Are you looking for the best LiPo charger? Then, you’re in the right place.
If you’re an RC drone or car enthusiast routinely competing in major FPV meets and events, you know the indispensability of a quality LiPo charger.
The lithium-polymer charger brand you choose for your RC quadcopter could mean the difference between staying in the game and bowing out prematurely.
So, while reviewing FPV RC racing quadcopters based on airframe video transmitter, radio controller, HD camera, and board camera, surely keep an eye out for the best LiPo chargers.
A LiPo charger is a specialized charger that’ll not only charge the drone’s batteries at a faster rate but also charge multiple units simultaneously. You’ll also come across brands capable of charging different types of batteries.
In this post, we’ve reviewed three of the best LiPo chargers based on specific parameters, including power and voltage rating, USB charging port, and charging time, to name a few.
Make sure you buy a product that comes with overcharge or overvoltage protection as a built-in feature. In addition, opting for a safe where you can safely store your LiPo charger is strongly recommended.
The 8 Best LiPo Chargers – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Venom Pro Quad LiPo Battery Fast Charger (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | ISDT D2 Mark 2 LiPo Battery Balance Charger (Close Runner-Up) | Check Price |
 | SkyRC iMAX B6AC V2 LiPo Battery Balance Charger (Best on a Budget) | Check Price |
 | Spektrum Smart S150 Battery Charger (Best on a Budget - Option 2) | Check Price |
 | GoolRC B3 AC 2S 3S Compact Lipo Battery Charger | Check Price |
 | Ultra Power UP120AC DUO Charger for LiPo | Check Price |
 | Tenergy TB6-B Balance Charger | Check Price |
 | Spektrum S2100 Smart Charger | Check Price |
Venom Pro Quad LiPo Battery Fast Charger (Editor’s Choice)
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty, performance-driven charger that can charge several different types of batteries, then choose Venom. The highly popular Pro Duo is convenient for easy and rapid charging. It can charge multiple RC batteries. Several RC (radio-controlled/remote-controlled) hobbyists and enthusiasts looking to pursue their passion for the hilt go for the Venom Pro Quad.
The Pro Quad charger has a monolithic upright posture. No wonder this takes up minimal bench space yet charges four RC batteries at one go along with four powerful 100Watt capacities accompanied with 7A charging circuits. Integration of four discrete charging circuits in a single small battery charger implies that every channel obtains 100W power when charging single or multiple batteries without diluting the amp hour rating.
Two dedicated USB 2.3 amp ports are embedded tactfully to power USB-compatible devices. It swiftly charges LiPo, LiHV, Li-Ion, NiCD, LiFe, NiMH-based, and Lead Acid chemistry batteries as a multi-chemistry charger. You can use this for RC toys.
Pros
- At one go, it charges four batteries
- Charger/discharger & balancer featuring 4 separate 100W ports for rapid charging
- LiPo charger that charges NiCD, Pb, LiHVLiPo, Li-Ion, Li-Fe, and NiMH packs
- Engineered and configured to achieve a safe voltage for balanced charging repeatedly
- It is preloaded with sophisticated features like safe discharge, fast charge, storage charge, balance charge, etc.
Cons
- Storage function exasperatingly sluggish
- No power switch
Spektrum S2100 Smart Charger
The smart and small charger works fast, and it is the first dual-output AC battery charger made with Spektrum Smart Charging Technology. Moreover, it is lightweight with a tiny footprint and supremely portable. Moreover, this is equipped with innovative Spektrum IC3 connector providing strong connectivity. At the same time, S2100 can perfectly interpret crucial battery content on an LCD for displaying data-logging along with vital info regarding smart batteries.
When you pair a LiPo charger with a battery, the battery’s important aspects can be easily seen. It works amazingly with smart batteries by Spektrum and helps in losing smart features enabling auto-discharge, simplifying balancing, and much more.
You can preset and record required settings such as charge rates options and self-discharge. You only need to depress the ‘Start’ knob. You can customize the charging rate so you can squeeze out the highest form packs with fast charging ratings.
When you pair this dual-output LiPo charger with a smart battery, you can see vital aspects of the battery. This battery charger works best with Spektrum smart batteries, helping to unleash smart features, enabling auto-discharge, simplifying balancing, and much more.
