Laptops and the sun are not a natural match. The warmer the sun is, the hotter your laptop gets. That means your laptop must work harder to lower its temperature, sometimes without success. An overheated laptop can create all sorts of performance issues.
If your laptop is outside under the sun, the heat is beating down on the device. That increases its internal temperature, even if you aren’t working on your device at the time. After a while, the overheating could cause damage to the laptop. The best laptops have sophisticated cooling systems due to their compact design and efficient airflow, increasing their longevity under the sun. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t leave your laptop in scorching heat for too long.
Here are several ways to protect your laptop from the sun and reduce the temperature.
Cool the laptop
Every laptop has fans that cool the device’s temperature. When the fans are on, they can circulate the air out of the laptop. However, the cooling system won’t work if you cover up the fan. For example, you may inadvertently block the laptop’s cooling mechanisms with a cushion. If so, the fan has to work harder to keep the laptop cool.
Consider investing in a laptop stand. It will lift your laptop an inch, providing enough space for the air to circulate. Alternatively, ASUS Zenbook laptops have an innovative ErgoLift mechanism. They come with a carefully calculated tilt that improves the cooling performance. In addition, Zenbook products have optimized designs that maximize air intake, airflow enhancement, and temperature decreases.
Avoid extremely hot days
Laptops can withstand some heat in summer. Even so, you don’t want to expose your device to the risk, especially during extreme temperatures. When the day’s temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, this is where specific components will start to expand in your laptop. The phenomenon can happen in the hard drive, motherboard, and battery. It causes many laptop parts to grow permanently damaged.
If you enjoy working in the sun, buy a cooling pad to protect your laptop from overworking itself. A laptop cooling pad is lightweight, portable, and has quiet fans that help circulate temperature. This equipment will keep your laptop cool on a hot day and prevent it from overheating.
Avoid extreme humidity
A hot summer’s day does not just come carrying a heat risk. You also have to worry about humidity. Humidity is basic water damage that can damage a laptop. Condensation builds up inside the device and shorts out the circuits.
Some laptops have a built-in water damage sensor. It will void the warranty if the sensor goes off because of humidity in the air. That is why we recommend avoiding going out in the sun with your laptop when the humidity is 80% or higher.
Try to find some shade for visibility
The sun produces so much glare on a laptop screen that it can feel almost impossible to work outdoors. Fortunately, there are many workarounds. You can opt to find some shade where there’s a little less sunshine. Another way is to find a wall that blocks out the sun. On extra sunny days, you may want to take refuge in a nearby library or coffee shop for a while.
Do not leave your laptop in the sun or a car
Sometimes, you might leave your laptop bag in direct sunlight with your device inside. No laptop carrying case will protect its contents from exposure to heat. In fact, the opposite could happen. The temperature could rise even quicker. A laptop is never safe in direct sunlight for an extended period. Be careful when at the beach, in the park, or having some outdoor dining at a restaurant. Look for shade, or consider not bringing your laptop into a hot, sunny environment.
Similarly, don’t leave your laptop inside a car. Just think of how hot it gets in a vehicle. You do not want a laptop there. As the heat gets trapped, the temperature has nowhere to go but up. Quickly, you can exceed that 35 degrees Celsius measuring point. Instead of leaving it behind, carry your laptop with you. It’s much better on you than left in a vehicle.
Turn off your laptop when not in use
This rule is simple. Turn off your laptop when you aren’t using it. The less your laptop is on under the sun, the less it has to work.
You will also want to shut down your laptop when traveling from cool temperatures to hotter areas. An immediate change of temperature can shock the components of a laptop, just like it can to the body when jumping into a swimming pool. Avoid having your laptop on when going from one climate to the other.