How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Laptop Battery?
Price can vary depending on the make and model of the laptop, the battery required, whether an OEM or aftermarket battery is being used, and how difficult the battery is to access.
And that last part is more important than many people realize.
Modern laptops are not generally designed with a battery that you can simply pop out and replace in five minutes. Most laptops today use internal batteries, which means the computer needs to be opened up before the battery can be accessed. On some laptops, the battery is relatively easy to reach. On others, it can be buried underneath the motherboard.
As a laptop repair shop in Regina, we see a lot of different laptop designs, and there can be a surprisingly big difference between replacing one battery and replacing another.
What Does a Laptop Battery Replacement Cost?
For internal laptop battery replacements RescueTECH customers can generally expect to pay around $220 to $280. That is not a universal price for every laptop. The actual cost depends on several things.
The Make and Model of the Laptop
The first thing we need to know is exactly what laptop you have. Different manufacturers and models use different batteries. Even two laptops from the same manufacturer can use completely different batteries and have completely different procedures for replacing them. We need to identify the correct battery for the particular laptop before we can give an accurate price.
OEM Versus Aftermarket Batteries
Another factor is whether an OEM battery is available and whether using one makes financial sense. OEM means the battery is made by the original equipment manufacturer. In some cases, an OEM battery is the best option. However, that doesn't mean we automatically use OEM batteries for every repair. There are several reasons for this.
Sometimes OEM batteries are not available anymore. Apple is a good example. Apple eventually discontinues parts for older computers they no longer support.
The other issue is cost.
An OEM battery can sometimes be so expensive that using one no longer makes economic sense for the customer. If the OEM battery costs substantially more than a good aftermarket alternative, we need to consider whether the extra cost is actually providing the customer with meaningful additional value.
Installation Cost
The other part of the price is the installation itself. If the laptop uses an internal battery, there is labour involved in opening the laptop, disconnecting the old battery, installing the replacement and putting everything back together properly. Some batteries are relatively straightforward to access. Others are considerably more involved.
That is one of the reasons you may see different prices quoted for what appears to be the same basic laptop repair: "replace the battery." The battery itself may be one price, but getting to it can be an entirely different matter.
Why Are Some Laptop Batteries So Difficult to Replace?
The most difficult laptop battery replacements we encounter are generally the ones where the internal battery is located underneath the motherboard. In this case we can't simply open the bottom cover, unplug the battery and install the new one. We may have to remove other components and eventually remove the motherboard itself to get access to the battery.
Every additional component that has to be removed adds time and increases the risk of something being damaged if the work isn't done carefully. There can be connectors, cables, screws and other components that need to be disconnected and moved out of the way. A torn connector or damaged cable can turn a relatively simple battery replacement into a much bigger repair.
This is why we take our time with these jobs. Rushing a laptop battery replacement isn't worth it.
How Do You Know If Your Laptop Battery Needs to Be Replaced?
There are several telltale signs that a battery is reaching its end of life. One of the more obvious signs is that the laptop simply doesn't hold a charge anymore. If the computer only works while it is plugged into the wall, the battery is obviously no longer doing what it is supposed to do.
Another common symptom is extremely short battery life. If your laptop used to run for several hours but now only lasts 15 minutes or less before it needs to be plugged in, the battery is probably nearing the end of its useful life.
A Swollen or Puffy Battery
Another symptom we see are swollen batteries. You may notice that the bottom of the laptop appears to be pushed out or the case doesn't sit flat anymore. This is because the battery inside the laptop is swelling and pushing against the bottom cover.
In some cases the swelling can also push upward against the trackpad. A trackpad that suddenly becomes difficult or unresponsive can sometimes be related to a swollen battery. This is more than an inconvenience. A swollen battery is a physical problem that should be dealt with rather than simply ignored.
Battery Warnings
Your operating system may also tell you there is a problem.
For example, Apple laptops provide battery-related warnings when the battery is no longer performing as it should. Don't ignore those warnings indefinitely. If the computer is telling you the battery needs attention, it's worth having the battery and laptop checked.
Can I Replace a Laptop Battery Myself?
Technically, yes. Depending on the laptop, replacing an internal battery can be a DIY project. However there is a difference between something being possible and something being a good idea.
We have had customers come in after attempting their own laptop repairs, and sometimes the original battery issue ends up being the least expensive part of the problem.
