OT: Mobile phone battery replacement

[Art]

Have a Samsung Galaxy S9 that I use as a back up phone. Every month or so I take it out of the drawer, charge it up, and check to see how long the batter lives. Previously, it was almost two days. This weekend, it barely lasted twelve hours. On face, not bad, but keep in mind that it's an un-activated phone and the only thing happening is the battery draining. So it's nature's way of telling me that the battery is going, going, soon to be gone.

Did some research on replacement. Not difficult, but time-consuming, largely because of the patience needed to remove the fragile glass back. Replacement kits (battery, tools, adhesive) run between $20-40. The major item of negative feedback is that the replacement batteries, whether OEM Samsung or knock-offs, sometimes aren't any better than the old one.

Recommendations or thoughts?

 

[wilbury]

I wouldn't spend a dime on a backup phone. Wait until you absolutely need to.

 

[tboyer]

Have a Samsung Galaxy S9 that I use as a back up phone. Every month or so I take it out of the drawer, charge it up, and check to see how long the batter lives. Previously, it was almost two days. This weekend, it barely lasted twelve hours. On face, not bad, but keep in mind that it's an un-activated phone and the only thing happening is the battery draining. So it's nature's way of telling me that the battery is going, going, soon to be gone.

Did some research on replacement. Not difficult, but time-consuming, largely because of the patience needed to remove the fragile glass back. Replacement kits (battery, tools, adhesive) run between $20-40. The major item of negative feedback is that the replacement batteries, whether OEM Samsung or knock-offs, sometimes aren't any better than the old one.

Recommendations or thoughts?

Coupla thoughts. 1) It's unlikely that you lost half your battery capacity in a couple of months not using the phone. 2) I've owned Samsung S9 and Note8 -- 12 hours for a Samsung phone is pretty good. 8 hours is pretty standard if you use it a lot. 2 days is not really possible if you have to use the phone. 3) DIY battery kits have very uneven performance -- good chance you will see no improvement. 4) A good quality battery professionally installed will run you $80, but a new (used) S9 on Ebay is around $120 so why not just replace the phone (but again, I'm not persuaded that your phone has a bad battery).

 

[dwiz]

I went to best buy last month for an iphone battery replacement. $24 for the battery and $24 for the install.

 

[Obliviax]

Coupla thoughts. 1) It's unlikely that you lost half your battery capacity in a couple of months not using the phone. 2) I've owned Samsung S9 and Note8 -- 12 hours for a Samsung phone is pretty good. 8 hours is pretty standard if you use it a lot. 2 days is not really possible if you have to use the phone. 3) DIY battery kits have very uneven performance -- good chance you will see no improvement. 4) A good quality battery professionally installed will run you $80, but a new (used) S9 on Ebay is around $120 so why not just replace the phone (but again, I'm not persuaded that your phone has a bad battery).

I would agree. today, the most important device in your life is your mobile phone/camera/Rolodex/GPS/game/text/email/etc. device. Why not make the investment? Secondly, if it is just something to throw in your case/purse and use every once in a while, there are some good external battery packs you can get

 

[91Joe95]

Have a Samsung Galaxy S9 that I use as a back up phone. Every month or so I take it out of the drawer, charge it up, and check to see how long the batter lives. Previously, it was almost two days. This weekend, it barely lasted twelve hours. On face, not bad, but keep in mind that it's an un-activated phone and the only thing happening is the battery draining. So it's nature's way of telling me that the battery is going, going, soon to be gone.

Did some research on replacement. Not difficult, but time-consuming, largely because of the patience needed to remove the fragile glass back. Replacement kits (battery, tools, adhesive) run between $20-40. The major item of negative feedback is that the replacement batteries, whether OEM Samsung or knock-offs, sometimes aren't any better than the old one.

Recommendations or thoughts?

Not really worth it, plus it will never seal back up to watertight standards. Your battery actually sounds like it's in pretty good shape. If you're really concerned about it get one of those cheap battery packs that plugs into the phone's USB port. They provide a whole lot more power than even the best battery replacement/upgrade will provide.

 

[sluggo72]

Have a Samsung Galaxy S9 that I use as a back up phone. Every month or so I take it out of the drawer, charge it up, and check to see how long the batter lives. Previously, it was almost two days. This weekend, it barely lasted twelve hours. On face, not bad, but keep in mind that it's an un-activated phone and the only thing happening is the battery draining. So it's nature's way of telling me that the battery is going, going, soon to be gone.

Did some research on replacement. Not difficult, but time-consuming, largely because of the patience needed to remove the fragile glass back. Replacement kits (battery, tools, adhesive) run between $20-40. The major item of negative feedback is that the replacement batteries, whether OEM Samsung or knock-offs, sometimes aren't any better than the old one.

