Replacement Laptop Batteries: As Good As Oem?

When you find yourself having to keep your laptop computer plugged into its AC adapter

most of the time, chances are your original battery is dead and it's time to start looking for a replacement laptop battery. The first thing that comes to most people's minds is to contact the laptop manufacturer and purchase a direct replacement. However, when the the realities of purchasing a laptop battery from the computer manufacturer set in, many people decide against the purchase.

Computer manufacturers charge a large premium for their replacement parts, including batteries. They can range from $100-300 for the same battery that came with the computer. But even if someone is willing to pay such a high price, the availability of batteries for some older models is not guaranteed. Many people opt out of this troublesome option and decide to go with an aftermarket replacement laptop battery from another manufacturer. But can an aftermarket laptop battery really compare to the quality of the original?

The answer is "sometimes". The most important thing to remember when shopping for a replacement laptop battery is exactly what you are trying to replace. Info on the voltage and amperage of the original battery can either be found by looking on the battery itself or by contacting the manufacturer. When comparing replacement batteries to the original, it is important to keep these figures in mind. If a replacement battery has a higher amperage compared to the original battery, the replacement battery will last longer, and vice versa for those with lower amperage. Voltage should stay relatively the same, except small variations due occur when comparing different brands and voltage increases are necessary and safe in some extended-life replacements. Extended-life replacements are available for a majority of laptops, such as the Toshiba Satellite M45-S3551, and a nice option to consider.

Once one becomes familiar with what he is looking for, the savvy of the consumer needs to kick in a bit. If a battery claims the same specs as its official counterpart, but costs $10 as compared to the original's $200, chances are it is a cheap knockoff and will not serve its purpose well. However, it is not uncommon to see laptop batteries offered by aftermarket manufacturers for up to 50% less than the original manufacturer's battery.

So to answer the main question, aftermarket replacement laptop batteries can be and usually are just a good the manufacturer's own battery. As long as you are sure about what you are looking for and are able to use some common sense, chances are you can come away from the purchasing experience with a quality product at a largely discounted price.

by: Bobby George

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