Over the years, batteries in devices such as laptops and phones have lost their ability to hold a charge. The time between the first use of a battery and the time when it can no longer hold any power is known as battery life.
Typically, laptop batteries last between two and five years before they lose their ability to hold a charge. While this estimate reflects the life of a laptop battery used by the average user, it is not entirely accurate. The life of your battery depends on how fast you complete the battery’s charge cycles.
Each charge cycle is defined as your battery going from full charge to fully discharged (100% – 0%). The average laptop has a battery that can last an average of 300 to 500 charge cycles before a significant reduction in battery capacity occurs. Using your laptop less can extend these cycles, but not using it at all can also shorten battery life.
It’s important to pay attention to how long each charge cycle lasts. If your laptop can run for ten to twelve hours after being fully charged, only one charge cycle in two days may be enough, almost guaranteeing that the battery will last for several years. If the battery can only hold its charge for five hours, you may need to use several charging cycles every day.
There are several factors that affect the lifespan of laptop batteries, including total charge cycle usage, exposure to extreme heat, and the quality of the battery.
Charging Cycles
The most important factor affecting the life of your laptop battery is how quickly you complete charging cycles. As mentioned above, most laptops can go through 500 to 1,000 charging cycles before they significantly lose battery capacity. As a result, laptops that are used frequently but for short periods of time will generally have longer battery life than laptops that are used for hours every day.
Battery Quality
As you might expect, the quality of the battery is also an important factor affecting its lifespan. In general, you’ll get the best lifespan from OEM batteries or third-party batteries made from a quality material such as lithium. Cheaply manufactured third-party batteries may have a shorter overall lifespan and may be more vulnerable to degradation from excessive heat or high charger voltage.
Incorrect Charging
The wattage of your laptop charger is very important. The life of your notebook battery is maximized when you use the charger originally sold with your notebook or a third-party charger of equivalent wattage. Using a charger with a higher wattage than recommended (such as 65W instead of 45W) will cause your laptop battery to degrade quickly.
Excessive Heat
Heat is an important external factor that can shorten the life of your laptop battery. The heat from internal or external heat sources can cause damage. You should avoid using your laptop in extremely hot weather and make sure that the bottom vents are always open. You may also want to avoid overclocking your CPU or using applications that cause your laptop to heat up. If your laptop frequently overheats, it may need repair.
Underutilization
Finally, letting your laptop sit unused also affects battery life. If your battery is stored and charged for a few weeks or longer, a sluggish charge will quickly degrade the battery. If you intend to put your laptop aside for more than a few weeks, it is advisable to completely discharge your laptop battery before storing it.