Using this Spektrum charger, you can preset and record favored settings like self-discharge and charge rates options. Then, all you need to do to charge your battery packs is to depress the ‘Start’ knob, following which smart technology takes over. In addition, you can customize the charging rate of any specific battery, which means that you can squeeze out the maximum from packs having faster charge ratings.
Pros
- Ultra-compact AC dual battery charger balance charges twin packs at the same time
- Extremely safe: low-input voltage protection, over-current protection, short-circuit, and reverse polarity protected
- Includes USB port for charging smart and USB-enabled gadgets
- Charges 1-6 cell Li-Fe, LiPo, LiHV, and Li-Ion; 1-6 cell NiMH/NiCD, and 1-12 cell lead-acid batteries
- Also supports conventional RC battery charging: Backwards compatible with EC3 connectors
- Unlocks smart features of Spektrum Smart packs
Cons
- The cooling fans constantly run after switching on and gets louder gradually
- You’ll need an adapter even if you’re connecting to a Spektrum Smart battery.
ISDT D2 Mark 2 LiPo Battery Balance Charger
This user-friendly charger is companionable with every battery type. D2 Mark 2 LiPo AC dual-channel output battery balance charger charges Pb (1-12S), NiMH/Cd (1-16S), and LiHV/LiPo/Li-ion/LiFe (1-8S) battery packs speedily and effortlessly. This features a wide range of AC input with the ease of industrial-level power management.
As a dual-port or dual-channel LiPo charger, the ISDT D2 features two distinct charging ports capable of two batteries simultaneously. Each charging port has a maximum (charging) current of 12A and charges batteries with a voltage rating varying from 2-6s. The D2 Mark 2 doesn’t need any external power source for charging as this charger has an input (AC) voltage of 100-240 and max 200W charging power amongst the two ports.
With this LiPo battery balance charger, you also have the option of altering the charging current to maintain or boost your batteries’ life. Remember that charging at a higher current helps you charge faster but drastically reduces the battery’s life. The best reason to choose this dual-port charger is that the ISDT D2 Mark 2 frees you from the need to employ a parallel charging board (which is riskier).
Pros
- Dual ports supporting up to 6S balance charging and discharging
- 5V/2A USB output port for quick charging of USB-enabled devices
- State-of-the-art LiPo charger with upgraded hardware for better performance
- Incredibly versatile PFC circuitry compatible with different voltage standards worldwide: Minimal interference to the power grid with boosted operating stability
- Thoroughly safe: Over temperature- (OT), overvoltage- (OV), overload- (OL)- and short-circuit protection
- Dual fans prevent the charger from getting overheated
- Compact and lightweight: Smaller footprint and quite portable
Cons
- Lack of a DC input makes this charger less efficient
- 100W per charging port is insufficient for fully charging multiple 6S packs
- Customer service is virtually nonexistent
SkyRC IMAX B6ACV2 LiPo Battery Balance Charger
The advanced Dual Power Professional LiPo Battery Balance Charger by SkyRC charges Pb, NiCD, NiMH, Li-ion, Li-Fe, and LiPo battery packs. The iMAX B6AC is the latest and most up-to-date LiPo battery balance charger/discharger from SkyRC measuring 14.4cm x 13.5cm x 3.6cm and weighing 632g.
So this battery balance charger takes up minimal space on the bench and, at the same time, is very portable. The SkyRCIMAX battery charger has been heavily cloned accounts for its extensive popularity. Also, the B6ACV2 AC/DC single-port charger comes with plenty of handy features at a low price makes it highly sought-after. However, it’d be unfair to evaluate the iMAX B6ACV2 based on its price, as it’s capable of performing as effectively as any high-end charger.
The B6ACV2 AC/DC dual-power charger works with 11-18V DC input and 100-240V AC input sources as a single-port LiPo charger. This 6A charger/2A discharger can charge LiPo/ Li-Fe/Li-ion (1-6cell), NiCD/NiMH (1-15cell), and Pb (2-20V). The USP of this battery charger is very proficient in balancing charged batteries with various chemistries.
