Vertical stands for clamshell use - hinge up or down?

[Camarillo Brillo]

I’m planning to use my 16” in clamshell mode some of the time, in a vertical stand. Initially I thought it made sense to put the hinge side down, so the ports are lower, and so the Apple logo is right side up.

But now I’m thinking for the best heat dissipation it should definitely be upside down, with the hinge up so it can flow unobstructed by the stand, and so the hottest part of the computer which seems to be near the hinge is pointed up and away from where I’m assuming the battery is, under the trackpad area ( I could be wrong on that). Heat rises so this seems like the way to go, even though my dongles are going to look funny hanging from the top like that.

What do you think?
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A follow up question for those who use their MBP in clamshell with a vertical stand - when you let your computer go to sleep in clamshell mode in the stand, how do you wake it? Does it have to be opened up again to wake it, or is input from a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse enough to wake the closed laptop? I haven’t been able to experiment much yet as I’m still waiting for my stand and monitor and keyboard to arrive.

 

[pshufd]

I thought that these were designed for hinge down as there's more support for the hinge to handle the pressure.

I don't sleep the laptop in clamshell mode.

 

[Khaleal]

Heat goes up, so your exhaust should be facing up

 

[jakespeed]

A follow up question for those who use their MBP in clamshell with a vertical stand - when you let your computer go to sleep in clamshell mode in the stand, how do you wake it? Does it have to be opened up again to wake it, or is input from a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse enough to wake the closed laptop? I haven’t been able to experiment much yet as I’m still waiting for my stand and monitor and keyboard to arrive.

I use mine in clamshell when developing at work. Bluetooth or Wired Keyboard or Trackpad wakes it up.

 

[Camarillo Brillo]

Y

 

[niray9]

Hinge up. Because the fans don't get partially blocked by the vertical stand in this setup.

 

[pshufd]

Here's the picture from Amazon for the device that I have so I assume that they designed it for the hinge at the bottom. Airflow looks fine to me with this design. I've been using these stands for about since last September with no problems.

 

[jakespeed]

I definitely keep mine hinge down. Mostly, I figured (no actual evidence to support it) that the structure is more rigid at the hinge and I worried about the stress on the other side...I carry it by that side as well. Also, the cables don't dangle as much that way (I'm pretty OCD about that). I have a twelve south so the airflow is minimally impacted similar to the picture above.

 

[pshufd]

I definitely keep mine hinge down. Mostly, I figured (no actual evidence to support it) that the structure is more rigid at the hinge and I worried about the stress on the other side...I carry it by that side as well. Also, the cables don't dangle as much that way (I'm pretty OCD about that). I have a twelve south so the airflow is minimally impacted similar to the picture above.

Yeah, I always carry it hinge down because it seems natural because it's held together there. Every stand that I've looked at has the hinge down in their advertising pictures so I assume that they design and test it for the hinge-down orientation. I forgot about the cables but there would be more angular stress on the cables and ports unless you used some kind of structure to hold them in the air.

There is a design that has a solid bottom that looks like it will block airflow and I didn't like that design. The trapezoid open air design looks like there's more room for the fans to blow air out than if the laptop was sitting flat on a table.

This is another design that does look like it would block the vents, but, as the picture indicates, it looks like it's designed for hinge down. I do think that it's a bad idea to use the stand for two laptops as pictured.

 

[miroki]

Here's the picture from Amazon for the device that I have so I assume that they designed it for the hinge at the bottom. Airflow looks fine to me with this design. I've been using these stands for about since last September with no problems.

I think these pictures are more for aesthetic purposes (Apple logo upwards) than usage instruction.

I'd rather to have the vent facing up for better ventilation and less dust collecting from the desk surface. Plus some vertical stand isn't very ventilation friendly as they block the vent.

 

[jinnyman]

Hinge up. I think it depends on the type of mount. Mine block the bottom so I put hinge up so that exhaust air can easily get out. And, the bulk of weight is supported by front side of laptop bottom which, I believe, is structurally more than enough to support the full weight.

I don't use a vertical stand in home though. I prefer it to sit naturally on my desk.

 

[Profno1]

I’ve been using a similar stand for less than half a year . I’ve had it in the same position 24/7 , hinge down , and I started to notice the lid of the laptop (MBP 2016 13”) slightly open .

