Used Laptop Battery

Used Laptop Battery

Should I buy a used laptop battery?

1. It will cost more over time. Although a used battery may be slightly cheaper, the costs can add up if you have to replace it every few months. A new battery comes with a one-year warranty, so you know it will last a long time.
2. You don't know the battery's history. A used laptop battery may have come from a machine that was rarely used and was always plugged in, so it's still got most of its charge life left. It could also have come from a heavily used machine and have few charges left.
3. The battery could be defective. Although the battery may appear to work at first, it could have an internal short or poor charging circuitry that prevents it from fully charging every time.

Used laptop batteries are often labeled as "reconditioned" or "refurbished. Refurbished can mean several things, and you have no way of knowing which describes your battery. For example, refurbished could mean the old battery cells were replaced with new ones and the battery was completely tested. It could also mean that the battery was found on a shelf, dusted off, and put up for sale.

Whenever possible, buy a new battery for your laptop. A refurbished battery may be your only option if your laptop is more than five years old. If a refurbished battery is your only option, find out as much as you can about how the battery was reconditioned before you buy it and make sure you fully test it within the warranty and return period.