One case that stands out involved a 15-inch MacBook Pro. A customer contacted us online asking if we could repair the battery connector on the motherboard. He had attempted to replace the internal battery himself and ripped the battery connector off the motherboard.
Unfortunately, the damage was so bad we could not simply put the connector back into place. He had damaged the motherboard traces and pads while attempting to disconnect the battery.
We couldn't guarantee that the motherboard could be repaired, and ultimately it was damaged badly enough that we couldn't help him. This is a good example of how trying to save a little money can sometimes create a much more expensive problem.
At RescueTECH, we will install customer-supplied parts if they want us to. In this situation, the customer could have brought us the battery and simply paid us to install it. Our labour charge would have been about $115. Instead, the attempt to save that installation cost resulted in a damaged MacBook Pro motherboard.
We are not saying that nobody should ever work on their own laptop. However folks need to understand what they are getting into before they start pulling apart their computer.
Does a Laptop Need an OEM Battery?
Not necessarily.
As mentioned earlier, there are certainly situations where we prefer OEM batteries. However OEM isn't always available, and it isn't always economically sensible. For older laptops an aftermarket battery may be the only available option.
The quality of aftermarket batteries can vary. That's why the source of the battery matters. We have established suppliers that we trust, rather than simply buying the cheapest battery we can find online.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Replacement Laptop Battery?
One thing that sometimes surprises customers is that computer repair shops do not have every laptop battery in stock. There are simply too many different laptop models and batteries for a repair shop to keep every possible battery in stock.
Batteries deteriorate with age, even when they aren't being used. It doesn't make much sense for us to keep large numbers of batteries sitting on a shelf for years waiting for the possibility that somebody might eventually need them. As a result, there is typically a three - to four-day wait for us to get a replacement battery.
Batteries are shipped to us by ground, and there are restrictions on shipping batteries by air, so we generally need to allow some time for the part to arrive.
If you need a same-day battery replacement, it's worth calling first to see whether the correct battery happens to be available.
Is Replacing a Laptop Battery Worth It?
In many cases, absolutely. A battery replacement is generally much less expensive than buying a new laptop.
Laptop prices continue to increase, and although replacement battery prices have also gone up, they haven't increased at the same rate as the cost of replacing the entire computer. If you use your laptop away from a power outlet regularly, replacing the battery can make a lot of sense.
For example, if you take your laptop to work, school, coffee shops, meetings, travel with it or use it around the house without always being near an outlet, a functioning battery is an important part of having a laptop.
A Bad Battery Usually Doesn't Make a Laptop Slow
Someone will sometimes call us and say their laptop isn't working properly or that it is running slowly, and they'll assume the battery is the problem. In the vast majority of cases, a bad battery does not make for a slow laptop.
A laptop with a dead or worn-out battery will generally continue to operate normally when it is plugged into AC power. Replacing the battery isn't going to magically make a slow computer fast.
If your laptop is slow even while plugged in, there is probably another reason for the performance problem. It could be related to the operating system, storage drive, memory, overheating, background software or a number of other things.
The battery and the computer's performance are two separate issues in most cases.
Laptop Repair Regina: Getting Your Battery Replaced
If you're looking for laptop repair in Regina because your laptop battery isn't holding a charge, is swelling, or is giving you battery warnings, bring it in and let us have a look.
If you're searching for laptop battery replacement in Regina, it's also worth having the laptop looked at before ordering a battery yourself. Sometimes the battery isn't actually the cause of the problem, and you don't want to spend money on a part you don't need.
And if you're wondering whether it's even worth replacing the battery, that's something we can help you figure out too. Sometimes the right answer is to replace the battery. Sometimes the right answer is to keep using the laptop plugged in. Sometimes the best answer is to put that money toward another computer.
The important thing is to know which situation you're actually in before spending the money.
Visit RescueTECH for Laptop Repair in Regina
RescueTECH provides laptop repair services in Regina for a variety of problems, including battery replacements, slow computers, overheating, charging problems, operating system issues and other laptop problems.
We are located at 2225 14th Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Our hours are:
- Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
If you're not sure whether your laptop needs a new battery, give us a call or text us at (306) 205-7522. If you have the make and model of your laptop handy, we can often give you a better idea of what to expect before you bring it in.
