You’ve reached the end of your battery life. And, according to the technician, you’ll need to get it replaced.
Of course, this has got you concerned. How much does a laptop battery replacement cost nowadays?
Well, the answer varies according to laptop brands – and the model, among many other factors. Let’s discuss each one of them below.
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How Much Will it Cost to Get a New Laptop Battery?
New battery prices range from $20 to $200. Depending on the brand name, you can expect to pay:
1. $20 to $100 for a Toshiba laptop battery
Toshiba created the T1100 in 1985, a model that goes down in history as the world’s first commercially-accepted laptop PC. It has evolved much since then, and now, these laptops are manufactured by Dynabook Inc.
So far, the average price of Toshiba batteries is considered the lowest in the market.
2. $20 to $105 for an Acer laptop battery
Acer is a Taiwanese company renowned for its various laptop models, such as Extensa, Aspire, Travelmate, Nitro, and Predator, to name a few.
Old Acer batteries are the cheapest among the fold, with prices ranging from $20 to $50. And, given their cheap costs, fans are happy that they last about two to four years.
3. $20 to $145 for an HP laptop battery
HP batteries – especially the older ones – are cheaper at $20 to $60. Low-end models, such as the HP 520 and HP 255, come with more affordable batteries too.
Meanwhile, the newer models’ batteries can cost as much as $145. And while they are not as resilient as the other batteries in this list, they can last for a good 3 years.
4. $25 to $125 for an Asus laptop battery
Asus is another Taiwanese company currently distinguished as the 5th-largest computer vendor of 2021. It offers a variety of laptops, including the ZenBook, VivoBook, and ASUSPRO, to name a few.
Asus batteries can power laptops for an impressive eight to ten hours. Given this capacity, paying as low as $25 for a battery replacement service doesn’t seem like a big deal.
5. $25 to $200 for a Lenovo laptop battery
Founded in Beijing, Lenovo is popular for its trademark laptops, including the ThinkPad, IdeaPad, and Legion, among many others.
Compared to Asus, Lenovo batteries can only give six to seven hours’ worth of juice. Expectedly so, the price range is commensurate with the battery’s performance.
6. $30 to $120 for a Dell laptop battery
Dell is an American company that offers several laptop models, including Inspiron, XPS, and Latitude.
Dell laptops are outfitted with a lithium-ion battery, which can last you for about two years. Again, older model batteries cost cheaper (starting at $30), while the newer ones will set you back $120.
7. $50 to $100 for an MSI laptop battery
MSI is another Taiwanese manufacturing company that has gained acclaim for its gaming laptops. And why not? The MSI gaming laptop battery is one of the sturdiest in the market, as it can last five to six years with careful use.
As such, shelling out $50 to $100 for a replacement is considered an acceptable cost by many owners.
8. $100 to $200 for a Razer laptop battery
Razer Inc. is a Singaporean-American company that specializes in consumer electronics, among many other things. Its top-selling laptops include the Razer Blade, Razer Blade Stealth, and Razer Blade Pro.
A Razer laptop battery can last you about three years, which is the typical lifespan for most models. However, the replacement is costlier than others, as it will cost you $100 to $200 to have the battery changed.
9. $129 to $199 for an Apple Mac battery
Apple Macbook batteries are by far the most expensive, for you will need to pay as much as $199 to get yours replaced. The good news, however, is that you may get this for free if your laptop is still under warranty.
Note: These prices do not include the professional labor cost, which can fall anywhere from $30 to $50 an hour.
In case you decide to do the replacement yourself, you will need to pay for some materials that will cost you anywhere from $20 to $50.
Factors Affecting Laptop Battery Costs
As you see, laptop manufacturers levy varying prices on their products. And while this affects pricing a lot, the cost can be determined by the following factors as well:
1. Type of Battery
Laptop batteries come in a variety of types, such as Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, and Lithium Ion.
The latter is more expensive than its Nickel counterparts. It also requires less maintenance and is considered environmentally safer than Nickel. These aspects, therefore, make Lithium batteries costlier than others.
2. MilliAmp Hours
Also known as mAh, it refers to the battery’s storage capacity. You can find it on top of the battery, labeled as either 2000 or 7000 mAh.
Expectedly, the higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last. As such, the more expensive the cost will be.
3. Number of Cells
Laptop batteries have a varying number of cells (4, 6, or 9.) The more battery cells there are, the higher capacity. Of course, high-capacity batteries will be pricier than lower-capacity ones.
4. Voltage
Voltage refers to the electricity your laptop is consuming. Higher voltage batteries require more expensive components, hence their higher price.
5. Watt-Hour
Whr measures your laptop’s energy consumption. Larger batteries have a higher Whr – and a steeper price tag, of course.
6. Source
Where you buy your battery will affect the cost as well. Buying directly from a manufacturer is always cheaper, but you may need to pay higher prices for shipping if the source is located in a far-away city/country.
7. Condition
You can get a new or refurbished external battery for your laptop – the choice is up to you.
Expectedly, the latter will be cheaper than the former. But in terms of performance, the refurbished battery may not perform as well (or as long) as the new one.
When Should You Change Your Laptop Battery?
Laptop battery life spans vary, but it usually lasts about 1-2 years (after 300-400 battery cycles.) But more than just replacing it once its time is through, you may need to change it earlier should any of these issues arise:
1. Charging Problems/Failure
You’ve connected your laptop to your charger, but it’s not charging. You’ve checked all the cables, and you don’t see any problem that might affect them.
And, while you may consider yourself lucky to have your battery charging, an ultra-slow pace is considered a red flag.
Needless to say, the onset of charging issues means that you need to replace your laptop’s internal battery right away.
2. Limited Runtime or Sudden Shutdowns
Does your laptop have a short runtime? Worse, does it shut down abruptly after you remove its power source?
Ideally, your laptop should run for a full two to six hours after charging. If it’s not, then It’s because it’s unable to hold a charge anymore. As such, you need to get it replaced ASAP.
3. Overheating
Devices such as laptops overheat after some use. While fans and heat sinks help prevent this, they may not work as efficiently as they once did if your battery is dying.
This, of course, will lead to more heat since the fans will be spinning slower. You may hear some noise too if you’re unlucky.
To check if your laptop is overheating, feel the bottom of your device for extreme heat and try to listen to abnormal noises.
While you’re waiting for the replacement battery, you may prevent your laptop from overheating by following this video’s tips here.
4. Replacement Warning
Laptop batteries won’t last forever. Your device knows this, and it will show you a warning/notification if the battery needs to be changed.
How to Replace Your Laptop Battery
As I’ve mentioned, you will need to spend more if you decide to bring your laptop to a service center. So if you want to save some money, then I recommend replacing the battery yourself.
It’s fairly easy to do. And, according to this video, all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Make sure that your laptop is turned off. If not, turn it off before getting started.
- If the bottom of your laptop contains a battery slider, pull it. This should release the battery from its clamp. If there is no slider, then you will need a screwdriver to remove the screws affixing the back panel.
- Remove the old battery and place the new battery in its stead.
- Re-attach the screws, if applicable.
Conclusion
The cost of replacing a laptop battery ranges from $20 to $200. This varies according to the following factors:
- Laptop brand/model
- Battery type
- Milliamp hours
- Number of cells
- Voltage
- Watt-hour
- Source
- Condition
Apart from the battery cost itself, you may need to spend a little more ($30 to $50 an hour) for professional assistance. But, if you want to save money, you can replace the battery on your own.
And, should you need any help with this, all you need to do is post your question below!