The beloved bounty hunter from the original trilogy is getting a solo show in December after his dramatic return in The Mandalorian, and we just saw the first trailer.
Online shopping has become a much bigger deal for South Africans. Far from being a two- or three-horse race the biggest retail chains are now duking it out with a host of agile new internet-only retailers. Operating since 2017 GeeWiz is one of the new breed of e-tailers looking to differentiate on quality customer service.
It's range of products is vast, from grocery items to clothing with a special focus on tech and electrical products of all kinds, and goods are either available directly from its warehouse or through its suppliers and partners. Beyond that it offers fulfilment from overseas suppliers on a whole lot more products, mostly sought-after products not readily available in South Africa.
Front of house
The GeeWiz homepage is very busy indeed, but that's normal for most of SA's online retailers' sites. It's well organised and doesn't look overly crowded or intimidating. Garish flashing labels are kept to a minimum. A banner across the top announces free delivery for orders over R550, and easy returns.
I arrive at the site with a small shopping list for a few small pieces of tech. Upfront I am presented with a dizzying array of compelling choices. Do I want to start at the Bargain Bin, the Specials or the Hot Items? I drag my focus back to my shopping list. At a glance its obvious that the site is heavily skewed towards tech and electronics. Browsing around I find a piece of industrial-sized equipment for quarter of a million rands and also a Mini Display Port cable I have been looking for, for R50. But I won't get much further without logging in.
Shopping around
Creating a profile was simplicity itself, requiring just an email address and a password. And there's no jumping out to click an email link; it's all frictionless so you never leave the site.
I drill down through two product menus and I have located the first item on my shopping list. With a mouse click I added it to my shopping cart. My second item is a bit more exotic: a Bluetooth receiver with aptX support. A keyword search on the site presented a full page of results, including two of my preferred brands.
Interestingly, GeeWiz does an excellent job of managing your expectations on delivery times by prominently displaying whether goods are ex-stock, coming from a local supplier or coming from overseas.
Both products were available locally, so I picked the cheaper of the two and added it to my cart.
Checking it out
In the user interface my shopping cart now displays the number "3" because I got sidetracked into buying an RGB LED strip for a mate. Reviewing my shopping cart contents I decide to drop that RGB light strip. I quickly add it to my growing GeeWiz wishlist and then remove it from my cart in one click. Interacting with the shopping cart certainly feels more efficient than many other stores.
On orders above R550 delivery is free, otherwise you're paying R89. All purchases also come with an affinity program where 1% of every rand you spend gets returned to you as GeeBucks which you can spend on the site. You can keep track of your GeeBucks, and also returns, gift cards and every other aspect of your account from a single screen.
Superior service
(Image credit: Future)
GeeWiz claims to score 4.6 out of 5 stars on the highly credible review site Hellopeter . Around 90% of the comments are so overwhelmingly positive that it looks downright suspicious. So, I checked with some colleagues who are known for their online shopping habits. Sure enough, it all checks out. All my contacts insisted they had had great service and would definitely shop at GeeWiz again.
The shopping experience on GeeWiz is clean, easy, straightforward and intuitive. They have a great tech product selection and even many 'hard-to-find' gadgets available at fantastic prices. Our purchases and fulfilment went off without a hitch, which only solidifies the hundreds of reports of excellent service from hundreds of other very satisfied customers.
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New details have emerged regarding Google's plan to make two-factor authentication (2FA) mandatory for Google Accounts by the end of this year.
The search giant first announced its plans to make 2FA mandatory to commemorate World Password Day back in May. While using a password generator to create strong and unique passwords and a password manager to store them can help protect your online accounts, having a second form of authentication dramatically decreases an attacker's chances of gaining access to them.
Google has been innovating in two-step verification (2SV) which is quite similar to 2FA for years now and according to the company, 2SV is the strongest when it “combines something you know” like a password with “something you have” such as your smartphone or a security key.
