Macworld

Active-moisture rescue insurance for your tech

This might just save the day (and your MacBook)

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Every sensible MacBook owner recognizes that while their prized laptop can put up with the odd bump and nudge against a hard edge, it makes sense to protect it while on the move. That might mean picking one of the best MacBook backpacks or other carrying kit, but it might just be choosing a tight padded sleeve for it to nestle in, saving it from unintended impacts and possible scratches.

Another big danger for a MacBook outside the office or home is water. MacBooks are not water-resistant as Apple doesn’t build any ingress protection (IP) ratings into its laptops as it does its iPhone (IP68). I recently dived into a swimming pool with my iPhone 16 Pro in my pocket. I didn’t panic too much but I knew there was a possibility that damage could have been done despite the water-protection ranking.

Your backpack might be water resistant, but damage can still be done if water still gets into your laptop or other devices. Now a clever multi-function solution might just save your very wet day. UAG’s Dryout Ultimate Sleeve might rescue your MacBook, iPad, keyboard or storage device before any invasive moisture has more time to cause damage.

UAG

How to use the UAG Dryout Sleeve to dry your laptop

The sleeve is a secondary drying aid designed to draw out residual moisture; it is not a substitute for immediately shutting down, unplugging and draining the MacBook first.

  1. Shut down the MacBook immediately. Don’t keep using it to check whether it still works.
  2. Disconnect it from power and unplug any accessories. Electricity combined with moisture increases the risk of a short circuit and permanent damage.
  3. Turn the MacBook keyboard-side down to help liquid drain out. Avoid shaking it, which could spread moisture further inside.
  4. Wipe away visible liquid from the keyboard, case and ports with a clean, absorbent cloth.
  5. Now place the MacBook inside the UAG Dryout Sleeve and close it so the moisture-removal material can work.
  6. Leave the MacBook switched off while it dries. UAG recommends leaving it in the Dryout Sleeve for around 3–9 hours, but after a significant spill you should be prepared to keep the MacBook powered off for at least 24 hours.
Ways in which moisture can get into and damage your laptop

Desk accidents—such as beverage or vase spills—or working too close to a water source, for instance in a kitchen or even by a swimming pool, can too easily cause a gadget emergency. Weather exposure, where you are caught in heavy rain or snow while carrying your gear in a vulnerable bag, is an obvious situation we’ve all been in. Few of us, however, consider the dangers of condensation—bringing your cold laptop into a warm, humid room can cause moisture droplets to form inside. I hate to mention it, but excessive sweating can also cause moisture to invade your tech gear, so maybe towel off after a workout, and certainly following a swim, before leaning over your laptop.

Keys are not airtight so liquid can flow directly through the key switches into the chassis. Side ports, such as USB and HDMI, provide a straight path to internal boards. Even vents for cooling fans and hinges can let moisture seep inside if placed on a wet surface or exposed to heavy rain.

Moisture inside your tech can cause short circuits that fry sensitive chips, and corrosion that eats away at metal circuits over time.

Can a laptop survive a water spill?

Yes, if you act fast. Good advice is to shut it down immediately and unplug from power (it’s electricity that causes the permanent damage), then flip the device upside down to drain what liquid you can. You should be prepared to leave it turned off for at least 24 hours.

UAG’s new Dryout accessories are a secondary solution that can be reused unlike many older one-use emergency kits.

After you’ve powered off your device, and turned it keyboard down to release the closest trapped water, you can wipe any excess water from the keyboard and the device’s exterior with a cloth before slipping your laptop inside the UAG DRYOUT Sleeve to get the integrated technology to work.

UAG

How does Dryout Active Moisture-Removal Technology work?

UAG claims its Dryout products actively pull moisture away and trap it into an absorbent core. Depending on the temperature, you might have to leave the device in the sleeve for between 3 and 9 hours.

Once dry, the Sleeve resets with sunlight, direct heat, or forced airflow with a hairdryer, so it’s reusable when you need it next time.

With carry handles and front mesh pocket, the UAG Ultimate Sleeve makes a great laptop sleeve even in dry conditions.

UAG

What it looks like

The black-only Dryout Sleeve is a good-looking and protective sleeve even in normal dry conditions, including an Atilon foam layer and soft Nylex fleece interior that absorb impact and protect against scratches. It includes handy low-profile tote handles and an extra stretch mesh front pocket.

It fits up to 16-inch laptops so is suitable from the 13-inch MacBook Neo to the top-end 16-inch Pro. UAG also claims it will work as well with other similarly sized electronics such as tablets, detachable keyboards, and external drives.

Weighing 0.37lbs (168g), the sleeve measures 15.75 x 11.8 x 1.2 inches (400 x 300 x 30mm).

For other MacBook sleeve alternatives, check out the best bags for MacBook in our wider feature.

You can also buy a Dryout solution for smaller gadgets such as the iPhone.

UAG

Other laptop drying solutions

The $70 (£63) Ultimate Laptop Sleeve is part of a wider UAG Dryout range that includes a $35/£27 Phone Recovery Pouch (also good for smaller devices such as smartwatches and AirPods), $170/£128 Backpack (22L), $140/£106 Rolltop (18L), $140/£106 Tote, and $55/£38 Sling (large enough for an iPad or over-ear headphones).

For MacBooks the Sleeve is the simplest fully closed solution but the bags that incorporate the Dryout tech offer extra interior storage.

You can buy cheaper laptop sleeves but none with the active moisture-removal feature of the Dryout. It’s also a neat, practical protective sleeve in its own right, and we recommend MacBook owners travel with a padded sleeve regardless of possible water damage.

If you are going to protect your MacBook from bangs and knocks by placing it in a sleeve, the drying-out function here is an extra insurance against technical calamity if you think you might enter risky environments.