I have to come clean right now: I have lost a laptop, personally, to overheating. Without using a laptop cooling pad, the bottom melted, and I wasn’t able to salvage a thing from the original hard drive.
Thankfully, I had backups, but suddenly finding yourself in the hole on an entire laptop isn’t an experience I’d wish on anyone.
My problem was that I was using it on too many surfaces without providing adequate cooling methods. I had to learn my lesson the hard way that I needed to make a change to ensure my next laptop wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
Once I made the leap, I never looked back. They’re super easy to use, and in fact, I forget I even have one under my laptop most of the time.
They’re a nondescript, vital accessory that lets me use my laptop on any surface, whether it be a couch, chair, bed, or something else that doesn’t conduct heat well, without worrying about it overheating my laptop.
Not that I recommend using it on any of those surfaces anyway. Better safe than sorry, it’s best to use a desk or something else that won’t build up heat. But who knows, you might get desperate and need to use a less than perfect surface. It’s always better to come prepared and take every precaution.
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If you have a laptop that frequently overheats, you should get on the ball about getting a cooling pad. However, rather than rushing out to buy the first one you find, you might want to consider slowing down a bit first to compare all your options.
We’ve made it our goal to compile some of the best, top-shelf laptop cooling pads for you to make an educated decision with. We took the time to compare the top-rated pads out there, measuring their strengths and faults, and came up with a list.
There were a few factors we took into account whenever we analyzed and compared each pad that helped us determine the overall quality of the product.
Durability – Anything that’s going to be sitting under your laptop for countless hours needs to be ready for the long haul. They need to be resilient, durable, and built to last
Performance – The pads need to perform as well as their makers tout them to be. A product that falls short of its expected performance is a waste of time and money. No one wants that.
Quality – Above all else, they need to be well-made. Good parts, sensible construction, and a good aesthetic are all a must.
Pricing – As necessary as a cooling pad is, maybe you don’t want to pay more than you need to. Finding the best balance between price and craftsmanship is just as important as anything else.
If there’s one thing we know, nothing tells you more about the product than the reviews. We made sure to read over the customer reception to each product and determine how consistent the makers are with their work.
It should be noted that not even the best cooling pad will necessarily be the right fit for you.
Pads come in all sizes to fit all kinds of laptops. The perfect fit for you may be any of the options between first and last.
The Havit HV-F2056 is a paragon of high-quality laptop cooling pads. Fitted with three effective, ultra-quiet fans, it’s a tenement to providing a focused environment without distracting anyone in the vicinity.
The HV-F2056 comes ready with two shield holders that provide with height options while using your laptop. This effective, ergonomic design not only keeps your laptop cool but helps improve your posture and typing habits.
It’s lightweight and slim, allowing for easy storage and transport so you can take it with your laptop to any destination. Not only that, but it comes with two USB ports, providing you with a pass-through connection from your laptop to the cooling pad. Laptops have limited ports as it is, so the pad coming with two means you aren’t sacrificing a port just to cool things down.
It’s easily identifiable to see its power status, especially with the LED lights. There’s an off-switch on the side, providing easy power control. The cover is a metal mesh, combined with an anti-skid board so your laptop doesn’t go sliding.
This laptop cooling pad is designed to fit any laptop between 15.6” and 17”. Customers, by and large, support the quality and effectiveness of this product.
There’s nothing you want more than a good laptop cooling pad that lives up to the standard at an incredibly reasonable price. Why break the bank when the market is full of options that cater to your needs without emptying your wallet?
The Portable Slim TeckNet Cooling Pad delivers on executing high quality performance with a fair price attached to it. It’s a three-fan build, working at 1200 RPM to pull in cool air and blast it into your laptop. Blast is a strong word, but needless to say it’s an effective product.
The sizable 110mm fans come with LED lighting to let you know when it’s running. Considering how silently it operates, you may grow to appreciate that feature more than you think. With its ultra-quiet function, you won’t have to worry about disturbing other people around you when you use it.
The pad comes equipped with two height options, located at the back with the two adjustable height pegs. If you’re worried about the pad sliding anywhere, the rubber pads on the bottom will keep it in place. Also located on the back are the two USB ports, provided so you won’t lose a port to keep your laptop cool. Don’t forget the convenient off-switch either.