I’ve checked and it looks like the weight has slightly bent the hinge . If you look where the hinge rests , the base (and therefore the weight) overhangs the hinge either side , which I can only assume has bent it slightly over time .

Anyone else has this issue with their stands ? As I say , mine has been sitting there in the same position 24/7 for at least a couple of months , and before that , overnight and for most of the day .

It’s definitely the stand that’s done it .

Based on this experience , I would also have it hinge / exhausts up in future .

 

[svanstrom]

There's always a risk with placing a laptop vertical, because no matter how you place it there will always be a risk of an uneven (or by the designers unexpected) pressure somewhere.

If I were to place mine vertical I would absolutely place it hinge up, and with a slight tilt such that there's no direct pressure on the display (at the bottom). That both maximises airflow and minimises risks of warping/damage.

 

[Profno1]

There's always a risk with placing a laptop vertical, because no matter how you place it there will always be a risk of an uneven (or by the designers unexpected) pressure somewhere.

If I were to place mine vertical I would absolutely place it hinge up, and with a slight tilt such that there's no direct pressure on the display (at the bottom). That both maximises airflow and minimises risks of warping/damage.

Absolutely - for that exact reason though , I'd personally keep it as straight , and as tight , as possible .

 

[Abazigal]

I keep my MBA hinge down on my desk, but it’s more a way of saving space when it’s not in use.

 

[dhershberger]

Hinge up.

I've used my computers, both PCs and Macs, in clamshell mode for years without any known problems. Since heat rises and the exhaust vents are at the back of the device, vents should be at the top. These photos should be self-explanatory. Hope this helps.

 

[svanstrom]

Hinge up.

I've used my computers, both PCs and Macs, in clamshell mode for years without any known problems. Since heat rises and the exhaust vents are at the back of the device, vents should be at the top. These photos should be self-explanatory. Hope this helps.

Please remove it from the edge, you're giving me severe anxiety. 😅

 

[pshufd]

Hinge down. I've used two 15 inch MacBook Pros like this for years. No problems.

My stand has a thick piece of silicone on the spots where the laptop meets the stand. It is also open on the bottom so it doesn't block the air vents in the back.

 

[arche3]

Hinge up

 

[KaliYoni]

I have two quick thoughts:

1. Ensuring good airflow is always a priority. So it's best to keep exhaust vents as unobstructed as possible as well as positioned to take advantage of heat's tendency to rise.
2. Product beauty shots–of pretty much anything somebody's trying to sell you!–usually don't take actual or recommended usage into account. The focus in on making the product look good or on expressing the artistic vision of a brand manager or photographer. It's like how watch photos always show the hands at 10:10, fast food always looks voluptuous and carefully crafted, and the people in Apple's Photos demo shots always are beautiful, having insane amounts of fun, and are in a gorgeous location. Not.

 

[Christopher Kim]

I've used the Twelve South BookArc stand for my 2016 13" MBP pretty much since I bought the laptop day-one, so almost 5 years now (maybe 60/40 in closed clamshell mode). During COVID work-from-home the past year, it's been more like 95/5 in closed clamshell). I've always used it hinge-down with no issues whatsoever.

I don't disagree with some of the posts above that with fans towards the hinge, logically seems optimal to have hinge up. But aesthetically (Apple logo right-side up), and cables a little tidier being closer to the table, just my 2 cents that I don't think it makes a big enough difference one way or another. Now maybe if you stress your laptop a lot more when you use it so more heat generated / fans on more frequently, it might matter more, but for my normal use (fans rarely on), I don't think it matters much. So for me no issues doing hinge down for the slight aesthetic benefits.

 

[dmccloud]

Like the previous poster, I've always had my Mac hinge-down in my Twelve South stand. Since the Mac only makes contact at two points along that hinge, there is no real impact on ventilation of the machine. With the M1 Macs, it matters even less because of how much cooler those machines run (and in the case of the Air, there is no fan to even worry about).

 

[David Tuma]

The WiFi antenna is located in the hinged section. Another reason, in addition to heat exhaust, to have the hinge at the top and not inside the clamshell holder where it may decrease wifi receptivity.

 

[NEPOBABY]

I notice when I use the stands above the vents in my MBP can inhale nearby steam from a drink or vape fume. Then when I open the MBP a little moisture is on the screen. This doesn't happen if I use clamshell mode with the MBP flat on the desk.