Cell Phone Batteries Key Terms

Learn some battery key terms before buying one for your cell phone

If you have a cell phone, you will need to know the basics of cell phone batteries. Most phones come with their own batteries, but if you lose yours or want to upgrade to a different kind, it is helpful to know the main types available. In fact, knowing the battery a phone comes with can be helpful in making a decision on whether to buy the phone to begin with. As long as you know the main types of cell phone batteries on the market, you can choose the right kind the first time around.

 

Lithium Ion

These types of batteries are also known as Li-Ion, and are desirable in cell phones because they are lightweight and rechargeable. They also tend to lose charge slowly over time. Since they are more expensive to make, they are often seen in phones that are higher priced.
Try: The Sanyo website discusses the Lithium Ion battery, which is used in many of the company's cell phones.

Nickel Metal Hydride battery

These batteries are also known as NiMH, and use recent technology. They are the newer versions of Nickel Cadmium, or NiCad batteries, found in older phones. The Nickel Metal Hydride battery is able to recharge quickly and is inexpensive.
Try: Tech-FAQ defines the Nickel Metal Hydride battery.

Lithium Polymer

These batteries are also called Li-Poly or Lithium-Ion Polymer, and are both durable and rechargeable. They are less expensive than Li-Ion batteries, and are lighter than most other types. Due to this fact, particularly thin and light phones use Lithium Polymer batteries.
Try: Visit the Laptop and Notebook Battery Frequently Asked Questions website for more information on the Lithium Polymer battery.

Nickel Cadmium

This battery type is also known as NiCD. It is not considered environmentally friendly, especially compared to the NiMH battery type. That, coupled with the loss of charge over time known as the memory effect, makes this battery less popular now.
Try: Mobiledia defines the Nickel Cadmium battery.

Extended battery

This type of battery lasts longer than the typical cell phone battery. For this reason it is more expensive than a normal battery, but is ideal for when you want to be able to go a long time without charging your phone.
Try: DiscountCell explains extended batteries.

Rechargeable battery

All cell phones use rechargeable batteries. If a battery comes with a charger, that means it can be recharged so that it is like new, even after years of use.
Try: Find out more about rechargeable batteries at wiseGEEK.

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