Razer's latest Laptop Cooling Pad promises to keep laptops cool and improve performance, but does it deliver? In our review, we found that the $150 device does an excellent job of cooling laptops, but its Hyperboost feature, which can allocate up to 20 extra watts to the CPU and GPU, only works with select Razer Blade 16 models.

The Laptop Cooling Pad is designed to fit any size laptop and features a built-in USB-A hub, programmable RGB lighting, and a 140mm fan that can lower CPU and GPU temperatures by up to 18 percent. However, the device's loud fan and bulky design may be a turn-off for some users. The pad requires external power and takes up a significant amount of desk space, making it less portable than some users might prefer.

One of the key features of the Laptop Cooling Pad is its Hyperboost technology, which can improve 1080p performance in games that are previously held back by a lack of power to the CPU. However, this feature only works with the 2023 and 2024 Razer Blade 16 models, limiting its benefits to a small segment of the gaming population. In our testing, we found that Hyperboost did improve performance in 1080p games, but the advantage evaporated at higher resolutions.

Despite its limitations, the Laptop Cooling Pad can still be a useful tool for gamers who want to keep their laptops cool. The device prevented the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor inside the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 from reaching its 95 degrees Celsius ceiling during benchmarking, and kept the strip above the keyboard at a relatively balmy 90 degrees under full load. However, we couldn't get a statistically significant frame rate improvement in games or synthetic tests on the ROG Zephyrus G16, even after taking advantage of the thermal headroom to overclock the CPU and GPU.

It's worth noting that the Laptop Cooling Pad has a lot in common with similar cooling stands from other manufacturers, such as Llano or IETS, which offer similar features at a lower price point. Unless you have a compatible Razer Blade or really want the RGB lights on your laptop cooling pad to sync with Chroma, a more basic cooling solution may be a better value.

In conclusion, while the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad is an effective cooling solution, its limited compatibility with Hyperboost and high price point may make it less appealing to some users. However, for those who want a high-performance cooling solution and have a compatible Razer Blade 16, the Laptop Cooling Pad may be worth considering.