This pad is perfectly designed to help you in virtually every department: body pains, overheating laptops, and overall improved typing ability. That’s the gold standard. The question is: is the product a good enough quality and durability for it to last a long time?
Thankfully, the customer reviews back the overall quality of the product. Not only is the quality and durability of it dependable, while being lightweight for easy transport at the same time, it fits most any sized computers. As long as it’s between 12” and 17”, this may end up being the perfect choice for you.
The number of fans you want in your laptop cooling pad depends on your preference. Generally, the less fans you have, the larger they’ll be and provide more cooling power. However, having smaller fans in greater numbers covers a larger surface of your laptop underside.
The Rosewill Gaming Laptop Cooler gets the best of both worlds. With five total fans, they split the workload between a large central fan flanked by four smaller ones. Their combined workloads provide a powerful cooling effect while also covering the largest surface area possible.
Unlike many height-adjustable laptop coolers you’ll find, the Rosewill uses a metal bar instead of shield hinges. Not only does this bar give you a wider range of heights to choose from, it’s decidedly stronger and more durable.
The fan speed is easily adjustable with a functional LCD control panel at the foot of the pad. From there you can easily change the fan speed, mode, or turn your pad off.
The framework is designed to be durable while maintaining a lightweight build. The two USB ports in the back ensure you won’t be sacrificing one of your limited ports just to keep your laptop cool. Finally, the pad has a buffer stand to give your laptop someplace to rest so it won’t go sliding around.
Designed to fit laptops up to 15.6”, customer consensus that this pad, while lightweight, packs a sturdy surprise when it comes to structural integrity. Having a large modicum of control over how the fans operate is an extra treat.
This is among the more unique designs on this list, but that’s not a bad thing. While it may not fit everyone’s aesthetic, the Tree New Bee Cooling Pad remains an appealing, quality product.
Let’s start with fans. Four fans propel ample cooling air into the laptop underside. On the back of the pad are two dials to control the speed your fans run at. Beside those dials are two extra USB ports, so you don’t sacrifice port space.
Not only does it give you control over your fan speed, the pad runs nigh silently at any rate you decide to set it at. The fans are mounted in a solid framework, beneath a metal mesh designed to provide maximum airflow.
The pad is mounted with two anti-skid arms at the bottom, so your laptop doesn’t go flying if you change the height. Should you decide that you want to angle your laptop to reduce neck strain, then you have full control over that as well.
The Tree New Bee is designed to accommodate laptops between 15.6” and 17”. The decree, by and large, from the customer base is that this lightweight pad runs effectively, if a little bit flimsy. You’ll have to be especially mindful of the height adjusters. However, besides that, the pad has received very positive reviews.
You might not be interested in the intense “gamer” vibe some of these pads might give off. LED lights and unique framework designs will absolutely not appeal to every crowd. If you’re looking for a high-quality pad to use with a subdued, welcoming design, then this might be the one for you.
The Targus Lap Chill Mat doesn’t try to break the mold when it comes to bold new designs. It’s simple, sleek, and inviting design is what matters in the end, and this pad has that appeal. It doesn’t have height changing options, instead already ingrained with an ergonomic angle to account for neck strain.
The neoprene exterior ensures that this laptop cooling pad rests easy on your lap. The dual fans below the metal mesh provide the right amount of airflow to improve the function of laptops that are 17” or lower. It caters to a wide variety of sizes.
The open airflow design ensures that the fans don’t disturb the atmosphere, staying nice and quiet. With a pad that provides consistent stability, functionality, and boasts its durability, the only thing left is to see if it lives up to its claims.
While it doesn’t have as many features as other cooling pads do, the reviews agree by and large that it functions precisely as it intends to. As far as set standards go, it lives up to its own. It is, however, a bit pricey, so you might consider waiting until it has a price cut.
While these are definitely among the best laptop cooling pads you can find, they’re a drop in the bucket. If what you’ve seen here doesn’t fit your ideal product, then maybe it can serve as a good reference point to compare anything else you may run into. It’s a big market out there, and that means there’s something for everyone.
If you do decide to look into cooling pads yourself, keep this checklist in mind for when you’re reviewing each one.
Reading the customer reviews is always recommended. A product may be highly rated, but that doesn’t make it perfect. Regardless, just keep yourself organized and attentive and you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.