Battery troubles got you low? We get it. Battery degradation is inescapable but fortunately it doesn’t mean that you need a new phone - you can just replace the battery instead.
If you’re looking to replace your Samsung battery, then we’ve got everything you need to know.
Why replace a Samsung battery?
Replacing parts within a smartphone is generally cheaper than buying a whole new phone, so if you find your battery starting to deteriorate then it is a good place to start.
Realistically your battery shouldn't start to break down within the first two years, if it does then this could be a sign of a manufacturer fault. If this is the case then Samsung should replace your battery for free, but if your device is out of warranty you’ll need to pay for the replacement.
Samsung doesn’t note just how much juice a battery has to have lost in order to be eligible for a replacement. However Apple generally won’t replace iPhone batteries with more than 80% capacity, so we could probably expect something similar from Samsung.
In some cases you may even get a pop-up message on your device saying that your battery needs replacing. However rather than waiting until the situation is dire, you can self diagnose your battery through the Samsung Members app.
How to check battery health on a Samsung device
- Open the Samsung Members app
- Select Get Help
- Go to Phone Care
- Check your battery through Automatic or Interactive Checks
Putting a new battery into your Samsung device is going to extend the life of your phone or tablet, but there are a few things to take into consideration before you take that step.
Should I replace the battery or the whole phone?
Unfortunately, Android phones have a shorter shelf life than Apple devices. Where iPhones come with around seven years of security updates, Android devices are lucky to get three.
Samsung phones come with three years of security updates, with the frequency of these diminishing as time goes on. You’ll get monthly updates in the first year, quarterly ones in the second and bi-annual updates in the third year.
Because of this, it can be hard to suggest paying for a battery replacement to extend the lifespan of your Samsung phone. If you can get it done under warranty then all the power to you, but if you’re going to fork out for a new battery in the third year of your phone it may be smarter to get a new phone instead.
Luckily enough for Samsung devotees, the manufacturer has a range of affordable phones as well as its flagship S range.
New Samsung battery vs. refurbished Samsung battery
Refurbished Samsung devices are difficult to recommend for the same reason battery replacements are. They just don’t have the security longevity that we’d like to see. In saying that, if you do want to save some money on a newer Samsung device that is under three years old, then a refurbished phone is a solid option.
You can check out the full list of devices still getting security updates on the Samsung website.
Preowned devices go through a series of tests to make sure they are up to standard for resale. One of the main components of this testing is battery capacity. Resellers won’t put a phone back in the market if it has less than 80% battery capacity, so you know that you’re getting a device with much more than a glass half full of juice.
If you were to go with a brand new phone though, you’d get 100% capacity so it’s really about weighing up whether a higher battery capacity, or saving some money is more important to you.
How much will a Samsung battery replacement cost?
In some cases your battery replacement will be absolutely free, assuming that the phone is still within warranty. If however your device is outside of the warranty period and you have decided to replace the battery then you will have to bear the cost.
Samsung doesn’t advertise how much battery replacements cost but does note that the price is dependent on the age of the product and its physical condition. We can assume that newer phones will cost more to get fixed.
While Samsung does have a priority insurance program called Samsung Care Plus, this only covers screen repair. Other repairs fall under Samsung Care, which guarantees a 24-hour repair window during the first year of your warranty.
Where can I get my Samsung battery replaced?
You have three options when it comes to Samsung battery replacement:
- Go directly to Samsung
- Find a third party repairer
- Replace it yourself
There is a bit to unpack here. Going directly to Samsung means that you won’t void your warranty, and you will get all genuine parts and have a guarantee attached to that battery replacement. You also may be able to get the battery replacement done for free under the right circumstances.
However, if your phone is out of warranty you could go to a third party repairer and potentially get a replacement for a cheaper price. While some repairers will get genuine parts, not all will so you may not get the best quality parts for use in your device. We only recommend using third party repairers once your device is out of warranty because otherwise it can void your existing warranty and you will sacrifice any other coverage you have from that.
Or, if you really wanted to you could replace the battery yourself. BUT we quite frankly do not suggest doing this. Since the Samsung S6, all devices have had an enclosed battery which means that in order to replace the battery you’ll need to open up the whole phone. This leaves your device vulnerable to a range of damage. You’re probably not a professional repairer, so don’t put yourself or your device in jeopardy for the sake of some extra battery life.
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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