Desktop and handheld prices going out of control means PC bargain hunts lead to my old enemy: gaming laptops
Memory shortages and elevated component costs have made budget gaming PC builds increasingly expensive and impractical. Graphics cards, SSDs, and RAM continue to command inflated prices, undermining the traditional economic advantage of custom-building versus purchasing pre-built systems.
The price crisis extends beyond desktop computers to handheld gaming devices. Previously affordable portable gaming PCs now face price increases of 40% or more, with new launches frequently exceeding £1,000—making them luxury items rather than budget options.
The combination of elevated component costs and limited availability has fundamentally transformed the gaming PC market. Budget-conscious consumers who once reliably found affordable gaming hardware now face a landscape dominated by premium-priced options. This shift is pushing some gamers toward gaming laptops—a solution that traditionally offered inferior thermals, limited upgradability, and premium pricing compared to custom builds.
The accessibility crisis in PC gaming hardware represents a significant departure from the industry’s recent past, when finding capable gaming systems at modest prices was reliably possible. Component manufacturers and supply chain disruptions have inadvertently accelerated market consolidation around gaming laptops and pre-built systems, squeezing out the budget segment that historically fueled much of PC gaming’s growth.