As part of its efforts to further secure its users' accounts, Google revealed in a blog post last month that it would auto-enroll an additional 150m users in 2SV and require YouTube creators to turn the feature on. Now though, we finally have a date for when the company will make 2SV mandatory for Google accounts.
Automatically activated
According to a new report from HTnovo, text in Google's apps suggests that 2SV will become mandatory for Google Accounts beginning on November 9.
In a new notification sent out to Gmail and Android smartphone users, the search giant provided more details on the upcoming change, saying:
“After entering the password, you will need to complete a second step on the phone. Keep your phone handy when you log in. Two-Step Verification will be activated automatically on November 9th. If you want, you can activate this feature first: your account is ready.”
While Google has given users plenty of time to enroll in its 2SV program, those that haven't will be auto-enrolled early next week. Although it may be a bit more complicated to login into your Google Account going forward, your account and the data it contains will be more secure and better protected from hackers.
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Creating a website used to be the domain (geddit?) of professional designers and coders, but thanks to free website builder applications, these days it's something anyone can tackle.
We've already featured the best website builder software which includes paid-for services that include the widest range of features. However, there are some good free website builders out there.
The problem is that there are so many website creation applications and services vying for attention that it can be difficult to know which one to opt for – this is where we can help.
We've collated the very best free website builders available, including a mixture of offline software and online tools.
It's usually quicker, easier and more efficient to create and edit a site entirely online with a WYSIWYG editor, but if you want complete control over every aspect of your site's design and web hosting, you'll need a desktop-based free website builder.
So whether you're looking to create a site for your business, a new blog, or you just fancy creating an online presence for yourself, here are the best free website builder services to help you out.
Top 3 website builder services of 2021
These first three options aren't necessarily free, but they are the best website builder services you can get. With Wix being the top pick, you can use its premium services without paying a penny as the website builder offers a free service as well as paid options.
1.Wix - a top-notch website builder that's great value Wix is top dog when it comes to free website builders, but it also offers some powerful paid plans. Their paid services start from as little as $8.50 per month for the Combo plan (over three years) which removes the adverts from your site, as well as giving you 3GB of storage space, a free domain and free SSL certificate.
2.Web.com - a serious, high-quality site builder Web.com offers a website builder which is very easy-to-use and ideal for novices, allowing anyone to get their site up swiftly. With top notch support and rock bottom prices, it is great for those looking for an affordable yet capable partner. It's 50% off the first month, starting at $1.95.
3.Gator is a great website builder service Gator Site Builder from Hostgator has a superbly cheap Starter package which comes with free hosting and a domain name included, plus a free SSL certificate. You get constantly available customer support, too, and the benefit of website analytics to boot: all with 50% off meaning you pay just $3.84 per month.
Wix is a big-name website builder which offers a free plan, enabling you to have the run of this service without having to put your hand in your pocket. And you benefit from one of the most impressive website editors in the business.
This editor can be run in ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) mode, which has a very basic interface to keep everything really simple and user-friendly. This is great for beginners, as you can create a basic site without even remotely breaking a sweat (a range of attractive templates are provided, as well).
Those who want to get more involved with tweaking the design of their website can step up to the full Wix editor, which boasts powerful functionality, and the ability to really hone your website and get it looking just as you want. Visual previews of page elements make it easy to pick what you need for any particular part of a web page, too.
Wix is so polished that putting together your site using the editor feels more like using a native application rather than a website builder, and it also sports excellent support for a diverse range of media, and quality customer support as well, even on the free plan. In addition, Wix Turbo was recently released which improves the performance and speed of all Wix websites.
Powerful blogging functionality rounds things off nicely, and you’re getting a truly high quality offering with this freewebsite builder.
Zyro stands out from the crowd purely because of how straightforward and easy it is for beginners to use when creating a website.
The "try for free" option takes you straight to three options in order to create your free website.
You can either choose a designer-made template, then customize text, images, and features or let Zyro AI generate a website for you instantly, with the freedom to change anything in its drag-and-drop editor.
