One of the biggest drawbacks about laptops is their disposability, which is a price we pay for convenient mobility. Most models aredifficult or impossible to upgrade, and all of them rely on a battery that inevitably degrades over time.
Before you buy your first laptop or your next one, then, how long can you expect a laptop battery to last? There are general estimates we can share, although the precise answer tends to be complex.
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How long do laptop batteries last?
Care goes a long way
This depends on the exact chemistry used, but most laptops rely on some form of lithium-ion technology, just like yoursmartphoneorearbuds. It tends to offer the best balance of density and longevity. It’s even used in electric cars, bikes, scooters, and unicycles.
Lenovoestimates that a laptop battery should lasttwo to five yearson average, or 300 to 500 charge cycles, whichever comes first. HP claims that its own batteries are limited to two to four years, but 1,000 cycles. Those gaps might seem wide, but real-world performance depends on a variety of factors, such as:
The good news is that laptop batteries can be replaced, and you can often do it yourself so long as you buy the correct battery. Repair shops should be willing to do the job for you if it’s complicated, or you just don’t feel comfortable opening up expensive hardware.
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