About ten months ago I wrote this quick guide to the differences between the BR56 and the BR50 cell phone batteries. I thought it would be good to update it and repost it.
In our
online eBay store we are often asked the question, "What is the difference between the Motorola BR50 and the Motorola BR56 cell phone batteries."
So in this post we thought we would discuss the stats of each battery and explain the differences between the two models.
voltage Both the BR50 and BR56 are 3.7 volt batteries.
Storage Capacity measured in mAh (mili Amp hours) is the measurement of a battery’s storage capacity.
The model number of the battery determines the storage capacity. You can find info on the following battery model numbers out there;
- BR50 Storage Capacity is 710 mAh
- SNN5777A Storage Capacity is 740mAh
- SNN5794A Storage Capacity is 780mAh
- BR56 Storage Capacity is 780 mAh
Some sources state that the the BR56 has a 20% better storage capacity and that it has longer talk times and standby times (see glossary below).
Battery Type (material that the battery is made of). Both the BR50 and the BR56 are Lithium Ion Batteries.
Lithium Ion Batteries (LiION) are the most popular cell phone batteries available right now. Li-ION have replaced NiMH batteries for many phones because they provide 4 distinct advantages:
- Li-ION batteries provide 40% longer Standby and Talk Times than NiMH batteries.
- Li-ION batteries are lighter and more compact than NiMH batteries.
- Li-ION batteries does not suffer from memory effect.
- Li-ION batteries will last over 30% longer than NiMH batteries because the cells accept more charge cycles.
Phone Compatibility - Both the BR50 and the BR56 are compatible with the Motorola RAZR and PEBL cell phones in all of their various configurations. The BR50 and the BR56 are interchangeable and if you have one in your phone you can use the other.
Compatible Phone Models: Compatible with Motorola Razr V3, Razr V3 Blue, Razr V3 Cosmic Blue, Razr V3 Limited Edition, Razr V3 Pink, Razr V3i, Razr V3x, RAZR V3c, PEBL U6, PEBL U6 Fire Red phones.
Battery Size The BR50 and the BR56 are the exact same size and both will fit in the exact same phones with no need for a different battery cover.
length -
width -
thickness - 0.2 inches
Tips and Tricks How to maximize the life of your cell phone battery --
There are several things you can do to maximize the useful life of your battery: Dirty battery contacts are the number one source of charging problems. Clean the battery contacts with alcohol and a cotton swab from time to time. Make sure no cotton is left on the contact points. Don’t leave your rechargeable batteries dormant for extended periods. Take them for a "spin around the block" every so often. Even if you use AC power most of the time; use the battery periodically to keep it fresh and healthy. Unplug your AC adapter if you are not using your cellphone. Batteries that sit idle for extended periods of time without charging begin to lose their ability to hold a charge and will self-discharge, so remember to charge them again before use. Always store batteries in a cool, dry place away from heat and metal objects.
Initial Charge Cycle --
New cell phone batteries must be trickle charged (slow charged) prior to their first use and for the first several uses. As all of our batteries are new, they are uncharged. All batteries require a "break-in" period, so don't be alarmed if your battery doesn't hold a full charge right away. A new battery may show false full charge as indicated on your phone or charger. Also the battery may not power up the phone because of low voltage. For the First Three Cycles, please make sure to charge the battery fully and drain it fully before recharging. This will properly condition the battery and will ensure that it will operate at its maximum capacity. This is recommended for all cellular phone batteries. You can discharge most portable phones by unplugging the AC adapter and leaving it turned on until completely discharged. Remember - "Take care of your Cell Phone Battery and your Phone Battery will take care of you."
Glossary of cell phone baterry termsStandby Time - The amount of time you can leave your fully charged cellular portable or transportable phone turned on before the phone will completely discharge the batteries. See Talk Time
Talk Time - The length of time you can talk on your portable or transportable cellular phone without recharging the battery. The battery capacity of a cellular portable or transportable is usually expressed in terms of so many minutes of talk time or so many hours of standby time. When you're talking, the phone draws additional power from the battery. See Standby Time.
Memory Effect - The life of a battery may be gradually shortened if it is recharged before it is completely discharged. Memory effect most commonly occurs with Nickel Cadmium batteries are less of a problem with Nickel Hydride batteries and even less with Lithium Ion batteries.
The term "memory" in reference to batteries means the battery "remembers" its usual discharge point and superficially "needs" a charge whenever it hits that point. In other words, if you have a NiCad that always gets discharged to only 50% of its capacity, it will eventually not run below that 50% mark if you ever wanted to discharge it to a lower point.
for $299, including a lifetime service contract (see below).
