A lot of people are comparing gaming laptop vs desktop, but can’t decide. If you’re considering purchasing a gaming system, the laptop vs. desktop debate is your first major decision. Even the finest gaming PCs are now being threatened by brilliant gaming laptops, so whereas previously there was a clear distinction, today’s market offers countless options.
How do you plan to use your computer? If you know you’ll need to travel with your computer, there’s no choice. However, looking a little deeper into these systems’ different aspects might really make a difference in your decision.
Gaming laptop vs desktop: Advantages and disadvantages
What kind of differences are there between gaming laptops and gaming desktops? We’ve assessed the current selection based on pricing, availability of components, performance under the hood, and degree of customization available so that you may make an informed decision.
Gaming laptop
- Laptops are portable and mobile.
- No extra peripherals are needed.
- Offers high-performance, so you can use it for professional purposes.
Gaming desktop
- Offers more powerful components
- You can upgrade components
- Cheaper to build compared to laptops
Gaming laptop vs desktop: Price
In general, gaming desktops are less expensive than gaming laptops since you aren’t paying for battery power, display performance, or portable design. When compared directly, a gaming desktop is considerably more cost-efficient.
However, you must consider additional expenses for a gaming monitor, mouse, and gaming keyboard. While many gamers invest in these goods immediately after purchase, you don’t have to buy them right away if you have older equipment. As a result, a $1,500 gaming desktop might end up costing more than $2,000 with extra AV equipment purchases.
When it comes to purchasing a pre-built PC, you’ll have additional expenses. You will also need to consider building your own PC for cost concerns. GPU prices have skyrocketed in the last two years, and stock is often unavailable as a result. The overall cost of your build may far exceed the value contained within your components right now, which means that the key upgrade you’ve been saving for might be out of reach quickly.
Finally, a pre-built gaming PC will generally offer the best price for performance, a gaming laptop will provide adequate value owing to its all-in-one design and DIY PC will be cheaper but will require significant time and effort.
It’s a tie between gaming desktops and gaming laptops when it comes to pricing.
Gaming laptop vs desktop: Performance
Over time, the differences in performance between gaming laptops and gaming desktops have been reduced considerably. Desktop PCs are capable of providing higher-end components while laptops offer advantages when it comes to mobility.
Gaming desktops have more room for larger components than gaming laptops. This enables manufacturers to use bigger parts, which raises GPU and CPU performance for cheaper prices. Gaming laptop manufacturers, on the other hand, must think about weight, battery life, temperature, and form factor while selecting these components. As a result, you’re less likely to utilize high-end technology in small laptops.
When your PC is in desktop form, it will perform high-end parts much more effectively thanks to larger power supplies and advanced cooling technology.
Still, gaming laptops are certainly catching up and sometimes able to close the gap between gaming desktops.
Besides, when comparing gaming laptops to traditional PCs, performance will only be a consideration if you’re shopping at the very top end of the pricing spectrum. Otherwise, aside from cooling, there won’t be much of a distinction between them at the mid-range and entry levels.
Gaming desktops are winners when it comes to performance.
Gaming laptop vs desktop: Customization
Do you know what is the best part of desktops? You can upgrade and customize them. In general, it is not possible to swap out components in gaming laptops.
Gaming desktops offer you the freedom to replace components at any time to ensure that your machine runs with the newest chips, resulting in a far superior long-term solution. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to adapt your PC’s cooling and RGB capabilities.
Just because gaming laptops don’t offer this kind of freedom, they have a limited lifespan.
Gaming desktops are winners when it comes to customization.
Gaming laptop vs desktop: Availability
Graphics cards are tough to come by these days. RTX 3080 stock, for example, is now over $1,000, and RTX 3070 stock is approaching that price point as well. This is where pre-built gaming desktops hit a wall. It’s not possible to justify spending this much on fundamental components when pre-built gaming desktops and laptops deliver the same performance for far less money.
Because they’re not subject to a scalper market, pre-built gaming desktops and laptops can provide these GPUs for considerably less money. Not only that, but RTX 3070 laptop sales and RTX 3080 laptop sales frequently offer high-end performance at an especially cheap price.
It’s a tie between pre-built desktops and gaming laptops when it comes to availability.
Gaming laptop vs desktop: Which one you should buy?
Consider purchasing a gaming laptop if you just need a portable device with basic specs. Also, a laptop will give you the freedom and mobility you need.
If you are going to upgrade your system at a later time and really dig in for high-end performance, then either buy a gaming desktop. You won’t be able to carry it around but will experience the beauty of high-end components.
