Flat-Top and Button-Top Batteries – What's the Difference?

Flat-Top Lithium Battery


Structural features:

The positive terminal has no protruding metal cap; both the positive and negative ends are flat surfaces; the internal positive terminal output of the battery cell is a flat welding pad.

Key point: Flat-top batteries usually do not come with a protection board.

Advantages:

1. The shell is flat, allowing for compact stacking with minimal assembly gaps, resulting in higher space utilization for battery PACKs.

2. Suitable for spot welding and laser welding; provides a large contact surface for welding, ensuring strong, reliable weld spots and reducing the risk of cold solder joints.

3. No protrusions, which makes it less likely to scratch the insulation film during transport and assembly, reducing the risk of short circuits.

4. Good consistency, suitable for large-scale battery pack assembly with multiple series and parallel connections.

Disadvantages: Cannot directly replace disposable dry batteries (standard spring compartments require a protrusion to make contact).

Applicable fields:

Electric vehicle battery packs, energy storage power supplies, outdoor power supplies, UPS backup power, photovoltaic energy storage, power tool battery packs, robot vacuums, plant protection drones, high-power lighting modules, lithium battery PACK assembly, base station backup power, and energy storage cabinets.

Button Top / Raised Top Battery

Structural features: The positive terminal has a raised metal cap (like the positive bump on an AA battery); the negative terminal is flat. Button tops can be either bare cells with a button top or a button top combined with a built-in protection board (most common on the market). Advantages: 1. Comes with a bump, compatible with spring-loaded battery compartments, can directly replace dry cell batteries without soldering. 2. Convenient for single-cell use; can be directly installed in flashlights and small appliances to conduct electricity. 3. Versions with protection boards: Built-in overcharge/over-discharge/over-current protection, making single-cell use safer. Disadvantages: The bump takes up space, increasing gaps between cells when PACKing into packs; the bump is easily damaged by pressure or can cause poor contact; inconvenient for large-scale spot welding. Applicable fields: High-beam flashlights, headlamps, camping lights, e-cigarettes, laser pointers, thermometers, portable fans, walkie-talkies, portable instruments, small household digital devices, camera fill lights, and handheld devices that require individual battery replacement.
The difference between flat-top and button-top batteries
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