GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop vs GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop

Speed and memory

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop and the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

Both cards have 6 GB of video memory, so memory will not separate them.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Fortnite (228 against 228 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (60 against 60 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop is rated at 115 W and the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop at 115 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. The power draw is close enough that cooling and noise will be similar.

We do not have launch prices for both cards, so we cannot compare value. Check current listings for both.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.