A genuine Samsung battery is the one Samsung supplies for your model, built to its specification and tested to its standards. A copy is made by someone else to look the same, and it can be fine or it can fall well short, in capacity, lifespan and, most importantly, safety. You usually can't tell the difference by looking, which is why it's worth asking a repairer directly what they fit.
Why it matters
Safety
A phone battery holds a lot of energy in a small space. When a lithium battery is badly made, damaged or poorly protected, it can overheat, swell or catch fire. When the product safety testing company UL Solutions tested batteries from 33 aftermarket smartphone battery brands, 29 of them had failures, none of the brands bought were safety-certified, and every failed brand had fire or explosion events. The batteries were bought from ordinary public outlets and tested to the safety standards of the regions they were bought in.
The London Fire Brigade attends an average of 24 fires a week started by chargers, batteries and cables, and warns against cheap counterfeit chargers for anything with a lithium battery. Electrical Safety First advises that a battery showing swelling, cracks, odd smells or sparks should be unplugged immediately.
Battery life
A good battery holds its rated capacity and keeps most of it over hundreds of charges. A poor copy may hold less than its label says, or lose capacity much faster, so the "new" battery life you paid for fades quickly. Be wary of any replacement that claims a bigger capacity than Samsung's original: it has to fit in exactly the same space.
Charging
Samsung's own support pages in some regions warn that a phone may have difficulty charging with a non-genuine battery, and recommend buying genuine batteries from authorised sellers.
How to tell a genuine Samsung battery
- The model code. Samsung batteries carry a code starting EB-B, such as EB-BA515ABY for the Galaxy A51. The right code for your phone is a start, but copies often print the same code, so it isn't proof on its own.
- The part number. Genuine Samsung service batteries are supplied with a Samsung part number, usually starting GH82, on the packaging.
- The price. A fitted battery for far less than everyone else is rarely genuine.
- Where it came from. Samsung's own community support has said it can only confirm a battery is genuine by inspecting it, and advises buying from authorised sellers.
In practice, the simplest check is to ask the repairer, in writing, whether the battery is a genuine Samsung part.
What to ask before a battery replacement
- Is the battery a genuine Samsung part?
- How do you remove the old one? On most Galaxy A phones it's glued in, and a bent or punctured battery is a fire risk, so it needs care and the right tools.
- Do you reseal the back with new adhesive?
- What warranty do you give on the battery?
What I fit
Every battery I fit is a genuine Samsung battery for your model. It's £49 on the budget models and £59 on the A25 and the A33 upwards, against Samsung's own £79, with a 12-month warranty. The full list is in what a Galaxy A battery replacement costs, and a few model pages are the Galaxy A52, Galaxy A51, Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A16.
Before you book, it's worth checking the battery really is the problem. This guide shows Samsung's own battery test, and if your phone won't turn on at all, start with these checks.
Frequently asked questions
Are aftermarket phone batteries safe?
Some are, but you can't tell which by looking. In one large independent test, most aftermarket smartphone battery brands failed safety tests, and none were safety-certified. A genuine battery from the phone's maker is the safer choice.
Will my phone tell me if the battery isn't genuine?
Generally not. Galaxy phones don't usually flag a non-genuine battery the way some other phones do, so you have to rely on what the repairer tells you.
Does a genuine battery cost much more?
A little more than a copy. Samsung charges £79 fitted on every Galaxy A. Independent repairers who fit genuine batteries usually charge less than that.
My phone's back is lifting. Is that the battery?
Often, yes. A battery that has started to swell pushes the back away from the frame. Stop charging the phone and contact me before posting it.
