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What is a Lithium Cell Phone Battery?

Ken Black
Ken Black

A lithium cell phone battery is a battery that uses lithium ions in order to power a cell phone device. Batteries are one of the most common and most needed cell phone accessories and consumers today are demanding greater capacities and conveniences. The lithium battery technology is relatively new and offers distinct advantages over other rechargeable batteries such as nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride.

It should be noted that lithium cell phone battery is not the technically correct term. A lithium battery cannot be recharged and thus has very limited use as a power source for cellular phones, though one-use batteries or charges do exist for cell phones. What most people are referring to when they talk about this type of phone battery is a lithium-ion battery, which is capable of being recharged.

Some cell phones use lithium cell batteries.
Some cell phones use lithium cell batteries.

That being said, a lithium cell phone battery has a number of advantages over other battery technologies. A longer life, better recharge features, and durability are just a few of those. While the initial acquisition costs may be higher, the long-term benefits of a lithium-ion battery are clear and likely to be cost effective.

One of the most criticized recharge features of many rechargeable battery types is referred to as the battery "memory." In other words, it has to be drained completely and then recharged completely or it loses a good portion of its charge potential very quickly. Lithium batteries have no such limitation. In fact, this is one of the things that makes this type of battery so desirable. Many cell phone users prefer to recharge their phones before the battery is completely exhausted.

In most cases, a lithium battery will take between 300 and 500 cycles before it loses its ability to hold a charge and needs to be replaced.
In most cases, a lithium battery will take between 300 and 500 cycles before it loses its ability to hold a charge and needs to be replaced.

The life of the lithium cell phone battery is another reason why it is so highly sought after. In the earlier days of cell phones, talk time was often 30 minutes or less, with standby time only as much as 24 hours. Each time battery life has increased substantially, it has been because of battery technology. Those looking for an extended cell phone battery will likely be looking for a lithium battery, or be directed in that direction by an employee of a cell phone retailer.

In addition to the time given between charges, lithium batteries also have the capacity to accept more charge and discharge cycles than other battery forms. In most cases, a lithium battery will take between 300 and 500 cycles before it loses its ability to hold a charge. This can be especially important for cell phones, given the frequency they are recharged.

Discussion Comments

Sara007

Does anyone know how long you should keep your cell phone battery for?

I have a new cell phone and am thinking about buying some new Kyocera cell phone batteries to put aside just in case I need to switch them. I don't want to stock up on new batteries though if they won't be needed until years from now so I thought it would be best to ask. I am not really familiar with lithium batteries as compared to regular double A's or something.

drtroubles

@lonelygod - I think a phone with a lithium cell phone battery is a great buy. My new phone has a lithium cellular battery and it is fantastic at holding a charge and doesn't have to be recharged nearly as often as my old phone did. I think if you are shopping around it is worth looking at how much you'll need to charge your cell phone battery as it can be a real pain if the phone has a short battery life.

I think a lot of the newer phones have long life cell phone batteries so you get a more useful product. I also like that you need to replace the battery less often even with frequent charging. Some batteries don't like being left in all the time to charge but it doesn't seem to have any impact on the lithium ones.

lonelygod

Does anyone know if a phone with a lithium cellular battery is a good buy?

I am thinking about getting a new phone and as I hate charging my cell phone battery all the time. I am looking for a phone that has better battery life. Right now I can get a day or two out of my phone if I don't use it much but as soon as I start chatting away it gets drained really fast.

I have thought of just buying a replacement cell phone battery but from what I have read online about my LG phone battery a lot of people have had the same problem. As far as I know I can't put a lithium battery pack on a phone not designed for it so a whole new phone it is going to have to be.

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    • Some cell phones use lithium cell batteries.
      By: bloomua
      Some cell phones use lithium cell batteries.
    • In most cases, a lithium battery will take between 300 and 500 cycles before it loses its ability to hold a charge and needs to be replaced.
      By: Xuejun li
      In most cases, a lithium battery will take between 300 and 500 cycles before it loses its ability to hold a charge and needs to be replaced.