Video games are a popular pastime, and it is not that surprising to see different demographics enjoy gaming.
For some people, smartphones and tablets are the go-to options because they want to hold a device in their hands while playing. Of course, there is also the argument of so many not being able to afford a gaming computer or console, as well as the games themselves. Getting a smartphone is easier and cheaper, not to mention that so many mobile games are free to play because they rely on the freemium business model.
Now, as far as other gaming platforms go, which are consoles, custom-built desktop PCs, and laptops, it can be a bit tricky to pick out one option.
The purpose of this article is to cover the idea of a gaming laptop. Is a gaming laptop worth it, or should you look at alternatives? Let’s find out below.
Overall Advantages and Disadvantages of a Laptop
First things first. To get a better grasp of why laptops are in contention, one needs to understand what advantages they have over other options, as well as the drawbacks that should be taken into consideration to make a better decision.
One of the obvious standout things is the fact that laptops are compact. They do not require that much space. If you plan to travel and want to take your computer with you, then a laptop is the go-to option.
You also do not have to dedicate an entire desk to playing video games on a laptop. No, your lap is usually enough, especially when you do not have to use a computer mouse while gaming.
Now, as far as disadvantages go, one of the drawbacks is that you need to charge the laptop’s battery, which can be annoying. Of course, if your laptop is static and you have the charger plugged in all the time when the computer is running, then this should not be an issue.
Cleaning a laptop is also a bit trickier. The dust that accumulates inside a laptop requires extra effort as you may struggle to take the device apart to clean it thoroughly. A desktop computer is not as complicated in this regard.
Hardware upgrades are also not as easy on laptops. Quite a few manufacturers offer integrated hardware that cannot really be replaced, which is a problem when you want to boost the device’s performance by adding extra RAM, for instance.
Finally, there is the question of accessories. Laptops have built-in microphones and speakers, but after a while, you might find them not working properly, which will call for extra work fixing the issue or switching to third-party peripherals.
A laptop’s keyboard might also not be that comfortable on your fingers, which means that you will have to switch to an external keyboard.
Overall Performance
Looking at the overall performance, it obviously comes down to how much money you are going to spend on a gaming laptop. The bigger the budget, the more powerful the hardware.
Having said that, for the money you would spend on a gaming laptop, you can expect to get much better hardware in a custom-built PC.
The price difference comes from the fact that gaming laptops are portable and do not take up that much space. In other words, you pay a premium fee to still get these two benefits while still receiving the right computer hardware.
Naturally, like with other computers, gaming laptops also require maintenance. You should not expect that your device will perform optimally all the time. Sooner or later, you are bound to notice a drop in performance when playing video games. Sluggishness, not as many frames per second, and other issues arise if players are not careful.
Some try to circumvent the issue by lowering in-game graphics, and while the approach works, it does not solve the primary problem, which is the computer’s overall performance.
So, if you are willing to pay extra to get the same hardware you would on a desktop computer, a gaming laptop is an option performance-wise. Otherwise, it is better to stick to a custom-built PC.
Laptops vs. Consoles
Computers vs. consoles can be interesting to consider, particularly when we are focusing on gaming.
Between laptops and gaming consoles, finding the superior option is quite tricky because the two are quite different.
Modern consoles are also not that big, and carrying them with you should not be too much of a problem, which takes care of the portability question.
Exclusive games that you can play on gaming consoles are also a benefit, though it looks like more and more of these exclusives are receiving ports for MS Windows and other computer operating systems.
Between the two, consoles might feel like a superior option for gaming, but you should also not underestimate the fact that a gaming laptop can also be used for other things that you would use a computer for.