battery right above the sticker. The second letter looks like it has to be an "N" and not an "M" (as in "INR" and not "IMR"). So that sounds like the vendor that made the battery (Samsung) labeled it correctly as INR, then whoever put the sticker on it for shipping purposes did so incorrectly by labeling it as IMR.

So having said all that, I think the main conclusions here are that all 25Rs are INRs as Mooch said, sometimes they're labeled as IMRs, being labeled IMR does not indicate a counterfeit battery, and the 25Rs I currently have that are labeled IMR are actually INR, so I wrote be no less safe by getting a 25R that is labeled correctly as INR. Does this all sound about right?

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Yup

 

[Baditude]

Mooch explained it about as well as anyone can.

The battery industry, especially where lithium batteries are concerned, is not very accurate or consistant in the labeling of their products.

We have some manufacturers labeling their INR batteries as IMR, and some labeling their ICR batteries as simply Li-ion. What really gets folks peeved is when manufacturers/vendors market the specifications with greatly exaggerated numbers.

AOSO Black 60A 2800mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...most overrated 18650 so far
Wismec USA's response to finding out their 20A Avatar batteries are being sold as 30A
AOSO Red 42A 2600mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...dangerously overrated, falsified graphs
​

The problem, as I see it, is there is no governing organization who is overlooking the battery industry to protect consumers from false claims and marketing. Very few people in the consumer sector have the means or knowledge to test batteries. Our "Battery Mooch" began testing lithium batteries about a year ago and making the vaping community aware of which battery manufacturers are reputable and which ones are not.

The entire vaping community owes much to Mooch for his time and expertise.

 

[akksnv]

Yeah I knew some manufacturers overstate the amperage to make them look better, but I assumed the "type" of battery (ICR, INR, IMR) was at least right... but apparently not.

Don't get me started on governing bodies and regulations lol... so we're going to regulate the manufacturing and sale of juice, but ignore the battery industry. Cleanliness specific to vaping has priority over potential explosions with electronics in general.

Anyways thank you both for your help, hopefully others will find it helpful as well. I searched before posting and found things about INR vs. IMR, which to use, differences, etc. but nothing about how one gets labeled as the other.

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[DaveP]

It's hard to tell who actually makes 18650's and who just rewraps them with their own brand name. If you search for Li-on battery manufacturers you get long lists of "manufacturers" in China from Alibaba. Then, there are manufacturers who assemble lithium batteries into battery packs for cars, planes, tools, and other end uses.

It's hard to tell these days who makes the cells. It seems that battery brands get their cells from a few factories and slap a wrap on them with their brand name.

Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturers in the World by Business Name