One of the most disappointing aspects of the Android smartphone device explosion is the lingering impotency of battery performance. Sure, users of Android devices can all extend battery life by running power management applications like JuiceDefender and by cultivating conservative usage habits, but what we really need here is a rapid improvement in the performance of batteries. Battery R&D was clearly left behind while the manufacturers were all trying to out-do each other over screen, processor and camera performance.
Fortunately, while the pleas from the early adopters to the device manufacturers to address this debilitating problem appear to have fallen on deaf ears, other smaller manufacturers have taken notice. In fact, a surprising number of 3rd party battery manufacturers have now stepped up to bat, offering replacement batteries offering everything from slight to massive performance improvements. For current owners of Android smartphones the challenge now lies in answering the questions “What are my options for replacement batteries and where can I buy them?”
Having dedicated some time to this matter myself and successfully upgraded batteries on three different Android smartphones (a Samsung Galaxy S, an HTC Desire HD and a Motorola Milestone XT720) I decided to compile a list of popular devices, sorted alphabetically, with links to sellers of the highest capacity replacement batteries available. Many of these are super heavy-duty upgrades, leading to up to three times the runtime between charges (when compared to original stock batteries). These batteries tend to be over-sized, and ship with replacement back-plates for the phone. You can see what I mean with the Samsung Galaxy S example in the video below.
As for the table, while it is not a comprehensive list, I would love some encouragement and assistance to help it grow. If you have any requests for information on alternative batteries for specific devices or you’d like to share your experiences or add information to this chart, please leave a detailed comment at the end of this article.
Brand | Model | Stock Battery Capacity | Maximum Battery Capacity | Purchase from |
---|---|---|---|---|
Google Nexus One | 1500mAh | 3000mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com | |
HTC | HTC Bravo | 1400mAh | 3000mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com |
HTC Desire A8181 | 1400mAh | 3000mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com | |
HTC Desire | 1400mAh | 3000mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com | |
HTC Desire HD | 1230mAh | 1800mAh | obostore.com | |
HTC Droid Eris | 1300mAh | 1500mAh | DinoDirect.com | |
HTC Hero | 1350mAh | 3200mAh (with cover) | Mugen Power | |
HTC Incredible | 1450mAh | 1500mAh | DinoDirect.com | |
HTC Legend | 1300mAh | 1800mAh | Mugen Power | |
HTC Thunderbolt | 1400mAh | 1500mAh | DinoDirect.com | |
HTC Wildfire | 1300mAh | 1800mAh | Mugen Power | |
LG | LG Optimus 2X | 1500mAh | 4500mAh (with cover) | Mugen Power |
Motorola | Motorola Milestone | 1400mAh | 2000mAh | DinoDirect.com |
Motorola Milestone XT720 | 1400mAh | 2000mAh | DinoDirect.com | |
Samsung | Samsung Fascinate | 1500mAh | 3500mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com |
Samsung Galaxy S | 1500mAh | 3500mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com | |
Samsung Vibrant | 1500mAh | 3500mAh (with cover) | DinoDirect.com | |
Sony Ericsson | Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 | 1500mAh | 2600mAh (white cover) | Amazon.com |
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 | 1500mAh | 2600mAh (black cover) | Amazon.com |
Dan Monceaux