Why are gaming laptops so expensive? We break it down

You don’t need a PhD to see that gaming rigs are significantly more expensive than their non-gaming counterparts. But what’s interesting is that gaming laptops tend to be more expensive than gaming PCs, at least in terms of what you get for your money.

There’s a wide chasm in perceived value between gaming laptops and gaming PCs, and the best high-end gaming laptops often cost more pound-for-pound compared to similar-tier gaming PCs. Both might pack a blisteringly fast Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU and accompanying CPU, but one’s going to hit your wallet a lot harder. Why is that?

This Razer Blade 18 (2024) with an RTX 4090 is a hefty $4,499. This Razer Blade 18 (2024) with an RTX 4090 is a hefty $4,499.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

This Razer Blade 18 (2024) with an RTX 4090 is a hefty $4,499.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Well, I’m a gaming laptop expert and I have lots of experience with this, so allow me to shed light on all the major factors that play into why gaming laptops are so expensive.

Reason #1: Convenience

The portability of a gaming laptop is its unique selling point versus normal gaming rigs. Not everyone can afford the luxury of a permanent gaming PC plus a separate laptop, so the ability to combine high-end gaming within a laptop is understandably sought after.

Indeed, gaming laptops fit the bill for so many people. They come in handy for work and travel, but the sheer flexibility of playing anywhere in your home is also valuable.

Even a svelte PC such as the Falcon Northwest Tiki isn’t mobile enough for some. Even a svelte PC such as the Falcon Northwest Tiki isn’t mobile enough for some.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Even a svelte PC such as the Falcon Northwest Tiki isn’t mobile enough for some.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Sure, there are diminutive PC gaming desktops—such as the Falcon Northwest FragBox and Falcon Northwest Tiki—that are small enough to lug around, but they still require separate monitors, keyboards, and mice that kill on-demand portability. Nothing compares to the all-in-one convenience of a gaming laptop.

That’s why gaming laptops outsell gaming PCs—and by 2025, gaming laptop sales are projected to be double the sales of gaming PCs. When there’s this much demand, it’s no surprise to see rising prices.

Reason #2: Complex designs

Gaming laptops aren’t just in higher demand than gaming PCs. They’re simply more expensive to produce due to engineering costs.

Think of all the components that go into a laptop: display, keyboard, touchpad, CPU, etc. All of these parts don’t just have to fit together—they also have limited amounts of space to work with.

That means laptop components need to be much smaller compared to desktop components, and the overall package of a laptop tends to be much more complex than a desktop PC.

That’s a lot of technology packed into a small space! That’s a lot of technology packed into a small space!

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

That’s a lot of technology packed into a small space!

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

It’s one thing to pay a markup on high-quality components, like OLED screens, mechanical keyboards, and lots of RAM. It’s a step up to figure out how to get all those pieces neatly into the tiny chassis of a laptop.

So, translating components into laptop-compatible form factors takes engineering manpower, and that drives up costs.

And one particular part incurs a big cost: the battery. Whereas a desktop PC can support heavy and humongous power supplies, the battery in a laptop adds weight and places further design restrictions due to all the space it takes up and all the heat it generates.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Even the power brick for a laptop is an important expense for manufacturers to consider. Smaller, heat-efficient adapters that can handle the power needs of a powerful gaming laptop aren’t cheap to make. And some manufacturers, like Razer, have moved on to newer technologies (like GaN charging) for their high-end gaming laptops.

This intricate balancing act between battery capacity, weight, size, and heat efficiency results in ballooning costs. (But it’s not all bad. There are still lots of sub-$1,000 gaming laptops that still perform well.)

Reason #3: Thermal restrictions

The hardware in a laptop doesn’t just have to be smaller than it’d be in a desktop PC—it has to play nice in the hot, cramped environment.

For any given component in a laptop: it can’t impede the flow of air through the inside; it can’t give off too much heat and contribute to the problem; it has to withstand heat well enough to continue operating even when the internal temperature climbs.

More on this: What to do if your gaming laptop is running hot

A lot of development goes into those factors, and a lot of extra testing needs to be done to ensure that higher-quality laptop components meet these stricter requirements.

