Prolong Your Laptop’s Life (and Save Your Thighs and Tabletops) With These Cooling Pads

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Our laptops are under constant usage nowadays: work, gaming, streaming, editing and internet browsing can be a lot for a machine to handle, causing it to heat up fast.

Excessive heat can be lethal to a laptop, leading to problems like sudden shutdowns, and damage to the inner components — not to mention getting too hot to comfortably live up to its name and physically remain on your lap.

That’s where a laptop cooling pad can work wonders. It provides an instant increase of cool air from powerful fans to cool things down and dissipate heat inside your laptop, sometimes in just under a minute. This eliminates the need for the little fan inside your machine, preventing wear and tear on the internal parts.

What to Look For in a Good Laptop Cooling Pad

Here’s what you need to know about shopping for the best laptop cooling pad for your needs.

Airflow: When talking about laptop fans or cooling pads, air is measured in cubic feet per minute, but other factors greatly affect it just as much, like the number of fans, and their revolutions per minute (rpm).

Durability: Even if you’re not a gamer, video editor, or something that puts a significant strain on your laptop, it’s still best to go for a pad designed for heavy usage, as it can handle the intense heat.

Noise Level: Fans from a cooling pad can get noisy, which is a particular pain if you’re going to be on conference calls, Zoom meetings, or anything where loud whirring is going to be a background distraction that makes you harder to hear. Cooling pads in recent years have gotten more efficient, and quieter — 20-25db should be a level you can comfortably talk over without having to shout. Fan speed affects this too, and though a lot of it depends on build quality, a fan that runs at around 700rpm is a manageable noise level. Some pads even let you control each fan individually, occasionally with a little built-in screen.

Connections: A pad with some extra USB slots isn’t crucial, but it’s really a nice perk to plug in more devices, particularly if the cooling pad covers up your laptop’s ports or it requires its own spot for power. Same with LED/RBG lights, which can provide a cool aesthetic on the outside while fans keep your laptop’s insides cool. Keep in mind though, that a power button to control these lights is something to consider if you’d rather switch them off while working.

To keep things neat and tidy, pads also occasionally include a cable management option, making it easier to run your wires to either side and keep a clutter-free workspace.

Sizing: Be sure to check the measurements of your laptop cooling pad, and ensure that the pad will cover the entire footprint of your laptop. If it’s a couple inches short, it’ll still work, but not as well as intended, and can be wobbly and unsteady if it doesn’t support the weight.

Comfort: Ergonomics are also important. It can be tough to find a comfortable position when working on just a laptop, causing strain and pain on your neck, back, and shoulders. But another nice option with most cooling pads is the adjustable height and angle. Along with preventing overheating, these can open up new positions to work with, allowing you (and your laptop) to go longer without breaking a sweat or straining a muscle.

What Are the Best Laptop Cooling Pads?

So what makes a laptop cooling pad a top pick? It really all comes down to what you’re using your laptop for, how much stress you’re putting on its parts, and where you’ll be using it most. Some stands will be ideal for a desk setup, while others might be a better fit for those who like to stay in bed or curl up on a couch. Wherever you choose to do, whether working, watching, or gaming, these ensure your laptop will keep cool under pressure every time.