Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Products

The best laptop cooling pads

By

A constantly overheating laptop can lead to hardware component failure, low performance, and a shorter lifespan. A cooling pad is arguably the simplest solution to your laptop’s overheating problem, especially if there’s nothing wrong internally.

We’ve found that the Kootek Chill Mat 5 is the best cooling pad out there, with its dual USB hub, multiple height options, and affordable price. We also discuss other options for laptop users who value portability, low weight, and a more compact design.

Recommended Videos

The best

Kootek Chill Mat 5

Kootek Chill Mat 5
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Kootek Chill Mat 5 is designed for laptops anywhere from 12 to 17 inches, and it can handle just about anything. As you can see by the LED lights, it uses a set of five fans to supply cooling air circulation–the number of fans isn’t always indicative of cooling power, but it is usually a sign of a cooling pad that can handle some heat. You can switch between modes that activate only one fan, four fans, or all five if you please. There’s also a dual USB hub for connecting additional devices if you please. We particular fans of the two pull-up barriers in the front, which will keep your laptop from sliding off, no matter which of the six different height options you end up choosing.

Related

The rest

Cooler Master NotePal X3

Cooler Master NotePal X3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This version of the Cooler Master pad is designed specifically for gaming. It has a little more weight for extra support of larger gaming laptops, and one large 200mm fan to push out a steady stream of air fast — plus, of course, those blue LED lights for showing off a little. While the price is a bit higher on this model, it’s also more durable than many cooling pads. Considering that laptop cooling pads are somewhat notorious for breaking down sooner than people would like, the extra expense for extra durability may be well worth it for more active users.

Notably, there’s a front vent, so your hands get a breath of fresh air too, which is all the better for staying cool and dry under pressure. The Cooler Master NotePal X3 also comes with two height settings for propping up laptops and a fan speed controller, but no extra USB port. The pad is made to fit laptops up to 17 inches.

Targus Lightweight Chill Mat

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Targus mat is, in a word, practical. You won’t find fancy shapes or LED lights here, just a basic tilted mat that props up your laptop a bit and helps cool it down. The two internal fans, powered by USB connection, also help keep laptops cool. There are four rubber stops on the surface, in addition to woven plastic padding that can help prevent slipping. The bottom side is covered in more comfortable neoprene, and velcro straps are including to help route charging cables if necessary.

All in all, the Targus Lightweight Chill Mat is made for up to 17-inch laptops, although larger versions are available. It’s particularly well-suited for those who like to use their laptop on their laps.

Tree New Bee Cooling Pad

Tree New Bee Cooling Pad
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This stylish Tree New Bee pad has an interesting shape, but it’s the low weight and quad fans of this cooling pad that impress us. There are also handy features such as a built-in dual USB hub, a switch to control fan speed, and adjustable “anti-skid” flip-up arms to get the angle right.

That being said, several users have pointed out that the lightweight nature of the Tree New Bee Cooling Pad makes it difficult to support a full 17-inch laptop with the legs up, which means heavier laptops may be condemned to the flat position on this pad. The shape, while interesting, may also make it a little more difficult to store in your laptop case, so make sure to measure before buying.

Havit HV-F2056

Havit HV-F2056
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This Havit pad is a bit simpler than some of our other top picks. It only has three fans, for example — but that underlines the minimalistic, slimmed-down design that makes this model especially portable. It’s particularly easy to slide into a bag or store next to your laptop, even in a tight case.

The stand options are a little limited, but you do have two heights to choose between, along with an extra USB port. If you don’t mind settling for a few fewer fans, the Havit HV-F2056 may be just what you had in mind. The stand fits laptops between 15.6 and 17-inches, but again be wary of using especially heavy laptops.

Opolar LC05 Laptop Cooler

Opolar LC05 Laptop Cooler
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Maybe you don’t care about laptop height or the angle at all, and you’d just as soon play at your average tabletop level (or you already have a stand and don’t want to mess with it). In this case, take a look at the Opolar LC05, which is a fan attachment that you plug into the side of your laptop. It still dissipates heat and has a handy little temperature indicator as an optional add-on to keep an eye on just how hot things are.

The Opolar LC05 Laptop Cooler is specifically designed for laptops with air vents on the sides or back, especially larger gaming laptops. It is not recommended for super-compact laptops like MacBooks.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma
Former Digital Trends Contributor
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
Best laptop deals: Save on the Dell XPS 14, MacBook Pro 16 and more
The Dell XPS 14 on a white table with the screen open.

Laptops have become an important part of our daily lives, especially for those who don't like dealing with a big and bulky desktop computer. Of course, there are an absolute ton of choices for you to pick from, and while they can get quite expensive, even some of the best laptops have solid deals on them that you can take advantage of. Regardless of which of the best laptop brands you're going for, like Lenovo, Apple, or Microsoft, there's likely a laptop deal that will fit your needs and budget quite well, whether it's a low-end, entry-level device or something super-high-end that can handle 4k gaming. Either way, we've collected our favorite laptop deals for you below.

HP Chromebook 14a -- $300, was $370

Read more
10 best desktop computers of 2024: tested and reviewed
The iMac screen on a desk.

There are hundreds of desktop PCs you can buy from brands like HP, Dell, Apple, and Lenovo, but only a select few make it on our list of the best desktops. We've reviewed dozens of desktop PCs across both Windows and macOS, and these 10 stand out from the pack.

The Dell XPS Desktop 8960 remains the best desktop PC you can buy in 2024. However, we have several other options depending on your budget and needs, including desktops for gaming, remote work, and more. We'll provide a quick overview here, but make sure to read our write-up on how we review desktops for a deeper look at our evaluation process.

Read more
Best Dell laptop deals: Cheap laptops starting at $280
The Dell XPS 13 9315 on a table against a window.

If you're looking to pick up a new laptop, then Dell is one of the best laptop brands out there and has a multitiude of optoins for you to pick from depending on your needs. For example, Dell has both Alienware and G-Series which are some of the best gaming laptops on the market, and the Dell XPS lineup are some of the best laptops on the market and are made to compete with the MacBook. But that doesn't mean that Dell only has high-end gear for you to pick, and there are absolutely some great budget laptops and starter options.
Of course, having so many options can be a bit overwhelming for somebody who isn't familiar with Dell or the laptop market, which is why we scoured the Dell website for our favorite picks and listed them below. So, be sure to see if there's anything in here that tickles your fancy, and if not, check out some of these other great laptop deals as well.

Dell Inspiron 15 -- $280, was $330

Read more