Does the following story sound familiar?
Your laptop battery doesn’t even last for a few minutes before you need to plug it in. So you go online to buy a new one. You do a quick Google search and there’s 1001 ads, websites and shopping results all claiming to have the best deal, price or bargain.
It’s overwhelming.
You’re probably thinking “I’ll just buy a manufacturer branded replacement battery” for your laptop, because that’s just easier even though they’re more expensive, they’re more trustworthy. Right? ...Wrong.
Third party replacement laptop batteries are every bit as reliable as the brand name batteries from the manufacturer. The cells inside third party batteries are as good as official battery quality and will last and perform as well or better than brand batteries.
Manufacturers often choose batteries for their laptops based on a budget so if you buy a cheaper laptop then you should expect the battery to also be cheap, and not last as long as your laptop.
Some manufacturers even use the same internal components as third party manufacturers and all they do is stamp their name on the cover.
In most cases the battery cell and electronic circuit inside is the same.
In short, if you buy a replacement battery from the manufacturer, what you’re often paying for is the brand name. Not the product itself.
But won’t the official battery last longer and be safer?
All Li-ion batteries have limited life spans (300-500 ‘cycles’ - charge, discharge), some only last up to 24 months. Dell, a known and trusted brand, even specify on their website that their batteries lose performance after 18 months.
That’s why you are better off paying less a third party laptop battery than you are forking out a hundred bucks extra for a manufacturer branded battery.
Now, it’s understandable that you’ll have some concerns about buying a replacement battery.
Will it last as long as an official battery? What is the warranty like? Will it damage my laptop?
Here are a few tips to help you select a better battery for your laptop:
Buy Australian:
It’s important that you buy from an Australian retailer. There are lots of websites selling batteries direct from other countries offering no phone support and no warranty. In fact you’ll be lucky if you can get in touch with them at all. So while these websites may be cheaper (they pay no Australian taxes and have no physical presence in Oz) they are often providing sub standard products with no support.
Many have sneaky domain names or “sub domains” such as au.websitename.com to make them appear to be Australian. Some even have fake Australian addresses.
Look for a retailer who is Australian, has a returns policy a contact phone number and warranty. All our batteries come with a 12 month comprehensive warranty.
Look After Your Battery
Make sure you follow these tips outlined in our blog and on our battery tips page so you don’t accidentally damage your battery or adapter through mis-use.
Doing things like leaving your laptop plugged in the entire time you’re using it and having your laptop in a dirty / dusty location are going to reduce the life of your battery.
Make Sure Your Battery Has a Warranty
Most third party batteries come with a 12 month warranty. If you’re buying online, make sure your supplier has a warranty and a return address, even a support phone number. Even if it costs a touch more, its better knowing there is someone to talk to when something goes wrong than being left in the dark.
Check the Battery Type & Voltage
As time goes on, new types of batteries are released and power can change. Make sure that when you’re buying your new battery that you are getting one with the same type (most commonly LI-Ion batteries) and that is has the correct Voltage and Amps.
Batteries that look the same can be different! So make sure you check the details.
Cheapest Isn’t Always Best
If you find a battery that is MUCH cheaper than anywhere else online? You also need to be careful.
Cheaper batteries have lower grade cells inside them, which means they will only last a couple of months and can cost up to $40.00 to get a suitable replacement.
So always check the details, look for a good quality retailer and buy the battery that’s better for you!
If you need a new laptop battery or laptop charger you can use our search wizard to locate the perfect product for your laptop.
