It stands to reason that something known as a “laptop” would sit on your lap, whether you’re gaming or browsing the web. Like most portable devices, people generally tend to think of laptops as harmless.
While laptops haven’t become quite the necessary appendage that smartphones have, they are pretty indispensable for those who use them. Carrying them around, whether for business or gaming, while travelling usually means it’s going to spend some time in your lap.
An inventor by the name of Manny Fernandez is largely believed to be the source of the term “laptop,” mostly because he could set his 1983 Gavilian Computer in his lap. So many years later, we still seem to think that this is the most suitable place for a laptop.
Can I Use A Gaming Laptop On My Lap?
While you can use a gaming laptop on your lap, you should only do so for a short period. There are many reasons to keep your laptop as far away from your lap as possible, including burns, the potential for cancer, posture problems, and damage to sperm for men.
While laptops are known for getting warm, especially high-end laptops, gaming laptops can get exceptionally warm—warm enough to cause burns. While they won’t light you on fire, the heat is enough to cause heat rashes, and skin mottling from prolonged exposure to the heat.
Unfortunately, gaming laptops are not designed to be used on your lap, at least not while playing games on them. Using it on your lap can lead to overheating issues by blocking intake vents on the bottom of your laptop.
You should be fine using your gaming laptop on your lap if you’re not doing something that’s going to put it under pressure. Some light web browsing or media streaming will probably not even cause the fans to come on.
The problem is when you start gaming and your laptop goes into overdrive. Then, you’ll want it off of your lap and on a hard, flat surface that promotes airflow.
You could always buy a laptop cooler or stand that will sit on your lap and stick your gaming laptop on that.
Related Article: Can A Gaming Laptop Overheat? (And How To Keep It Cool)
Radiation is another major concern with laptops, just like in everything else modern technology has produced in the last ten years or so. EMF Radiation is the particular focus here. While sitting on a desk, EMF is relatively negligible. If your laptop has direct contact with your lap, however, the damage is more severe.
For instance, there are numerous studies out there that connect the use of laptops on laps with the reduction and sometimes killing off of sperm cells in men. While there is no correlation with women, the general thinking is that it can’t be good for them either.
Other, Related Problems of Using a Gaming Laptop on Your Lap
While less severe in the short term, posture is a major concern for those who like to set their laptops in their laps. When sitting, you can’t help but hunch your shoulders over and look down. While that may not be such a big deal now, you can pay for it in pain and irritation in your neck and back in later years.
It’s also considered to be very unhealthy to lay in bed with the laptop on your lap, especially when you are about to go to sleep. The blue light that emanates from a laptop or a smartphone screen tricks your brain into thinking the sun is up. Of course, that makes it very difficult to lie down and go to sleep.
Bottom Line
While placing a laptop on your lap may be convenient at the moment, it’s not the best idea in the world, especially with a gaming laptop that gets pretty hot. While the heat won’t burn you in the traditional manner, it will cause burn-related phenomena.
Considering the other adverse effects and numerous existing studies, you can place a laptop in your lap if you want to, but you should do so at your own risk.
