Cell vs. Battery — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 14, 2024
A cell is a single unit that produces electrical energy from chemical reactions, whereas a battery consists of multiple cells connected together to increase voltage or capacity.
Difference Between Cell and Battery
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A cell is the basic single unit that converts chemical energy into electrical energy directly. Whereas a battery may consist of one or more cells linked together to provide greater electrical power.
The voltage produced by a single cell is typically limited (commonly 1.5 to 3.7 volts depending on the chemistry), whereas batteries, by combining multiple cells in series, can achieve higher voltages.
Cells can be either primary (non-rechargeable) or secondary (rechargeable), offering versatility for different uses. On the other hand, batteries are configured in ways that can enhance the recharging capability and longevity, especially in secondary batteries.
In terms of usability, cells are often used in smaller devices or for simpler applications that require less power. Conversely, batteries are employed in applications requiring sustained power output or higher energy capacities, such as in laptops or electric vehicles.
The maintenance of a single cell is generally simpler, focusing primarily on proper storage and disposal. On the other hand, battery systems may require complex management systems to ensure all cells work effectively and safely together.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A single unit that converts chemical energy to electrical energy.
Multiple cells connected to provide greater power.
Voltage Output
Typically low (1.5 to 3.7 volts).
Higher, depends on number of cells in series.
Rechargeability
Can be primary or secondary.
Usually secondary, designed for recharging.
Typical Use
Small devices, simple applications.
Larger, power-intensive applications.
Maintenance and Management
Simpler, less intensive.
More complex due to multiple components.
Compare with Definitions
Cell
Used in both rechargeable and non-rechargeable formats.
Alkaline cells are often used in remote controls.
Battery
Often designed to be rechargeable.
Smartphone batteries are designed for daily recharging.
Cell
Generally has a lower energy capacity compared to a battery.
A single cell may not power a laptop effectively on its own.
Battery
Can deliver a higher voltage and capacity than single cells.
A 12V battery used in emergency lighting systems.
Cell
Requires less maintenance than a battery.
Storing cells in a cool, dry place extends their life.
Battery
(Electricity) A device containing an electric cell or a series of electric cells storing chemical energy that can be converted into electrical energy, usually in the form of direct current.
Cell
A narrow confining room, as in a prison or convent.
Battery
A device that stores mechanical or other energy for later use.
Cell
A small enclosed cavity or space, such as a compartment in a honeycomb or within a plant ovary or an area bordered by veins in an insect's wing.
Battery
The act of beating or pounding.
Cell
(Biology) The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of cytoplasm, usually one nucleus, and various other organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.
Battery
(Law) The unlawful and unwanted touching or striking of one person by another, with the intention of bringing about a harmful or offensive contact.
Cell
(Architecture) See web.
Battery
An emplacement for one or more pieces of artillery.
Cell
The smallest organizational unit of a clandestine group or movement, such as a banned political movement or a terrorist group. A cell's leader is often the only person who knows members of the organization outside the cell.
Battery
A set of guns or other heavy artillery, as on a warship.
Cell
A single unit for electrolysis or conversion of chemical into electric energy, usually consisting of a container with electrodes and an electrolyte; a battery. Also called electrochemical cell.
Battery
An army artillery unit, corresponding to a company in the infantry.
Cell
A single unit that converts radiant energy into electric energy
A solar cell.
Battery
An array of similar things intended for use together
Took a battery of achievement tests.
Cell
A fuel cell.
Battery
An impressive body or group
A battery of political supporters.
Cell
A geographic area or zone surrounding a transmitter in a cellular telephone system.
Battery
(Baseball) A pitcher and catcher considered as a unit.
Cell
A cellphone.
Battery
(Music) The percussion section of an orchestra.
Cell
(Computers) A basic unit of storage in a computer memory that can hold one unit of information, such as a character or word.
Battery
A device used to power electric devices, consisting of a set of electrically connected electrochemical or, archaically, electrostatic cells. A single such cell when used by itself.
Cell
A storm cell.
Battery
(legal) The infliction of unlawful physical violence on a person, legally distinguished from assault, which includes the threat of impending violence.
Cell
A small humble abode, such as a hermit's cave or hut.
Battery
(countable) A coordinated group of artillery weapons.
Cell
A small religious house dependent on a larger one, such as a priory within an abbey.
Battery
An elevated platform on which cannon could be placed.
Cell
A box or other unit on a spreadsheet or similar array at the intersection of a column and a row.
Battery
An array of similar things.
Schoolchildren take a battery of standard tests to measure their progress.
Cell
To store in a honeycomb.
Battery
A set of small cages where hens are kept for the purpose of farming their eggs.
Cell
To live in or share a prison cell.
Battery
(baseball) The catcher and the pitcher together
Cell
A single-room dwelling for a hermit.
Battery
(chess) Two or more major pieces on the same rank, file, or diagonal
Cell
A small monastery or nunnery dependent on a larger religious establishment.
Battery
(music) A marching percussion ensemble; a drumline.
Cell
A small room in a monastery or nunnery accommodating one person.
Gregor Mendel must have spent a good amount of time outside of his cell.
Battery
The state of a firearm when it is possible to be fired.
Cell
A room in a prison or jail for one or more inmates.
The combatants spent the night in separate cells.
Battery
(archaic) Apparatus for preparing or serving meals.
