Three coin cell families share the 20 mm diameter form factor, and engineers regularly ask which one fits their product. The short answer: CR is primary (one-shot), LIR is high-energy rechargeable, and ML is reflow-and-forget rechargeable. The long answer below.
The three platforms at a glance
All three are 20 mm diameter, 3.2 mm tall coin cells with stainless-steel hermetic cans. They use different cathode chemistries, which is why they behave so differently:
| Parameter | CR2032 | LIR2032 | ML2032 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Li-MnO2 primary | Li-Co rechargeable | Li-Mn rechargeable |
| Nominal voltage | 3.0 V | 3.7 V | 3.0 V |
| Charge cutoff | n/a | 4.20 V | 3.10 V |
| Capacity | 225 mAh | 40 mAh | 65 mAh |
| Cycle life | Single use | 500 cycles | 1,000 cycles |
| Self-discharge | < 1% / yr | < 5% / yr | < 2% / yr |
| Reflow tolerance | No | No | Yes (260 °C peak) |
| Operating range | -30 to +60 °C | -20 to +60 °C | -40 to +85 °C |
| Typical price (USD) | 0.10 – 0.35 | 0.40 – 0.90 | 0.80 – 2.20 |
We make LIR and ML rechargeable cells; we do not produce primary CR cells. CR2032 is included in the table because every engineer asks how the rechargeable variants compare. If your product needs CR (10-year primary life, no recharge circuit), the right path is a different supplier.
How to choose between LIR and ML
Once you have committed to a rechargeable platform, the LIR vs ML choice is driven by three factors: voltage, manufacturing path, and lifecycle.
Voltage matters more than capacity
LIR runs at 3.7 V nominal. ML runs at 3.0 V nominal. If your MCU and radio sit in a 3.0 to 3.3 V power tree, ML drops in without a buck converter — saving cost and BoM. If your design assumes 3.7 V (a Li-Po replacement scenario, e.g. swapping out a small Li-Po for a wider operating window), LIR is the answer.
Manufacturing path matters for sealed designs
ML survives standard lead-free reflow at 260 °C peak, so it can be SMD-mounted onto the PCB and flow through your normal SMT line. LIR cannot — its electrolyte is reflow-incompatible. For products that should never be opened (BLE beacons, smart cards, sealed environmental sensors), ML wins because the cell becomes a pick-and-place component. For products with a battery door, either platform works.
Lifecycle expectation matters for warranty
ML is rated for 1,000 cycles to 80% capacity; LIR for 500 cycles. In practice we routinely see ML cells in 5-year deployments still holding 70% of original capacity, while LIR cells in the same conditions degrade faster because the LCO chemistry is more sensitive to high SOC dwell time. If the device sits at 100% charge for long periods (e.g. a smart card on a desk), ML is more forgiving.
Where each one wins
CR2032 wins: remote controls, fitness trackers without a recharge path, key fobs, smoke alarm RTC backup, automotive TPMS, smart wallet trackers. Anywhere primary single-use is acceptable and the device is opened to swap the cell.
LIR2032 wins: wearable accessories with a Li-Po pouch primary battery and a backup coin, smart card with battery, drop-in upgrade to a CR2032 socket where the device adds in-circuit recharging, BLE locator tags with a USB-C charge port.
ML2032 wins: SMD-mounted RTC retention on industrial PCBs, BLE beacon with sealed housing, deployable environmental sensor, smart-meter calibration retention, smart card with reflow-mounted cell. Anywhere the device is sealed and the recharge cadence is occasional.
What we ship
Our coin cell line covers LIR2032, LIR2025, LIR2450, ML2032, ML2430 and ML2016 in standard catalogue. Custom diameters between 6 mm and 24 mm available with 50,000 unit minimum. All cells ship with UN 38.3 test summary, IEC 62133-2 declaration of conformity, and MSDS in English. ATEX Zone 2 variants available on a 16-week lead time.