Counterfeit laptop batteries – how to spot them

The growing number of electronic devices such as tablets, phones and laptops in circulation has led to an increase in demand for replacement batteries. In this article we look at the risks associated with counterfeit batteries and how to spot them.

The large number of counterfeit batteries available has been fuelled by several factors. Production costs- fake batteries can often be cheaper to produce. The increase in demand as well as supply chain delays in recent years has caused the availability of genuine products to sometimes because scarcer. Finally a lack of regulation on some online platforms with platform owners only made aware of counterfeits when reported by buyers.

Counterfeit batteries are not to be confused with third party batteries, legitimately sold and marketed as such.

Potential risks

Lithium-ion laptop batteries are considered dangerous goods and are subject to special regulations when sent by courier due to the risk of fire. In general genuine batteries are considered safe due to the stringent safety checks carried out when they are manufactured. However there are no guarantees counterfeit batteries have the same safeguards and have undergone the same checks.

Any damage to your machine caused by a counterfeit battery (such as if it provides the incorrect voltage to the machine) may not be covered by the machine’s warranty. Many manufacturers will not cover any damage caused by non genuine components or accessories.

As well as potential technical issues there are also legal ones. The selling of counterfeit batteries is illegal in many countries so it is important to ensure you are only dealing with genuine products.

Spotting Counterfeit Batteries

Laptop manufacturer’s will often have their batteries made in more than one factory or country. This along with substitute parts sometimes having different labelling means that there can be discrepancies in the appearance of genuine batteries. Despite this physical checks are good place to start when determining if a battery is genuine.

Packaging

Genuine batteries will likely come in good quality packaging, with the company name and logo often appearing on the labels or box itself as well as information about the battery.  It is useful to have a box that a genuine battery came in for comparison. This can allow you to check any labels, holograms, seals, etc are present on the newly received battery’s packaging.

Product Appearance and Labelling

The label on the battery itself can often offer clues as to whether a battery is not genuine. Check the manufacturer’s logo against a genuine version to make sure they match. The print on the label should be clear on a genuine battery, it may be misaligned or blurry on a counterfeit one. Look out for spelling mistakes in words on the label.

If you have a barcode or QR scanner check that the barcoded serial numbers match the number written underneath them. Finally check how the label has been stuck to the battery- if it doesn’t fit correctly or there is an excess of glue around it this can be another warning sign.

Performance

Without the quality and safety checks applied to genuine batteries you may experience performance problems from counterfeit batteries. They may have not been designed to withstand the same number of charge cycles and as a result degrade quickly. There is also no guarantee that they have not been relabelled and the battery may not have the same capacity or specifications as stated on the label as a result.

Inconsistent performance such as sudden drops in charge can also be a sign of a counterfeit battery.

Manufacturer’s Warning Messages

Some laptop may present a warning message on startup when a battery is detected as non-genuine. Not every counterfeit battery will be detected in this way and it can appear as the result of an error with a genuine battery but nevertheless this can be another useful indicator.

Battery diagnostic software can also be used to check if attributes of the battery such as its capacity match what is expected.