Are desktops more reliable than laptops?

If youre in the market for a new computer, your mind may already be set on whether to go for a laptop or desktop. But in these unusual times, it could be worth taking a step back to reflect on the right choice.

With many meetings now happening remotely, for example, you may have less need for a device you can take out of the house. Conversely, if youre sharing your home working space with other members of your household, having a computer you can easily move to another room might have become more important.

Of course, youll need to think longer term too, as the current restrictions wont last forever, and you may have factors such as how much room you have at home to consider.

Weve outlined five key considerations to bear in mind when picking your next computer.

Discover the best of both computer types in our guides to the best laptops and best desktops.

1. Value for money

If youre on a tight budget, desktops are typically the cheaper option, especially if you already have a computer monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Laptops are typically more expensive than desktops with similar specifications because they have extra features, including a keyboard, mousepad, battery and webcam. They also need more advanced [and expensive] cooling technology, because the small case of a laptop gives the tech inside which generates a lot of heat less room to cool off.

Looking for a good price on a laptop? See our latest laptop deals

Desktop vs laptop: what will £500 buy you?

To give you an idea of what your money will get you, weve compared two mid-range computers, a tower desktop and a similarly priced laptop, to illustrate some of the specification differences youll find between the two types.

Bear in mind that, if you dont already have them, with the desktop option youll need to factor in the cost of a monitor, keyboard and mouse too you should be able to get all three for as little as £120.

HP M01-F, £529

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go, £549

ProcessorAMD Ryzen 5 3400G [3.7-4.2GHz]Intel Core i5-1035G1 [1.0-3.6GHz]
Ram8GB4GB
Storage2TB hard disk64GB eMMC SSD
PortsEthernet, 8x USB, headphone/microphone1x USB, 1x USB-C, Surface Connect
Read our reviewHP M01-F reviewMicrosoft Surface Laptop Go review

Size and appearance aside, for the same money the HP tower desktop gives you a more powerful processor. It has a maximum speed of 4.2GHz and a minimum speed of 3.7GHz; whether youre browsing the web or editing a feature-length video, this computer will feel fast.

The svelte, compact Microsoft Surface Go laptop will feel equally nippy when doing simple tasks, such as browsing the web and editing documents, but could slow down if presented with heavy tasks such as video editing. Its minimum speed is 1GHz.

You get twice the Ram for your money with the HP desktop, and more than 30 times the storage. The desktop has far more ports, too, with an impressive eight USB ports compared to just two for the laptop, plus an ethernet port for connecting to a wired router.

Of course, specifications arent the be all and end all of picking a computer. The Surface Go weighs an impressively light 1.123kg and can slip into a bag, while the HP most certainly cannot. And its internal battery means the Surface Go will keep going for hours when unplugged, while the desktop relies on mains power.

2. Speed

In the comparison above, you get more speed for the same money with the desktop but speed alone doesnt have to be a deciding factor for most people.While in the past desktops were usually much faster than laptops overall, that gap has narrowed.

We carry out in-depth computer speed analysis during tasks including web browsing, editing documents, tweaking photos and making videos. Weve found that, while desktops still have a performance edge over laptops, it isnt so big as to make a laptop a clearly inferior choice for a typical home computing task.

That said, if you edit a lot of videos, you should opt for a laptop with a higher-spec processor, or a desktop.

Take a look at our full range of desktop PC reviews to guarantee one with exceptional performance.

3. Longevity

A cheap tower desktop computer is about the simplest computer you can buy, due to its lack of extra features. Its just a box with a processor, motherboard, Ram and storage. That means there is less to go wrong with it.

A broken monitor, or a separate keyboard thats had juice spilled all over it, can be switched out simply and fairly cheaply. An all-in-one desktop [with a built-in screen] wont be quite so well protected, but at least an errant cup of coffee isnt going to scramble the entire computer perhaps just the separate keyboard and mouse.

Pouring liquid over the keyboard on a laptop, on the other hand, could write off the entire device plus, because laptops are designed to be carried around, the chances of dropping one are obviously higher.

Hopefully laptop disaster wont strike; if it does, use our laptop reviews to pick an outstanding replacement.

4. Portability [or lack of]

If you pick a desktop over a laptop, you have permanently eliminated any opportunity to take the device out and about, or even just easily move it around the house if you fancy a change of scene. This may sound obvious, but its worth considering your future needs as well as what you want right now.

And dont feel tied to buying a desktop because you need a bigger screen than is available on even the largest laptop; you can have the best of both worlds by buying a laptop and an extra monitor to connect to it, allowing you to double screen. Our guide on how to choose a monitor is a great place to start if this is something youre thinking about.

5. Aesthetics

Most of us dont have the luxury of choosing a device simply for how good it looks on a G-Plan desk or Eames bureau. But if budget allows, it is worth considering, especially if you will be using the computer in a room that serves other purposes, such as the living room.

A laptop can easily be hidden away and there are plenty of stylish, slimline models that look good even if you leave them out permanently. Theres always the issue of the charging cable trailing across the desk, though, which detracts from a laptops otherwise clean lines.

Theres no getting around the fact that desktops are bigger and bulkier, but a humble tower desktop can be hidden away under a desk and you can choose a wireless keyboard and mouse combo to reduce desk clutter even further.

Whats more, many monitors and all-in-one computers come with handy cable-routing holes that help keep wires together and tidy as they trail from the back of the device.

If a laptops looks matter to you, check out the selection of slim and light models weve put through our tests.

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