The last option it gives you is the ability to import the content and design of your existing online website and make changes in the Zyro editor.
Zyro offers over 150 templates, from ecommerce and photography, to landing pages or even black templates for you to have complete control of your website's design.
Also, the website builder's ecommerce platform offers over 50 payment options, allowing you to sell on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon - while order tracking, managing inventory, as well as managing shipping and tax.
Despite the fact that Zyro's free option is good, simple to use and covers the basics needed for a website, it's paid option is even better and extremely affordable. It's cheapest plan offers free email for three months, security with SSL, blogging tools, and free web hosting.
Weebly offers you two ways to build your website. Both involve creating it online, and both are as quick and painless as possible.
The simplest option is to use the basic editor builder which will guide you through a series of questions before automatically creating a site for you. There is scope for customization, but the focus here is really on fast results for anyone who is terrified of designing websites.
A more hands-on approach is available if you decide to use the standard Editor. There are literally hundreds of stylish templates to choose from – and, yes, they are genuinely impressive – which you can tweak and tailor to your needs using a beautiful WYSIWYG editor.
Despite being a cloud-based website builder, Weebly gives you a great degree of control over the look of your site and placement of page elements. You can also liven it up using additional features such as a newsletter and live chat. This power and flexibility make Weebly a good, free website builder to consider.
Causing a slight degree of confusion, there are actually two different versions of WordPress. The more complex variant can be downloaded from wordpress.org, and you will need to upload it to your own web space and install it using the automated online installer. You can then customize the templates and use add-ons to make the site your own.
This is the route many bloggers go down, but there is a simpler option for people who don’t want the hassle of fiddling about with scripts and getting dirty with hardcore editing.
The hosted version of WordPress lets you create your own site on wordpress.com. You can create everything from a blog or photo site, to a fully fledged online store, and there are a number of templates to choose from. Additionally, Mailchimp users have a benefit of adding a Mailchimp block, which can grow your mailing list among other things.
Whether you're creating a static site, or a blog-style site with regularly updated content, the online editor is a joy to use and allows just about anyone to create an impressive, professional-looking site. The only downside is the limited range of plugins and templates compared with the desktop version, and other free website builders.
Incomedia WebSite X5 received an overhaul in April 2019 with new templates, an updated interface, new paid versions, and more. Note that the free version for TechRadar readers is still available to download. There are two paid versions, Evo and Pro, priced at €39.95 ($46.85) and €69.95 ($82) respectively. This is a one time purchase and naturally, both versions come with additional and improved features compared to the free one. There is also a demo version of both paid versions that you can try out.
Unlike WordPress and Wix, WebSite X5 is a desktop website builder, which means you can work on your site offline and have more freedom to make your website look exactly the way you want.
There's a range of ready-made templates to choose from, or you can create your own design from scratch. Next, build up your site map, showing the hierarchy of your pages and how they connect to one another – a feature you won't find in most web-based site builder apps. There is also e-commerce support with features like product search page and optimized checkout.
Once that's done, you're ready to start building your pages using Website X5's simple drag-and-drop interface, which includes tools for editing both rich text and photos.
If you don't want to pay immediately, WebSite X5 offers a 15-day free trial.
CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor is one of a dying breed of web building programs that don't use a CMS (content management system). While not in the same league as the likes of Adobe Dreamweaver, Free HTML Editor packs quite a professional punch. With split screen code/preview views, it's possible to see the effect the changes you make have straight away.
To help you get started quickly, there are a number of templates built into the program, and there are some very nice features such as tag and code suggestions as you type.
For absolute beginners, the program might seem a little overwhelming to start with, but it's worth sticking with – assuming you have some HTML knowledge. There is one slight issue; a number of features, such as spell-checking and code optimization, are only included in the paid-for version of the program. Otherwise, it can make for a simple alternative to a free website builder.
