How to Choose Best LiPo Battery for your Drone | Quadcopter 4S | 3S | 2S | 1S

Batteries for your quadcopter have a few more areas of consideration than simply how long it will keep your craft in the air. This guide is to help inform you of what those considerations are, and to help you decide which is the best lipo battery for your drone and individual style of flying. 

Voltage and capacity are the most important things to consider, but weight and discharge rate (also called ‘C’ rating) are almost as important.

LiPo Battery Basics

As we know from Christmas mornings as kids, not all batteries are the same. After unwrapping the biggest gift under the tree, and fitting the “no-name” batteries that came free with your toy, the buzzing and beeping, that drives parents to distraction, gets quieter and more distorted, until the batteries no longer work at all. We learn pretty early on that it is worth spending a few extra $$ on good quality batteries so our play time doesn’t get cut short.

Lipo Battery Size Chart

Battery Voltage (Cell count)

The nominal voltage of a LiPo cell is 3.7v, cells are put together in series to increase the voltage, the number of cells used in a LiPo pack is shown by a number followed by the letter ‘S’. So a 2S battery has 2 cells wired together in series to create a 7.4v battery, and a 3S has 3 cells to increase the voltage to 11.1v. The most common voltage for quads at the moment is a 4S 14.8v battery.

Capacity

The capacity of a LiPo has the greatest effect on flight times, the higher the capacity, the longer the flight time you will get from your craft, but the higher the capacity, the heavier the battery will be. As the LiPo is the single heaviest component on your quad, you will reach a stage where you get diminishing returns, and the battery is too heavy for your craft to carry efficiently. The most common capacity for racing drones with 5 inch propellers is 1300mAh, which seems to find the best balance between performance, flight time and weight, but there are, of course, exceptions to this.

Discharge Rate (C Rating)

The discharge rate is shown by a number followed by the letter ‘C’, the higher the discharge rate, the better. The discharge rating shows how quickly you can safely discharge your battery. A higher C rating means that you will use less throttle input to get your craft to hover, and it will provide more amperage to the motors at full throttle, making your craft faster and more punchy.

There is a phenomenon known as ‘Voltage Sag’ – The higher your throttle input, the faster you deplete your battery, but this depletion is not linear. At very high throttle the voltage drops even faster, but as you decrease throttle, the voltage will recover, the lower the C rating of your battery the more pronounced the voltage sag will be, and the longer it will take for the voltage to increase again.

With a high C rating, the voltage drop at very high throttle will be reduced. I recommend 45C as the very minimum to fly slowly, a 75C pack will be better for freestyle, but to get the best out of your quad, and particularly for racing you should be looking at C ratings of 80-100C and higher.

Note – Batteries with a higher C rating will usually be slightly heavier, than others with the same voltage and capacity.

Buyers tip – Some manufacturers inflate the numbers of the C rating of their batteries, which is why it is recommended to purchase your batteries from a reputable source.

Important Buyers Note – Unscrupulous manufacturers often inflate the advertised C ratings of their batteries, as such it is highly recommended to purchase batteries of a well known brand from a reputable retailer.

Battery Chemistry

Batteries store electrical energy by using a reaction between different chemicals, such as Lead and Acid – which is what is used for car batteries. Li-Po or Lithium – Polymer have a good power density, they can be made in various shapes and also inherently have good discharge rates, which make them ideal for our hobby/sport.

There are 2 other common chemistry types used for drones, these are LiHv (Lithium High Voltage) and Graphene. LiHV cells have a higher nominal voltage of 3.8v per cell, which provides a little more punch at full charge. Graphene batteries are said to have a slightly longer lifespan as they build internal resistance slower than a standard LiPo or LiHv.

Batteries don’t last forever

Like propellers, LiPo batteries are a consumable in the hobby, however they should last longer than your props, as long as you treat them well! I mentioned internal resistance earlier, this is what kills your batteries over time. The more you use a LiPo, the more the internal resistance increases. Internal resistance can be thought of as a component within your battery that uses electrical energy, leaving less power for your motors.

Over charging, and over discharging your batteries will cause internal resistance to increase more quickly, also leaving your batteries fully charged or discharged (past 3.2v per cell) for extended time periods will also cause internal resistance to build faster. Unless you are going to fly tomorrow, I would recommend that you re-charge/discharge your batteries to storage voltage, which for standard LiPo, LiHv and Graphene batteries is between 3.7 and 3.95v per cell, most say 3.8v for LiPo and Graphene and 3.85v for LiHv.

