Are gaming laptops worth it? Absolutely, it pays to invest in a gaming laptop. It’s a wise investment because of its small, portable body’s capacity to deliver high performance and withstand significant heat buildup.
However, there are some factors that render investing in a gaming laptop a bad idea. Costly are gaming laptops. Their price differences from standard laptops are significant. The removal of accumulated heat may not be accomplished as effectively by them. Additionally, there is no room for upgrades with gaming laptops.
Your wants, needs, and financial situation will therefore determine whether a gaming laptop is worthwhile.
Keep reading.
Table of Contents
An Explanation Of Gaming Laptops
Gaming laptops are laptops built to withstand the intense gaming demands, heavy features, and heat dissipation. Regarding the chassis design, features, and cost, they differ from standard laptops.
A powerful gaming laptop offers high processing power for demanding video games, while standard laptops provide average performance for the average user. The strong graphics cards in these laptops ensure the high graphical power required for the best gaming experience. In addition, they have powerful Central Processing Units with premium hardware.
As opposed to standard laptops, gaming laptops don’t have the most streamlined designs. Instead, they have a tough body, RGB backlit keyboards, and a heavier built-up body. Moving on from the technical details, gaming laptops are typically expensive. There are discussions about whether or not to buy a gaming laptop primarily because of that area of concern.
When A Gaming Laptop Is Worth It
Yes, gaming laptops are adequate in the ways listed below.
Gaming Laptops Are Portable
Gaming laptops are lightweight and compact, making it simple to transport them. With this feature, you can play your favorite games from anywhere, which is not possible when using a console or desktop PC.
Gaming Laptops Allow For Dual Usage
A gaming laptop can be used for more than just gaming; it can also be used for work or school. It is perfect for those who juggle work, school, and gaming, such as students or remote workers.
Between games, you can use this laptop to email, write articles, or complete other tasks—something that is not possible with gaming consoles.
Gaming Laptops Are Highly Versatile
The gaming monitor not only allows for multitasking but also has numerous ports that let you connect it to various other gadgets like wired and external displays.
You can enjoy the full desktop experience with the gaming laptops by adding an external keyboard and wireless mouse. Additionally, this laptop significantly increases a game’s shelf life. This configuration is achievable through modding. Gaming consoles do not have access to this feature.
On a gaming laptop rather than a console, you can access online communities more quickly. You can quickly find tips using this program to get past tricky levels in your games.
Gaming Laptops Are Stylish
Gaming laptops now offer the best user experience possible in addition to outstanding gaming performance. They use premium building materials that are both long-lasting and fashionable in appearance.
These laptops’ RGB backlit keyboards with custom-based lights have improved their aesthetic appeal. The computer generally has an impressive appearance.
High-end Specs
High-end components designed for high performance are found in gaming laptop features. That explains why it is so expensive.
For the best gaming experience, the graphics cards and the CPU are both extremely powerful. Additionally, the screen resolution is higher for a more vibrant display.
Except for entry-level models, gaming laptops must have screens with a minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080.
Additionally, gaming monitors use SSDs as opposed to HDDs, which are what the majority of gaming desktop computers have. SSD operates quickly and supports silent operation.
Better Resale Value
Your gaming laptop will fetch a higher price on the secondary market than gaming consoles or standard laptops. Despite your best efforts to keep your gaming laptop for a long time, recalling it may become necessary in a number of circumstances. Fortunately, selling it will net you a sizable profit. Compared to gaming consoles and desktops, gaming laptops depreciate more slowly.
See more about
Reasons Why A Gaming Laptop Is Not Worth It
Gaming Laptops Are Expensive In Terms Of Price-to-performance
If you can find a new console from the most recent generation, it costs between $500 and $700.
It will cost between $1,300 and $1,800 to build a gaming PC with a 3080 GPU (again, assuming you can find the GPU in stock).
By comparison, a laptop with a 3070 GPU costs anywhere between $1,500 to $2,500
Therefore, a gaming laptop will cost you 1.2 to 1.7 times as much, but it will deliver performance that is roughly 75% of that of a dedicated desktop.
There simply isn’t a way to conceal it. Particularly if you want to future-proof yourself to play the newest and greatest games for longer than 4-5 years, the price to performance ratio of laptops is not great.