Joomla is a well-known name in the CMS world. It may not be as popular as WordPress, but it offers the same two options: build a site using the web app at launch.joomla.org and have it hosted on the company's servers, or download the software from joomla.org and host it yourself.
If you choose the latter option, you'll notice that the interface is much less approachable than WordPress. It's not completely impenetrable, but there are lots of menus and options to work through and it doesn't feel quite as polished as WordPress.
Joomla's free website builder is nearly as complex, but doesn't involve the same setup process, making it a better option for beginners. Its key selling point is a huge collection of themes and extensions, which provide endless ways to customize the way your site looks and works.
If you’re short on desk space or budget, the best all-in-one computers are the answer, providing uncompromising performance while keeping costs down and taking up minimal space. These are more than just a unique computing solution for your work-from-home office, offering you a bigger screen but less portability than a laptop.
Essentially, you’re getting a desktop PC, display, and computer speakers in one package, for a more minimal and streamlined setup. You won’t have to spend on nearly as many peripherals as you would with a traditional desktop computer, saving you money in the long run. Yet, these AIO devices still pack enough punch to get you through the workday without any issues. Some even include all other peripherals you would need for free, such as matching mice and keyboards that are included in the impressive iMac (24-inch, 2021).
While you can find great all-in-one computers in all sorts of price ranges, shapes, and sizes, we’ve picked and gathered our favorites here to help you clean up that desk and save some money in the process. There’s no need to sacrifice budget and performance for a great machine.
You can save even more now that the shopping holiday season is upon us. Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are sure to give some great sales on the best all-in-one computers. If you’re looking for a traditional desktop, check out all the great Black Friday PC deals out there as well.
(Image credit: Apple)
1. iMac (24-inch, 2021)
The iMac gets a welcome redesign
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 7-core – 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory | Screen: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display | Storage: up to 2TB
Excellent screen
Striking new design
Fantastic webcam
Lack of ports remains
Mac mini may offer better value for some
If you think that the new iMacs couldn’t possibly be as good as they look, you’d be wrong. They are not just an improvement over their 21.5-inch predecessor externally, touting a fresh new face that comes in several different colors. They also come with fresh new specs, rocking Apple’s new M1 chip that makes it much more powerful than the previous Intel iMacs. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that the new iMac (24-inch, 2021) is the best all-in-one PC we’ve ever tested. You’ll also be happy to know that you’re getting great value here, as you’re getting the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse included – in matching colors, we might add.
Even though the iMac 27-inch’s last update was only last year, Apple couldn’t help but step up in the upgrades department with its follow-up. Specs-wise, this model sports some massive improvements while also upgrading its webcam and microphones for a felicitous update. More people are working from home these days, and this seems like the best all-in-one PC to invest in without being forced to make some considerable space in your existing area. Sure, its overall design hasn’t seen so much as a tweak, making it look a bit tired, but if power is at the top of your list, this one’s an ace.
Back when the original Surface Studio hit the streets, it was a game changer for artists and content creators alike. And, even in 2019, the sequel still stands in a league of its own. The Surface Studio 2 doesn’t just feature the same gorgeous display and unique functionality, but it also ups the power significantly, making it a much more future-proof device. It’s still extraordinarily expensive, but if your use case is right for the Surface Studio 2, then, it’s hard to think of a better all-in-one PC.
The iMac Pro, more than any other computer on this list, is aimed squarely at professionals – and it has the hardware to back it up. Packed with up to an 18-core Intel Xeon processor and up to 128GB of RAM, there isn’t a single thing you could throw at the iMac Pro to slow it down. And, while it is, without a doubt, outrageously expensive – it doesn’t really matter. If you’re the type of person that needs this level of power (you know who you are) then the price is absolutely justified.
The Dell XPS 27 AIO comes with this amazing articulating stand, and it comprises a mix of a massive 4K UHD resolution touchscreen with six ear-numbing speakers. Not only is it an attractive design, but it’s also top notch when it comes to power. Whether you’re making your own beats or listening to someone else’s, watching movies or editing your own, the Dell XPS 27 AIO is easily one of the best all-in-one PCs, and should be at the top of your list when shopping for a new PC.
