Did you know that there are over 3 billion gamers in the world? Out of these 3 billion, almost half of the game on desktop computers.
As you can see, there’s a pretty decent population when it comes to PC gaming. But within this sphere of gamers is another debate: the gaming laptop vs desktop.
If you’re a gamer and are wondering which one you should get next, then you’re in the right place. Read on to find out more. You’ll be able to make a wiser decision based on the information here!
Contents
Pros of Getting a Gaming Laptop
First up on our list is the gaming laptop. Below are some of the benefits you’ll get when you buy one.
It Has Better Portability
Chances are, you’re not a gamer that plays solely at home. You probably have a few buddies who love to fire up their devices to get in a few rounds of CounterStrike: Global Offense or Call of Duty.
Of course, you can always play in your respective homes. But there will inevitably come the time where you want to meet up to have LAN parties.
When that time comes, do you want to be lugging your precious computer back and forth? Probably not.
A gaming laptop is made to be extremely portable. It’s light, thin, and easy to put in any bag. So for the on-the-go gamer, this might be a better choice.
It Takes up Less Space
Do you still live with your parents? Or do you live with roommates?
In any case, maybe you don’t have a lot of room to work with and your desk is tiny already, not to mention your room is as well. You need to make every square footwork.
In this case, a gaming laptop would be perfect. It won’t take up much space on your desk, especially since the screen and keyboard are built-in. As a gamer, you’ll most likely prefer to use a mouse instead of the trackpad, but that won’t take up much additional room.
Also, when you’re done gaming (or even working), you can fold up the laptop and put it away in your bookshelf to fully utilize your desk space.
You Don’t Have to Buy Many Extras
On that note, because the screen and keyboard are built-in, you won’t have to worry about those additional expenses. However, some more hardcore gamers might want to buy a mechanical keyboard and monitor to get the most out of their gaming experiences.
It Comes Ready to Go
Not a fan of putting things together yourself? Then a gaming laptop can be perfect for you.
Gaming laptops come already assembled with everything you want in it. Simply unbox it, plug it in, and you’ll be ready to get to gaming in just a few minutes!
Cons of Getting a Gaming Laptop
A gaming laptop might sound wonderful to get. However, it does come with some downsides. Find out what they are by reading further.
It’s More Expensive
What you’re paying for is the condensation of everything great with a desktop computer. When you need to pack all that greatness into a small package, it’s only natural that you have to pay more for it.
When you compare gaming laptops and desktops of the same specs, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be paying significantly more for a laptop.
You’re Stuck With What You’ve Got
The very nature of a gaming laptop’s design means you’re stuck with what you’ve got. This means that if you decide it’s not good enough, or that it’s falling behind, you can’t really upgrade it. The only things you can really swap out are the hard drive and RAM.
This means that you’ll probably be buying a new laptop much sooner than you would with a desktop computer. This also adds to the previous point of gaming laptops being more expensive.
It Can Get Damaged or Stolen More Easily
Yes, a gaming laptop is very portable. But this comes with some major downsides.
The more you move your laptop, the more you’re putting it at risk for damage. All it takes it one bump into a table or an accidental drop of your bag for your gaming laptop to need some pricey repairs.
Also, the more you have your laptop out in public, the more chances of it being stolen. This can happen when you get up briefly to grab something or if you accidentally forget your bag at the bus station.
If you think a gaming laptop is still a good idea for you after reading this cons list, then make sure you head over to www.lenovo.com to check out some amazing laptops.
Pros of Getting a Desktop
A gaming laptop might sound fantastic, but hear us out first. Give a gaming desktop a chance by considering the following benefits.
It’s Much More Affordable
As we touched upon in an earlier section, gaming PC parts are much more affordable than those for gaming laptops. So if you’re on a budget but you still want a beast of a gaming setup, then opting for a computer rather than a laptop gets you more bang for your buck.
It Gets Better Performance
It’s true that modern gaming laptops are very impressive in terms of specs and performance. But the truth is, when you need to put so many components into such a small package, a desktop will always win out.
If you’re concerned about quick speeds and smooth performance, then a gaming desktop might be the better choice for you.
You Have More Flexibility for Upgrades
In general, gaming PCs will have a much longer lifespan than a laptop does. This is because of their flexibility for upgrades.
For example, CPUs generally will become a bit outdated after 2 to 3 years. When you see your video games start to suffer in performance, then you can always upgrade your CPU, GPU, RAM, etc. Whereas with a gaming laptop, you won’t be able to do most of those upgrades.
While you will have to spend extra money for these upgrades, it’s much better than having to buy a brand new device like you’d have to with a laptop.
It’s Much More Personalized
While it’s certainly convenient that gaming laptops come preassembled, this comes with a caveat: all components are already preselected as well. This can be a bummer if you’re a gamer who wants specific parts for your device.
With a gaming desktop, it’s entirely possible to pick out each individual part. This gives you a much more personalized device that you can fully enjoy gaming on.
Cons of Getting a Desktop
It might seem like a gaming computer is the perfect setup, based on all the pros listed above. But do note that there are some cons to these devices. Below are some of the most important ones.
It’s Not Very Mobile
Most gaming PCs have monster towers. While this is great when you’re gaming solely at home, it’ll be a pain if anyone ever wants to have a LAN party.
Not only will you have to carefully disconnect everything and transport your computer to and from the LAN party, but you’ll also have to risk damaging these fragile components.
You Have to Build the Computer Yourself
While complete personalization is a wonderful thing, it does mean that you have to build your PC all on your own. This can be time-consuming and you’ll have to read up on how to do it properly. Otherwise, you’ll risk having an unusable build.
However, do note that manufacturers have made things much easier nowadays. In most cases, it’s just like playing with Legos in which you just have to put the right parts in the right places and snap them in.
Gaming Laptop vs Desktop: Pick the One Right for You
As you can see, when it comes to gaming laptop vs desktop, the best one for you will depend on your gaming style.
If you’re an avid gamer and also need a device for working, both at home and on the go, then we’d suggest getting both a laptop and desktop so it’s more convenient. But if you’re on a tighter budget, then you might want to mull over the pros and cons of each to determine exactly which one you should get.
If possible, go to a physical store to test out the devices you’re interested in. That way, you can actually get a feel for things and make a better decision. In the end, it’s completely up to you whether a gaming laptop or a gaming PC is the optimal choice for your situation.
For more articles like this one, please take a look at the rest of our blog!