Most laptop batteries are no longer replaceable. MacBooks, Windows Ultrabooks, and Chromebooks are all options. Non-removable batteries are the norm, regardless of price or platform. This is a positive thing in some ways.
These laptops are thinner and sleeker than ever before, and their battery life outperforms that of their larger counterparts thanks to low-power processors and fanless designs. But it also means that the laptop’s lifespan is restricted, with the possibility that the battery will fail while the rest of the hardware is still working OK
. So, what steps should you take to ensure that your laptop’s built-in battery lasts as long as possible?
1. Heating
Temperature is one of the most important elements impacting laptop battery life. If you reside in a chilly climate, freezing temperatures can be an issue, but high temperatures are a bigger concern. Not only are the working circumstances hot, but the computer’s processor and other components also generate heat. Furthermore, on a hot day, putting your laptop in your car is a bad idea.
You should keep any vents clear and avoid placing the laptop on a cushion to allow air to circulate it. Keep the temperature below 35 degrees Celsius.
A stand is a fantastic method to keep your laptop cool if you use it in bed.
2. Charge and Discharge
When it comes to laptops, one of the most popular questions is whether it’s preferable to operate them on battery power or leave them plugged in all the time. “A little bit of both,” is the quick response.
Apple MacBooks with a unibody design all feature sealed batteries, and the company advises rotating between the two regulary. If you use your laptop primarily in the office, for example, leaving it plugged in is fine, though you should make an effort to operate it on battery power from time to time.
Batteries cannot be overcharged, therefore they will not be harmed immediately, but it’s vital to understand that charging generates heat as well.
3. Don’t Let It Drain
If you’re using your laptop on battery power, you should try to avoid completely depleting it—or even going below 20%—on frequently. By contrast, if you just discharge the battery to roughly 50% before charging it, you’ll receive almost 1500 discharges before it reaches the same level of life.
Many manufacturers advocate performing a full discharge every few months to maintain the battery correctly calibrated and the statistics it gives accurate. You can expressly prohibit the battery from falling below a certain level in Windows.
4. Keep Charged
Even when you’re not using your laptop, the charge level of your battery is critical. Batteries should be stored with a 50-70 percent charge at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, according to HP.
If you’re not planning to use your laptop for an extended period, try to keep it as near to these settings as possible. You should never store a device with the battery completely depleted for an extended period. It’s possible you may never get it to function again.
How Long Will the Battery Last?
It’s an inevitable fact that the capacity of a laptop battery decreases slightly with each charge. According to ASUS, the capacity of its batteries will have reduced to 80% after 300 to 500 charge cycles (which is commonly calculated as using the full capacity of a battery—so a single 100 percent charge or two 50 percent top-ups).
As a result, after a year to 18 months, you may notice that the battery no longer lasts as long as it once did. At this point, you might want to start looking into the many options for increasing the battery life of your laptop.
In today’s laptops, non-removable batteries are the norm. You simply need to be a little more conscientious about how you care for the battery than you would have been in the past.
There aren’t any significant measures to take. A few common-sense precautions and knowledge of the elements that can affect the lifespan of a laptop battery will ensure that your battery lasts as long as possible.
