Is Your iPod Battery Rating Real?

iPod Battery Capacity Reality Check

Buying an iPod Classic replacement battery? Don't fall for fake mAh claims. Enter your battery's dimensions to estimate its true mAh and playback hours.

Estimated capacity
Printed rating mAh
Size-based range mAh
Rating inflation
Approx. playback hours
How the calculator works

For a given battery size, there is only so much active material that can fit inside.

This calculator estimates energy from cell volume using a conservative energy-density range for flat lithium pouch cells.

The mAh estimate is converted from the size-based energy estimate using 3.7V, the typical nominal voltage for single-cell iPod lithium pouch batteries.

Estimated playback time is based on Classic Connect 2 getting around 15 hours of Bluetooth playback from a 500mAh 3.7V battery.

The result is an estimate, not a lab test.

Cell construction, wrapping, protection circuitry, age, and manufacturing quality can all affect the final capacity.

For best results, measure with digital calipers.

Are they overrated?

3000mAh battery from EOE

Measured size
77.8 × 49 × 3.7 mm
Typical estimate
~1700 mAh
Difference: about 43% lower than printed

2000mAh battery from Resale Firm

Measured size
45 × 39 × 4.6 mm
Typical estimate
~980 mAh
Difference: about 51% lower than printed

3800mAh battery on Amazon

Measured size
61.4 × 49.7 × 4.8 mm
Typical estimate
~1800 mAh
Difference: about 53% lower than printed

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