Not to be shown up by the 5K iMac or new Dell XPS AIO, HP has its own unique take on the all-in-one desktop. Though it also has all its components stored in its base like the Surface Studio, the HP Envy Curved All-in-One also adds in a booming speaker bar. Add in the ultra-wide curved screen and this is one of the best and most immersive PC for enjoying movies.
Lenovo’s latest all-in-one offering isn’t as powerful as Apple’s premium AIO, the iMac Pro, or even the recently updated iMac, which now offers a 9th-generation Intel Core configuration. After all, the 8th-generation chips and Radeon RX 560 graphics are aging at this point. However, it is still plenty powerful to meet the needs of creative professionals out there who are not entirely impressed by Apple’s pricey machines. On top of that, the Lenovo Yoga A940 has a few aces up its sleeves, including 100% Adobe RGB support and Dolby Vision, a set of Dolby Atmos speakers, a port offering that’s more generous than Apple’s all-in-one, and a stylus included in the box.
If you want to get better performance out of your portable, consider investing in one of the best laptop cooling pads. Regardless of whether your notebook is overheating from gaming or because it’s not getting proper ventilation, you’ll see a noticeable difference once you start using one of these. It’s not just better performance you’ll experience. You might end up with better battery life as well. And, your laptop may be more comfortable to use when it’s not burning up.
Regardless of how much thought and effort goes into making thin and light laptops more heat and energy efficient, they’re still bound to heat up and experience thermal throttling as well as other heat related problems. So, no matter if you keep your portable on a desk or on your lap when using it, it’s crucial to add a laptop cooling pad to the equation. Maxed-out machines with high-end internals such as Nvidia’s Ampere GPUs, benefit particularly from the addition of one of these pads. It’s actually common to see content creators, gamers, and anyone running demanding tasks on their devices use a cooling pad to keep everything in top shape.
You’ll appreciate the extra thermal cooling from a laptop cooling pad’s fans and metal chassis, especially if you tend to run more intensive programs, whether they be the best PC games or video editing software. Let us help you find one that’s ideal for your needs. Whatever you need one of these pads for, you’ll find something on our list below.
It’s not just big box items that see great sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Peripherals like cooling pads should see some good discounts as well so keep an eye out for potential deals here and at your favorite retailers. And, if you’re also in the market for a new portable, check out all the great Black Friday laptop deals currently available.
The best laptop cooling pads of 2021
Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5 uses five fans to deliver an impressive amount of cooling.(Image credit: Kootek)
1. Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5
Best overall laptop cooling pad
Fans: 4 x 70mm, 1 x 120mm | Size of pad: 380 x 300 x 35mm
Impressive level of cooling
Can select which fans are switched on
Not the most robust build
Kootek makes a highly impressive laptop cooling pad which uses five fans (the one in the middle is a bigger 120mm model, surrounded by 70mm fans) to deliver an impressive amount of cooling – while still remaining quiet to boot.
The Chill Mat scores strongly in the versatility stakes as you can switch some of the fans off (it’s possible to have one working, four, or all five), plus it can be raised (using a ratchet mechanism, like a deckchair) through six different height settings depending on your preference (you might want to crank it right up when watching a movie, for example).
This cooling pad can take 12-inch to 17-inch laptops, so all common sizes, with a pair of stoppers at the front to prevent the notebook from sliding off. It also boasts a USB hub with two USB 2.0 ports.
In short, this is a high quality cooling pad with flexibility in spades, and it benefits from a reasonable mid-range price tag, making it our top pick for an all-rounder that covers everything without doing too much damage to your wallet.
