If you’re looking for a new laptop, you might wonder why some gaming laptops are cheaper than business laptops. After all, gaming laptops have powerful hardware, flashy designs, and colorful keyboards. Shouldn’t they cost more than business laptops that look plain and boring?
Generally speaking, gaming laptops cost more than business laptops because of more complex components, better technology, and high-performance processors. However, if we consider a gaming laptop and a business laptop with similar specifications, the gaming laptops often perform we
In this article, we’ll explain the topic and why it’s important to know the differences between gaming and business laptops. We’ll also give you four reasons gaming laptops are cheaper than business laptops based on hardware, market, branding, and intended use. By the end of this article, you’ll better understand how to choose the right laptop for your needs and budget.
Reason #1: Hardware
Gaming laptops have hardware optimized for gaming performance, such as high-end graphics cards, fast processors, large memory, and high refresh rate displays.
On the other hand, business laptops have hardware optimized for productivity and reliability, such as long battery life, durable chassis, security features, and professional software. These components allow business laptops to work for long hours without interruption and with minimal data loss or damage risk.
While gaming laptop hardware may seem more impressive than business laptop hardware, it has drawbacks. For example:
- Gaming laptop hardware consumes more power and generates more heat than business laptop hardware.
- Gaming laptop hardware becomes obsolete quickly compared to business laptops requiring regular upgrades and shifts to newer laptops.
According to Tom’s Hardware, some of the best gaming laptops in 2023 are:
- MSI Titan GT77 HX: A 17-inch beast with an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. It costs $5,999.
- Razer Blade 15 (2022): A 15-inch thin, light laptop with an Intel Core i7-12870H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. It costs $2,999.
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 (2022): A 14-inch ultraportable laptop with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. It costs $1,499.
According to PCMag, some of the best business laptops in 2023 are:
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10: A 14-inch premium laptop with an Intel Core i7 12th Gen CPU and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. Its top-of-the-line model with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD costs $2,500 on Amazon.
- Apple MacBook Pro (16″): A 16-inch sleek laptop with a monstrous M2 chip including a multi-core GPU. It starts from $2400.
Gaming laptops have more powerful hardware than business laptops but have higher power consumption, shorter lifespan, and lower differentiation. There is no doubt that for the higher specced Gaming laptops, the prices are much higher. But if we have a business laptop and a gaming laptop with the same specs, the business laptop often costs more.
Reason #2: Market
The second reason gaming laptops are cheaper than business laptops is the market. Gaming laptops have a market driven by competition, innovation, and demand, and business laptops have a market driven by quality, reputation, and loyalty.
Gaming Laptop Market Overview
According to MarketWatch, the gaming laptop market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.2% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $36.8 billion by 2030. Some of the key factors driving this growth are:
- Increasing popularity of online gaming and esports
- Rising adoption of cloud gaming and streaming services
- Growing demand for high-performance and immersive gaming experience
- Improving the affordability and availability of gaming laptops
Business Laptop Market Overview
According to Grand View Research2, the business laptop market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 6.1% from 2018 to 2025, reaching $108.91 billion by 2025. Some of the key factors driving this growth are:
- Increasing need for mobility and flexibility in work environments
- Rising adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence
- Growing demand for secure and reliable data storage and backup
- Improving the durability and performance of business laptops
As you can see, gaming laptops have a larger and faster-growing market than business laptops, but they also have more challenges and risks from competition and innovation. Generally speaking, there are cases where you find a business laptop priced higher than a gaming laptop with the same specs.
Reason #3: Branding
Gaming laptops usually have catchy branding with names, logos, slogans, colors, and designs. It sets them apart from other brands and appeals to customers. On the other hand, business laptops use branding to showcase their benefits and features and offer value by adding new features, custom solutions, compatible systems, and seamless workflows. Below are some of the best gaming laptop brands in 2023:
- MSI is a leading gaming and esports brand with innovative technologies and designs, offering high-end gaming laptops.
- Razer: A premium brand that offers thin and light gaming laptops with powerful performance and stylish aesthetics.
- Asus: A versatile brand that offers a range of gaming laptops with different features and prices to suit various needs and preferences.
According to Global Brands Magazine, some of the best business laptop brands in 2023 are:
- Lenovo: A reliable brand that offers durable and secure business laptops with long battery life and professional software.
- Dell: A popular brand that offers affordable and efficient business laptops with good performance and quality.
- Apple: A prestigious brand that offers sleek and powerful business laptops with excellent displays and operating systems.
As you can see, gaming laptops have branding that is more appealing and engaging than business laptops but have less value and uniqueness than business laptops. This can make them cheaper than business laptops.
Reason #4: Intended Use
The fourth reason gaming laptops are cheaper than business laptops is intended use. Gaming laptops are designed for entertainment, offering high graphics performance for an immersive gaming experience. They’re also suitable for other graphics-intensive tasks but not for long battery life or security.
On the other hand, business laptops are designed for work, offering reliable performance and long battery life but not high graphics performance. They’re ideal for web browsing, emailing, or online banking tasks. According to CNET, some of the best 15-inch gaming and work laptops in 2023 are:
- Razer Blade 15: A top pick for work and play, having an Intel Core i7-12870H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, a 15.6-inch OLED 4K touchscreen display, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It costs $2,999.
- Dell XPS 13 (2022): This sleek laptop has an Intel Core i7-1195G7 CPU integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, a 13.4-inch FHD+ touchscreen display, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. It costs $1,799.
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402 (2022): A ultraportable laptop having an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, a 14-inch QHD IPS display, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It costs $1,499.
To Sum It Up…
Gaming laptops can be cheaper than business laptops for four reasons: hardware, market, branding, and intended use. Gaming laptops have more powerful but pricier hardware, a larger but more competitive market, appealing but less valuable branding, and are more fun but less functional.
In contrast, business laptops have more efficient but durable hardware, a smaller but more profitable market, more exclusive but beneficial branding, and are more serious but versatile. Consider your needs before choosing between gaming and business laptops. Gaming laptops are better for immersive gaming experiences, while business laptops are better for efficient and secure work.
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Hey! If you’re more interested in gaming PCs, check this post out to see if you have the finances to buy one. Or if you’re worried about a PC’s monthly bill, read this post for the best estimation of electric expenditure on a gaming rig.