An overheating laptop is a pain. It’s uncomfortable on your lap, it can lead to reduced performance as the CPU throttles back its speed, and it can even cause the whole system to crash at the most unfortunate moments. A laptop cooling pad helps your portable computer maintain a normal temperature and perform to the best of its capabilities; it’s a simple and very affordable way to boost performance and system stability.
The only catch is that, as with most computer accessories, there are loads of laptop cooling mats to choose from – so how do you know which one is best for your needs? Here’s our buyer’s guide, along with our pick of the best cooling pads, to help you choose the right product to keep your laptop at the optimum temperature.
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How to choose the best laptop cooling pad for you
Laptop cooling pads aren’t complicated things, but there are a few questions you need to think about before buying. The first one is what size you need, as this isn’t a “‘one size fits all” situation! There are numerous cooling pads on the market to suit a whole range of different laptop sizes; look for a cooling pad that’s specifically designed for the screen size of your laptop, or, even better, one that’s explicitly advertised as suitable for your specific model.
Will your laptop cooling pad be for work or home use?
Gamers tend to drive their laptops hard, so lots of cooling pads are designed with this market in mind – which means grungy colour schemes and jazzy LED lights. Whichever pad you’re interested in, think about whether its design is appropriate for where you’ll be using it: if your pad is coming to work with you, you might want to look for a sober, professional-looking model.
Will you need to travel with your laptop cooling pad?
Some cooling pads are very portable; others less so. If you want a pad to take on your daily commute, or to accompany you on a long trip, thickness and weight become important considerations. Whatever your priorities, there’s something out there to suit, from really streamlined options to chunky pads designed to stay in one place. It’s just a question of which type suits your needs.
How much should you spend?
You don’t need a huge budget: basic pads start at around the £10 mark, and there are plenty of snazzy options available for around £50. Pricier models tend to have more eye-catching designs, and may have additional bells and whistles such as built-in fans, USB hubs and adjustable hinges, to angle your keyboard upward into an ergonomic typing position.
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The best laptop cooling pad to buy in 2018
Tree New Bee cooling pad: The best laptop cooling pad for gaming
Price:£79 | Buy now from Amazon
With four fans and two USB ports, Tree New Bee’s cooling pad is a lot more than just a stand. Designed for large gaming laptops (with screen sizes between 15.6in and 17in), it boasts a cool blue design and a height adjustment mechanism for comfort. Despite all this, it’s fairly light, at 707g, so gaming on the go is very much an option – and it’s all covered by a year’s warranty, so you can buy with confidence.
Key specs – Laptop size: 15.6in-17in; Number of fans: 4; Number of USB ports: 2
Cooler Master NotePal: The best slimline laptop cooling pad
Price:£56 | Buy now from Amazon
If you’re looking for a cooling pad that can slide seamlessly into your laptop bag, this is the one to go for. Its streamlined design is just 4.6cm deep, yet it’s big enough to accommodate laptops up to 17in in size, and Cooler Master even manages to squeeze in a handy USB port. The minimalist design means it won’t look out of place in the office, unlike some of the more garish options on the market, so if you’ve got serious work to do and need your laptop to stay cool, the NotePal could well be the answer.
Key specs – Laptop size: 17in; Number of fans: 1; Number of USB ports: 1
Vanble Portable cooling pad: The best adjustable cooling pad
Price:£25 | Buy now from Amazon
This formidable pad is aimed primarily at gamers, and comes in your choice of showy red or green colouring. However, its twin switches let you control the fans and lights independently, so you can easily tone down the visuals if you want to use it at work, while retaining the benefit of its five powerful fans. It also has two adjustable height settings, allowing you to position your laptop at the perfect angle for your posture, and a twelve-month warranty is included – not bad for such a reasonable price.
Key specs – Laptop size: 12in-17in; Number of fans: 5; Number of USB ports: 2
TopMate C302 cooling pad: The best budget laptop cooling pad
Price:£12 | Buy now from Amazon
Even though it’s one of the cheapest cooling pads we’ve seen, the TopMate C302 somehow manages to squeeze two fans and a USB port into a profile that’s less than an inch thick. That makes it ideal for owners of smaller laptops seeking a similarly compact cooling pad. It also has two adjustable height settings, allowing you to pick your favourite angle for work or play. And the simple, no-frills design means you can take it anywhere without attracting unwanted attention.
Key specs – Laptop size: 10in-15.6in; Number of fans: 2; Number of USB ports: 1
TeckNet Cooling Pad: The best quiet laptop cooling pad
Price:£12 | Buy now from Amazon
TeckNet’s cooling pad costs the same as the TopMate, but it’s suitable for slightly larger laptops, ranging from 12in to 17in. It has one USB port, and a pair of little legs that pop out at the back for when you need a bit of extra elevation. The real draw of the TeckNet Cooling Pad, however, is its “whisper quiet” fan technology: its three active fans barely make a peep of noise, so it’s perfect for when you need to concentrate. Portable, powerful and perfect for most laptop sizes, it also comes with a longer than usual 18-month warranty.
Key specs – Laptop size: 12in-17in; Number of fans: 3; Number of USB ports: 1
