10 Best RC LiPo Batteries 2024 in the US

In the recent years, lithium polymer, or “LiPo”, batteries have become a huge favorite among customers, especially for use in electronic sporting devices. There are a number of remote control devices, such as planes and hovercraft, that employ such batteries. They offer a wide array of benefits, including compact size, greater capacity, and runtime. However, when it comes to selecting a LiPo battery, there are several terms and ratings that may confuse you. This buying guide will help you select the best LiPo battery for you remote control devices.

The types of RC batteries are classified on the basis of their shape. There are two basic shapes:

• Stick shape,

• Rectangular batteries.

Some manufacturers classify batteries according to the vehicle for which they can be used—a remote control plane, car, truck, etc.

• Warranty: A genuine warranty is a proof of the reliability of a product. It goes a long way towards putting your mind at ease with regard to repairs and replacements, in case they are required.

• Safety: After going through thousands of RC LiPo battery reviews, we recommend that you should go for battery packs that adhere to safety requirements and certifications. Dealing with unreliable LiPo batteries can be a safety hazard--some even have a risk of leaking or exploding. You should stick to trusted names that have well-established reputations in the market.

• Check the voltage: The voltage is the most important criterion in selecting a Li-Po battery. Voltage depends on the number of cells connected in series inside the battery. You should find the correct voltage for your application (car/drone or another vehicle) and select a battery accordingly.

• Check the capacity: It refers to the maximum load that can be put on the battery for an hour. You will see a specification on the battery of milliamp-hours (mAh). That is a unit of electric charge, where 1 Ampere-hour = a current of 1 Ampere flowing for 1 hour, or 3600 Coulombs (the unit of charge). Thus a mAh is 1/1000 of that, or 3.6 Coulombs. You can derive the run-time by this formula:

  runtime = capacity ( in Amp-hours)/Discharge rate (Amps)

  or

  runtime = capacity *(minutes in an hour) / current required by the device

  Thus, if your application requires a current of 15 amps or 15000 milliamps, the runtime would be 8 minutes:

  (2000 milliAmp-hours)*(60 minutes/hour)/ 15000 mA = 8 minutes

• Adding cells: You can increase the capacity of your battery by adding cells in parallel. However, the more cells you add, the heavier and larger your battery becomes. A very large size may not fit into your vehicle.

• Check the balancing: You will occasionally see LiPo packs with the specification “2S” or “3S”. That means that the battery contains two or three individual cells inside it. But they might not all charge or discharge at the same rate. “Balancing” is the name for trying to keep the different cells equally charged. A balancer is a device that you use to check that the individual cells are equally charged. Not all LiPo batteries support a balancer. However, some battery packs may include balancing ports that allow the use of a balancer. They will equalize that amount of charge among the various cells.

• Choose the right battery case: The delicate LiPo cells are usually covered by a plastic shell to provide strength and stability to the unit. Thick, strong, good quality plastic shells provide better protection to the battery unit. You can also choose between rectangular or stick-shape battery packs depending on the peculiarities of your application.

• Look for zero-loss plugs: Some battery packs include “zero loss plugs”. The wires are connected to the zero loss plugs, which in turn are connected to the battery. These are a better option than those battery sets that have wires directly connected to the battery.

• Connectors: Many RC LiPo batteries do not include connectors. So if you buy a connector individually, you must also learn to solder the connector to the battery. To save yourself the trouble, select a battery that comes with a connector or plug type that is suitable for your application.

• Check the C-rating: The C-rating refers to the highest continuous rate at which the battery can be discharged safely. A higher C rating obviously increases the amount of power you can safely draw from the battery. You should consider your requirements before settling on a particular C rating. You should not settle for a very low C rating, because running your battery close to its limit may reduce its life significantly. On the other hand, if you do not require higher draws, opting for a high C rating would be pointless. 

Turnigy: Established in early 2000’s, this brand has seen unprecedented growth in recent years. They bring the best of quality and design at affordable prices.

Floureon: Floureon, founded in 2011, is a popular brand of RC LiPo batteries. They have maintained their position in the market by their unwavering commitment to quality and service.

Gens ace: Established in October 1998, the Gens ace group of companies has always worked according to the “consumer first” approach. They produce the best quality products that deliver 100% customer satisfaction.