Dell

Dell

Dell

You can see this in action when you look at two versions of a GPU, one for desktops and one for laptops. For example, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 desktop GPU has 24GB of VRAM and performs significantly better than the RTX 4090 laptop GPU, which only packs 16GB of VRAM. (That’s closer to the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super desktop GPU.) Similarly, a desktop GPU could easily suck down 450 watts of power while a laptop GPU may max out in the 175-watt range.

Why is this? The laptop GPU is limited by thermal and power management needs. It’s not necessarily a cost-saving measure. A desktop GPU has tons of cooling space and larger fans to accommodate better airflow. A gaming laptop has smaller fans and the GPU has to work within a tighter space. These limits explain why less-powerful GPUs can still be very expensive in laptops.

The story is similar for CPUs, too. For example, the Intel Core i9 14900HX falls short of its desktop counterpart due to power limits and cooling considerations.

Reason #4: Accessories

Gaming laptops aren’t just more expensive out of the box. If you want a decked-out experience that matches a desktop gaming rig, you’re going to spend a lot on accessories. These auxiliary costs add up fast.

It’s not uncommon to buy accessories for gaming laptops—like this cooling pad. It’s not uncommon to buy accessories for gaming laptops—like this cooling pad.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

It’s not uncommon to buy accessories for gaming laptops—like this cooling pad.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Your first expense may be in the form of a laptop cooling pad. Sure, top-tier gaming laptops have impressive heatsinks and cooling designs to dissipate heat, but it’s not always enough. Even a simple laptop stand can improve thermals by increasing airflow beneath. Extra fan power is also a bonus that can help you crank your laptop’s performance.

More on this: Are laptop cooling pads worth it?

You might also need a hub or docking station. Since laptops are so small, they can’t support as many ports as desktop PCs can—but if you’re a power user, you’ll likely want the extra ports. See our picks for the best USB-C hubs and best Thunderbolt docks for options.

Docking stations—especially ones with Thunderbolt support—are extremely useful. Docking stations—especially ones with Thunderbolt support—are extremely useful.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Docking stations—especially ones with Thunderbolt support—are extremely useful.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

And if you spend a non-trivial amount of time using your gaming laptop at a desk, you probably need more than just the built-in keyboard and screen. Even just for ergonomic health, you’ll want an external monitor and external keyboard so you can keep good posture. And if you want top-notch graphics and the satisfying click-clack of a mechanical keyboard, you’ll want to spring for gamer-style options.

Related: The best gaming monitors to level up your rig

Get ready to add plenty of accessories to make your gaming laptop truly desktop ready. Get ready to add plenty of accessories to make your gaming laptop truly desktop ready.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Get ready to add plenty of accessories to make your gaming laptop truly desktop ready.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Since storage and ports are limited on many laptops, you’ll also likely need an external drive to boost your storage capacity. Some gaming laptops come with lots of internal storage, but it’s easy to run out (especially given how large modern games have gotten).

Are gaming laptops worth it?

Without a doubt, gaming laptops are pound-for-pound more expensive than equivalent gaming desktop PCs. But that extra price might still be worth shelling out for.

Last year I wrote about how I was blown away after switching to a high-end gaming laptop and seeing for myself the shockingly good gaming experience one can have. The combination of a mini-LED display, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, and good onboard sound made for some enjoyable sessions.

The biggest reason to choose a gaming laptop over a gaming desktop PC is the portability factor. The added value can be huge depending on your use cases, which can justify the marked-up price.

If you’re a white-collar professional who’s always working on-the-go but still wants to game, a gaming laptop is a no-brainer. If you’re a gamer who frequently moves between locations (like home, school, and friends’ houses), a gaming laptop makes sense. Even if you don’t need the absolute best gaming performance, there are lots of mid-level options in the gaming laptop market worth checking out.

But if you strictly care most about bang for your buck and you only game from home, then there’s no reason to pay the upcharge. Use that cash to fund a blinged-out desktop gaming rig instead.

Further reading: Use these apps to optimize your gaming laptop