Anyone have any experience with bargain laptop batteries?

Solution 1:

Well, it depends :-). I have bought numerous replacement batteries (they being essentially a consumable item), and never "original parts".

I believe it is just like with all other consumer items:

• "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is", but OTOH, the most expensive item is often not the best
• Buy from a vendor you trust.

I bought most of my replacement batteries either off ebay, or from big battery retailers (online), and had no serious problems. One battery went dead after a few weeks, but I got a replacement.

So I believe buying from a reputable vendor is probably at least as good as an "original" battery.

BTW, I recall reading that there are only a handful producers of LiIOn batteries in the world anyway. So it's quite likely that the no-name battery and the original part actually come from the same factory...

Solution 2:

We run countless Dell Laptops. We have bought replacement batteries for quite a few of these. Some have been non-dell replacement batteries. I can happily say we haven't noticed much difference between the Dell Batteries and the non Branded replcement batteries.