Recommendations or thoughts?

even in the outbacks of WV we have Malfunction Junction (great name imo) I take my phone there and for $20- $40 bucks, fixed!! and with a warranty!! Probably less then your bar tab!! LOL

 

[Obliviax]

even in the outbacks of WV we have Malfunction Junction (great name imo) I take my phone there and for $20- $40 bucks, fixed!! and with a warranty!! Probably less then your bar tab!! LOL

there is a place here named "Broke Ass Phone"

Broke Ass Phone® | Fixed Right - Right Now!

www.brokeassphone.com

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Find a battery case for it.

 

[Elwood Blues]

It seems all phone manufactures employ planned obsolescence to batteries in order to keep us coming back to replace a 2-3 year old phone that is otherwise fine. That's probably also why batteries are no longer easily replaced (I know, and waterproofing too). Very wasteful.

 

[Art]

Coupla thoughts. 1) It's unlikely that you lost half your battery capacity in a couple of months not using the phone. 2) I've owned Samsung S9 and Note8 -- 12 hours for a Samsung phone is pretty good. 8 hours is pretty standard if you use it a lot. 2 days is not really possible if you have to use the phone. 3) DIY battery kits have very uneven performance -- good chance you will see no improvement. 4) A good quality battery professionally installed will run you $80, but a new (used) S9 on Ebay is around $120 so why not just replace the phone (but again, I'm not persuaded that your phone has a bad battery).

Batteries will degrade simply sitting on the shelf without use. It's a matter of chemistry and time.

The twelve hours was with no use at all. If I knew that for the foreseeable future the battery would power my phone for 12 hours under normal usage I'd have no concerns.

 

[Art]

I went to best buy last month for an iphone battery replacement. $24 for the battery and $24 for the install.

Didn't know that. I'll have to check it out.

even in the outbacks of WV we have Malfunction Junction (great name imo) I take my phone there and for $20- $40 bucks, fixed!! and with a warranty!! Probably less then your bar tab!! LOL

there is a place here named "Broke Ass Phone"

Broke Ass Phone® | Fixed Right - Right Now!

www.brokeassphone.com

The "local" place is Batteries+. They charge $60-70. On the plus side, they'll replace the replacement if it's found to be crap within 30 days. Not inclined to go that way in any case.

 

[psuaxe70]

Batteries will degrade simply sitting on the shelf without use. It's a matter of chemistry and time.

The twelve hours was with no use at all. If I knew that for the foreseeable future the battery would power my phone for 12 hours under normal usage I'd have no concerns.

I replaced the battery in my phone for $25 with a kit and it works well and the seal against water is as good as new. I think your battery may be on the back end of its life but have you turned off all your unnecessary apps? If it is just a phone backup, it doesn’t need other apps and apps can drain a resting phone.

 

[Art]

It seems all phone manufactures employ planned obsolescence to batteries in order to keep us coming back to replace a 2-3 year old phone that is otherwise fine. That's probably also why batteries are no longer easily replaced (I know, and waterproofing too). Very wasteful.

Yup, that's what we're dealing with here.

Not really concerned about the waterproofing since I only expect to use the phone if my everyday phone becomes totally unusable and I can't get around to getting a replacement in a reasonable amount of time. Concern is that batteries for this phone haven't been made in years and what's sitting on the shelves have degraded to the point that it's not worth the effort

 

[Art]

I replaced the battery in my phone for $25 with a kit and it works well and the seal against water is as good as new. I think your battery may be on the back end of its life but have you turned off all your unnecessary apps? If it is just a phone backup, it doesn’t need other apps and apps can drain a resting phone.

Agree, the thing is dying, but that's to be expected. Next time I test it, I'll turn off the Verizon/Samsung pollution and see how long the battery lasts.

Doesn't seem that I need to do anything immediately. Now that I've said that, the next time I boot it up it will be as dead as a door nail. But so long as next time is not an occasion for which I'm saving it, that'll be OK.

Since you seem to have a good experience, do you recall the name of the kit?

 

[YeOldeCup]

Have a Samsung Galaxy S9 that I use as a back up phone. Every month or so I take it out of the drawer, charge it up, and check to see how long the batter lives. Previously, it was almost two days. This weekend, it barely lasted twelve hours. On face, not bad, but keep in mind that it's an un-activated phone and the only thing happening is the battery draining. So it's nature's way of telling me that the battery is going, going, soon to be gone.

Did some research on replacement. Not difficult, but time-consuming, largely because of the patience needed to remove the fragile glass back. Replacement kits (battery, tools, adhesive) run between $20-40. The major item of negative feedback is that the replacement batteries, whether OEM Samsung or knock-offs, sometimes aren't any better than the old one.

Recommendations or thoughts?

I have the kit and had successfully replaced batteries on three smartphones prior to my last challenge (Samsung Galaxy). The battery had bloated and almost cracked the case on its own. When I got the case open and was attempting to extract the old battery, it was so tight that it perforated on release -- and instantly reacted with air and caught fire (intensely).

The cases are so thin and the insides so tightly packed these days that there is very little room for error, so I will defer to a shop going forward.