No matter where you’re going this summer, chances are your electronics are coming with you. It’s not like you would go literally anywhere without your phone, right? If you’re planning on heading to the beach or lounging poolside, you may want to read on your Kindle or tablet. Or hey, maybe you even plan on bringing your laptop outside to soak up some sun during work hours.
PSA: Heat and sun can damage your electronics. If they’re kept in a hot car or in direct sunlight outside, they can overheat. When this happens, it can damage the battery, cause the display to crack or ruin the internal components. Just like you need protection from the sun, so do your tech devices.
Protect your tech with the 10 accessories rounded up here.
A thermal phone case
Made from the same material that NASA spacesuits are made of, this thermal phone sleeve is big enough for any size phone and will keep your phone protected from the heat. It’s water resistant too, which comes in handy for when you bring your phone to the beach or pool.
Promising review: “I use it mainly by the swimming pool, and it's great. So many people have asked me about it and where to get one. I highly recommend this!” — Rebecca Nunez
A laptop shade
If you want to work outside, you need to protect your laptop from direct sunlight. A shaded hood, like this one, serves as a shield from the sun on all sides. You’ll be able to see your screen better too.
Promising review: “Problem: “Working by the pool on my computer while actually getting sun rather than being under an umbrella to see my screen. Solution: This product! It completely solved my problem and was a hit at the pool! The only issue I faced is that if the gust of wind is strong enough that it will fold in on itself. It is thin, stylish, and easy to use.” — Lauren Ashton Weaver
An iPad case
While it’s still a smart idea to cover your iPad with a beach towel or stash it in your bag when you’re not using it to protect it from the sun, having a durable cover like this helps too. Not only will it protect your iPad from direct sun, it also doubles as a stand for when you’re using it.
Promising review: “I love this iPad case. The material is so easy to clean. I love that the back is clear as it allows me to customize the inside of the case and I can see my work clearly. It closes magnetically and offers a spot to hold your Apple Pencil or Stylus. It's durable and such great quality, it's definitely one of the best cases I've had for my tablet. They offer a variety of colors to choose from, however, I am partial to this pink color.” — Falon
Or a Kindle cover that will preserve its battery
Direct sunlight can drain electronics’ batteries, but that won’t happen with this Kindle cover, which comes in a variety of colors. Besides offering full screen protection, it automatically turns the Kindle on and off when opened and closed to preserve energy.
Promising review: “I just received this today for my new 11th generation Kindle. It is lightweight, attractive, practical and fits perfectly. I love the fact that it wakes up and puts the Kindle to sleep when it is opened and closed. If it protects your device from drop damage even once, it’s more than worth the nine bucks! What are you waiting for?” — Greg H.
A cooling fan for your phone
You know your phone is in trouble when it starts feeling really hot. This fan cools it down ASAP. It’s small, which makes it easy to bring with you anywhere, but you do need a power source to use it.
Promising review: “I use this as a phone mount for my car. I drive something with a convertible rooftop and it's frequently down in the summer, which means my phone is not only under the windshield and not getting airflow, but is also getting blasted by blazing sunlight. I have been using this for a while, and it works excellently. The gripping arms are more sturdy than other options I have tried, and this does an excellent job moving heat so long as the fan isn't blocked. Even then, it still does well enough. The fan is a bit loud, but when I’m driving, I don't hear it and it protects my phone from overheating while running my Android Auto. Absolutely recommend and I plan on getting another. Just note, this won't work well with 99% of cases! It works best if you don't have one at all, but I was able to find one for my phone made of a thermally conductive material. Quick additional note: Make sure you use a strong enough USB power adapter! Even some of my 15w USB-C bricks don't like this thing and it won't power it. The technology these things use is VERY power hungry and not just any USB adapter will work, if it doesn't power on- try something else!” — A dragon
...or a mini beach umbrella
The same way that a beach umbrella gives you sun protection, this mini umbrella works as a sun shield for your phone. Besides blocking out UV rays, it also makes the screen easier to read. The adjustable handle can be used to move the shade around, so you can change its position as the sun moves throughout the day.
Promising review: “What can I say? I just had to have it and absolutely love it. Super helpful to shade my phone screen when I’m in the pool and helps prevent it from getting so hot. So stinking cute I couldn’t resist!” — Denise D.
A laptop fan
If you're a regular laptop user, you know that your device can heat up suddenly even when its not remotely close to the sun. This laptop stand contains three fans that are designed to be ultra-quiet and transmit a cooling breeze to your computer if you feel like its getting too warm.
Promising review: “This was seriously useful. I have an old MacBook Pro from 2017, and it overheats easily. This desk fan is light, easy to take with me in my Swissgear SmartScan backpack, and cools my laptop. What's so awesome is that it uses such little battery that I am able to plug a small portable battery into it and it just keeps running for about 7.5 hours straight on a small 10,000mAh portable battery. Without needing to be plugged into the wall or an outlet. Super intuitive design. The only mark against it is that the included "anti-slip pads" are very small, and don't seem to have the ability to keep my computer from slowly sliding off the cooling pad when i have it angled and elevated. Now, I do believe that could be fixed just by ordering a few cheap anti-slip pads to add to the cooling pad's surface. Slightly annoying, but still an incredible product.” — SterlingCheney
A waterproof gear case that will also block sunlight
Keep your phone both cool and dry by stashing it in this Yeti bag while you enjoy the summer sun. It comes in bigger sizes too, if you want one for your larger electronics.
Promising review: “I got it for my husband’s birthday and we loved it at the beach! So sturdy!” — Annabelle Scott
A sun shade for your car
It’s never a great idea to leave your electronics in a hot car, but if you are going to keep them there for a while, having a car sun shade will prevent the interior from getting as heated as it would otherwise. This one comes in a variety of sizes, so you can get the perfect fit for your car windshield.
Promising review: “I bought these sunshades in Medium for both my Chevy Traverse and Nissan Titan, and they fit perfectly in both vehicles. Living in Arizona, the summer sun can be brutal, but these window shield covers have made a noticeable difference — my cars are several degrees cooler every time I get in. They’re easy to use, sturdy, and do exactly what they promise. I highly recommend them if you’re trying to beat the heat and protect your interior from sun damage. Worth every penny! — David