Cooler Master Notepal XL delivers a very effective level of cooling.(Image credit: Cooler Master)
2. Cooler Master Notepal XL
Best quiet and powerful laptop cooling pad
Fans: 1 x 230mm | Size of pad: 305 x 379 x 47mm
Powerful yet quiet cooling
Angled ergonomic design
Not as versatile as some rivals
Cooler Master knows cool, you would hope, and the firm’s Notepal is a winner in our books. Using a single large 230mm fan – which is impressively quiet, we might add – it has a fan speed controller, and is designed to pipe ‘optimal airflow’ through your laptop. Indeed, it shifts an impressive amount of air, being rated at 89.8 cubic feet per minute; a very effective level of cooling.
This device also benefits from a slightly tilted ergonomic design, aiming to give you the best angle to use your notebook’s keyboard, along with nonslip feet for stability when placed on a surface. As an added bonus, there are three USB ports around the back.
The Notepal XL is capable of holding laptops up to 17-inches in size, and to cap things off, it’s reasonably priced for the cooling performance you’re getting here. This product is a very close second to the Kootek, but just loses out on the versatility front. If you can’t find the Kootek outside of the US – in some regions stock seems very thin on the ground – then this is a great alternative for powerful cooling.
Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB can cope with a massive laptop as the name suggests.(Image credit: Thermaltake)
3. Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
Best laptop cooling pad for large notebooks
Fans: 1 x 200mm | Size of pad: 471 x 354.5 x 46.5mm
Big 200mm fan cools nicely
Nifty RGB lighting
A pricier option
If you need a cooling pad suitable for a hefty notebook, then this Thermaltake product can cope with a massive laptop as the name suggests – it won’t break a sweat with a 17-inch portable, and is even capable of playing host to larger 19-inch gaming laptops.
It has one 200mm fan for cooling (the fan speed is adjustable), and there are three different height settings (up to an angle of 13-degrees). The large fan provides efficient cooling for bigger laptops, plus you also get RGB lighting around the edges of the pad with various different modes (pulsing, blinking, or just static lighting of different colors).
It’s fashioned from plastic and the build quality perhaps isn’t the best you’ll encounter in the cooling pad world, but it’s plenty sturdy enough to do the job of supporting a hefty gaming laptop. Note that the price tag is reasonably hefty here, too.
Enermax TwisterOdio 16 provides solid cooling as well as sound quality.(Image credit: Enermax)
4. Enermax TwisterOdio 16
Best laptop cooling pad with built-in speakers
Fans: 1 x 120mm | Size of pad: 352 x 270 x 52mm
Delivers decent sound quality
Solid cooling chops
Can’t cope with 17-inch notebooks
When thinking about laptop cooling pads which do something a little different from the norm, one possibility is an accessory that doesn’t just keep your notebook from getting too hot, but also comes with built-in speakers. Because aside from dealing with heat, another area that laptops often struggle with is providing a decent level of audio quality and volume.
The Enermax TwisterOdio is only capable of dealing with laptops up to 16-inches in size, but its built-in pair of ‘DreamBass’ 2W speakers are pretty decent (and provide some bass, as the name might suggest).
This pad is fairly thick, naturally enough due to those integrated speakers (which are housed in the cylinder at the rear of the pad), but surprisingly light, and provides solid cooling as well as sound quality. Incidentally, you can turn the speaker on or off, and manually adjust the fan speed.
This is definitely worth considering for those who have poor laptop speakers and want a reasonably priced solution to address that issue and any cooling worries in one fell swoop.
Targus Chill Mat delivers cooling via a pair of fans.(Image credit: Targus)
5. Targus Chill Mat
Best laptop cooling pad with expansive USB hub
Fans: 2 x 2,500 rpm | Size of pad: 354 x 260 x 25mm
Hub with 4 USB ports
Nicely slim yet well-built
Fans placement not ideal for some laptops
For those who want their cooling pad to also provide expansion capabilities to hook up a number of other peripherals, check out the Targus Chill Mat, which is a little bit like a laptop dock crossed with a cooling solution.
