Laptop cooling pad buyer’s guide
The best laptop cooling pad models, plus an evalutation of laptop stands and vacuum coolers
Laptop cooling pads are a relatively affordable way of keeping high-temperature laptops cooler, gaming laptops in particular, and also give you an elevated typing position and some even come with additional features besides. This guide will help you find the best laptop cooling pad for your needs, listing the pros and cons of each of the top contenders, and explaining what you need to know before you make your purchase.
Should I buy a laptop cooling pad?
Laptop cooling pads are worth considering for gaming laptops or workstation productivity machines that are put under high stress and therefore produce a lot of heat. If you just use your laptop for general office use or watching YouTube, Netflix etc. then they’re probably not worth bothering with.
Laptops with high power components, or indeed those that simply have a poor inbuilt fan cooling system, can benefit from a cooling pad to reduce thermal throttling and unlock additional performance in-game. Don’t expect enormous changes to performance when using a laptop cooling pad, but the difference can still lead to a small but noticeable boost in FPS in some games, for instance. Given cooling pads tend to be relatively inexpensive they are particularly worth considering if you have a high-end machine, especially as the improved cooling can also increase the longevity of your laptop’s internal components. You may however find that a laptop stand brings a good enough improvement for you, without any of the additional fan noise.
Read the Things to consider when buying a laptop cooling pad section below for more information.
Our Top Picks
The best laptop cooling pads 2022
In-depth Review
Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5
Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5
This laptop cooling pad from Kootek is our top pick because it delivers in (almost) every category that matters. Although the 120mm central fan is beaten by some other selections on this page in terms of size and power, when supported by the four satellite 70mm fans it comes in joint second place in terms of raw cooling power. Fan volume is quieter than average and this can be assisted further by the independent fan controls, which allow you to turn off and on each of the five fans independently, according to your needs.
The Chill Mat can take multiple different sizes of laptops, covering the full range of 12-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inch, and 17-inch, meaning you won’t need to buy a different cooling pad down the line if you decide to upsize/downsize on your next laptop.
The height and angle of the pad can be adjusted using a deckchair-like mechanism, with six different possible settings. Two flip-out supports at the front end of the pad stop the laptop from falling off at more extreme angles.
The laptop cooling pad has USB 2.0 ports, one of which is used to power the device, the other can be plugged into power a separate device, which is a welcome feature. The LED lights are blue-only, and can’t be turned off without also turning the fans off, which is one of the biggest irritants with the machine. The somewhat plasticy build-quality on the pad overall could also be improved compared to more premium options out there, but it is reasonably priced which is the main trade-off. Everything considered, this laptop cooling pad does the job where it counts.
Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim
Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim
The Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim doesn’t quite match up to the multi-fan options on this page in terms of cooling performance, though it isn’t that far behind. Although it only has one fan, it’s a fairly large 160mm design that’s got an impressive maximum 76.5 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute: a measurement of how effective the fan is at blowing air). The fan speed can be turned up or down with an adjustable dial, but even at maximum speed, it remains fairly quiet, with a fairly low-frequency hum that is less distracting for workspaces.
The pad only has one height adjustment, which is less than ideal, though it does come with a slightly tilted design which improves typing on the keyboard, even on the lowest setting. The NotePal X-Slim also supports the full range of laptop sizes, all the way up to 17-inch machines, which is some appreciated versatility.
The three USB ports on the rear (one of which is used to charge the device) are the most of any laptop cooling pad on this list, and the two spare ones can be used to power external devices. Although it doesn’t have any LED lighting, this may be preferable for many people compared to LED fans that can’t be turned off, like much of the competition has.
Overall the design is tasteful and subdued, suitable for an office space, and it has the best build quality of any other laptop pad on this list.
TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
The TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler is a powerful laptop cooling pad that covers devices between 12” and 16” but no larger. The pad comes with a familiar design of one large central fan with four surrounding satellite fans towards each corner. For models of this five-fan design, the 140mm central fan is one of the largest out there, and the 70mm smaller fans give it good support.
This device has an electronic control pad at the front of the stand allowing you to set the fan speed how you like. The maximum speed is particularly powerful and one of the most effective at cooling on this list, though with the increased speed comes louder fan volume.
This laptop cooling pad again has an angle/height-adjustable deckchair-like design, with five different height settings. It has a retractable flap at the bottom of the device, which prevents your laptop from slipping off when it is tilted up in this manner.
The pad again comes with the classic blue LED lights, both built into the fans and also visible on the sides of the front control panel, though the ones on the fans again cannot be turned off without turning the fans themselves off. Once again you get two USB 2,0 slots, this time with a braided power cord included. Unfortunately, the biggest drawback of the TopMate C5 is that several customers have reported issues with at least one of the USB sockets ceasing to function, or other build quality problems. Though this doesn’t affect the majority of consumers, it does point to a general poor standard of build quality.
Everything considered, this is still a decent laptop cooling pad, just be prepared that you may have to send your unit back and get a replacement if you do end up with issues.
Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
The Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB is something of a mixed bag, offering some great features and others not so great. On the positive side, this is the biggest laptop cooling pad on this list, and can support laptops from tiny 10-inch models, all the way up to 19-inch behemoths (though these are a pretty rare sight). On the negative side, the pad requires two USB 2.0 power connections to run it, which isn’t great.
Despite the size of the fan, it’s not the most powerful on this list, coming in at 64 CFM, which is behind that of the 76.5 CFM Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim, though it isn’t too far behind. The single 200mm fan covers the entire area and is speed adjustable. Even on the highest speed settings, it’s actually fairly quiet too.
You get three height (3”, 9”, and 13”) and angle (up to 13-degrees) settings, thanks to the adjustable feet which come from underneath the back two corners. The body is made of plastic with a metal mesh, and the build quality is neither the best nor the worst.
The RGB however, is among the best out there. It runs in a strip around the edge of the machine and can be turned on and off independently of the fan. It has numerous different lighting modes, including full static lighting or blink and pulse modes in red, yellow, green, light blue, blue, white, and purple. You can also have it display a full RGB wave effect and transition through the whole 256 RGB color spectrum.
Although it’s among the pricier options here, it is arguably the best looking and the most versatile in terms of the laptops in can support.
JUBOR Adjustable Laptop Stand
JUBOR Adjustable Laptop Stand
The JUBOR Adjustable Laptop Stand is a great option for those who want laptop cooling on the move, as it folds together neatly to a narrow form just over 6-inches in length that is easily portable inside a backpack. When unfolded, there are five levels of extension that allow it to fit any laptop between 12 and 17 inches, although unfortunately, it does not come with any vertical height adjustment to change the position of your laptop.
In terms of cooling, the stand works by simply creating a gap between the air intake ports on the bottom of the laptop and the desk beneath it, and give it has a fairly minimalist skeleton design, this maximizes the available space for airflow.
The obvious advantage of using a stand over a laptop cooling pad with fans is that it is completely silent. Whilst you obviously won’t get the same level of cooling performance, you can expect at least 50% of the cooling that a full cooling pad will achieve, often substantially more.
The JUBOR laptop stand is well built, and affordable, making it definitely worth considering as a more flexible, mobile cooling solution, perhaps in addition to a laptop cooling pad kept on your desk at home.
Final Word
This has been our laptop cooling pad guide. We hope it has helped you find the best laptop cooling pad for your needs. If you’re in the market for a new gaming laptop to pair with a laptop cooling pad, be sure to check out our various gaming laptop guides and reviews in the mega menu at the top of your screen.