Key information
Memory shortages and inflated prices for RAM, SSDs, and graphics cards have heavily impacted desktop and handheld PCs, pushing the entry point into decent current-spec 1080p play into the low quadruple figures.
However, entry-level gaming laptops appear to be weathering pricing pressures better than equivalent desktop components. A DIY build featuring an Nvidia RTX 5050 costs about £1,100 including a monitor and Windows license, while an RTX 5050-equipped Medion Erazer Scout 15 laptop can be purchased for £850 or £798 from alternative websites.
The Medion Erazer Scout 15 features a three-year-old Intel Core i5-13420H CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 144Hz IPS screen with a measured contrast ratio of 1,574:1, though it suffers from poor battery life lasting an hour or less in modern games and loud fan noise.
The laptop-grade RTX 5050 supports features like DLSS 4.5 upscaling and Multi-Frame Generation, averaging 50fps in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray-traced settings using Quality DLSS.
While gaming laptops remain loud, restricted in real-world portability, and not truly cheap, they have become more affordable than alternative desktop builds amid current market conditions.
