Best Tabless 21700 Battery Cells in 2026: Technology, Specifications and Availability
A practical comparison of EVE 40PL and 50PL, Ampace JP40 and JP50, Tenpower 40XG and 50XG, Reliance RS50 and RS60, BAK, Highstar and Amprius full-tab 21700 cells—for power tools, drones, robotics, electric mobility and high-drain battery packs.
Updated August 17, 2026 · Technical and supply status may change by production batch.
Tabless 21700 battery cells—also described as full-tab 21700 cells, continuous-tab cells or all-tab cells—are becoming a major development in the cylindrical lithium-ion battery market. Their larger current-collection area can reduce internal resistance, voltage sag and localized heating compared with a conventional single-tab design.
This makes full-tab technology particularly attractive for professional power tools, garden equipment, FPV and industrial drones, robots, electric motorcycles, high-performance e-bikes, backup power systems and high-output flashlights.
Why Tabless 21700 Battery Technology Matters
A conventional cylindrical cell uses one or several narrow welded tabs to connect the electrode current collectors to the cell terminals. Under heavy load, this may create longer current paths, localized heating and uneven current distribution.
A full-tab design uses a much larger distributed connection along the collector edge. When it is engineered and manufactured correctly, the potential benefits include:
- Lower AC and DC internal resistance
- Less voltage sag at high current
- More uniform temperature distribution
- Higher usable power
- Greater fast-charge potential
- Improved high-rate cycle-life potential
Tabless construction is an enabling architecture, not a guarantee. Chemistry, electrode loading, electrolyte, safety design and production consistency remain equally important.
Leading Full-Tab 21700 Cells: Specification Comparison
| Model | Capacity | Voltage | Published discharge capability* | Positioning | Market status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVE INR21700-40PL | 4.0Ah | 3.6V | Approx. 60–70A under defined thermal conditions | High power | Mass-produced |
| EVE INR21700-50PL | 5.0Ah | 3.6V | Approx. 50A full discharge; higher conditional rating | Energy + power | Commercially available |
| Ampace JP40 | 4.0Ah | 3.7V | 40–45A full discharge; 60A with temperature cutoff | High power | Mass-produced |
| Ampace JP50 | 5.0Ah | 3.6V | 40A full discharge; 60A with temperature cutoff | High-power 5Ah | Commercially available |
| Tenpower 40XG | 4.0Ah | 3.6V | 60A published rating | High power | Commercially available |
| Tenpower 50XG | 5.0Ah | 3.6V | 40A without thermal cutoff; higher conditional rating | Balanced high power | Commercially available |
| Tenpower 60XG | 6.0Ah | 3.6V | 50A published product-matrix rating | High energy + power | Production introduction |
| Reliance RS50 | 5.0Ah | 3.6V | Up to approx. 70A under specified conditions | High-power 5Ah | Commercially available |
| Reliance RS60 | 6.0Ah | 3.6V | Up to approx. 50A under specified conditions | High energy + power | Supply ramp-up |
| BAK INR21700-40D | 4.0Ah | Approx. 3.6V | Manufacturer announced up to 100A under defined conditions | Extreme power | Industrial supply |
| Highstar INR21700-40PS | 4.0Ah | 3.6V | 60A published rating | Power tools | Small-volume to mass production |
| Highstar INR21700-50PS | 5.0Ah | 3.6V | 60A published rating | High-power 5Ah | Market introduction |
| Amprius SA124 / 50Q | 5.0Ah | 3.6V | 50A continuous | Silicon-anode high power | 2026 introduction |
| Amprius INR21700-60Q | 6.0Ah | 3.5V | Up to 60A at room temperature; substantial heat at high rate | UAV energy + power | Samples/channel supply |
*Ratings are not directly comparable unless temperature cutoff, cooling, SOC window and test duration are also compared.
What the Current Cells Look Like
SHLIZONE currently lists the following full-tab and high-performance 21700 cells for samples, wholesale sourcing and battery-pack projects. Click any product image or model name to view the corresponding product page.
EVE INR21700-50PL
A 5Ah full-tab power cell that balances approximately 18Wh of nominal energy with substantially lower resistance than a conventional energy-oriented 21700 cell.
Ampace JP40
One of the better-established 4Ah tabless power cells, with a clearly defined full-discharge rating and a separate temperature-limited maximum.
Ampace JP50P1
A 5Ah tabless cell for customers who need more runtime than JP40 while retaining strong high-current and fast-charge capability.
Tenpower INR21700-50XG
A competitive 5Ah power cell with very low published impedance and strong market interest for e-mobility, tools, UAVs and robotics.
Reliance INR21700-RS50
A 5Ah tabless cell with aggressive power and low-temperature specifications. Multiple product-specification revisions have reached public channels.
Amprius SA124 / 50Q
A silicon-anode 5Ah power cell with a 50A official continuous rating and a preliminary 900-cycle specification under the stated test regime.
Amprius INR21700-60Q
A 6Ah full-tab cell positioned for UAVs and weight-sensitive power systems. SHLIZONE’s product page also publishes sample discharge results and temperature observations.
