NVIDIA’s most expensive laptops are a terrible value — Here’s what you should buy instead

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The latest laptops equipped with NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series mobile graphics processors have been released, yet the top-tier versions haven’t managed to impress significantly.

In my recent findings this week, I’ve discovered that the RTX 5090 Laptop GPU exhibits a performance level more akin to the desktop 5080 model, rather than its 90-series laptop counterpart.

As a data analyst, I find it straightforward to observe that both the mobile RTX 5090 and the desktop RTX 5080 sport the same GB203 GPU, and their other specifications are relatively similar.

The mobile 5090 does, of course, have a boosted 24GB of VRAM compared to 16GB in the desktop 5080.

It’s not surprising that laptop GPUs tend to be less powerful than their desktop equivalents. The question on everyone’s mind before the latest laptop releases was just how significant the difference in performance would be.

Generally speaking, the mobile RTX 5090 performs approximately 50% more slowly compared to its desktop counterpart when it comes to actual gaming on personal computers and also in synthetic test scores.

Those findings came from Notebookcheck’s Allen Ngo, and he’s now returned with more information.

NVIDIA’s mobile RTX 5080 is only about 10% slower than the 5090

The comparison between the mobile RTX 5090 and the mobile RTX 5080, both in the same setup, doesn’t seem to favor the former, according to Notebookcheck’s assessment.

Ngo’s tests, using both synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming frame rates, show a roughly 10% disparity in performance when comparing the two laptop graphics processors, regardless of whether DLSS is utilized or not.

In the Schenker XMG Neo 16 A25 laptop, Notebookcheck conducted tests on both GPUs, ensuring that the differences observed were not due to variations in their respective support systems.

Although the performance disparity between desktop models like the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 may resemble that of the mobile versions RTX 4090 and RTX 4080, it’s important to note that their price differences aren’t equal.

Regarding the upcoming Razer Blade 16 in 2025, it’s important to note that the cost for the model with the mobile RTX 5090 graphics card is $800 more than the one equipped with the RTX 5080.

Instead of the RTX 5070 Ti laptop, you could opt for another high-quality gaming laptop at roughly a $1,400 savings.

The updated ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 now supports RTX 5000 graphics cards, and the cost variations among the different models remain relatively consistent.

5090-equipped models retail for $4,600, whereas their RTX 5080 counterparts (with comparable features), are priced at a more affordable $3,600, amounting to a difference of $1,000.

According to Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson’s tests for his desktop RTX 5080 review, there’s approximately a 32% performance gap when compared to the desktop RTX 5090.

At MSRP (which is rare these days), the RTX 5090 costs $2,000, twice as much as the RTX 5080.

However, I noted earlier that the laptop version of the 5090 pales in comparison to its desktop equivalent, offering performance more akin to the desktop RTX 5080.

As previously stated, the laptop version of the 5090 is not as powerful as its desktop counterpart; it performs similarly to the capabilities of the desktop RTX 5080.

My advice? Forget about RTX 5090 laptops.

It’s always tempting to buy the latest and greatest hardware. Believe me, I know.

It’s hard to understand why someone would choose the mobile RTX 5090 over the mobile RTX 5080, as it’s only marginally more powerful by approximately 10%.

Perhaps if the price difference were closer to the 10% performance difference?

It would be more logical to increase the price of RTX 5090 laptops by approximately 10%, which translates to between $300 and $400, given that high-end RTX 50-series laptops typically cost around this amount.

For the time being, I advise against purchasing a gaming laptop with an RTX 5090 unless it’s absolutely crucial, as there might be better or more cost-effective options available.

For individuals seeking top-tier performance, NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 laptops offer exceptional value. For budget-conscious shoppers, there are also mobile GPUs from the RTX 70 series available.

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2025-04-03 19:42