Pros
- Balance battery charger/discharger charges different standardized packs
- Integrated with new advanced features like battery internal resistance meter, Li-battery meter, and Re-Peak mechanism for NiMH/NiCD battery packs
- The customized setting of terminal voltage for pairing with PC and amenable to firmware upgrades
- Dual power (AC/DC input) with 50W maximum charging power and 6A max current
- Very compact, lightweight, and highly affordable
- Extremely safe charger thanks to multiple safety features like processing time-temperature threshold-, capacity- and charging current limit
Cons
- Capable of just one battery at any time
- Users will need a 12V external power supply as the B6 doesn’t come with its own
Spektrum Smart S150 Battery Charger
This is extraordinarily small and incredibly popular with RC fans and modelers. The S150 AC Charger can effortlessly charge the various batteries used in RC models vehicles such as cars, planes, boats, and even scaled locomotives and helicopters. This 50W AC/DC RC battery charger is integrated with the latest smart features and functionalities that can be optimally exploited by all RC hobbyists regardless of their experience level.
A very pocket-friendly battery charger is amazingly user-friendly with a single-button interface. Moreover, the S150 RC, when connected with a battery, smoothly uploads the data from the integrated memory chip of each battery. As this can smartly interpret the data about a particular battery type and automatically execute the appropriate battery setting, assessing the battery’s fitness becomes easy.
And as you’re able to keep track of your packs’ health, charging them effectively and safely becomes relatively easy. You can make the most of Spektrum Smart S150 for charging Li-Fe, NiMH, LiHV, Li-Ion and LiPo battery packs.
Pros
- Future Smart firmware upgradeable
- Internal cooling fan for ensuring an efficient and safe operating temperature
- AC power input-adaptable: comes with AC-to-20V DC power supply
- Compact design and portable form factor
- Capable of charging batteries without employing Smart technology
- Intuitively senses and reads battery pack-specific data for straightforward and safe charging
- Easily readable charging indicator
- Single-button interface
- Works with almost all types of batteries used in RC model cars, planes, and other vehicles
Cons
- The AC adapter is almost twice as big as the charger makes the entire contraption a bit complicated to handle
- As it is a smart charger, many users may take some time before getting used to it.
Ultra Power UP120AC DUO Balancing Charger for LiPo
The Ultra Power UP120AC Duo Balancing Charger is one of the best LiPo chargers you can pick up for your RC drone or racing car. Of course, it does not come cheap but offers much more than it is worth. For a start, it’ll charge almost every battery type, including LiPo, Lilon, LiFe, Pb, NiCD, NiMh, LiHV, and so on.
Then again, it comes equipped with balance charging functionality-every cell will be charged to the desired voltage. So, you will charge all LiPo cells equally to 4.18-4.30V.
UP120AC is compatible with both AC/DC charging formats, has a total power rating of 240W, and charges two batteries rapidly. In addition, it is compactly built, takes up minimal operational and storage space, and has grooves for hanging on the wall.
It has a USB port, enabling you to recharge your smartphone or laptop. In addition, there is a metered scale that lets you keep a tab on the charging voltage of your batteries. You can also make the most of the ten memory profiles, including but not limited to battery voltage, charge current, discharge current, discharge voltage, and temperature cut-off.
Pros
- Balance charging
- Compatible with a host of battery types-NiCD, NiMh, LiPo, Li-HV, and Li-Fe, to name a few
- Safety timer
- Temperature cut-off
- Key buzzer and beep
- Save program feature
- Input power low voltage cut-off
- System settings
- Manual and auto-charge
- Discharge
- Stepped up charging
- USB charging port
- Includes accessories like AC/DC power cord, balance boards, charging leads/cables, and instruction manual
Cons
- The instruction manual is silent on the running time of fans during charge mode.
- Some customers complained that software is missing in the package, contrary to what is claimed by the manufacturer.
- It does not always function in both AC and DC.
Enough, the UP120AC Duo Balancing Charger by Ultra Power comes in perfectly handy for making the most of your LiPo batteries. However, you’ll need to shell out a few extra bucks for the product.
Tenergy TB6-B Balance Charger
Are you looking for a versatile charger that can effectively charge all your battery cell types and is compatible with different charging connectors?