Manufacturer and Production Commentary
EVE Energy
EVE is a major publicly listed Chinese battery producer with businesses spanning consumer cells, energy storage and EV batteries. Its 40PL helped establish international recognition for Chinese full-tab 21700 technology. The 50PL extends the concept into the commercially important 5Ah class. EVE has stronger corporate scale and customer-validation infrastructure than most new small-cylinder entrants.
Ampace
Ampace was established through the ATL and CATL battery-industry ecosystem. JP40 has reached meaningful commercial production and has been used in demanding tool-battery applications. JP50 competes directly with the EVE 50PL, Tenpower 50XG and Reliance RS50.
Tenpower
Founded in 2006, Tenpower specializes in cylindrical lithium-ion cells. Its published first-phase capacities across three Chinese plants and one Malaysian plant total roughly two billion cells per year. The 40XG and 50XG are commercially available, while the newer 60XG should still be checked for project-specific production and qualification status.
Reliance
Reliance is a newer manufacturer built around tabless cylindrical technology. Its RS family targets power, while RH products target higher energy. RS50 is already visible in specialist distribution channels; RS60, RH60 and RH70 are newer and require closer supply-status verification.
BAK Battery
BAK is one of China’s longer-established cylindrical-cell producers. Its 40D, 45D and 50D continuous-tab family covers tools, consumer equipment and electric mobility. The manufacturer has announced very high current figures, but buyers should request complete specifications for the exact production model.
Highstar
Highstar has long experience in rechargeable batteries and has introduced 40PS and 50PS cells for high-rate applications. Public product-page data are available, although complete public datasheets and independent testing are less common than for the most internationally traded models.
Amprius
Amprius is a US battery-technology company specializing in silicon-anode systems and using contract manufacturing to scale selected cylindrical products. SA124 is a power-oriented 5Ah model, while SA112 prioritizes capacity. The channel-listed INR21700-60Q is a separate 6Ah full-tab product and should not automatically be treated as identical to the lower-power SA117 shown in an Amprius catalog. SHLIZONE sample testing found substantial temperature rise at 48A and 60A, so the highest current figures require application-specific thermal limits and pack validation. Amprius does not explicitly label every cylindrical model as tabless in its official documentation, so structure claims should be verified by exact model and datasheet.
Which Tabless 21700 Battery Is Best?
For professional power tools
Start with EVE 40PL, Ampace JP40, Tenpower 40XG, Reliance RS40, BAK 40D and Highstar 40PS. Low resistance, voltage stability, temperature rise and high-rate cycle life matter more than maximum nominal capacity.
For drones and robotics
Consider EVE 50PL, Ampace JP50, Tenpower 50XG, Reliance RS50, Reliance RS60 and Amprius SA124. A 5Ah full-tab cell often offers the best balance between power and runtime.
For e-bikes and long-runtime systems
Consider Reliance RH60 or RH70, Amprius SA117 or SA112, and other qualified 6Ah-class energy cells. If the real load is only 5–15A per cell, an extreme 60–70A rating may add cost without improving system performance.
How to Source Genuine 21700 Battery Cells
Before buying tabless 21700 cells in bulk, request:
- Exact manufacturer, model and datasheet revision
- Production date and batch number
- Traceable markings or QR codes
- Grade-A status and inventory history
- Capacity, OCV and resistance sorting criteria
- UN38.3 test summary and SDS
- Applicable UL, IEC, CB or regional documentation
- Dangerous-goods packaging and shipping information
Buy Tabless 21700 Cells From an Experienced China Supplier
We are a China-based lithium battery trader with more than a decade of industry experience. Through established supply channels, we offer competitive pricing and sourcing support for selected EVE, Ampace, Tenpower, Reliance, BAK, Highstar and Amprius cells.
We support samples, trial orders, volume purchasing, datasheet verification, batch confirmation, certification documents and OEM battery-pack projects.
Send us the required model, quantity, application, continuous and peak current, destination country and target delivery date for a current quotation.
Request a Quote From SHLIZONEFrequently Asked Questions
Is a tabless battery the same as a full-tab battery?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but actual current-collector structures differ. Confirm the design with the manufacturer’s technical documentation.
Are all multi-tab 21700 cells tabless?
No. A multi-tab cell can still use a limited number of conventional tabs and should not automatically be classified as full-tab.
Can I use the advertised 60A or 70A rating in a battery pack?
Not without checking temperature cutoff, cooling, discharge duration and the current production datasheet. Pack-level current sharing, conductors, BMS limits and thermal design must also be considered.
How do EVE 50PL, Tenpower 50XG, Reliance RS50 and Ampace JP50 compare?
All target the high-power 5Ah market. Final selection should be based on the actual load profile, batch consistency, temperature performance, cycle data, certification, price and stable availability.
Can you provide samples and wholesale pricing?
Availability depends on the model and batch. Contact us with your application, quantity and destination country to confirm stock, lead time and dangerous-goods shipping options.
Primary Technical Sources
EVE 40PL official release · Ampace cell portfolio · Tenpower product matrix · Tenpower company and capacity information · Reliance product matrix · BAK continuous-tab announcement · Highstar product information · Amprius product catalog.
Disclosure: We sell and source selected battery cells discussed in this article. Product availability and commercial terms depend on model, production batch, order quantity and destination. Technical information is based on public manufacturer documentation available as of August 2026. Maximum-current figures are not consumer operating recommendations.