Lenovo T61 Battery Replacement Guide: Choose Right Cell Type

The Lenovo ThinkPad T61 battery (T61 Series) remains a high-demand item in the legacy laptop replacement market, driven by the "Right to Repair" movement and industrial needs for stable hardware Alibaba Businessresearchinsights.

Product Overview & Specifications

T61 batteries are hot-swappable Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) modules, typically available in two physical configurations determined by the laptop's chassis size Alibaba Nextdaypower.

Feature	6-Cell (Standard)	9-Cell (Extended)
Typical Capacity	5200 mAh Nextdaypower	7200 – 7800 mAh Alibaba
Voltage	10.8V / 11.1V	10.8V / 11.1V
Market Price	$9.50 – $13.00 Alibaba	$17.00 – $22.30 Alibaba
Runtime	2.5 – 3 hours	4 – 5+ hours Alibaba

Key Compatibility Check:

14.1" Widescreen models use the Battery 33 family (e.g., FRU 41U3198) Alibaba Amazon.
15.4" Widescreen and 14.1" Standard (4:3) models use the Battery 41 family (e.g., FRU 42T4942) Alibaba Battdepot.

Market Insights (2024–2026)

The global laptop battery market is projected to reach $10.01 billion by 2026, with legacy components like the T61 battery maintaining a stable niche Businessresearchinsights.

* Refurbishment Over Replacement: Approximately 60% of buyers prioritize refurbishing legacy ThinkPads for environmental and specialized use (e.g., industrial diagnostics) Alibaba.

* Wholesale Price Advantage: Bulk B2B pricing on platforms like Alibaba.com offers units as low as $5–$15, significantly lower than the $30+ retail price in 2026 Alibaba Alibaba.

* Logistics Trends: Due to strict "Class 9 Dangerous Goods" regulations, air freight surcharges can exceed $30 per shipment, driving a shift toward sea freight for volume orders to maintain viable landed costs Alibaba.

Detailed sourcing data for T61 batteries, including specific 6-cell and 9-cell variants, is available in the deliverable below.