Best Lipo Drone Battery

TATTU R-Line 6S Lipo Battery

High End

6S Lipo Drone Battery

Tattu R-Line 5.0 6S

Minimum Capacity: 1400mAh
Configuration: 6S1P / 22.2V / 6 Cells
Discharge Rate: 150C
Max Burst Discharge Rate: 260C
Net Weight(±20g): 222g
Dimensions:78mm x 39mm x 42mm (L x W x H)
Charge Plug: JST-XHR
Discharge Plug: XT60

$ Check Price on Amazon

The Tattu R-Line V5 battery has been my go-to for FPV racing competitions. The 1400mAh capacity lasts forever, and the 150C discharge rate provides insane power. Tattu says it’s an upgraded version of their R-Line series with lower internal resistance and temp. I believe it – this thing rips! It uses some fancy tech called Al Boehmite that Tattu says improves overall performance and continuous output. I’m not sure what that means, but I know these batteries crush the track and never let up. The voltage sag is super minimal too, even pushing these packs to their limit. If you’re an FPV racer looking to shave milliseconds off your times, this battery is for you. The price tag is steep, but the performance is unmatched. Once you try the R-Line V5, you’ll never go back to anything else. This lipo is worth every penny.

CNHL 4S Lipo Battery

High End

4S Lipo Drone Battery

CNHL 4s LiPo Battery

Capacity：1300mAh，Voltage：14.8V / 4-Cell
Discharge Rate：100C Cont
/ 200C Burst
Size：2.911.321.33inch/7433.534mm
Weight：5.75oz/163g
Plug：XT60
Wire Size(AWG)：12 #
Balance Connector：JST / XH

$ Check Price on Amazon

The CNHL 4S lipo packs a punch – with a 100C constant and 200C burst rate, these batteries rip hard without sagging. The 14.8V gives tons of power in a compact size, and the XT60 plug makes connections simple. CNHL says the high energy density provides long cycle life, and based on reviews, these packs take a beating and keep flying. The main complaints seem to be about the balance plugs being brittle. But most agree the performance is worth it, even with hard flying that breaks lesser packs. For Freestyle FPV pilots who demand power and durability, CNHL 4S lipos deliver. The discharge rates live up to claims, and most users are thrilled even after heavy use. If you want batteries that rip without sagging, CNHL brings the juice. Just be gentle with the plugs and you’re set for acro domination.

TATTU 3S Lipo Battery Pack

High End

3S Lipo Drone Battery

Tattu 3S

Minimum Capacity: 650mAh
Configuration: 3S1P / 11.1V / 3 Cells
Discharge Rate: 75C
Max Burst Discharge Rate: 150C
Net Weight(±20g): 59g
Dimensions: 58mm Length x 31mm Width x 16mm Height
Charge Plug: JST-XHR-4P
Discharge Plug: XT-30

$ Check Price on Amazon

The Tattu 3S 650mAh lipos provide quality power for small and micro multirotors and FPV drones. The compact size and weight fit perfectly in mini and micro frames, with just enough juice for a fun flight. Tattu uses top notch materials to enable the 650mAh single-cell capacity and high discharge performance. Their stacking technology packs a punch while keeping the battery petite. If you fly micro drones or other small craft, you need a battery that keeps up without weighing you down. These Tattu lipos offer high energy density to maximize every precious gram. Their size makes building sleek rigs easy, while the discharge performance still brings FPV thrills. For mini pilots seeking safe, quality power, Tattu has you covered.

GAONENG 2S Lipo Battery Pack

High End

2S Lipo Drone Battery

GAONENG 2S

Minimum Capacity: 450mAh
Configuration: 2S1P/7.6V/2 cell
Discharge Rate: 80C
Max Burst Discharge Rate: 160C
Net Weight: 27g (+/-2g)
Dimensions: 64mm x 17mm x13mm (L x W x H)
Charge Plug: JST-XHR
Discharge Plug: XT-30

$ Check Price on Amazon

Gaoneng 2S batteries are well-built and durable, featuring a high-quality Lithium Polymer material. The 450mAh capacity and 80C continue discharge rate ensure long-lasting power and consistent performance, while the 160C max burst discharge rate provides a boost of power when you need it most. With its compatibility with a wide range of drones, consistent performance, and lightweight design, these batteries are a great choice for micro drones. The package includes 2 pieces of batteries, 1 piece of stickers, and 1 piece of instruction. It is important to note that the batteries are not charged in full upon arrival and need to be charged before use. It is also recommended to monitor the battery voltage during discharging to avoid over-discharge for long cycling life.

