When purchasing a laptop battery, the safest approach is to only buy from the company that made the laptop in the first place. Considering how expensive laptop batteries are and their limited lifespans, users may be tempted to purchase replacement batteries from shady sources. This is never a good idea. A recent story featured the tale of knockoff IBM batteries catching fire. When going for replacement or new batteries, it is best to purchase reliable and trustworthy brands like the HT03X Battery from HP. Let’s focus on how to acquire a replacement battery for your laptop.
How to acquire a replacement battery for your laptop
When making laptop battery purchases, you need to consider price, warranty, capacity, and compatibility.
a. Always check on the Internet for 3rd party sellers
This allows you to locate identical name-brand batteries at a much lower price. You may also end up getting an offer for your laptop’s battery at a lower price for a larger charge capacity. However, in such scenarios, it is advisable to pay detailed attention to the warranty specifications.
b. Go for high capacity
As long as you meet the manufacturer’s recommended specifications, you should be able to replace your original battery with a new one with higher amp-hour or watt-hour ratings.
c. Go for fresh batteries
There is no valid reason under the sun for you to get used to laptop batteries. Do not go for unused battery models that have possibly been collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. When purchasing laptop batteries, anything that is older than 18 months should be avoided at all costs.
d. Always meet the specs
You may be tempted to purchase batteries that do not meet the manufacturer’s specifications in real life. It is impossible to squeeze a 2-inch battery designed for a Dell machine into a 3-inch slot on an Asus laptop. Not only would this damage the electrical connectors, but it would also damage your machine in the long run.
e. Always buy the specified voltage
It is crucial to match the voltage requirements indicated in your laptop’s battery compartment. It is never okay to go under or over the specified power levels.
What to consider when buying laptop batteries
When purchasing a new laptop battery, it is vital to check for compatibility with your machine. You should also take the material it is crafted from into consideration.
a. Materials
The best laptop batteries, such as the HT03X Battery types are mostly made of Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium-Ion, or Lithium-Ion Polymers. Some batteries have the “memory effect,” which you should be on the lookout for. LiON and Li-Poly batteries tend to be the best choices, and as long as they are compatible with your laptop, they’re fine.
b. Service life
All laptop batteries have a designated lifespan. This is mostly indicated in terms of cycles. A majority of batteries can go through 300 to 1500 charging cycles before starting to degrade. Modern laptops have built-in cycle counters.
c. Compatibility
This is probably the first thing you should be looking for when purchasing a new laptop battery. It is easy to confirm compatibility by checking the model number and make of the battery.
Conclusion
Generally, it is advisable to work on battery power at least once a month to maintain your laptop battery’s lifespan. It is also a good idea to purchase original laptop batteries such as the HT3OX batteries.
