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Buying A New Desktop For Your Business? Laptops Are Often Cheaper Than Desktops, Even With the Same Specs.

  • OCM Engineers
  • 11 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

If you're responsible for IT purchases in your small or medium-sized business (SME), you may be surprised that laptops often cost up to 50% less than desktops despite sharing identical specifications. Let's explore why this happens and what you should consider.


A comparison infographic titled "Why Are Laptops Cheaper Than Desktops in the UK?" shows a silver HP Laptop 155 beside a black Dell Vostro 3020 desktop with monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Below the images, three key reasons are listed in separate boxes: "Economies of Scale" noting mass production lowers laptop costs, "Cost Efficient Design" highlighting integrated, cheaper components in laptops, and "Market Strategy" explaining competitive laptop pricing.

The reasons why laptops are much cheaper :-



#1 - Economies of Scale, Buying A New Desktop For Your Business v Laptops


Laptops like the Dell Inspiron or HP Pavilion series are produced in massive quantities due to their popularity with both businesses and consumers. High-volume production reduces manufacturing costs. For instance, Lenovo can produce and sell thousands of IdeaPads, enabling them to offer lower prices compared to desktop PCs.


#2 -  Integrated Components


Laptops bundle components such as keyboards, screens, trackpads, and Wi-Fi modules into a compact, single unit. A MacBook Air, for example, integrates all necessary peripherals seamlessly, significantly reducing costs compared to buying separate peripherals for a desktop setup.



#3 - Consumer Demand and Market Dynamics


With the growing need for remote work solutions, consumer demand for portable computers like the Acer Swift or ASUS VivoBook has surged. This competition pushes manufacturers to lower prices. Conversely, desktops, particularly high-performance models aimed at niche markets like gaming or intensive creative tasks, command higher prices due to lower volume.


#4 - Component Pricing


Desktop components often cater to specialised markets such as CAD or professional editing workstations. For example, NVIDIA graphics cards or AMD Ryzen processors used in desktops typically have higher prices due to their specific targeting of high-performance sectors. Laptop components, often optimised for mass-market needs, are unlikely to have the equivalent graphics capabilities for specialist markets.


#5 - Logistics and Retail


Consider a desktop versus a compact laptop like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go. Desktops involve individual component sourcing, larger packaging, and complex shipping logistics, increasing costs. Laptops, standardised and compact, streamline storage and transport processes, resulting in lower overall retail prices.


Practical Advice for SMEs:


  • Evaluate Operational Needs: Laptops such as Dell XPS or HP EliteBooks are ideal for flexibility and portability. If your business primarily needs mobile devices, laptops offer clear cost advantages.

  • Access User Requirements. What is the users job specification , What applications do they use? is there a requirement for large amounts of Ram or graphics processing?

  • Long-Term Considerations: Desktop PCs like Dell OptiPlex or HP EliteDesk may initially be more expensive but often allow easier upgrades and longer lifespans, potentially reducing long-term costs.

  • Assess Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Consider future upgrades, repairs, and productivity enhancements when choosing between laptops and desktops. Initial savings might not reflect total long-term value.


Understanding these real-world dynamics of buying a new desktop for your business v laptop options can help SMEs invest strategically in IT hardware to ensure long-term value and productivity. Buying soon? get a free consultation with our experts, just click the button below.




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