I have a MacBook Air from 2017 and its original battery has started draining very fast. The Apple original battery will cost me around 17,000 INR so I am thinking of going for a third-party battery. Is that a wise decision?
There is always an element of risk to 3rd party batteries. That said, a reputable supplier that warranties the battery for a period should be fine. In my experience OEM batteries generally lasts longer and use better quality components.
So it is up to you to decide if the price premium is worth it in your use case.
As long as it’s from reputable seller then sure. Safety standards for batteries are high. Just double check if battery is not locked on your model. Apple has been making replacing parts impossible due to serial locks.
Original batteries are expensive due to the quality and certifications needed to make it. To buy a no-name battery you are literally rolling the dice in terms of safety and there is no guarantee of how long it will last. Will you save any money if you buy a cheap battery for half the price but have to replace it again in 6 months? I’m more of the mentality fix it once, fix it right, or just don’t bother.
If you can get it from a reputable seller I think so. I’m not in India but I replaced the battery in my partner’s 2013 MacBook Air with one I bought from ifixit. It was identical except for no apple logo. Has been working for 2 years now
Third-party batteries are fine but as others have mentioned, look for a reputable seller. Newer Tech NuPower, XINGLT, iFixit. etc. Any ‘official’ battery you get is likely going to be a second-hand one or a third-party one being sold as official anyway.