How to choose a laptop stand that doesn’t suck

Just as the title above, I am going to share my golden nuggets on how to choose a laptop stand that doesn’t suck. I think if you’re mobile, a laptop stand is something one must have. Even if you’re only working from home, having them also helps with creating a better working space.

I have tested multiple types of laptop stands from the techno RGB one, to wooden stands even to plastic made stands. There are many out there in the market but I am going to share how you can avoid marketing gimmicks and get the best bang for your buck.

Before getting deeper into this laptop stand world, there are some considerations before finding the one that really suits your need and why a lightweight stand is better than a fixed bulky and non-adjustable stand.

A laptop stand helps when you work from anywhere and when you have to deal with different types of surfaces. So, having an adjustable & lightweight, as well as portable stand is a must. By being lightweight and portable, it slides in the bag easily and is a lot easier to carry. This is different from wooden laptop stands that are often bulky and were made only for home. Besides, most of these stands aren’t ergonomic and do not help with the airflow of the laptop. Oftentimes, the air is trapped because wooden stands often have full coverage of the back rather than allowing it to have an air flow. In short, consider the air flow of the laptop as well as how portable you need it to be.

My personal experience with plastic laptop stand

Who here is tempted to buy things because they’re cheap?

Here’s one thing about tech and gadgets, if you want them to last longer, invest a little. Do not buy the cheapest one on the market, try to pick something on the medium-high end because they would last longer and save you from headache and having to buy things every few months. Don’t get me wrong, I was this type of consumer until I learned my lesson. These days, I would rather save up & pay extra to get the best quality I can get.

So, about a few months ago I got this cheap $3 laptop stand made of plastic. They are from Orico. It was made from ABS + silicone and claims to have a bearing capacity of 40kg. Long story short, I was happy with the purchase until about last week, it started cracking down. I was definitely unhappy about it because it has only been less than a year and it already broke down. Since I was not in a position to buy new, I was letting it go until it eventually gave up and was no longer able to give me the best experience I can have when working from my laptop.

Then, I browsed around shoppee to find a laptop stand that actually works. I eventually found the adjustable types only have a few brands that are selling the portable and adjustable laptop stands. I ended up going with the UNEED Laptop Stand Holder.

UNEED Laptop Stand Holder Made with Aluminium Alloy Material

Compared to ABS+ silicone, aluminum alloy is definitely a lot more durable. It has 7 adjustable levels that we can choose to our comfort. They also have anti-slip on the bottom of the holder to keep the laptop steady. Since it is made with aluminum alloy, it can hold a heavier laptop too. Mine is only 1.4kg which is pretty light and it looks sturdy enough to last for more than a year. Despite its material, it is still lightweight to carry around as well as slim enough that fits a tote bag. Here is how the detailing looks like.

This is the full view of the laptop stand. It looks pretty sleek and has anti-slip attached to some of its edges.

This is the adjustable level part where you can choose depending on the table that you're working with.

This is the laptop holder side. It is also attached with anti-slip that prevents the laptop from sliding. Not to mention, it also won't damage/leave scratches on the laptop too.

Last but not least, this is how it looks like when it's stretched.

From my experience you can learn two things.

1. Don’t just buy things because they're cheap.
2. Pick Aluminium Alloy if you want a durable laptop stand.

I also would avoid anything with a wooden stand unless it’s a monitor. Sure it looks aesthetic and what not unfortunately, it isn’t good for the airflow of the laptop despite perhaps, the seller might claim it would be. So, while buying online, be very aware of their marketing and copywriting tricks.

Reviving Tech monday series

That’s all for today’s Monday tech series. It has been a while since I am writing this because I’ve been busy and only today I got to write this one up. See you soon and around! Feel free to ask me or let me know if you want me to review something else.