Are Gaming Laptops Better than Regular Laptops? (I Tested Both)

If you are thinking of investing in a laptop? You may be wondering, are gaming laptops better than regular laptops? Read on as I explain the differences between gaming vs regular laptops and consider whether devices designed for gaming are truly better than those that are not.

Typically, gaming laptops have dedicated graphics cards, powerful processors, high-speed memory and advanced cooling systems. All of which are essential for a smooth gaming experience. Regular laptops are more general-purpose devices, suitable for emailing, movies, and other light business and everyday tasks and are cheaper.

Are Gaming Laptops Better than Regular Laptops?

Gaming laptops, also known as gaming notebooks, are specialized electronic devices designed specifically for playing video games, streaming and video editing. Gaming laptops typically have powerful processors, high-quality graphics cards, and better-suited for AAA games.

Moreover, gaming laptops tend to have a large screen size, than regular laptops with high refresh rates up to 360 Hz. (the gold resolution for gamers). Generally, the higher the resolution, and refresh rate with powerful processors ensures more FPS (frames per second) in games.

In comparison, standard laptops are more general-purpose devices that are suitable for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, watching movies, and completing office work. That’s not to say, you can not play games on a normal laptop, you can. You can play games like The Sims 4 on a normal laptop. As the latest Intel CPUs have more advanced integrated graphics.

Is A Gaming laptop Better Than A Regular Laptop?

A gaming laptop is better than a regular laptop for users who primarily use their laptop for gaming. Laptop specifically designed for gaming are the better choice due to their superior hardware and performance capabilities. For users who do not need the extra power and want a budget-friendly option, a regular laptop will better suited choice.

Moreover, gaming laptops are generally more expensive than regular laptops due to their specialized hardware, cooling systems and they offer an immersive gaming experience. However, if gaming is not a priority, a normal laptop is a more practical and cost-effective option.

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Why Gaming Laptops Are Better Than Normal Laptops?

Currently, I work with three gaming laptops, the HP Omen 15, an ASUS TUF 17-inch budget gaming laptop with an NVidia GeForce RTX 3050 TI graphics card. Also, the Razer Blade 15, which is the best gaming laptop I own, it is almost as powerful as a desktop PC. Featuring, an NVidia GeForce RTX 3070 TI GPU, an Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

However, I am not boosting. The point I am trying to make is that I know a thing or two about what is a gaming laptop. Here are the main reasons why I believe they are better than everyday laptops.

1. Better performance: Gaming laptops are specifically designed for high-performance gaming, with powerful processors, graphics, and other hardware that can handle the demands of modern games.
2. High-quality displays: Gaming laptops often come with high-resolution displays that provide sharp, clear graphics and vibrant colours, making them ideal for gaming and other high-demand tasks.
3. Customization options: Gaming laptop brands such as Alienware or Razer offer a range of customization options, including the ability to upgrade the hardware components, such as the RAM and storage, to meet your specific gaming needs.
4. Cooling systems: Gaming laptops often come with advanced cooling systems that help prevent overheating and maintain optimal performance while gaming.
5. Better Keyboards: Gaming laptops come with specialized RGB keyboards with keys optimized for gaming, providing a more responsive and comfortable gaming experience.
6. Advanced Audio: Gaming laptops often come with high-quality audio systems, including built-in speakers or support for external headphones, which can enhance the gaming experience.
7. Gaming software: Some gaming laptops come with software that is specifically designed for gaming, such as Razer Chroma or tools for optimizing performance and graphics settings.
8. Warranty and Support: Gaming laptops often come with longer warranties and better support options, and technical support to keep your device running smoothly.

What is the Difference Between a Gaming Laptop and a Regular Laptop?

Gaming laptop’s and regular laptops differ mainly in terms of performance, design, and price. Gaming laptops typically have more powerful processors and other features like high-refresh-rate displays and mechanical backlit keyboards. Gaming laptops are also more expensive and have more aggressive designs than regular laptops.

