A laptop's portability is one of its greatest assets, but with the compact form factor comes some trade-offs. The cooling in laptops is generally not as robust as desktop PCs, where you can tinker around adding in CPU coolers. Laptops often only have tiny internal fans or rely on being passively cooled. Thus heat dissipation can become a problem in these compact machines, causing a noticeable decline in performance. A laptop cooling pad is a helpful way to handle a device that's getting uncomfortably warm, and even your beefy gaming laptop can benefit.
In general, laptop cooling pads help ensure your device gets better airflow. Throwing your laptop onto a pillow or blanket can smother its air intakes and cause it to overheat quickly, but a laptop cooling pad prevents this. Most even include fans to blow additional air through your laptop, which can aid in cooling the internals and chassis. That extra cooling helps keep your device more comfortable to the touch. And some pads can be especially handy for keeping your legs comfortable, as they act as a buffer between your warm laptop and your skin.
There are a variety of laptop cooling pads on the market all meant to target specific needs. Some will rest comfortably on your lap for hours while others are super portable, height adjustable, or come toting fun RGB lighting. If this is a purchase you've been considering, we've concocted a list of our favorite laptop cooling pads to make the decision easier. Take a look at our favorites below - and click here to see them in the UK.
Fans: 1 x 200mm | Size: 18.54” x 13.96” x 1.83"
Your laptop likely has some little fans spinning inside as fast as possible to keep your system cool. And that’s assuming it’s not passively cooled, in which case there would be no fans at all. There’s not much you can do to increase that cooling potential for your laptop on its own, as you don’t have the space that a PC build offers. That’s where the Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB comes in handy. It’ll push a bunch of that hot air away from your 19-inch or smaller laptop, ensuring the device—and you can—continue to chug along by staying cooler. And you can snag it for around $50.
The Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB delivers multiple ways to keep cool. A metal mesh surface provides ample airflow, especially when compared to the desk or lap it’s usually plopped on. You only get a single 200mm fan, which may not sound like much compared to coolers that pack in a ton of small fans, but a big fan like this has the advantage of moving plenty of air while spinning slower to keep extra silent. Thermaltake also lets you adjust the fan speed in case you want to keep it as quiet as possible or go for max cooling. If you're wondering about its ergonomics, you can adjust the height to three different levels for the ultimate viewing and typing angle. And as the name suggests, this cooling pad comes with a stylish taste of RGB lighting all around the edge.
Fans: 1 x 200mm | Size: 16.73" x 12.4" x 1.69"
A beefy gaming laptop can get hot fast, so you need a cooling pad that’s equally as powerful to keep those internals in tip-top shape. The Klim Ultimate happens to be the best option for the job. Set behind a metal grid panel, it comes ready for all your gaming needs with a big 200mm fan that can run at a quiet 750RPM while still providing plenty of airflow. That fan speed can be turned down, but there might not be a point since it runs silently at full speed. You can comfortably rest your laptops up to 17 inches, but even your 19-inch devices will fit. It’s also possible to elevate the set up to four different angles for easier viewing.
On top of being a practical heat dissipation solution, the Klim Ultimate will really amp up your portable gaming setup. This cooling pad is made to be flashy with its extensive RGB light strip that wraps around the entire circumference of the device. It even manages to support seven different colors and has five lighting effects. All of these adjustments can be done on the pad itself, so it’s easy to stand out from the crowd with this pick.
Fans: 5 | Size: 14.57" x 11.8" x 1.4"
Need tons of airflow? Then a whole bunch of fans is the way to go. The TopMate C5 laptop cooler packs in five—a 140mm fan at the center and surrounds it with four 70mm fans. The combination of all those fans running at once and the metal mesh surface sends loads of cool air past the base of your laptop to help keep thermals in check. Some of that air might even help keep your palms cool in the heat of gameplay. There are several cooling modes on board to fit your needs, so you won't need to have all five fans running at max speed when you might prefer silence.
