Pigtou.com is supported by its audience. When you buy through the links on our website, we may earn a small commission.
Laptop batteries are the primary source of power for laptops. They are one of the main reasons why laptops remain portable. In addition, laptop batteries have developed over time to be far more functional and long-lasting than their predecessors.
Despite the development in battery technology, laptop batteries are still prone to damage if not properly maintained. Even though laptop batteries will die over time, proper care can delay the inevitable. Let’s discuss the best place to buy laptop batteries, the three types of laptop batteries, and look at how to maintain your laptop battery.
Where to Buy Laptop Batteries
Are you wondering about the best place to buy laptop batteries? Replacement laptops and spare batteries should only be purchased from an authorized showroom. Furthermore, consider visiting your laptop manufacturer’s website for authentic information. Here are some useful links:
- For HP Users: https://support.hp.com/us-en
- For Dell Users: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/accessories
- For MacBook Users: https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service
- For Lenovo Users: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/dc/accessories-and-software/chargers-and-batteries/batteries
- For Asus Users: https://www.asus.com/us/support/article/604/
A quick Google search can provide you with all the best physical and online stores closest to you. Note that buying laptop batteries from a third-party store or an online merchant website puts you at risk of purchasing a counterfeit battery, which may be dangerous due to a higher fire hazard risk.
However, if you decide to buy from online websites, we recommend using Amazon.com. Check out the battery specifications and avoid going for the cheapest battery on the list. Moreover, if you are compelled to look for another third-party seller, we recommend patronizing stores with excellent customer reviews and a verifiable refund policy.
Types of Laptop Batteries
Now that you know the best place to buy laptop batteries, let’s examine the three types and their different characteristics.
1) Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are the first type of laptop batteries we’ll be looking at. These batteries were the standard technology for many years, but they are now obsolete, with new laptops opting for Lithium-Ion batteries. Unfortunately, these batteries are also heavy and prone to the memory effect.
When you recharge a Ni-Cd battery that isn’t fully discharged, the battery remembers the previous charge and uses it the next time you use your laptop. For instance, if your battery is discharged at 40%, the Ni-Cd battery will return to 40% even after you charge it. To avoid this, fully discharge the battery and then fully recharge it at least once every two weeks.
2) Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
Ni-MH batteries are a cadmium-free alternative to Ni-Cd batteries. Because they are less susceptible to the memory effect than Ni-Cd, they require minimal maintenance. However, they have issues at extremely high or low room temperatures. Furthermore, the battery capacity of Ni-MH is roughly double that of Ni-Cd batteries.
3) Lithium-Ion (Li-ion)
Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries are the new portable battery standard. These batteries produce the same amount of energy as NiMH batteries but weigh between 20% and 35% less. Unlike NiMH and Ni-Cd batteries, they are not significantly affected by the memory effect. However, you should handle the battery with care because lithium ignites easily.
How to Maintain Laptop Batteries
Properly maintaining your laptop’s battery can ensure you use the battery for longer, giving you a better value for your money. You don’t want to buy a replacement battery and have it damaged within a few months. Let’s look at five ways you can maintain laptop batteries.
1) Reduce Charging Cycles
All laptop batteries are designed to withstand typically about 500 full charging cycles. Each charge cycle reduces the battery’s capacity over time. Therefore, the less you drain the battery, the more the battery will last since you’ll be limiting how many times you charge the battery.
Start by going to your laptop’s power settings and adjusting a few settings. Take note of the hibernation modes as well. Ideally, you’ll want your laptop to go into hibernation mode before the battery dies completely.
2) Update your Laptop’s Operating System
You must keep your laptop’s software up to date for optimal performance. Generally, new updates include patches and upgrades which help programs run more efficiently, saving battery power. So, go over your operating system and keep your computer updated.
3) Avoid Exposure to Extreme Temperatures
Extremely hot or cold temperatures are known to damage laptop batteries. Exposing your laptop to sub-zero temperatures may cause irreversible damage to the battery cell. Because your laptop lacks advanced temperature management systems (like those in electric vehicles), you must exercise extreme caution. If your laptop gets exposed to cold temperatures, we recommend allowing the battery to warm up before using it.
Exposure to extreme heat can also lead to battery damage. Allowing your laptop to sit in the sun for a long time will reduce your battery’s potency. Constant exposure to these high temperatures can also cause the laptop’s safety mechanisms to kick in and turn off the laptop.
4) Carry Out Shallow Discharges
Instead of always discharging to 0%, lithium-ion batteries perform best when they are discharged for a short period and then charged for a short period. For better long-term battery life, we recommend discharging your laptop’s battery from 100% to 50% rather than 90% or even 0%.
5 ) Enable Battery-Saving Settings
Under the power settings in Windows 10, there is a battery saver mode. When your battery power is running low, you can use the battery saver mode to extend the laptop’s battery life. By enabling the battery saver mode, you will protect the laptop battery from the damage that results from allowing it to completely discharge. macOS has comparable capabilities. Furthermore, you can also use dark mode to save more energy, giving you more battery life.
Conclusion
Poor battery life will negatively impact your laptop’s functionality and make your laptop less convenient to operate. So, follow our tips to maintain your laptop batteries to ensure you use your battery for longer and prevent you from repeatedly buying replacement batteries. However, if you need laptop batteries, we’ve also highlighted the best place you can get them.
