Genuine apple laptop batteries vs 3rd party batteries

[tim370]

Hi all,

My battery for my 12" Powerbook G4 is munted and i need a new one. There are a few around for about $90AUD from 3rd party re-sellers which is less than half the $200AUD apple want for a genuine battery.

So i'm just wondering, has anyone got any recommendations about 3rd party batteries? i know it will probably vary a bit depending on where they're from, but i spose i'm just wondering if its worth the extra $100?

thanks!

TiM

 

[MacYam]

Hi, first post on MacRumors!

I replaced my battery (same computerwith a 3rd party one, and have had no trouble with it so far. I was sure to get a battery that had the full 4400mAh capacity, as most are only 4000mAh (ok, so not a massive difference, but still!).

The main thing I've noticed is the build quality. Whilst the actual battery part seems fine, the covering (that forms that corner of the case) is made from plastic, and is quite flexible.

However, one thing that I am hoping is a coincidence is that soon after getting this battery my power supply broke, so got a 3rd party MacAlly supply. Whilst using the MacAlly supply and the 3rd party battery my DC-Input board stopped working, so had to have that replaced. I'm currently using the 3rd party battery, a 65W PowerBook adapter (which I later bought from a friend), and am having no problems. The 3rd party battery doesn't seem to be degrading any quicker or slower than an official one.

So, in short, apart from what seems like a coincidental breakage of my DC-In board, my 3rd party battery is giving me no trouble.

 

[wordmunger]

I got a third-party battery for my iBook. While the battery itself seems to have held up better than the original apple battery in terms of how long it holds a charge, it doesn't fit in the case as well as an apple battery, and its rubber foot fell off. But in terms of basic functioning I have no complaints. It works fine.

 

[viqas]

I wouldnt use a 3rd party battery, with all of those batteries combusting i would rather not risk it.

 

[heatmiser]

genuine apple batteries are like genuine apple ram = overpriced and unnecessary.

 

[kuebby]

genuine apple batteries are like genuine apple ram = overpriced and unnecessary.

BUT, unlike RAM the 3rd-party battery you get probably won't be as high quality as an Apple original. With RAM it doesn't matter because there are so many good brands but with batteries there is only one trustworthy brand, Apple.

 

[heatmiser]

BUT, unlike RAM the 3rd-party battery you get probably won't be as high quality as an Apple original. With RAM it doesn't matter because there are so many good brands but with batteries there is only one trustworthy brand, Apple.

Apple doesn't make the batteries any more than they make the memory; you're relying on a 3rd party in either case. Ditto with the hard drives. The killer Apple brand drives that committed seppuku on thousands of Macbook users were made by Seagate; the self-immolating Apple brand batteries recalled en masse in '06 were made by Sony. AFAIK, both companies still produce Apple's drives and batteries (among other companies). The only thing buying the battery from Apple guarantees you is a higher price tag.

By the way, speaking of trustworthiness and quality, the 15" MBP battery has an average 2-star rating after 313 reviews on Apple's own website. The 17" MBP? 1.5 stars after 108 reviews. The 13" MB battery? Roughly 2 stars after ~120 reviews. These are hardly marks of approval. If you read the reviews, you'll read about exploding batteries, leaking batteries, batteries that died out of nowhere, batteries that shocked the users, batteries that lost charge and wouldn't show up on the computer's reader...these batteries are, in general, poorly made pieces of rubbish.

 

[MacDann]

Hi all,

My battery for my 12" Powerbook G4 is munted and i need a new one. There are a few around for about $90AUD from 3rd party re-sellers which is less than half the $200AUD apple want for a genuine battery.

So i'm just wondering, has anyone got any recommendations about 3rd party batteries? i know it will probably vary a bit depending on where they're from, but i spose i'm just wondering if its worth the extra $100?

thanks!

TiM

Tim,

If you have the ability to do so, buy a "NuPower" brand battery from OWC (Other World Computing) who is one of the premier Apple resellers here in the States.

I have purchased NuPower batteries from OWC for a couple of different Macs and they have always performed as good, if not better, than the OEM batteries. And in most cases the NuPower batteries have a higher capacity.

OT: Love your country - I used to do a lot of business in Brisbane and Perth. I would return in a heartbeat....

MacDann

 

[tim370]

Thanks heaps for everyone's help on this matter, i feel so much more confident in going for a 3rd party brand now.

Tim,

If you have the ability to do so, buy a "NuPower" brand battery from OWC (Other World Computing) who is one of the premier Apple resellers here in the States.


MacDann

I went to their site and sussed it out and they look awesome, but with shipping and exchange rate, it came to approx $180AUD which is nearly the cost of a genuine one here. So thanks for the heads up about them but its probabaly a tad costly.

but i came across this - http://www.global-batteries.com.au/product_info.php/products_id/1452

if anyone has any thoughts on it please let me know. It seems ok and the price is right. So seeing as how everyone's been so helpful if you have any advice on this it would be great.

OT: Love your country - I used to do a lot of business in Brisbane and Perth. I would return in a heartbeat....
MacDann

mate whenever i go on holiday i always feel privileged to come back home to Aus, cheers

 

[hancock]

I bought a new 3rd party battery for the same 12 inch powerbook g4, it actually seems to perform better in terms of holding a charge etc. The problem is that the plastic casing is cracked so much that i am currently holding it on with a piece of duct tape.

 

[Soniaf]

I bought a new 3rd party apple batteries for the same 12 inch powerbook g4, it actually seems to perform better in terms of holding a charge etc. The problem is that the plastic casing is cracked so much that i am currently holding it on with a piece of duct tape.

Give it to someone whose battery doesn't work and therefore their expensive Mac laptop runs at half speed.
Seriously though, what model of battery? I don't care how long it lasts on the battery, just as long as it recognises its presence and doesn't underclock the CPU.