Laptop vs. desktop has been debated for a long time but doesn't seem to come to an end, so let's decide who's better and bring a formal end to this debate once and for all.
1. Performance: Who’s got more power?
Let's address the elephant in the room first: desktops. When it comes to raw performance, better upgradability, future-proofing, and cool thermals, desktops take the cake.
In 2025, desktops equipped with an RTX 4090 or RX 7900XTX and CPUs like the Intel Core i9 14900K or the Ryzen 9 7950X3D can easily outperform laptops with comparable or even better specs. Not to mention, you can upgrade any component of your desktop at any time with relative ease, while laptops have limited upgradability—primarily RAM and storage—and often require professional assistance for upgrades.
High-end laptops like the ROG Strix Scar 18 and the Alienware x16 R2 are impressive in their own right. These laptops feature mobile versions of RTX 4080/4090 and Intel or Ryzen chipsets, and they are more than capable of delivering 1440p gaming performance. Some can even handle 4K gaming, but this results in thermal issues and overheating during extended gaming sessions. Additionally, gaming laptops face power constraints due to their compact and portable design; thus, the mobile 4090s would be as powerful as the desktop version of a 4060.
2. Portability
There is nothing to debate about here; portability is what laptops were made for. Game on the go → Laptops. Unless you want to pack approximately 7 kgs of expensive, bulky, and fragile luggage in multiple bags whenever you go out, choose laptops.
3. Cost
Desktop
The average cost to build a budget PC in 2025 is ₹50K–₹70K, excluding the price of a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. But if we add up the cost of those necessary accessories, it will cost around ₹50K–₹90K. With hardware components like the Intel Core i5-12400F/Ryzen 5 5600, GTX 1660 Super/RTX 3050/RX 6600, 16GBs of DDR4 RAM, and 500GB/1TB of storage, it can easily rack up to 120 average FPS at high settings in GTA 5 (raw performance/no DLSS or upscaling). Refer to the tables given below for a deeper understanding.
Specs: Accessories
| Accessory | Price (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor | ₹8,000–₹12,000 | LG, Acer, Samsung, MSI options |
| Keyboard (mechanical preferred) | ₹1,000–₹2,500 | Redragon, Cosmic Byte, Zebronics |
| Mouse (gaming) | ₹800–₹1,500 | Logitech, Redgear, Razer, etc. |
| Headphones/Speakers | ₹1,000–₹2,500 | Optional but nice to have |
| Wi-Fi Adapter (if needed) | ₹500–₹1,000 | Only if the motherboard lacks WiFi |
| Windows 11 (OEM or license) | ₹500–₹1,500 | Or Linux as a free alternative |
Total Cost / Grand Total:
| Component | Range (INR) |
|---|---|
| Original Build | 50K–70K |
| Accessories | 11K–18K |
| Grand Total | 60K–90K |
Laptop
On the other hand, the average cost of a budget gaming laptop is around ₹60K–₹75K, but if we include accessories like a mouse, mousepad, and a cooling pad, the cost would go up by ₹4K. You can expect to get an Intel Core i5 12th Gen/13th Gen processor, RTX 3050/4050 (mobile), 16GB DDR4/DDR5 RAM, 512GB NVMe storage, and a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display. With these components, the laptop can deliver 90–100 average FPS at medium settings in GTA 5.
Specs: Accessories
| Accessory | Price (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| External Mouse | ₹1,000–₹2,500 | Cosmic Byte, Kreo, Zebronics |
| Cooling Pad | ₹1,000–₹2,500 | Cosmic Byte, Zebronics, Ant Esports |
| Mouse Pad | ₹500–₹1,000 | Cosmic Byte, Ant Esports |
Total Cost:
| Component | Range (INR) |
|---|---|
| Laptop | ₹60,000–₹75,000 |
| Accessories | ₹3,000–₹4,000 |
| Grand Total | ₹62,000–₹80,000 |
To sum up, a budget gaming PC build costing around 50K–90K can deliver over 120 FPS on high settings, while a budget gaming laptop costing around 60K–80K can yield up to 100 FPS on medium settings.
Keep in mind that laptops cannot achieve maximum performance when unplugged, can be noisy, and may overheat after a few hours of intense gaming. Although desktops can provide significantly more performance, they lack portability.
4. Conclusion
After discussing all the pros and cons of laptops and desktops, it finally boils down to one question—who is it for?
Laptop or Desktop?
Laptop
The most redeeming quality of a laptop is its portability. Therefore, it is good for creators who are always on the move, working professionals (not in any field related to computers), budget gamers, and people who want to game on the move.
Desktop
There are only two cons to a desktop—no portability and the cost to build one. Therefore, desktops are for people like professional editors, 3D artists, working professionals (whose job requires a PC), hardcore gamers, and competitive eSports players.
Summary
| Feature | Budget Gaming PC | Budget Gaming Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Better by ~10–20% | Slightly Lower |
| Thermals and Noise | Better Airflow | Needs cooling pad |
| FPS in AAA Titles | 60–100 FPS | 40–80 FPS |
| FPS in eSport Titles | 120–200 FPS | 100–160 FPS |
This table should help clear your mind further and decide which one is good for you.
That is it for this one, and we’ll see you in the next one.
Post a Comment