11 reasons why you don't need a gaming laptop

1. Limited autonomy

Why do people need laptops? Obviously, because of their portability: you can take your computer, put it in your bag, and then work with it in a completely new place.

Modern laptops, especially those with ARM processors - for example, MacBooks on M1 and M2 chips - are capable of stretch out up to 18 hours without recharging. But gaming laptops cannot boast of such autonomy, because they are equipped with much more power-hungry components. For example, in This is Tech Today tests MacBook on M1 under load worked 8 hours 45 minutes, while the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is only 5 and a half.

In general, if you need a computer that you can use all day without recharging, a gaming device is clearly not your option.

2. Poor performance when running on battery

You might think that gaming laptops are devices that allow you to play on the go, without being tied to a power outlet. You just take your laptop out of your backpack somewhere in a cafe or on the train - and you can while away the time playing your favorite games.

But reality, as one character from the Avengers films said, is full of disappointments.

If you try to run any demanding games on a gaming laptop while it is running on battery power, you will quickly notice that they slow down and freeze.

The reason is that without being connected to the mains, powerful CPU and laptop video card are moving into energy-saving mode so as not to drain the battery too much. In this state, the computer will allow you to type text without problems, display web pages and show videos - but games will start shamelessly to lie. Of course, you can enable maximum performance manually, but then the device will only last 1.5–2 hours on battery power.

Do you really need a gaming laptop if you'll only end up gaming on it while plugged in? A desktop computer is much better for this.

3. The need for bulky peripherals

There's another reason why a gaming laptop won't give you the ability to really game anywhere. In addition to the need to carry a charger with an impressively sized power supply, you will have to take additional devices.

The laptop itself, no matter how powerful it is, will not allow you to have a good time while entertaining. Anyone who has ever tried to play on a trackpad will confirm this. You will also need a gaming mouse or gamepad, and headphones will come in handy: the built-in sound of most models leaves much to be desired.

As a result, to fully play the game with a so-called mobile laptop, you will have to carry a mountain of additional devices with you.

Now compare the laptop to portable consoles like the Steam Deck or Legion Go. They are more convenient and compact, and sticks with triggers for controlling games are already built into them. In addition, they are more autonomous and will allow you to enjoy games much longer when running on battery power. If you want to play anywhere - lying on the couch, in a cafe, in train - such devices will provide you with a much more pleasant experience than the so-called gaming laptops.

4. Dimensions and weight

It's easy to notice that most gaming laptops have a noticeable size and weight. The reason is simple. Powerful components - a power-hungry processor and video adapter - require an effective cooling system, which simply cannot be squeezed into a really thin case.

Of course, there are also quite thin gaming laptops in the world. But they cost more than less elegant models, and their cooling under load leaves much to be desired.

Plus, even the lightest gaming laptops can't match the portability of ultrabooks like the Dell XPS or Apple MacBook. It’s much easier to throw such machines into a backpack and go with them to the office or cafe than a hefty gaming device.

5. Mediocre screens

Anyone who is used to playing on a widescreen monitor or in front of a TV is unlikely to switch back to a laptop. The largest gaming laptops have a maximum screen diagonal of 17 inches - and this makes them quite bulky. But compared to even a typical 27‑inch desktop display, laptop screens look small.

This may not be noticeable when working, but when playing games - which is what gaming devices are bought for - the lack of space on the display is striking.

A limited field of view, especially in fast-paced multiplayer titles where it is important to notice details in your peripheral vision, makes the game significantly more difficult. In addition, detailed virtual worlds are visually worse on small screens.

6. Impossibility to upgrade

Technologies are developing rapidly, and therefore computer components quickly become obsolete. However, in the case of desktop PCs this is not very noticeable. You can buy a faster video card and simply insert it into the slot on motherboard, if the old one no longer meets your needs. You can replace the processor, increase RAM, pump up the cooling system, and so on.

So the computer turns into a kind of “ship of Theseus” - it is replaced piece by piece so that it continues to remain relevant.

But this trick won’t work with gaming laptops, even the most powerful ones. Modern laptops at their best allow replace an SSD and a stick of RAM, and many cannot offer even that. And you can’t install a new processor or video card in portable machines at all: they are soldered to the motherboard.

If a desktop PC can be updated and upgraded as needed, then a gaming laptop will become irrelevant in 3-4 years, and you can safely go and buy a new one. Not the most long-term investment, right?

7. Component limitations

You might think that a fancy desktop PC with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card and a premium gaming laptop with it are the same in terms of performance. But this is absolutely not true. Laptops are equipped with special mobile versions of processors and video cards, which are seriously inferior to their “big brothers”.

PC Mag Edition carried out tests of the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 in its desktop and portable versions and found that the version for laptops is almost half as fast. The full Founders Edition scored 19,264 points, while the chip labeled Laptop GPU only reached 10,622.

In general, if you need really powerful gaming hardware, keep in mind that chip options for laptops will obviously be weaker than desktop ones.

8. High noise level

When you work on lightweight, thin machines like the Microsoft Surface Pro, Dell XPS, or Apple MacBook, they don't make any noise at all. It takes a lot of effort to get the fans on these ultrabooks to spin up to full speed. Some models, such as the MacBook Air, do not have an active cooling system at all, so there is nothing to make noise in them.

Gaming laptops under load begin to make a sound similar to the noise of a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner. The fact is that their components are much more powerful than those of ultrabooks, and therefore hotter.

A high-performance processor and video card require decent cooling - but you can’t fit really large radiators and fans into a laptop.

Little ones coolersWhen they spin up, they are louder because they need to make more revolutions to pump out the same amount of air. Therefore, a large desktop PC will produce less noise under load than a gaming laptop.

9. High heat

Since laptops have smaller heatsinks and fans than desktop PCs, they simply not capable provide the same level of cooling. Compare the perforated case of any gaming desktop and the relatively thin body of a laptop - and there is unlikely to be any doubt about where the air circulation is better.

Add to this the fact that laptops are quite difficult to disassemble and clean from dust, as well as maintain their cooling system. Even a beginner can cope with replacing thermal paste and blowing dust filters on a stationary PC, but with modern laptops everything is much more complicated. Often, this requires taking the device to a service center.

And installing a better cooling system won’t work either. You can limit yourself to just a stand with fans, but frankly speaking, there’s no point in using it. A little.

10. Unique design

Of course, preferences regarding the appearance of equipment are a purely individual matter. But it’s hard to deny that if the word “gamer” appears in the product name, you can be sure: the device will be studded RGB backlighting and shimmering red-green logos don’t go overboard.

Perhaps marketers still can’t get over the idea that computer games aren’t just for kids who want their device to shine like a Christmas tree.

In terms of appearance, gaming laptops are completely inferior to business-class ultrabooks - the same Surface, XPS and MacBook with their discreet design, thin bodies and discreet backlighting.

11. High price

If you were faced with a choice - to build your own desktop PC or buy a gaming laptop, then you couldn’t help but notice that ready-made portable solutions cost significantly expensivethan similar performance components for a desktop computer.

You pay mobility allowance. Video cards and processors for laptops, although inferior in performance to their desktop counterparts, are much smaller. More compact sizes of components and printed circuit boards, a more complex cooling system - all this makes your laptop more expensive than a desktop.

This is an inevitable overpayment if you need it often move or travel. But many people buy a gaming laptop so that it sits at home constantly connected to the network most of the time.

For the same money you could purchase much more productive and cooler components for a desktop gaming device. Or buy a truly portable ultrabook for work on the go, and in exchange for a Playstation or XBox console for entertainment.