High End Pc’s And Consoles Have Much Longer Lifetimes
One of the biggest issues with gaming laptops is that they frequently have a lifespan of only about 5 years. In addition to the fact that laptops in general are more likely to malfunction, their parts are also too weakly powered.
If you buy a top of the line gaming PC now, you can reasonably expect it to run the latest and greatest games at ultra graphics setting and good frames rates for at least 7-8 years, if not more.
For illustration, the 980 Ti was a top-tier GPU introduced back in 2015. It still has the ability to run demanding games like Call of Duty Warzone at 80–100 frames per second or Halo Infinite at 70–80 FPS today, in 2022.
The 980 Ti manages a respectable 50 FPS at high settings in single-player games like God of War.
Therefore, even if you make a large initial investment in a gaming PC, you will be well-prepared for the future for a very long time.
However, in comparison to the corresponding desktop component, laptops generally perform 25–30% worse.
That is frequently sufficient to lower frame rates into unplayable ranges for AAA blockbuster games.
It will either force you to do that or lower the video settings so much that you won’t get the full experience.
Consoles, in contrast, do not experience this problem because of their very long lifecycles. While the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were released in 2013, their successors weren’t until 2020.
Because game developers design their games based on that type of hardware, if you purchased a console in 2013, you can expect it to run any and all games for at least 7 years.
You can anticipate your top-tier PC to run the newest and best games for at least 6 to 8 years if you purchase it today.
Laptops Are Not Upgradeable
Laptops cannot be upgraded, in contrast to desktop computers. Until you sell the laptop or put it in storage, you’re essentially stuck with the default setup.
The best thing about desktop computers is that you can typically upgrade and swap out components whenever you want.
You can upgrade a midrange CPU from two to three years ago to a top-of-the-line, recently released CPU if the motherboard supports it.
GPU’s in particular are so easy to replace they’re practically “plug-and-play”.
This significantly increases a desktop computer’s lifespan. Therefore, you can reasonably anticipate that a top-of-the-line desktop PC will play games at high quality and good frame rates for 8–10 years with just a single GPU or CPU replacement.
Laptops Have Reliability Issues And Are Hard To Fix
Laptops have a serious reliability issue. This is due to the fact that every essential laptop component, including the CPU, GPU, and even memory, is soldered directly to the motherboard.
As a result, if one component fails, the entire laptop usually fails.
Managing heat is another challenge for laptops. There is no place for the heat to escape because of the high computing power packed into a small form factor.
Hardware failures are to be expected when you combine soldered components with ineffective heat management.
Desktop computers, in contrast, are modular, so if one part fails, it almost never affects the others.
Screens Are Rather Small And In Just One Form Factor
15.6 or 17.3 inch screens are common for gaming laptops. Although it’s certainly functional, the smaller screen will feel much more constrained and less immersive than a 24- or 27-inch monitor.
The additional screen space is extremely beneficial in more competitive games like CSGO or League of Legends because it increases visibility by enlarging targets or allowing you to adjust field of view settings for better peripheral vision.
Gaming laptops don’t typically have curved monitors, which is another advantage you may not have considered. Even though they might appear gimmicky, research shows that they provide a much more comfortable viewing environment and result in significantly less eye fatigue than standard monitors.
You’ll Be At A Disadvantage In Competitive Games
Due to the somewhat lower performance of gaming laptops and their limited screen sizes, you are at a competitive disadvantage when compared to opponents using desktop PCs.
The disadvantage may not be significant depending on the game and how you manage your settings, but it will still be apparent and can mean the difference between an A+ performance and a B-grade one.
Battery Issues
Frequently, regular laptops have unbelievable battery life. The Asus ExpertBook B9450, for instance, has a screen-on time of 10 to 11 hours.
When playing actively, a gaming laptop typically has a battery life of 2-4 hours.
This essentially binds you to gaming somewhere with a power source nearby while having a charging cable connected to the laptop at all times.
When Should I Buy A Gaming Laptop And When Should I Avoid Doing So?
Gaming laptops are your only option if you’re an avid gamer looking for a powerful computer that is portable. If you’re a student who does freelance video or image editing, a gaming laptop is another reason you might want to buy one.
On it, you can play games, edit videos or images, move it around your campus, and complete standard college assignments.
