Many laptop owners supplement their computer with accessories. Keyboards and mice are popular choices (especially for those looking for an ergonomic workspace), and MacBook owners often purchase laptop cases to give their computer extra protection and a pop of color. However, these accessories can make your computer too hot to handle, figuratively and literally.
While laptop cases can potentially protect a computer if dropped, they can also have the unfortunate side effect of blocking cooling vents, making laptops more easily (and likely to) overheat. While modern computers have excellent thermal regulation capabilities, laptops can and will heat up during resource-intensive tasks, and poorly designed cases only make the situation worse. In the best case scenario, the laptop will be difficult to hold and its fans will run at full blast, draining the battery quickly. In the worst case scenario, your computer will get so hot that it will automatically shut down to prevent accidental cooking. If this happens while your laptop has a case, remove it, as the case is likely blocking the fans.
Sometimes the affair is not to blame, but is an aggravating factor. Placing a laptop on a soft surface can slowly kill the device because it blocks the fans and air vents. Securing a laptop in a case or on a couch cushion may not cause the computer to overheat on its own, but together they could completely cut off airflow, trapping too much heat for the computer to handle.
Show me what you’re made of
In reality, you don’t actually need a case to protect your laptop. You can simply purchase a sleeve to keep your laptop safe and scratch-free during transport. You can also purchase an extended warranty: AppleCare+ also offers hidden benefits such as theft coverage. But if you’re serious about buying a protective case, you don’t have to worry about overheating if you buy the right one.
While laptops rely primarily on their fans and vents to stay cool, some heat dissipates through their chassis. If that weren’t the case, these computers wouldn’t feel hot to the touch when running resource-intensive tasks. As a general rule, metal chassis handle heat better than plastic shells, and the same goes for cases. Plastic cases, while inexpensive, retain heat more than metal ones, but many brands offer alternative materials such as silicone and carbon fiber. Although silicone cases offer the best protection against accidental drops, they are among the worst materials for keeping laptops cool. Carbon fiber, meanwhile, falls somewhere in the middle – it handles heat better than plastic but not as durable as metal – but costs a pretty penny.
Laptop skins and covers are decent alternatives to cases. These are thin layers of protection that stick to the laptop’s chassis like stickers. Although they are made of vinyl, the skins and wraps provide some protection against scratches and light impacts (but do not offer protection against hard impacts or drops). Additionally, the skins and shrouds are lightweight by design, so they do not affect normal heat dissipation. And did we mention that companies like SlickWraps and Dbrand offer a wide collection of eye-catching colors and patterns? It might be worth it if you really want to prevent the laptop from overheating.
