The concept of laptop cooling pads isn’t new, and you might wonder whether they’re still relevant given modern laptops’ built-in cooling systems. However, there are compelling reasons to consider one, especially if you’re running demanding applications or gaming sessions that push your laptop to its limits.
Why considers a cooling pad? If your laptop runs consistently hot (you can test this by placing your hand underneath), you’re risking potential damage to internal components over time – leading to expensive repairs and reduced performance. When components like CPU, GPU, or SSDs run hot, they typically throttle performance to manage temperatures, resulting in slower speeds exactly when you need peak performance.
Let’s manage expectations though: a cooling pad won’t completely eliminate these issues. While internal cooling remains the primary factor, a good cooling pad helps dissipate heat faster and maintains lower overall temperatures. This improvement in thermal performance can make a significant difference in your laptop’s longevity and sustained performance.
Packaging Contents



Apart from the cooling pad, you get three different, swappable magnetic frames to suit various laptop sizes, and a power supply cable.
Design and Features
The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad supports laptops from 14″ to 18″ and comes with three different magnetic frames designed for:
- 14″-16″ laptops
- 17″-18″ laptops
- Fanless/ventless laptops
These customised frames help optimise air pressure and circulation for different laptop designs.
The cooling pad features three USB Type-A ports (one required for smart features), though one port will be occupied when connecting to your laptop. Located on the side are three buttons for Power, Fan Speed Control, and Lighting, all of which can be remapped through Razer Synapse.


You can operate the cooling pad without connecting it to your laptop – the buttons allow you to cycle through three fan speed levels and adjust lighting independently. However, connecting to your laptop and installing Razer Synapse unlocks advanced features like smart cooling, which automatically adjusts fan speeds based on system temperatures.
Performance Testing
So, does the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad actually make a difference? To find out, I tested it with two different laptops: my work laptop (Dell XPS 13) and my gaming laptop (GIGABYTE AORUS 15G).
Work Laptop Test – Dell XPS 13
After receiving the review unit from Razer, I first tested it with my Dell XPS 13 work laptop. As a programmer dealing with lots of compiling and WSL 2 tasks, this laptop runs incredibly hot – so hot that I couldn’t keep my hand underneath it for more than 1-2 seconds. Using a Dr Tablots thermometer, the surface temperature showed “Hi” (meaning above 42 degrees Celsius), but it felt more like boiling point.

I ran two tests on consecutive days, doing my usual daily programming work. On the first day without the cooling pad, my laptop was running at these temperatures:
- Surface temperature: Above 42 degrees Celsius (“Hi” on thermometer)
- Average CPU temperature: 91 degrees Celsius
- Minimum CPU temperature: 81 degrees Celsius

The next day, with the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad switched on, the results were significantly different:
- Surface temperature: Below 32 degrees Celsius (“Lo” on thermometer)
- Average CPU temperature: 76 degrees Celsius
- Minimum CPU temperature: 55 degrees Celsius

Gaming Laptop Test – GIGABYTE AORUS 15G
Now, for what most of you are probably here for – gaming performance. While I don’t have a Razer Blade to test with, I put the cooling pad through its paces with my GIGABYTE AORUS 15G gaming laptop (you can check my full review of this laptop on our site).

I tested the system by playing Overwatch 2 for an hour without the cooling pad, then repeated the test the next day with the cooling pad (maintaining similar room temperature for consistency).
CPU temperature without vs with cooling pad:


The results showed:
CPU Performance:
- Average temperature was 5 degrees lower with the cooling pad
- Minimum temperature showed an impressive 15 degrees improvement
GPU Performance:
- Average GPU temperature decreased by 5 degrees with the cooling pad
- These improvements would likely be even more noticeable in graphically demanding games over longer gaming sessions
GPU temperature without vs with cooling pad:


Smart Cooling System
One feature worth highlighting is the smart cooling system. Similar to how your desktop motherboard manages cooling, the pad automatically adjusts its fan speed based on your system’s temperature. This is particularly useful because the cooling pad can get quite noisy at maximum settings – the smart system helps balance cooling performance with noise levels.
While these temperature improvements might seem modest, remember that even a few degrees can make a difference in preventing thermal throttling and maintaining consistent performance during intensive tasks or gaming sessions.
Razer Laptop Cooling Pad Review Conclusion

The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad demands considerable desk space, but if you’re someone who regularly plays AAA games or pushes your gaming laptop to its limits, the extra space and price tag are justified. Ever noticed your room getting warmer after a gaming session? That’s all the heat from your laptop, and even with modern gaming laptops’ sophisticated cooling systems, that heat often lingers both around and inside your machine.
This is where the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad really shines. With three fan speed settings that you can control either manually through the side buttons or automatically via Razer Synapse (when connected to your laptop), it efficiently dissipates that troublesome heat into the air. Even at the lowest fan setting, I noticed significant temperature improvements in my testing.
The cooling pad makes a real difference in two crucial areas. First, by maintaining lower temperatures, it helps protect your laptop’s internal components (including CPU and GPU) from potential heat damage. Second, it may help to prevent continuous thermal throttling – that annoying performance drop that kicks in when your laptop gets too hot during gaming sessions or intensive tasks like programming and video rendering.
For Razer Blade owners, there’s an extra benefit through Razer HyperBoost integration. While I couldn’t test this personally (I don’t have a Razer Blade), other Razer Blade users report impressive results. However, if you’re using a different laptop, your mileage may vary depending on your laptop’s ventilation design and size. Those using laptops for lighter tasks like web browsing or less demanding games might not see as dramatic improvements.
Yes, the fan noise at higher speeds is noticeable, and I wish there was an option for an even lower speed setting. The price point might also make some hesitate. But here’s the bottom line: the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad does exactly what it promises – it keeps your laptop cooler, which means better performance and longevity for your gaming machine.
Razer Laptop Cooling Pad retails for A$249.95 and is available for purchase at Razer website and retailers around Australia.
Disclosure: Razer Laptop Cooling Pad review sample was supplied for reviewing
Razer Laptop Cooling Pad Review
Overall
Summary
The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad is a premium cooling solution that delivers impressive temperature improvements for both gaming and productivity laptops through its smart three-speed fan system.
Pros
- Reduce surface temperature significantly, and also CPU + GPU noticeably across different laptop configurations
- Smart cooling system with automatic fan speed adjustment
- Versatile compatibility with different laptop sizes
- Customisable through Razer Synapse
- Additional USB ports for peripherals
- Nice underglow lighting
Cons
- High noise levels, especially at maximum fan speeds
- Premium price point
- Works best with a Razer Blade
- Takes up substantial desk space
- Plastic-y feel