I have no idea if I ordered a counterfeit battery from Amazon for the S4.

[kyrax12]

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...rds=s4+battery


I saw this and bought it.

I haven't received it yet, but if it does turn out to be counterfeit how bad would it be? Can I still use it?

Anyone here have spare batteries for their samsung phones?

 

[Ravynmagi]

I've bought some spares for past Samsung phones (don't have one for my Note 3). So far I seem to have gotten lucky and either gotten Samsung OEM batteries or really good fakes, because the batteries have lasted about as well as what came with the phone.

Though as reviewers in your link mention, sometimes the fakes can have considerably shorter battery life.

I usually avoid the batteries where the price seems too good. I think $10 seems a tad cheap for a battery, so this definitely seems like a fake. Which may not be bad, hopefully it is a good fake.

 

[dawheat]

Honestly I'd never buy a battery from a random seller unless it's Amazon directly or Samsung. Considering Samsung has pretty often 50% sales (or gives one when you register your phone), it's hard to recommend anything but getting it directly from them.

Sellers on amazon I give about the same confidence as eBay - it's not going to be OEM.

 

[kyrax12]

Honestly I'd never buy a battery from a random seller unless it's Amazon directly or Samsung. Considering Samsung has pretty often 50% sales (or gives one when you register your phone), it's hard to recommend anything but getting it directly from them.

Sellers on amazon I give about the same confidence as eBay - it's not going to be OEM.

How bad are cheap counterfeit batteries though. I mean some can be fine right?

 

[dawheat]

How bad are cheap counterfeit batteries though. I mean some can be fine right?

Yup hit and miss.

 

[Ravynmagi]

It could work perfectly. It could explode and burn half your face.

 

[Zaap]

I always recommend buying good third party makes like Anker for example. Every battery I've bought by Anker (S3, Note2 and Note3) has been every bit as good as the original that came with the devices.

I find with Amazon if it says OEM but is considerably cheaper than a packaged/branded OEM item from elsewhere- its almost certain to be fake. I honestly don't know how vendors get away with it on Amazon bit even items labeled "by Samsung" etc. are often fakes.

I've gotten fake stuff that was "by Apple" as well. (Fake power adapter for my MacBook Pro. It works but it's totally knock-off). No idea how.these huge companies aren't suing Amazon and their bogus vendors.

As for it working... it's hit and miss. Stick with legit, high rated third party.

 

[kyrax12]

I always recommend buying good third party makes like Anker for example. Every battery I've bought by Anker (S3, Note2 and Note3) has been every bit as good as the original that came with the devices.

I find with Amazon if it says OEM but is considerably cheaper than a packaged/branded OEM item from elsewhere- its almost certain to be fake. I honestly don't know how vendors get away with it on Amazon bit even items labeled "by Samsung" etc. are often fakes.

I've gotten fake stuff that was "by Apple" as well. (Fake power adapter for my MacBook Pro. It works but it's totally knock-off). No idea how.these huge companies aren't suing Amazon and their bogus vendors.

As for it working... it's hit and miss. Stick with legit, high rated third party.

Alright I cancelling the orders and bought the Ankers instead. Thanks man!

I hope Ankers is a good brand.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Alright I cancelling the orders and bought the Ankers instead. Thanks man!

I hope Ankers is a good brand.

Anker is a great brand.

 

[soccerballtux]

I always recommend buying good third party makes like Anker for example. Every battery I've bought by Anker (S3, Note2 and Note3) has been every bit as good as the original that came with the devices.

I find with Amazon if it says OEM but is considerably cheaper than a packaged/branded OEM item from elsewhere- its almost certain to be fake. I honestly don't know how vendors get away with it on Amazon bit even items labeled "by Samsung" etc. are often fakes.

I've gotten fake stuff that was "by Apple" as well. (Fake power adapter for my MacBook Pro. It works but it's totally knock-off). No idea how.these huge companies aren't suing Amazon and their bogus vendors.

As for it working... it's hit and miss. Stick with legit, high rated third party.

ankher is never any better than factory, and in several cases for me has been worse

The best aftermarket battery I had was a chichitech for the HTC Evo 3D. stock 1700mah, chichitech was 1930mah and you could most definitely tell

 

[Zaap]

ankher is never any better than factory, and in several cases for me has been worse

Curious what you found to be "worse". It's not really about being "better" than stock since batteries arent actually powered by magic. Good ones simply hold a charge as expected and are manufacuted to the same standards as the OEMs.

Anker is a respectable brand and its absolutely better to buy from them vs.the fake OEM batteries on Amazon and eBay that are guaranteed just cheap Chinese knockoffs if they're priced near the same. So far no one seems to be counterfieting Anker but I'd imagine just give it time.

The best aftermarket battery I had was a chichitech for the HTC Evo 3D. stock 1700mah, chichitech was 1930mah and you could most definitely tell

Anker was just an example. I'm sure there are plenty of other aftermarket makes that are similar. (Most of these things are probably made in the same factories and different companies slap a label on them.)

No battery magically sprouts a.higher mAh capacity so the fact that you bought one with a higher mAh doesn't mean much other than you bought one with a higher mAh.

 

[kyrax12]

Curious what you found to be "worse". It's not really about being "better" than stock since batteries arent actually powered by magic. Good ones simply hold a charge as expected and are manufacuted to the same standards as the OEMs.

Anker is a respectable brand and its absolutely better to buy from them vs.the fake OEM batteries on Amazon and eBay that are guaranteed just cheap Chinese knockoffs if they're priced near the same. So far no one seems to be counterfieting Anker but I'd imagine just give it time.


Anker was just an example. I'm sure there are plenty of other aftermarket makes that are similar. (Most of these things are probably made in the same factories and different companies slap a label on them.)

No battery magically sprouts a.higher mAh capacity so the fact that you bought one with a higher mAh doesn't mean much other than you bought one with a higher mAh.

How is the Ankers charger that came with the bundle?

Also if I were to pack spare batteries, do I have to put them in a special container? Or is just putting them into my backpack would be fine?

 

[Zaap]

How is the Ankers charger that came with the bundle?

Also if I were to pack spare batteries, do I have to put them in a special container? Or is just putting them into my backpack would be fine?

I had a charger Anker made for my Note 2 and it worked great. (Just got batteries minus charger for my N3)

I just throw an extra battery or two in my laptop bag as-is. I can't imagine a battery on it's own could pose more potential danger than one in use in a cellphone, laptop or charging and pretty much no one feels those situations pose any danger generally.

 

[Bearmann]

.....Considering Samsung has pretty often 50% sales (or gives one when you register your phone), it's hard to recommend anything but getting it directly from them....

Good to know. Thanks!