Surface Pro and Surface Book batteries are swelling massively, but Microsoft is staying silent. Microsoft has a big battery problem. Literally. The company’s premium line of Surface tablets and laptops have been generally popular among users for some time. But within a few years of use, many Surfaces were plagued by problems that rendered them completely unusable. In the unforgiving creative language of the internet, the problem is known as “spicy pillows.” In more layman terms, this is a swollen battery.
Swelled batteries have been found in almost every model of phone, tablet or laptop from almost every electronics manufacturer. But if this were a competition, the Microsoft Surface is vying for the podium. Not only do Surface batteries swell at an unusually high rate, but the Surface is also designed to be irrepairable, so a swollen battery is often the death knell for these expensive devices. Happily, Microsoft refuses to acknowledge the problem. The most commonly affected models are the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the original Surface Book, but Microsoft Surface Pro 4 battery swelling has been reported in Surface Pro 5, Surface Pro 6, and Surface. Pro 7, Surface Book 2, Surface Laptop 1 and other models.
Battery bulge in Microsoft Surface
Lithium-ion batteries are the most common battery type found in consumer electronics today. Like anything else governed by entropy, lithium-ion batteries get worse over time. A new battery that can hold a charge for five hours may only hold a charge for three hours after hundreds of charge cycles. This degradation is normal but can be mitigated with proper battery care. What is not normal is the lithium-ion battery swelling. This occurs when the battery’s planned chemical reactions are compromised and produce gaseous byproducts, primarily carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The mixture may also contain the toxic gas hydrogen fluoride (HF) and the potentially toxic gas phosphoryl fluoride (POF 3 ). With nowhere to go, these gases put pressure on the battery bag and cause it to expand. When the battery expands
enough to reach the walls of the case, it continues to push. If you notice an unexplained bulge on your laptop or tablet, it’s most likely caused by a swollen battery. The bulge might be subtle—perhaps you’ve noticed that your laptop no longer sits flush with your desk—or it can be so obvious that it even
separates the chassis and reveals the spicy pillows inside. The battery in Microsoft Surface Pro and Book devices is located behind the touchscreen display, and before swelling occurs, a noticeable patch of discoloration will often appear on the screen. These spots may move over time as swelling increases. There’s a second battery underneath the Surface Book’s keyboard base (pictured above). Surface users who notice a swollen battery should stop using their device immediately. Use caution when handling Surface as the Surface battery may ignite and release toxic fumes.
This applies to any device with a swollen battery, and once the battery swells, the owners of these devices will have to repair, replace or recycle the battery. This is doubly troublesome for Surface users, as Microsoft Surfaces aren’t designed to have Microsoft Surfaces batteries replaced. They’re not the only consumer devices that are difficult to repair; the entire category of thin, sleek, high-end electronics, including Apple MacBooks, is notorious for being difficult for users to repair.
However, the Microsoft Surface line is particularly egregious because Microsoft itself won’t replace the batteries in its products. If you need another battery, Microsoft will sell you another Surface.
By comparison, Apple will replace its own Apple MacBook batteriesfor $200 or less. That’s not to say it’s impossible to replace your Surface battery. You can always take your device to a third-party repair shop or try it yourself – here’s a step-by-step iFixit guide for Microsoft Surface Book.
But be warned, this isn’t easy to fix, and if you mess up, you could permanently disable your device. Abdullah Mamun, owner of RxTech Repair in Orange County, California, strongly advises users not to try to replace the Surface battery themselves. “If this is your first repair, it’s going to be difficult,” he warns. “You’re probably not going to have a lot of fun.”
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