Aside from the insane cooling power of the TopMate C5, you also get a few extras. Some cool and classy lighting is available with blue LEDs built into the fans and towards the front of the stand. A tiny LCD screen is even available, so you can see the wind speeds of the fans and adjust the speed using the buttons directly next to the screen. It also features two USB 2.0 ports, one to plug into your laptop for power and the other for your computer’s peripherals. If you want to put less strain on your neck or back, there are five height adjustments to get your best angle. And besides holding laptops up to 15.6-inches, you can also throw a gaming console or other devices on the pad to prevent overheating.
Fans: 2 | Size: 15" x 11.75" x 1"
The Targus Lap Chill Mat has been keeping our laptops and laps cool for over a decade, and it’s just as capable now as it was then. This straightforward cooler provides a sizable stand for laptops big and small—we’re talking up to 17-inches. It rests comfortably on your lap for hours thanks to the pad's lightweight and the neoprene material on the bottom that acts as cushioning. If you're worried about your laptop sliding all around as you’re thighs aren’t the flattest surface, a rubberized grip and little notches on the stand's surface ensure it stays in place.
As far as heat dissipation goes, the Targus Lap Chill Mat delivers. A hollow chamber in the middle of the mat lets fresh air enter from beneath the laptop, while hot air can also easily escape. Airflow is amped up further by a pair of built-in fans ready to pump fresh air near the back edge of the laptop where the CPU and GPU often sit—thus the hottest and most important parts of the machine. Those fans power up using a USB-A connection, so you can plug the mat directly into your laptop to get the air flowing.
Fans: 4 x 120mm | Size: 15.79" x 10.71" x 1.22"
Keeping cool doesn't always mean spending big. The Klim Wind is built to give your laptop a ton of fresh air so it can continue running cool, and it does it at an affordable price of just $30. Four 120mm fans run up to 1,200 RPM, pushing plenty of air past every corner of your laptop aided by its simple vented grille. Those fans manage to remain relatively quiet, reaching only 26 dB in operation, and this cooling mat should last the life span of your laptop with its five-year warranty.
You're not just getting fans at this low cost. The stand will raise your laptop slightly for better posture, and it has two pegs to keep it from sliding off. Your machine will likely fit on the pad, as it's made for laptops up to 16 inches but compatible with up to 19 inches. You can even toss your Xbox One or PS4 on it. There are two USB-A ports on board as well, one to power the fans and the other to plug in peripherals, so you’re not losing a USB slot on your device. And if you’re into the gamer aesthetic, you’ll enjoy the colorful LED lights built into the fans.
Fans: 1 | Size: 6.7" x 3.4" x 1.9"
If you want a smaller, more portable option to keep your laptop cool on the go, you can go for the Klim Cool+. This nifty little device is ready to boost the cooling capabilities of your machine by attaching to its exhaust port and pulling even more air through. However, it will likely only work with laptops toting side or back air exhaust vents where the Klim Cool+ can easily attach, and it does come with four suction cup sleeve sizes for the best fit possible. So for compatible laptops, this compact external air vaccum gives built-in cooling an upgrade.
The Klim Cool+ has different operating modes that let it run silently for light cooling or kick into high gear for some serious gaming. The fan manages to get up to an impressive 3,500 RPM, dropping your laptop’s temperature quickly. The device's durable metal structure even acts as a heatsink taking the heat away from your laptop's precious internals. However, it’s important to note that the manufacturer suggests only using this laptop cooler on a flat surface.
Fans: 4 | Size: 16.06" x 11.3" x 1.34"
Sometimes you really want to stand out from the crowd with some wild RGB lighting, and the Havit RGB Laptop Cooling Pad is ready to keep up with your other RGB gaming peripherals. At its base, there’s an RGB light strip that wraps around the entire pad. You can set the RGB strip to flow through all of its available colors or pick a color for it to stay on with a breathing effect. It’s easy to cycle through and find your favorite style, thanks to a little button on the side of the pad.