Component	What You Can Expect With A Regular Laptop	What You Can Expect With A Gaming Laptop
Graphics (GPU)	Everyday laptops mostly have an integrated graphics cards. These graphics are still adequate for a low-level gaming experience	Good gaming laptops have a dedicated GPU (graphics processing unit) such as NVIDIA’s RTX or GTX graphics cards which provide exceptional performance for modern games.
Processors (CPU)	Modern laptops usually have powerful processors such as Intel Core i3 or i5, for quick multitasking performance. This is more than enough for everyday tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and word processing.	Gaming laptops feature more powerful hardware from Intel or AMD. Some can be overclocked for added performance. They generally have more cores and faster clock speeds for more advanced multitasking.
RAM (Random Access Memory)	Most typical laptops have between 2GB of RAM to 8GB of RAM (Average 4GB). So multitasking is not as smooth	Gaming laptops typically come with 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 or DDR5 memory. Some have room for up to 64GB of RAM
Storage (SSD and Hard Drive)	Most normal or everyday laptops come with at least 128GB of storage space	Gaming laptops tend to have more storage options. Most come with at least a 512GB SSD
Keyboards	Most normal and everyday laptops have membrane keyboards that are soft to the touch and have no lighting or other advanced features	Gaming laptops come with advanced keyboards customizable RGB lighting or keyboard backlighting, anti-ghosting, and other features
Display’s	Normal laptops have low refresh rate displays with no advanced features. However, they can have touchscreen displays. Most gaming laptops do not have them	Laptops designed for gaming have high resolution displays with support for higher refresh rates, and low response times. Plus, additional features like Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync adaptive sync technology which helps reduce stuttering and tearing during game play.
Ports	Regular laptops commonly have ports, including USB, HDMI, SD Card Readers. More expensive options may have Thunderbolt 3 or 4 or USB-C ports	Gaming laptops have many more ports, including USB, HDMI, SD Card Readers, Thunderbolt 3 or 4 or USB-C ports. Some may also have DP.
Battery	Long battery life: Normal laptops have smaller batteries. And they tend to last longer, lasting up to 15 hours.	Battery power on a gaming is not something to shout about. They tend to have larger batteries and bulkier chargers.
Chassis	Normal laptops mostly have solid chassis, manufactures use light metals such as alumimum.	High Spec gaming laptops are mostly made of alumimum. Budget gaming notebooks tend to be made of plastic.
Software	Regular laptops do not have additional software installed. Apart from the usual bloatware manufactures squeeze inside	Some manufacturers integrate their own software for easy customization options over keyboard lighting or graphical performance settings so gamers get maximum FPS.
Size	Common Sizes: 12″ to 15″	Common Sizes: 15″ to 17″
Weight	Average weight – 3lbs to 5lbs	Average weight – 4lbs to 8lbs
Price	$300 to $1000 (lower price)	From $800 to $3000 (high price)

Overall, the main difference between gaming laptops and regular laptops is their focus on performance. Gaming laptops are designed to handle demanding tasks such as rendering graphics. The majority of normal laptop computers are geared towards basic computing needs.

Pros Of Owning A Gaming Laptop?

High performance: Gaming laptops are designed to handle demanding tasks, such as running resource-intensive AAA games or video editing software. There is a huge difference between the powerful processors and graphics cards than those with regular laptops.

Gaming-specific features: Gaming laptops come with features that are specifically designed for gaming, such as mechanical keyboards that light up. Not only can the bright lights on the keyboard help you use your laptop in low light conditions. You can also improve the aesthetics of your room.

High-quality displays: Gaming laptops often come with high-refresh-rate displays, which can provide smoother and more responsive gameplay. They also provide better colour accuracy, which can be helpful for tasks like video editing, photo editing, or make movie watching more enjoyable.

More Memory: Gaming laptops often come with more RAM capacity, which means you can do much more simultaneously. So you can run multiple programmes or apps with experiencing any slow down or lag. Ideal if you plan to use your laptop for study or work related reasons at home.

More Storage: In general, when you compare gaming laptops vs regular laptops they often come with more storage capacity, which means you can save more files, video, and photos. Gaming laptops also tend to have faster storage capabilities which can ensure a more responsive experience.

Upgradability: One big advantage with a gaming laptop is the ease of upgradability compared to regular laptops. If you need more storage, RAM, or upgrade with better graphics cards. (Not As Easy)

Cons Of Owning A Gaming Laptop?

Expensive: Gaming laptops are usually more expensive than desktop computers and regular laptops. But they do offer good value for money for gamers who need the portability they can offer. But non gamers would struggle to justify the higher price tag.

Portability: Gaming laptops are not really designed to be portable. They are often much heavier than regular laptops. That said, they are now slimmer and more lightweight than they used to be. Some models, like the Razer Blade 15 can be a good choice if you want a powerful laptop for on the go.

Overheating: Even though gaming notebooks are fitted with advanced cooling systems like heat pipes and multiple fans. They can get much hotter than regular laptops while underload. So additional cooling methods are required (cooling pads) to ensure they run at optimum temperatures at all time.

Maintenance: Both gaming notebooks and regular laptops require maintenance such as keeping them clean and dust free. Both systems also require updates such as Windows, hardware, and software. However, gaming laptops need much more maintenance to keep them running efficiently.

Shorter battery life: Gaming laptops tend to have shorter battery life than regular laptops due to their more power-hungry components. For gaming, you must be connected to a power source without that the performance is poor. This can be a disadvantage if you need your laptop to last all day.

Can you use a Gaming Laptop as a Regular Laptop?

A gaming laptop can be used as a regular laptop for tasks such as browsing the internet, creating and editing documents, and streaming videos. However, gaming laptops tend to have more powerful hardware and may be more expensive than regular laptops.

So if you do not play video games or need a laptop for video editing or for any other resourceful-hungry software, it may be best to investing your hard earned money in a regular laptop instead.

Conclusion

Whether gaming Laptops are better than regular laptops, ultimately, it depends on whether you are a casual user who only browses the web, sends emails, or uses their computer for school work then a standard regular laptop would be be fine.

On the other hand, if you like to play games or edit videos, the best choice would be to consider investing in a gaming laptop. Not necessarily one with top-of-the-line specs. You will some good cheap laptop for Sims 4 or other games like Minecraft and Roblox.

That said, no matter what kind of user you are. You must do your research before buying a new gaming laptop or everyday laptop. But if you are still unsure, please sign up for my newsletter. I release helpful laptop guides and tips every week that I can send to your inbox. 

Thanks for Reading, Cya You Next Time!