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I’m often asked whether laptop batteries need to be drained completely before recharging them. My answer? Not anymore!
Early laptops used nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries which were subject to a “memory effect”.
If NiCad batteries weren’t allowed to discharge all the way before being recharged they would eventually “remember” the level of charge they fell to before recharging and act as if they were completely drained every time their charge decreased to that level.
This memory effect lowered the useful life of a charge dramatically, requiring the purchase of a new battery long before it should have reached the end of its useful life.
The vast majority of laptops on the market today use lithium-based batteries which work much better and last longer than NiCad batteries.
Unlike NiCads, lithium batteries aren’t susceptible to a memory effect which means you can recharge them at any time.
Another advantage of lithium batteries over their predecessors is how they hold their charge when the battery isn’t in use. The older type batteries began losing their charge immediately after being topped off, even if the laptop was turned off and not being used.
Lithium batteries on the other hand will hold their charge for months with only a very slight drop in charge level.
Bottom line: If your laptop uses a lithium battery (and if it’s a recent model is almost certainly does) you don’t need to let it discharge all the way before you recharge it.
Bonus tip: Are you looking for a better charger for your laptop and other portable devices? Check this out! (#ad)