Of course, you also bought this pad for its cooling capabilities, and Havit delivers. There are four internal fans that run quietly and have adjustable speed. Those fans even sneak in some blue lights, reminding you of their job: to cool down your laptop. Beyond that, airflow is further aided by a metal mesh surface that gets hot air out and cool air in. And you’ll be good to use this stand with laptops up to 17-inches, making it a strong fit for gaming laptops. It’s height adjustable, too, so you can get the best ergonomics for your setup.
Fans: 2 | Size: 16.5" x 10" x 18.9"
Many cooling pads do a great job if you aim to use your laptop on your lap or low on a desk. But sometimes that's not what you're after, and that's where the Miggoing Laptop Table comes in. This stand has adjustable legs with several long segments, allowing you to keep it low or raise it to 18.9 inches high. That means it can serve perfectly for use on couches and in bed. Heck, you can place it on top of your current desk, effectively turning it into a standing desk.
The Miggoing Laptop Table has plenty of other features, including cooling—-the reason it’s on our list. In the laptop tray are two cooling fans to help keep air blowing past your computer to prevent overheating. The fans’ power comes from a USB, which you can plug directly into your device. Another nifty extra is a mouse plate, eliminating the worry of finding a surface to place your mouse.
No matter what laptop you have, you don't want it to overheat. That being said, not every type of laptop requires a cooling pad. If you have a high-powered laptop for video editing or a gaming laptop running newer PC games, you should definitely consider getting one of the best laptop cooling pads. If you are only using your laptop or Chromebook for less-intensive tasks, you are probably ok going without one.
Laptops are at a disadvantage to desktop PC when it comes to cooling. With less space to include fan power, laptops can quickly overheat and you'll end up experiencing thermal throttling. Laptop cooling pads help to solve this problem by providing cooler air underneath the laptop using fans. While this can be effective for reducing the temperature of the laptop, it won't necessarily solve every heat problem within your laptop if there is a larger issue.
Continue reading...
In general, laptop cooling pads help ensure your device gets better airflow. Throwing your laptop onto a pillow or blanket can smother its air intakes and cause it to overheat quickly, but a laptop cooling pad prevents this. Most even include fans to blow additional air through your laptop, which can aid in cooling the internals and chassis. That extra cooling helps keep your device more comfortable to the touch. And some pads can be especially handy for keeping your legs comfortable, as they act as a buffer between your warm laptop and your skin.
There are a variety of laptop cooling pads on the market all meant to target specific needs. Some will rest comfortably on your lap for hours while others are super portable, height adjustable, or come toting fun RGB lighting. If this is a purchase you've been considering, we've concocted a list of our favorite laptop cooling pads to make the decision easier. Take a look at our favorites below - and click here to see them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Laptop Cooling Pads:
- Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
- Klim Ultimate
- TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
- Targus Lap Chill Mat
- Klim Wind
- Klim Cool+
- Havit RGB Laptop Cooling Pad
- Miggoing Laptop Table
1. Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
Best Laptop Cooling Pad
Fans: 1 x 200mm | Size: 18.54” x 13.96” x 1.83"
Your laptop likely has some little fans spinning inside as fast as possible to keep your system cool. And that’s assuming it’s not passively cooled, in which case there would be no fans at all. There’s not much you can do to increase that cooling potential for your laptop on its own, as you don’t have the space that a PC build offers. That’s where the Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB comes in handy. It’ll push a bunch of that hot air away from your 19-inch or smaller laptop, ensuring the device—and you can—continue to chug along by staying cooler. And you can snag it for around $50.
The Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB delivers multiple ways to keep cool. A metal mesh surface provides ample airflow, especially when compared to the desk or lap it’s usually plopped on. You only get a single 200mm fan, which may not sound like much compared to coolers that pack in a ton of small fans, but a big fan like this has the advantage of moving plenty of air while spinning slower to keep extra silent. Thermaltake also lets you adjust the fan speed in case you want to keep it as quiet as possible or go for max cooling. If you're wondering about its ergonomics, you can adjust the height to three different levels for the ultimate viewing and typing angle. And as the name suggests, this cooling pad comes with a stylish taste of RGB lighting all around the edge.