The TB6-B Balance Charger Discharger from Tenergy is companionable with SLA, Li-FePO4, Li-ion, LiPo, Ni-CD, and NiMH cells. Alternatively, you can set it up with JST, HiTec, Deans, EC3, mini Tamiya, and Tamiya connectors, thanks to its Octopus multi-charging harness capability.
The TB6-B will balance the charge battery mentioned above pack types of varying voltages. It can balance LiPo and Li-ion cell batteries and comes with cyclical or repeated charging and discharging. Take advantage of fast charging, data storage, and glance through charging settings and statuses on the main LCD screen.
The balance charger can archive five separate battery pack data, thereby letting you save money on buying multiple chargers. In addition, the Tenergy TB6-B is priced moderately, making it remarkably affordable.
Pros
- Capable of charging six distinct types of cells
- Companionable with a wide voltage range for every battery type
- Five battery memory profiles
- Extremely lightweight: 246g
- Very compact: requires minimum storage space
- Five cycles of continuous charging/discharging for refreshing batteries
- Inbuilt cell voltage balancer for lithium polymer and lithium-ion batteries
Cons
- Not conducive for heavy users as it won’t charge beyond a specific capacity without renewing the charging cycle
- Balance charging of 4s batteries across various formats does not happen past a specific mAh capacity.
- Does not give voltage rating without load
- It does not gauge internal resistance either.
Overall, the Tenergy TB6-B Balance Charger Discharger offers a slew of useful features at a relatively low price. In our opinion, it’s the best LiPo charger on the market.
GoolRC B3 AC 2S 3S Compact LiPo Battery Charger
The GoolRC B3 AC2S 3S Compact LiPo Battery Charger is another supremely affordable charger that can qualify for the best LiPo chargers tag. This battery charger is compatible with mains power having a 110-240V AC format. It can charge up to three LiPo batteries having a maximal output current rating of 3*800mA.
Power plugs used in the US, EU, and the UK are companionable with the B3 AC compact LiPo charger from GoolRC. This charger is also relatively compact, having dimensions of 90 x 55 x 33mm and incredibly lightweight, weighing just 80g.
Pros
- Ideal for charging three LiPo batteries (with a 3*800mAh rating) at the same time
- Balanced charging is facilitated via the balance lead in cells.
- The maximum power rating is 110-240V AC: hence companionable with most power setups.
- Very compact and lightweight: simple to use and easy to store
Cons
- Useful for charging LiPo batteries only
- The instruction manual is not included in the pack
This GoolRC charger is the best buy if you’re looking for a cost-effective and straightforward charger for your LiPo battery packs.
How to Pick the Best LiPo Charger
The best LiPo chargers available in the market must have the following practical features:
Customized User Interface
The best LiPo chargers usually come with a customized user interface that allows you to see how fast your battery is charging. You can also monitor settings for balance charges and a host of other functionalities.
Multiple Battery Type Charging Capacity
Two of the three chargers reviewed in this article can charge Ni-CD, Ni-MH, LiPo, Li-ion, and other battery formats. A charger that can charge different cell types implies that you do not have to buy separate chargers for various batteries.
Multiple Modes with Settings for Different Voltage Charging
The best chargers available online or offline have different modes like fast charge and discharge modes, multiple cycle charge mode, and so on. These chargers also let you charge each type with variable voltage ratings.
Parallel Charging Capacity
You’d want to own a charger that can charge a set of batteries simultaneously. Using the series charging process takes an extended amount of time. A quality LiPo charger would be able to charge your batteries quickly, courtesy of the parallel charging capacity.
Power Rating
The higher the charger’s power rating, the more efficient it will be to charge batteries with a higher voltage rating.
Cooling Sensors
Cooling sensors in a charger allow the batteries to cool down when they start overheating. Having this feature is essential to prevent a disaster.
Price
If you want your charger to remain functional for a long time, you should go for a tad pricey brand. Then, you’ll be able to recoup your investments over the years.
Wrap-Up: The Best LiPo Charger
A total of eight battery chargers were analyzed in detail, and all – Venom, Spectrum, ISDT, SkyRC, Tenergy, GoolRC, and Ultra Power-made the cut for best LiPo chargers.
However, the product from Venom stands out because it offers many versatile features at a price point that is quite affordable. The Ultra Power product is better, but it is a bit expensive, and the GoolRC is suitable only for charging LiPo batteries.