The Chill Mat sports a 4-port USB hub (with USB 2.0 ports), and delivers cooling via a pair of fans (although Targus doesn’t specify what size they are – although the maker does state that they can run at up to 2,500 rpm).
This is a well-constructed device which is impressively slim, and can be adjusted between four different height levels. For those with laptops that have few USB ports, this could be a useful solution on twin fronts.
Cooler Master MasterNotepal Maker benefits from an excellent build quality and a ‘sandblasted aluminum’ surface.(Image credit: Cooler Master)
6. Cooler Master MasterNotepal Maker
Best modular laptop cooling pad
Fans: 2 x 80mm | Size of pad: 384.6 x 270 x 59.6mm
Aluminum surface for better heat dissipation
Fully customizable fan positioning
High price tag might not be worth it for some
Remember at the outset of this piece we discussed that the relative positioning of the vents in the bottom of your laptop and the fans in the cooling pad can be an important consideration? Well, one way you can ensure optimal positioning is by placing the fans yourself – and that’s possible in this modular cooling pad from Cooler Master.
Modular simply means that the fans can be moved to anywhere on the cooling pad, to target exactly where you need air delivering to your laptop. The MasterNotepal Maker also benefits from an excellent build quality and a ‘sandblasted aluminum’ surface – that can also help with heat dissipation – plus this pad can be set at five different angles.
There are other benefits such as excellent cable management, an attachable USB hub, and removable stoppers (to prevent the laptop from being in any danger of sliding off the stand). However, the downside to this top-of-the-range Cooler Master product is that it isn’t cheap, but for those who really want to fully tailor their pad to suit their notebook, it may well be worth the outlay.
The other thing to bear in mind here is that stock seems rather thin on the ground, now, as this product has been out for some time: so if you want one, you may have to move relatively quickly.
Tree New Bee Cooling Pad is a great choice that strikes a commendable balance between price and performance.(Image credit: Amazon)
7. Tree New Bee Cooling Pad
Best affordable laptop cooling pad
Fans: 4 x 110mm | Size of pad: 408 x 287 x 29mm
Good options for adjusting fans
Price is affordable for most users
Only one level of height adjustment
If you want a very affordable solution for laptop cooling duties, well, here it is. Tree New Bee’s product runs with four 110 mm fans with adjustable speeds (the blue LED lights get dimmer as you turn the speed down – you can also turn two of the fans off, if you wish).
This device is nicely priced, pretty quiet, and provides a good amount of (suitably variable) cooling, and it can be raised on a pair of legs at the back for what the makers argue is a more ergonomic typing angle (and improved cooling, with more airflow underneath, of course).
The downside is there’s only one height setting, and it might be a touch steep for some. As you’ve probably seen elsewhere on this page, most products offer a range of different heights.
Still, this doesn’t stop the Tree New Bee Cooling Pad from being a great choice that strikes a commendable balance between price and performance.
TeckNet N8 Laptop Cooling Pad comes with a trio of 118mm cooling fans, which provide a decent level of cooling.(Image credit: TeckNet)
8. TeckNet N8 Laptop Cooling Pad
Best budget laptop cooling pad
Fans: 3 x 118mm | Size of pad: 380 x 280 x 28mm
Temptingly low price
Decent cooling performance
Not the best build quality
If you want to spend as little as possible on a cooling pad, then TeckNet has a great solution which is priced as cheaply as you’ll see anywhere – and you’re still getting a decent product.
The N8 comes with a trio of 118mm cooling fans which provide a decent level of cooling, plus the device benefits from a highly slim and portable design, too. It has a pair of feet that can be extended to raise it up, and a USB port to plug in an additional device (the N8 connects and is powered via USB, incidentally).
The build quality perhaps isn’t the best, but the N8 is impressively quiet, and quite simply it does the job – and does it very cheaply indeed.