When compared to standard laptops, gaming laptops typically have better CPU, GPU, and other hardware. Performance improves as a result of this. Therefore, gaming laptops are a good option if you lack the space to build a desktop PC but still require high performance from your computer.
Consoles are a better investment if gaming is your primary concern than gaming laptops. With gaming consoles, you can only play games (although some also let you watch Blu-ray movies). On the other hand, a gaming laptop enables you to game, watch movies (but only through streaming services, as the majority of laptops today lack optical drives), and perform any other useful computer-related tasks.
The cost of a gaming laptop is the main deterrent. Compared to standard laptops, gaming laptops are significantly more expensive. Consequently, it is best to avoid purchasing a gaming laptop if money is a concern.
As a result of its strong hardware (CPU, GPU, Fans, etc.), the power consumption of a gaming laptop is generally more than a regular laptop. Therefore, a typical gaming laptop’s battery life is much shorter than that of low-power and business laptops.
The best course of action is to avoid purchasing a gaming laptop if battery life is your primary concern and you want to use your laptop for extended periods of time on one charge.
More heat is a result of gaming laptops’ powerful hardware. Do not even consider playing games on your laptop while sitting on your lap. To play games, you must use a gaming laptop on a desk with a cooling pad to help with heat dissipation.
We cannot promise that anything will be “future proof” given how quickly modern technology is evolving these days. Even if you spend thousands of dollars on powerful gaming laptops, there is a good chance that the hardware will be obsolete in a matter of years.
You shouldn’t invest in a gaming laptop because it isn’t future-proof due to this and the fact that you can’t generally upgrade the hardware on a laptop (you can upgrade the RAM, Storage, and Wi-Fi Card in most gaming laptops, but not the CPU and GPU).
Factors To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop
The following is a list of things to think about when purchasing a gaming laptop.
- CPU. A quad-core processor should be included in the gaming laptop you purchase. For the best gaming performance, it should also have a Core i5 or Core i7 processor.
- RAM. A minimum of 8GB of RAM is required for your gaming laptop. For better gaming performance, you can also get one with 16GB of RAM.
- GPU. With an AMD RX 5500M or GTX 1650 GPU, gaming laptops can run low-resolution games. You will need a laptop with Nvidia GeForce GTX or Nvidia GeForce RTX, though, if you like to game on high settings.
- Battery Life. When buying a new gaming laptop, the battery life is an important factor to take into account. Always choose a laptop with a larger battery.
- Screen Resolution. The screen resolution on your gaming laptop needs to be higher. 1920 x 1080 is ideal for most gaming laptops, although higher resolutions than this one are also better for vibrant 4K display.
- Storage. One 1TB HDD drive and a tiny SSD boot drive are what your gaming laptop should have. To get the best results, it should also have a 7200 RPM.
- Size. 15 to 17 inches should be the range for your gaming monitor. On the other hand, if your budget allows it, you should always choose a larger screen. The larger the laptop, however, the heavier it is, so keep that in mind.
- NVIDIA G-Sync Technology. In order to eliminate screen stutter while gaming, your gaming laptop needs to support NVIDIA G-Sync technology.
Are Gaming Laptops Right For You?
I really don’t want to come off as the life of the party, you know. The best way to play games, in the opinion of many, is on a gaming laptop. In addition to being portable, gaming laptops can also double as a work or school computer and, when coupled with an external monitor, can even take the place of a desktop.
A gaming laptop is probably a good investment if you’re willing to put up with its high cost and lack of upgradeability. Simply read reviews, watch videos, and conduct Google searches to learn more about the product you’re purchasing before making any decisions. Do your research before making such a significant investment.
Aside from that, I urge you to research Steam or the cloud. Once more, you can sign up for a free trial of a cloud gaming service and try out an AAA game on any device in your home. Furthermore, despite the Steam Deck’s lengthy waiting list, the console itself is $1,000 less expensive than a top-notch gaming laptop.
Final Words
So, does a gaming laptop make sense? The decision to purchase a gaming laptop is a personal one, and while there are unquestionably benefits to doing so, there are also unavoidably going to be drawbacks. You would likely be better off choosing a desktop computer if you really don’t need portability. but if you’re someone who is often on the move or you need a A gaming laptop is the best option for you if you want a PC that is portable and usable everywhere (for work, studying, creating and consuming content, gaming, etc.).
Thank you for reading.