2. Klim Ultimate
Best Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad
Fans: 1 x 200mm | Size: 16.73" x 12.4" x 1.69"
A beefy gaming laptop can get hot fast, so you need a cooling pad that’s equally as powerful to keep those internals in tip-top shape. The Klim Ultimate happens to be the best option for the job. Set behind a metal grid panel, it comes ready for all your gaming needs with a big 200mm fan that can run at a quiet 750RPM while still providing plenty of airflow. That fan speed can be turned down, but there might not be a point since it runs silently at full speed. You can comfortably rest your laptops up to 17 inches, but even your 19-inch devices will fit. It’s also possible to elevate the set up to four different angles for easier viewing.
On top of being a practical heat dissipation solution, the Klim Ultimate will really amp up your portable gaming setup. This cooling pad is made to be flashy with its extensive RGB light strip that wraps around the entire circumference of the device. It even manages to support seven different colors and has five lighting effects. All of these adjustments can be done on the pad itself, so it’s easy to stand out from the crowd with this pick.
3. TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
Best High-Airflow Laptop Cooling Pad
Fans: 5 | Size: 14.57" x 11.8" x 1.4"
Need tons of airflow? Then a whole bunch of fans is the way to go. The TopMate C5 laptop cooler packs in five—a 140mm fan at the center and surrounds it with four 70mm fans. The combination of all those fans running at once and the metal mesh surface sends loads of cool air past the base of your laptop to help keep thermals in check. Some of that air might even help keep your palms cool in the heat of gameplay. There are several cooling modes on board to fit your needs, so you won't need to have all five fans running at max speed when you might prefer silence.
Aside from the insane cooling power of the TopMate C5, you also get a few extras. Some cool and classy lighting is available with blue LEDs built into the fans and towards the front of the stand. A tiny LCD screen is even available, so you can see the wind speeds of the fans and adjust the speed using the buttons directly next to the screen. It also features two USB 2.0 ports, one to plug into your laptop for power and the other for your computer’s peripherals. If you want to put less strain on your neck or back, there are five height adjustments to get your best angle. And besides holding laptops up to 15.6-inches, you can also throw a gaming console or other devices on the pad to prevent overheating.
4. Targus Lap Chill Mat
Best Laptop Cooling Pad for Your Lap
Fans: 2 | Size: 15" x 11.75" x 1"
The Targus Lap Chill Mat has been keeping our laptops and laps cool for over a decade, and it’s just as capable now as it was then. This straightforward cooler provides a sizable stand for laptops big and small—we’re talking up to 17-inches. It rests comfortably on your lap for hours thanks to the pad's lightweight and the neoprene material on the bottom that acts as cushioning. If you're worried about your laptop sliding all around as you’re thighs aren’t the flattest surface, a rubberized grip and little notches on the stand's surface ensure it stays in place.
As far as heat dissipation goes, the Targus Lap Chill Mat delivers. A hollow chamber in the middle of the mat lets fresh air enter from beneath the laptop, while hot air can also easily escape. Airflow is amped up further by a pair of built-in fans ready to pump fresh air near the back edge of the laptop where the CPU and GPU often sit—thus the hottest and most important parts of the machine. Those fans power up using a USB-A connection, so you can plug the mat directly into your laptop to get the air flowing.
5. Klim Wind
Best Budget Laptop Cooling Pad
Fans: 4 x 120mm | Size: 15.79" x 10.71" x 1.22"
Keeping cool doesn't always mean spending big. The Klim Wind is built to give your laptop a ton of fresh air so it can continue running cool, and it does it at an affordable price of just $30. Four 120mm fans run up to 1,200 RPM, pushing plenty of air past every corner of your laptop aided by its simple vented grille. Those fans manage to remain relatively quiet, reaching only 26 dB in operation, and this cooling mat should last the life span of your laptop with its five-year warranty.