Cell
Each of the small hexagonal compartments in a honeycomb.
Battery
The act of battering or beating.
Cell
Any of various chambers in a tissue or organism having specific functions.
Battery
The unlawful beating of another. It includes every willful, angry and violent, or negligent touching of another's person or clothes, or anything attached to his person or held by him.
Cell
(entomology) The discal cell of the wing of a lepidopteran insect.
Battery
Any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, for attack or defense.
Cell
(obsolete) Specifically, any of the supposed compartments of the brain, formerly thought to be the source of specific mental capacities, knowledge, or memories.
Battery
A number of coated jars (Leyden jars) so connected that they may be charged and discharged simultaneously.
Cell
A section or compartment of a larger structure.
Battery
A number of similar machines or devices in position; an apparatus consisting of a set of similar parts; as, a battery of boilers, of retorts, condensers, etc.
Cell
Any small dwelling; a remote nook, a den.
Battery
A series of stamps operated by one motive power, for crushing ores containing the precious metals.
Cell
A device which stores electrical power; used either singly or together in batteries; the basic unit of a battery.
This MP3 player runs on 2 AAA cells.
Battery
The box in which the stamps for crushing ore play up and down.
Cell
(biology) The basic unit of a living organism, consisting of a quantity of protoplasm surrounded by a cell membrane, which is able to synthesize proteins and replicate itself.
Battery
The pitcher and catcher together.
Cell
(meteorology) A small thunderstorm, caused by convection, that forms ahead of a storm front.
There is a powerful storm cell headed our way.
Battery
Group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
Cell
(computing) The minimal unit of a cellular automaton that can change state and has an associated behavior.
The upper right cell always starts with the color green.
Battery
A device that produces electricity; may have several primary or secondary cells arranged in parallel or series
Cell
(card games) In FreeCell-type games, a space where one card can be placed.
Battery
A collection of related things intended for use together;
Took a battery of achievement tests
Cell
A small group of people forming part of a larger organization, often an outlawed one.
Those three fellows are the local cell of that organization.
Battery
A unit composed of the pitcher and catcher
Cell
(communication) A short, fixed-length packet, as in asynchronous transfer mode.
Virtual Channel number 5 received 170 cells.
Battery
A series of stamps operated in one mortar for crushing ores
Cell
(communication) A region of radio reception that is a part of a larger radio network.
I get good reception in my home because it is near a cell tower.
Battery
The heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target;
They laid down a barrage in front of the advancing troops
The shelling went on for hours without pausing
Cell
(geometry) A three-dimensional facet of a polytope. Category:en:Higher-dimensional geometry
Battery
An assault in which the assailant makes physical contact
Cell
(statistics) The unit in a statistical array (a spreadsheet, for example) where a row and a column intersect.
Battery
A collection of cells linked together to increase output.
Car batteries consist of multiple cells to start the engine.
Cell
(architecture) The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof.
Battery
Used to power more demanding devices and vehicles.
Electric vehicles use large battery packs for propulsion.
Cell
(architecture) A cella.
Battery
Requires monitoring for optimal performance.
Battery management systems monitor cell health and balance.
Cell
(entomology) An area of an insect wing bounded by veins.
Cell
A cellular phone.
Cell
(transitive) To place or enclose in a cell.
Cell
A very small and close apartment, as in a prison or in a monastery or convent; the hut of a hermit.
The heroic confessor in his cell.
Cell
A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent.
Cell
Any small cavity, or hollow place.
Cell
The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof.
Cell
A jar of vessel, or a division of a compound vessel, for holding the exciting fluid of a battery.
Cell
One of the minute elementary structures, of which the greater part of the various tissues and organs of animals and plants are composed.
Cell
To place or inclose in a cell.
Cell
Any small compartment;
The cells of a honeycomb
Cell
(biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; cells may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals
Cell
A device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction
Cell
A small unit serving as part of or as the nucleus of a larger political movement
Cell
A hand-held mobile radiotelephone for use in an area divided into small sections (cells), each with its own short-range transmitter/receiver
Cell
Small room is which a monk or nun lives
Cell
A room where a prisoner is kept
Cell
A device that generates electricity through chemical reactions.
A lithium-ion cell powers many portable electronics.
Cell
A single electrochemical unit in a battery.
A standard AA battery contains a single electrochemical cell.
Common Curiosities
What defines a battery?
A battery is composed of one or more cells linked to increase power output.
Why are batteries used in cars instead of single cells?
Batteries can provide the higher power needed for starting and running a car.
What is the typical voltage of a cell?
It ranges from 1.5 to 3.7 volts, depending on its chemical makeup.
How are batteries more complex than cells?
Batteries require additional management to ensure all cells operate efficiently together.
What is a primary cell?
A primary cell is a battery that is intended for single use and is not rechargeable.
Are all batteries rechargeable?
No, but most modern batteries, especially those in electronics and vehicles, are designed to be rechargeable.
What is a cell in electrical terms?
It's a single unit that converts chemical energy into electrical energy.
What is a secondary cell?
A secondary cell is rechargeable and can be used multiple times.
Can a single cell be considered a battery?
Technically, yes, if it is used alone; however, a battery usually consists of multiple cells.
Which lasts longer, a cell or a battery?
A battery typically lasts longer as it can manage energy use more efficiently across multiple cells.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
