Passive cooling is generally better for reliability if you can make it work, since all active airflow systems will degrade as dust and hair works into the airflow paths.
Plus, the two can be used in combination. Improved passive cooling systems will make active cooling better by reducing the need to run the active system all the time, or at least run it at reduced rates, which will make the whole system last longer and reduce maintenance.
Counterpoint: stop trying to make laptops thinner and implement realistic and functional air cooling
They already do. My thinkpad T14s is incredibly thin, and it can dissipate 400 watts of power. My P1 dissipates 160+ watts and it’s also very thin.
Passive cooling is generally better for reliability if you can make it work, since all active airflow systems will degrade as dust and hair works into the airflow paths.
Plus, the two can be used in combination. Improved passive cooling systems will make active cooling better by reducing the need to run the active system all the time, or at least run it at reduced rates, which will make the whole system last longer and reduce maintenance.
Or we innovate 🤷
It isn’t a given that every device needs a fan anymore. For example non intel MacBook air.