Recent rumors suggested Nvidia might discontinue most of its RTX 40-series GPUs. However, new leaks indicate the RTX 4050 laptop GPU may buck this trend, remaining in production even after the RTX 50-series launch. This budget-friendly laptop GPU, while offering access to DLSS 3, isn’t known for its exceptional performance.
A Weibo leak, first reported by Wccftech, claims the RTX 4050 will be the only 40-series laptop GPU Nvidia continues to supply after the RTX 50-series arrives. This concurrent availability is expected to influence the pricing of the next-gen RTX 5050.
Unlike the RTX 3050, which had both desktop and laptop versions, the RTX 4050 is exclusively for laptops. While offering DLSS 3 support, its performance isn’t groundbreaking. Entry-level laptops featuring the RTX 4050 are currently priced around $680.
A screenshot from Weibo, talking about the RTX 4050.
Maintaining production of the RTX 4050 could lead to higher prices for RTX 5050 laptops. With some leaks suggesting the RTX 5050 might rival the RTX 4060 in performance, Nvidia faces a pricing challenge if it continues producing both GPUs. The continued production of the popular RTX 4060 isn’t surprising, but alongside the RTX 4050, this strategy could leave the GPU market feeling somewhat sparse.
The RTX 4050’s continued production doesn’t necessarily mean it will remain available indefinitely. If Nvidia’s RTX 50-series launch prioritizes the high-end RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, the RTX 5050 laptop release might be several months away. Bridging this gap with continued production of lower-end cards like the RTX 4050 seems logical.
Nvidia is expected to unveil the RTX 50-series at CES 2025 in January. Until then, all information remains speculative.
