Over the last few years, gaming has become more popular among people of all ages. Nevertheless, many people underestimate the cost of gaming and how much it will cost to get started.
In order to run the newest game on the highest graphics, you’ll need a decent gaming PC that costs at least $1,000 or more. Because of this, many people decide to buy a cheaper gaming laptop instead. Is it worth it to buy a gaming laptop?
Gaming laptops are only worthwhile if the user requires portability. Gaming desktops are more powerful and can be upgraded than gaming laptops in all areas.
Gaming laptops should only be purchased if the owner intends to take the laptop to other places, such as the park, friends, work, or on vacation. One of the main advantages of buying a gaming laptop is its portability. Most laptops fit in regular backpacks, so they can be taken anywhere.
Gaming laptops, however, tend to consume more power and heat up more since they have more powerful components built-in. A laptop should be as thin and small as possible since it can be taken anywhere.
Nevertheless, this results in a smaller space for all the components. GPUs and CPUs will heat up when placed in a small area with powerful graphics cards. For this reason, more powerful gaming laptops are typically larger, since they need enough room to fit all the components and ensure adequate cooling.
Usually, desktop PCs do not have this problem because they are available in different sizes, making it easy to fit all components while maintaining proper airflow. A gaming desktop has a much easier time upgrading or replacing components than a gaming laptop.
A desktop can be opened from the front or back, allowing the owner to access all cables and components. In contrast, with a gaming laptop, it is more difficult to replace specific parts, since access is more difficult, and not all aftermarket parts fit.
Monitors are particularly problematic since they usually stay as long as the owner decides to buy a new laptop or until they break. This means that if you don’t like the screen or it has a low refresh rate, you’re stuck with it.
There are many different monitor models on the market, so everyone can find the right monitor for his specific needs (high refresh rate, high resolution, ultrawide screens, FreeSync, and G-Sync).
| Pros of Gaming Laptops: | Cons of Gaming Laptops: | Pros of Gaming Desktops: | Cons of Gaming Desktops: |
| It’s portable | A short battery life | Customizable | It is not portable |
| Components with decent power | Heats up a lot | Components available in a huge variety | It needs more space |
| A high refresh rate on the screen | A higher cost for a lower performance | Stay quiet with a good PC case | The power consumption of powerful gaming PCs tends to be higher |
| Upgrade options are limited | Easily upgradeable | ||
| Make a lot of noise | A future-proof solution |
The latest games can run on gaming laptops with high graphic settings and high frame rates. These gaming laptops are usually much more expensive and consume much more power. Typically, a gaming laptop’s battery life lasts 3-5 hours, although it is highly dependent on the games you play.
Side note: Compared to regular laptops, regular laptops have a battery life of about 10 hours or more. Moreover, batteries drain faster over time without proper care, resulting in shorter battery life. There are, however, steps you can take to fix a fast-draining battery.
Creating a gaming PC that runs all new games at the highest graphic settings with Raytracing and great frame rates costs about $1,100-$1,300.Gaming laptops are not used by everyone exclusively for gaming.
Gaming laptops are popular for both work and school, as they have more powerful components.
Is a gaming laptop better than a regular laptop?
In gaming laptops, the hardware is designed to process more data in a short period of time, which allows them to handle more data and demanding office tasks.
The result is fewer freezes, input lags, and system slowdowns, which is significant for work and gaming. Regular laptops, however, have longer battery life and are lighter because they don’t have heavy components. Gaming laptops, however, last longer than regular laptops.
PCs and laptops designed for gaming are built to handle current and future gaming standards, whereas regular PCs and laptops are built to run existing programs.
You can also check out the best gaming laptops under $2500.
How much should I spend on a gaming laptop?
Online stores sell gaming laptops for about $600, but such laptops can’t run new games at high graphics settings. It is recommended to spend around $1,000 on a laptop capable of running new games at maximum graphics settings.
For example, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 costs over $2,000 if you’re looking for maximum performance. With this laptop, you’ll get NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super, Intel Core i7-10875H, 240Hz IPS Type FHD, and Windows 10.
You can find cheaper laptops that can run the same games for much less than this high-end gaming laptop. For a laptop that will last for a few years, it is recommended to spend around $1,000.