Desktop PCs are overrated

I've been using computers for a little over 24 years now, and in all that time, I've only used one desktop PC—my first computer ever. It was a Pentium III machine with 512 MB of RAM and a 40 GB hard disk, which lasted me all the way until 2012, when I finally switched to a hand-me-down laptop. Ever since, I've only ever worked, gamed, written, or broken laptops, and honestly, I'm starting to think the rest of you have been overcomplicating things.

This might sound like a hot take, but hear me out. The desktop PC has long been treated as a serious machine. The one you wanted when you needed serious computing power for anything from gaming, coding, designing, or crunching numbers. Meanwhile, my gaming laptop has turned out to be a better workstation than I expected, and I genuinely can't figure out what I'm missing.

The perfect desk setup isn’t that compelling

Why the traditional desktop argument doesn’t hold up anymore

One of the biggest arguments for desktops is usually the setup. A big monitor, a mechanical keyboard, a proper mouse, speakers, and everything else you need for the ultimate productive environment. But here's the thing—you can swap out the desktop for a laptop in that exact setup, and it'll do everything a desktop would, just with fewer boxes on your desk.

I've had this setup for well over a decade now. The laptop docks into the desk just fine, and when I need to leave, I unplug it and walk out the door. No desktop can do that.

It's the kind of versatility desktops simply do not have. Your tower just sits there. It does not move. It is, by definition, a single-purpose stationary object dressed up as a power tool. Not to mention if you face a power cut, you've only got a few minutes with your desktop, and that's considering you've got a UPS. On a laptop, you've at least got a couple of hours to get some work done and not panic-save everything before your time runs out.

Performance isn’t the differentiator it used to be

Modern laptops close the gap for most real-world tasks

Another major argument in favor of desktops is the raw performance you get. Desktop users love to claim that their laptop-using peers don't get the same specs, face thermal throttling issues, etc., etc. And sure, if you're building a top-of-the-line water-cooled machine to render 8K video or run the latest AAA games at maximum settings, desktops win on paper.

But is that really what the overwhelming majority of people actually do? A modern laptop handles writing, browsing, video calls, photo editing, coding, and even gaming without breaking a sweat. All while being able to fit in a backpack and being able to charge from the same charger that can power everything else on your desk (or in your backpack).

In my nearly 15 years of laptop use, I have never felt like I was being held back by hardware. And I've used everything from 11-inch netbooks to the flagship gaming laptops manufacturers have to offer. The average person isn't maxing out their CPU at full load all day. And if you are, that's a niche use case, not a universal argument against laptops.

Yes, PC components are more powerful than their laptop counterparts. For example, my Omen Transcend 14's RTX 4060 isn't going to perform on par with a desktop 4060. But does that stop me from playing the latest games or running AI models locally? Absolutely not. In fact, cloud gaming has gotten so good that you might regret buying a gaming laptop.

The upgradability myth

How often do you actually upgrade anything meaningful?

Then we have upgradability. On a desktop, you can swap out the GPU, add more RAM, throw in a bigger SSD, and have your machine grow with you as you go along. But desktops aren't quite as upgradable as you might think.

Sure, you can swap out individual components at will, but the cost of those components isn't cheap. Not to mention that if you're taking a generational leap, like a new CPU or GPU, you might have to swap out your motherboard to support it. Once you're done with that, you might find yourself in need of a bigger power supply to power everything. Before you know it, the only thing you haven't upgraded in your desktop is the case, all while spending as much as, if not more than, a similarly specced laptop.

I change laptops every four to five years. My last laptop, the MSI Leopard GL65, is still fully functional and now runs all my self-hosted software and a Linux server. And if I wanted, I could still pull it back into active duty at any time. As long as you're buying the latest generation hardware (or even one generation older), your upgrade cycle will look very similar whether you're on a desktop or a laptop.

One aspect where the desktop's swappable nature comes in handy is repairability. Even then, you're simply swapping out one part for another. As laptops get smaller, their repairability is taking a hit. A busted motherboard or cracked display can put a hefty dent in your wallet, especially on more expensive laptops. Thankfully, soldered RAM isn't the dealbreaker it used to be, and you can still swap out smaller components like storage and network cards on most laptops.

Portability changes everything

One device, anywhere—no compromises needed

There's a value to portability that's hard to quantify until you've lived it. Working from a cafe, airport lounge, or simply another room in my house are all mundane things that quietly improve my quality of life. With a desktop, none of these instances are possible; my work, play, and every other activity I use my computer for immediately get tied to my desk.

Even if you work from the same desk every day, there's a peace of mind in knowing you could pick your laptop up and go. That flexibility has value. It means your machine isn't a location-dependent dependency; it's just your computer, wherever and whenever you want it to be.

This isn’t anti-desktop—it’s reality

Desktops still have a place, just not for everyone

I'm not saying desktops are bad. If you're a video editor running heavy rendering jobs all day, a power user who's going to squeeze every bit of that extra performance, or someone who just enjoys building and tinkering, a desktop has real value. But the idea that laptops are a compromise is outdated and, honestly, a little absurd.

For most people, most of the time, a laptop is more than enough. It's been more than enough for me for 15 years now. The desktop PC isn't bad—it's just overrated.