For years, FPV pilots have had to choose between LiPo and Li-ion when it comes to batteries, and that choice has always come with a compromise.
- If you want maximum power, you use LiPo.
- If you want maximum flight time, you use Li-ion.
Now, NewBeeDrone has released a new battery that tries to bridge that gap: the Nitro Nectar Gold 6S 3000mAh tabless 18650 Li-ion battery pack. On paper, it promise much better discharge performance than a traditional 18650 pack, while still keeping the energy-density advantage that makes Li-ion so appealing for long range flying.
Interested in long range flying? Check out my guide: https://oscarliang.com/long-range-fpv-flying-mini-quad/
Where to Buy
Buy this Li-ion battery from NewBeeDrone: https://oscarliang.com/product-48av
Specifications
- Configuration: 6S1P
- Cell type: JP30 high-discharge tabless 18650
- Nominal voltage: 22.2V
- Fully charged voltage: 25.2V
- Capacity: 3000mAh
- Total energy: 66.6Wh
- XT60 connector
- XT60 wire length (including connector): 100mm
- Balance lead length (including connector): 50mm
- Weight: around 315g
- Dimensions: 71mm × 38mm × 55mm
Not sure what the specs mean? Check out my beginner’s guide on batteries: https://oscarliang.com/lipo-battery-guide/
There is an interesting discrepancy in the stated discharge ratings.
On the leaflet, it says:
- Continuous discharge: up to 36A
- Pulse discharge (<10s): up to 80A
- Minimum discharge voltage: 2.8V per cell
But the battery label it says:
- Continuous current: 60A
- Burst current: 160A for 10 seconds
- Voltage range: 2.6V to 4.25V per cell
That is a pretty meaningful difference, and I would treat those higher numbers with caution until I see more real-world testing. 160A for 10 seconds is an extremely bold claim, even by LiPo standards. Still, even the lower official rating would already make this a serious step up over many traditional 18650 FPV packs.
Why Use Li-ion in FPV?
I already have an article explaining in detail why we use Li-ion in FPV: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/
Here, I will just summarize the main reasons.
Compared to LiPo, Li-ion usually gives you:
- better energy density (more capacity per size)
- longer flight times
- often only a small weight penalty, or sometimes even a weight advantage for the same watt-hours
That is why Li-ion packs are so popular for long range FPV and cruisers.
The problem has always been discharge performance.
Traditional Li-ion cells simply cannot deliver current as aggressively as LiPo. So while they can keep you in the air for longer, they usually feel noticeably sluggish. Voltage sags harder, peak RPM is lower, and the quad loses that punchy, responsive feel people want for freestyle or racing.
That is the core weakness this NewBeeDrone pack is trying to fix.
The Cells in This Battery are Better?
The NewBeeDrone battery pack is built using JP30 tabless 18650 cells.
I tested these cells in the Lionbee 1S long range drone earlier this year, and I can confirm they were among the best 18650 cells I have tested, backed by real data: https://oscarliang.com/newbeedrone-lionbee-3inch-1s/#Battery-Nitro-Nectar-Gold-18650-3000mAh
The basic claim behind tabless cells is that they are supposed to offer:
- the same energy density as traditional 18650 Li-ion cells
- with discharge performance much closer to LiPo
So it makes perfect sense to bundle them into larger, higher-cell-count packs for use on bigger quads like 5-inch or 7-inch, long-range rigs, and fixed wings.
Weight and Size Comparison
Let’s compare this battery to a LiPo (Auline XR 6S 1550mAh) and a traditional 18650 pack (Auline V45 6S 3000mAh).
- NewBeeDrone 6S 3000mAh Li-ion: 315.3g
- Auline XR 6S 1550mAh LiPo: 268.6g
- Auline V45 6S 3000mAh Li-ion: 314.0g
So you are getting almost double the capacity for less than 20% more weight, while only being slightly larger in size.
Weight and size are almost identical to other traditional 6S 18650 packs.
Because it is larger than a normal 6S LiPo, you will probably need a longer battery strap. That is not a big issue, but it is worth mentioning.
Testing
Interestingly, the NewBeeDrone battery pack showed almost identical performance to the Auline V45 6S 3000mAh pack I tested last year. I suspect they might be using the same cells.
Both the NewBeeDrone and Auline packs are way better than other traditional 6S 18650 packs I have tested so far, including other so-called high-discharge cells like the Molicel P28A and the Lumenier NAV battery.
With that said, they are still not comparable to typical LiPo batteries.
In flight, both perform more like a very old LiPo. The quad feels more sluggish and less responsive than when using a proper LiPo. But at least the voltage does not sag as badly as typical Li-ion packs, which is a huge bonus. However, if you push them hard, they can get very warm after a flight. On the plus side, they do give you almost double the flight time.
They are not really the best batteries for freestyle or racing, but for people who just want something that gives noticeably longer flight time without sacrificing too much performance, this is clearly a great option.
When it comes to capacity, it is roughly accurate. My discharger stops at 2.9V per cell, and it managed to pull 2818mAh from the NewBeeDrone pack. According to NewBeeDrone, you can discharge this battery down to 2.6V per cell. Due to the limits of my testing equipment, I could not discharge it that low, but in real flight I reckon it should get you very close to the rated 3000mAh capacity.
Final Verdict: Is It Going to Replace LiPo?
Not really, but it can certainly replace LiPo in some applications.
It is clear that LiPo batteries still offer much higher discharge rates and less voltage sag than this battery. That matters because they directly affect:
- motor RPM
- thrust
- acceleration
- overall punch
So if you care about speed and power, LiPo is still the better choice. But if your goal is long-range cruising, this battery looks extremely promising.
Buy this Li-ion battery from NewBeeDrone: https://oscarliang.com/product-48av
One thing worth noting is that the Auline V45 battery has almost identical performance and is priced slightly cheaper: https://oscarliang.com/auline-v45-6s-3000mah-s70-4500mah-li-ion-battery/.
That said, both of these packs offer the best performance I have seen so far in this category, and you really cannot go wrong with either.