You're not just getting fans at this low cost. The stand will raise your laptop slightly for better posture, and it has two pegs to keep it from sliding off. Your machine will likely fit on the pad, as it's made for laptops up to 16 inches but compatible with up to 19 inches. You can even toss your Xbox One or PS4 on it. There are two USB-A ports on board as well, one to power the fans and the other to plug in peripherals, so you’re not losing a USB slot on your device. And if you’re into the gamer aesthetic, you’ll enjoy the colorful LED lights built into the fans.
6. Klim Cool+
Best Portable Laptop Cooler
Fans: 1 | Size: 6.7" x 3.4" x 1.9"
If you want a smaller, more portable option to keep your laptop cool on the go, you can go for the Klim Cool+. This nifty little device is ready to boost the cooling capabilities of your machine by attaching to its exhaust port and pulling even more air through. However, it will likely only work with laptops toting side or back air exhaust vents where the Klim Cool+ can easily attach, and it does come with four suction cup sleeve sizes for the best fit possible. So for compatible laptops, this compact external air vaccum gives built-in cooling an upgrade.
The Klim Cool+ has different operating modes that let it run silently for light cooling or kick into high gear for some serious gaming. The fan manages to get up to an impressive 3,500 RPM, dropping your laptop’s temperature quickly. The device's durable metal structure even acts as a heatsink taking the heat away from your laptop's precious internals. However, it’s important to note that the manufacturer suggests only using this laptop cooler on a flat surface.
7. Havit RGB Laptop Cooling Pad
Best RGB Laptop Cooling Pad
- See it on Amazon (out of stock)
Fans: 4 | Size: 16.06" x 11.3" x 1.34"
Sometimes you really want to stand out from the crowd with some wild RGB lighting, and the Havit RGB Laptop Cooling Pad is ready to keep up with your other RGB gaming peripherals. At its base, there’s an RGB light strip that wraps around the entire pad. You can set the RGB strip to flow through all of its available colors or pick a color for it to stay on with a breathing effect. It’s easy to cycle through and find your favorite style, thanks to a little button on the side of the pad.
Of course, you also bought this pad for its cooling capabilities, and Havit delivers. There are four internal fans that run quietly and have adjustable speed. Those fans even sneak in some blue lights, reminding you of their job: to cool down your laptop. Beyond that, airflow is further aided by a metal mesh surface that gets hot air out and cool air in. And you’ll be good to use this stand with laptops up to 17-inches, making it a strong fit for gaming laptops. It’s height adjustable, too, so you can get the best ergonomics for your setup.
8. Miggoing Laptop Table
Best Laptop Cooling Stand
Fans: 2 | Size: 16.5" x 10" x 18.9"
Many cooling pads do a great job if you aim to use your laptop on your lap or low on a desk. But sometimes that's not what you're after, and that's where the Miggoing Laptop Table comes in. This stand has adjustable legs with several long segments, allowing you to keep it low or raise it to 18.9 inches high. That means it can serve perfectly for use on couches and in bed. Heck, you can place it on top of your current desk, effectively turning it into a standing desk.
The Miggoing Laptop Table has plenty of other features, including cooling—-the reason it’s on our list. In the laptop tray are two cooling fans to help keep air blowing past your computer to prevent overheating. The fans’ power comes from a USB, which you can plug directly into your device. Another nifty extra is a mouse plate, eliminating the worry of finding a surface to place your mouse.
Where to Get the Best Cooling Pad in the UK
Laptop Cooling Pads FAQ
Do your really need a laptop cooling pad?
No matter what laptop you have, you don't want it to overheat. That being said, not every type of laptop requires a cooling pad. If you have a high-powered laptop for video editing or a gaming laptop running newer PC games, you should definitely consider getting one of the best laptop cooling pads. If you are only using your laptop or Chromebook for less-intensive tasks, you are probably ok going without one.
How do laptop cooling pads work?
Laptops are at a disadvantage to desktop PC when it comes to cooling. With less space to include fan power, laptops can quickly overheat and you'll end up experiencing thermal throttling. Laptop cooling pads help to solve this problem by providing cooler air underneath the laptop using fans. While this can be effective for reducing the temperature of the laptop, it won't necessarily solve every heat problem within your laptop if there is a larger issue.
Continue reading...