One of the most common complaints from laptop users: "it used to last 4 hours, now it barely makes one." Laptop batteries have a limited lifespan, but there are ways to tell if it's time to replace yours.
Why do batteries degrade?
Lithium batteries degrade with every charge cycle. A full cycle is charging from 0% to 100%. Most batteries are designed to keep 80% of their original capacity after 300-500 cycles. After that, battery life drops noticeably.
How do I check my battery's health?
Windows can generate a detailed battery report. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type: powercfg /batteryreport. The report is saved to your user folder. If current capacity is below 60-70% of the original, it's time to replace it.
What else affects battery life?
Screen brightness
The screen is the single biggest power draw. Reducing brightness to 50-60% can extend battery life by 20-30%.
Overheating
A laptop running hot drains its battery faster and degrades it sooner too. Cleaning the inside of the laptop improves battery life.
Power plan settings
Windows offers power plans. "Battery saver" makes it last longer; "Best performance" uses far more.
Is it worth replacing the battery?
Almost always. If the laptop otherwise works well and only the battery is at fault, replacing it is far cheaper than buying a new machine. Cost is typically €50-120 including labour. We'll tell you exactly how much before doing anything.
Tips to extend battery life
- Don't routinely run it down to 0% — charge it once it hits 20%.
- If it'll be plugged in for long periods, many models let you cap charging at 80%.
- Avoid heat: don't use it on pillows or blankets that block ventilation.
- Update your drivers — sometimes an update improves power management.