Cooler Master Notepal X-Slim gets the nod due to its quality build.(Image credit: Cooler Master)
9. Cooler Master Notepal X-Slim
Best slim and portable laptop cooling pad
Fans: 1 x 160mm | Size of pad: 380 x 270 x 27.5~46mm
Thin and very lightweight
Whisper-quiet
The way it's design allows laptop movement
If you want a cooling pad which is nicely portable to carry around with you, then the X-Slim fits the bill. It measures only 27.5mm at its thinnest point, and it’s very light with a weight of 700g.
There are other products that come close to this level of portability – Havit’s 12-inch to 17-inch Laptop Cooler, for example – but Cooler Master’s effort gets the nod due to its quality build. It’s also capable of coping with laptops up to 17-inches in size, and the single 160mm fan offers excellent airflow while keeping things whisper-quiet. The X-Slim benefits from nifty cable management facilities, too, to keep things tidy as well as portable.
While the Notepal X-Slim is tidily compact, if you want a truly portable accessory to cool your laptop, check out our final entry below.
Klim Cool is a very effective cooler which comes with a number of different attachments.(Image credit: Klim)
10. Klim Cool
Best portable laptop cooling solution
Fans: 1 x 4,200 rpm | Size: 155 x 82 x 36mm
Reasonably priced even though highly portable
Automatic fan speed adjustment
Won’t work with all laptops
Okay, so we thought we’d throw this one in at the end as a bit of a wildcard, because while it isn’t a laptop cooling pad as such, it’s a fan-based accessory which does a similar thing (albeit via sucking rather than blowing air). And for those who want a really portable solution, this is a truly compact affair – whereas obviously any laptop cooling pad won’t be all that small, given that they all (inevitably) have a notebook-sized footprint.
Note that there is a sizeable caveat here: your laptop will need a vent at the side or rear for one of these devices to be attached. If you only have air vents on the base of your laptop, then we’re afraid you’re out of luck as far as these particular products go.
As mentioned, rather than blowing air into the laptop to cool it, the idea with a so-called ‘vacuum cooler’ is that they suck air out, but that has an equally cooling effect. Some even argue it’s more effective than a traditional cooling pad, but either way, you’re getting the job done as long as you pick a good product from the available solutions out there.
And in this case, our recommendation is Klim Cool, a very effective cooler which comes with a number of different attachments so you’re covered whatever the size of the air vent you’re attaching the device to. It also measures the temperature inside your laptop and automatically adjusts the fan speed for the appropriate level of cooling – pretty nifty indeed.
The manufacturer backs the product with a five-year warranty and a 30-day free return policy, so you can give it a whirl to see how it works with your notebook. A further bonus is that this isn’t an expensive accessory, either, falling in line with the pricing of the more affordable cooling pads.
How laptop cooling pads help with cooling
Any additional cooling the best laptop cooling pad can deliver will help in the battle against throttling. It could also potentially prolong the longevity of your laptop. That CPU and GPU will last longer if they aren’t being constantly run at overly hot temperatures.
So spending a little money on some extra cooling might save you a lot of heartache by avoiding the danger of your notebook giving up the ghost early. The best laptop cooling pad can also provide a convenient place to situate your laptop on those occasions when you’re actually using it in your lap, preventing a warmer notebook from being unpleasantly hot against your legs.
Note that the mileage you get from any cooling pad may vary in terms of the cooling vents present on the bottom of your notebook, and their respective position compared to the location of the fans in the pad. As common sense would dictate, a decent amount of vents on the underside of your laptop is a good thing here – and in general – and preferably these will be (roughly) lined up with the pad’s fans.
Although some laptop cooling pads run with one big fan – or multiple smaller ones – that’ll hit pretty much everything, and there are even modular pads where the fans can be repositioned.
Even unfortunate notebooks with no vents on the bottom can benefit somewhat from having the underside of the chassis cooled as a little bit of help in terms of temperature management.
At any rate, while your mileage may vary somewhat given your exact model of laptop, you’ll likely find some benefit from a cooling pad – and perhaps a considerable one, providing, of course, that you choose the one of the best models around.
