Are Gaming Laptops Worth It? (Pros & Cons Compared)

Gaming laptops are essential if you want to play video games because you'll need the extra processing power and graphics potential. Gamers who play in tournaments or want to fit gaming around work often buy gaming laptops.

This guide will answer 'are gaming laptops worth it?’, including the advantages and disadvantages.

Page Contents (Click Icon To Open/Close)

What Makes A Good Gaming Laptop?

Every good gaming laptop has a range of high-end features. There are seven key ones:

The CPU is the computer’s brain, responsible for processing all of the calculations the computer needs to make. Therefore, it needs to be fast enough for gaming.
The GPU is the graphics card, and will render all of the visuals in games. It needs to be fast enough to render visuals with complex effects throughout a gaming session.
The RAM is the computer’s memory, ensuring it can hold data generated in-game. Enough RAM needs to be available for gaming.
The hard drive is where the game will be stored, and it has to have the space and speed necessary.
The display needs to have a good viewing angle, resolution, size, and color range.
The battery life needs to last long enough for extended gaming sessions.
Finally, the appearance is important for aesthetics, especially in gaming tournaments.

5 Reasons Gaming Laptops Are Worth It (The Pros)

There are numerous advantages when thinking about ‘is it worth it to get a gaming laptop?’ and it’s worth diving into them in a little more detail. Here are five of them:

1. Portability

If you're used to gaming on a desktop or a console, then a gaming laptop will make a nice change, especially if you do a lot of traveling. However, if portability is your main concern, then you'll know the answer to 'are budget gaming laptops worth it?' is a resounding yes, because cheaper gaming laptops are often smaller.

2. Versatility

Gaming laptops are among the most powerful on the market, but that doesn’t mean they’re only for games. Their features, like high-end CPUs and GPUs, enable you to do other resource-intensive tasks like video editing and 3D simulation. That means students, artists, and streamers can all benefit from them.

3. Great Experiences

Because gaming laptops are designed to be high-quality and power you through intensive tasks, they’re often much smoother and more enjoyable to use than office laptops or everyday computers. So if you’re wondering, ‘is gaming on a laptop worth it?’, then you’ll find it’s not just worth it, but the best way to do it.

4. Impressive Components

If you want to know is it worth buying a gaming laptop, then it’s also worth factoring in the components underneath the outer casing. Not just their specifications, but who manufactured them and how they’re known to perform. When you make these comparisons, you’ll typically find that gaming laptops have the best-performing components from well-known brands.

5. Longevity

Although computers are known for becoming outdated very quickly, the more powerful they are, the longer they’ll last you. That means if you're weighing up whether it is worth it to buy a gaming laptop, then you should consider that gaming laptops typically last for at least 3-5 years, as opposed to 1-2 years for many laptops. It may not keep up with the latest games, but there are tips to improve gaming performance, which we’ve written about separately.

Now that you know the five advantages of gaming laptops, it's worth summarizing the benefits so that you can see them at-a-glance. Gaming laptops offer you the chance to game in a way that’s quick, easy, and flexible. They often have features that reduce noise and heat emissions, making them excellent for quiet spaces.

4 Reasons Gaming Laptops Are Not Worth It (The Cons)

There are some reasons why a gaming laptop will not be for you, even if you like the sound of the benefits we’ve covered above. There are four reasons, and here they are:

1. Unsuitability

If you only use a computer for a few small tasks, then the answer to ‘is it worth getting a gaming laptop?’ is no. You’ll never use it to its full potential, and so the extra money you’d pay to buy one wouldn’t be justified.

If you want a laptop for simple tasks, you might want to look into 2-in-1 models.

2. Lack of Upgradeability

Despite lasting longer, it's difficult to upgrade certain parts like the CPU, mainly because they’re simply not as accessible as desktops. If you want to replace the motherboard, you have to get a new GPU and CPU too, because they’re soldered to it.

3. Price

Although you may be pondering ‘is a 500 dollar gaming laptop worth it?’, you won’t find many for that price. You can find some gaming laptops within the $1000-2000 range, but many cost more. Not only that, the peripherals and replacement parts for gaming laptops increase the cost too.

4. Poor Peripherals

When you have a desktop, you can buy a specialized mouse and keyboard. But with a gaming laptop, you’ll only have its in-built keyboard and mousepad. These are often not suitable or lack certain features. But if you buy a separate keyboard, you have to push the screen further away to make space for it.

Here’s a quick summary of the drawbacks. The components are hard to replace, and peripheral ones typically aren't suitable. If you only want to use the laptop for more straightforward tasks, it won't be practical to dish out the extra money upfront. Gaming laptops are also quite expensive.

Is It Worth Buying A Gaming Laptop For College?

If you're deciding between a gaming laptop vs regular laptop for college, then the answer is that a regular laptop is typically fine. Most of the time, you'll be using a laptop in college to do coursework, check social media, send emails, and take notes. None of these tasks require the resources of a gaming laptop, which means it’s not worth buying one.

However, is it worth getting a gaming laptop for college in some cases? Yes, it is. If you’re on a course that involves 3D simulations, video editing, computer programming, or game design, then you should consider investing in one. These tasks are resource-intensive and require powerful processing capabilities.

If you buy an ordinary laptop, it won’t be suitable for your activities. Plus, if you like gaming and want a fun activity to do while you’re not studying, then a gaming laptop gives you the chance to game in your downtime.

Keep in mind, if you’re on a budget, like many students, it will be difficult to afford a gaming laptop, but you do have the option of buying one that’s a few years old or is only an entry-level budget gaming laptop.

Conclusion

You should now be able to consider whether a gaming laptop is worth it in your situation. We've covered the advantages and disadvantages. The answer is ultimately down to you, but our view is it's only worth it if you'll use all its power.

Andrew White

Andrew White is the founder of TechGearoid, a leading technology review & information website that is designed to help consumers make better decisions when it comes to their IT purchases. As a specialist tech writer (nerd) with over 10 years of experience, he enjoys writing about everything there is to do with modern technology & the newest market innovations. When he isn’t providing value for his readers, he’s usually drinking coffee or at the beach. Andrew lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and family.