Confused between desktops and laptops? Recent study suggests laptops are just as good

If we were to look at the desktop vs laptop market share, it’s evident that the demand for the former is falling while that for the latter is on the rise. And there are several reasons for that. A recent study also concludes that modern-day laptops perform just as well as desktops.

Performed by Pudget Systems, a company specializing in tailored computer systems, the study compares laptops and desktops in the same price bracket and with identical configurations.

Here’s a brief overview of the test results:

• Graphic design: Desktops lead
• Motion graphics: Desktops lead
• Video editing: Similar performance
• Gaming performance: Laptops lead by a significant margin
• CPU rendering: Similar performance
• GPU rendering: Desktops lead

In tests where desktops perform better, the margin is small. But when it comes to gaming, laptops are performing much better. This could also be attributed to improved gaming on Windows 11. Many have ditched their desktop setup for a gaming laptop!

Overall, laptops were able to deliver 80% of the performance of desktops!

Besides, as per the study, laptops delivered consistent performance, which wasn’t the case up until a few years ago. Aspects like cooling and hardware quality have witnessed a massive upgrade over the years.

The study goes on to highlight that if they are similarly priced, laptops won’t be as fast as desktops, and there are valid reasons for this.

Given the limitations of a mobile platform (limited cooling, power, etc.) and the fact that it includes the cost of traditional peripherals (display, keyboard, mouse, and battery backup), it is expected that a mobile workstation won’t be as fast as a desktop at a similar price point.

The desktop vs laptop debate has been raging for the last two decades, and neither side backs down!

For regular users, it all comes down to the following questions:

• What is more important, mobility or performance?
• Would slightly reduced performance at the same price range but with improved mobility work?
• What tasks do you primarily intend to perform on the device?

Give these some thought, and you will identify which one of the two, desktop or laptop, to go for!

Remember, Pudget Systems used its own laptops for the test. The result could vary on other devices. Read the complete study to find out the exact configuration and how the devices performed under the different tests.

Which one would you pick, a desktop or a laptop? Share with our readers in the comments section.