4S Battery Overview (14.8V)

A 4 cell/4S (14.8v) pack is the most common voltage for flying almost any size drone (apart from micro >120mm frames) at the moment. This voltage is very versatile and provides great performance for racing and freestyle on almost any quad using 2.5” props and over.

There are now components hitting the market that will support 5S and even 6S voltages, but at the current time these are quite specialized. A few years ago 3S (11.1v) was the most common and as such there are some who are slightly behind the times and suggest that this voltage is better for the beginner pilot.

However the throttle curve can be adjusted on your transmitter and / or flight controller (FC) so that at full stick input, your model is not actually running at its full thrust capacity.

If you do feel that your 4S model is a bit too fast for your current skill level, rather than buying 3S packs, you can adjust the settings to slow it down to a more manageable pace, and then revert or re-adjust these settings over time, to increase the thrust of your model as you feel

Our Pick of the Bunch

Picking just one of these is a really difficult call to make, with such a wide price range and great quality across the board. I think that if you are an all out, top class racer, then the Max Amps 175C pack is probably the best pack available for you, but the price is almost double that of the Tattu R-Line.

It is simply price that has put the Max Amps pack at the bottom of the list, however the R-Line 2.0 is widely recognised as one of the best racing packs available, and it is fully deserving of its place at the top of the class, due to its amazing performance.

For the freestyle pilot, the Infinity from Antech gives brilliant performance combined with a great low price. If you are flying on a budget, the CNHL 100C has an incredible price and gets some really good reviews of its performance too, in fact some are left almost in disbelief that CNHL can create such a good battery at such a low price.

3S Battery Overview (11.1V)

As I mentioned above, up until a few years ago 3S was the most common voltage used in the sport, but as the skill of pilots improved and technology advanced, we saw the introduction of 4S compatible parts, until subsequently the higher voltage became commonplace.

As you may have learned, much of the hobby is a balancing act, the most important factors to balance are the thrust generated by your motors and props, and the All Up Weight/AUW, (basically, the weight of your model, including the battery).

These days generally 3S packs are used for smaller, lighter models and motors. Models designed for 3S voltages usually have a specific reason for using a 3S pack over a 4S, namely the additional thrust from the higher voltage battery will not show as much improvement as the decrease in weight of the battery.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule, the exceptions here are that some larger craft with 8 inch or larger props, will use a high capacity 3S battery.

Remember that as capacity increases, so does the weight of the individual cells that make up your pack. Some long range craft, designed to optimise efficiency, will sacrifice the additional thrust from higher voltage, for an increase in mAh capacity.

Spending extra on long range components for a craft that only has a flight time of 5-6 mins is a needless expense because you won’t be able to fly to the limits of your range in 2.5-3 minutes, remember you always have to save enough battery power for your return journey!

These 3S packs have been chosen to reflect the current popularity of micro models, you will notice that the capacities of the packs in this list are lower than the 4S list above due to the limited thrust of smaller props.

2S Battery Overview (7.4V)

2S packs are commonly used for quads with a wheelbase of between 100-120mm, but nowadays there are quite a few craft in this size category that will happily run on 3S and even 4S voltages.

Finding information on craft that work best with 2S packs is not actually that easy as smaller capacity 3S and 4S packs become more common. Some ultra micro craft such as brushless tiny whoop’s, which often run single cell (1S) packs, are now using components to support upgrades to 2S voltages.

These packs will generally have a very low capacity between 200-400mAh, which is not really enough to handle the current draw of 2” or larger props. Another thing to consider with 2S batteries is the connecter that is used, I think 2S voltage has the widest range of different connecter types as you can find Walkera/LOSI, JST PH, JST RCY, XT 30 and XT 60 are all available, so make sure you order the correct type for your model.

1S Battery Overview (3.7V)

1S packs are where many of us start, powering a toy grade model such as the Eachine H8 mini, blade inductrix or one of its many clones. There are many different non branded types of 1S battery which is what taught me (the hard way) that not all Li-Po’s are equal.

Some of the no name brand 1S packs I bought worked fine, others, from their very first use, failed to provide enough power to sustain a hover! Due to the popularity of Tiny Whoop’s there are now many well known companies providing high quality 1S packs and relatively cheap too.

Most of the packs listed here are available in standard Li-Po and Li-Hv chemistries, so ensure that your charger and model is compatible for your selection. 

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DN

Drone Nodes is an online communication platform that brings together experts and enthusiasts in drone research, start-ups, businesses, and educates about the newest technologies in the drone and FPV market.

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