Niobium-stabilized duplex stainless steels (DSS) find extensive applications on account of outstanding mechanical properties combined with excellent resistance to corrosion. However, the microstructural modification due to laser welding may considerably affect their overall performance in significant applications. Here, the research work deals with the laser weldability of niobium-stabilized hot-rolled as well as cold-rolled DSS, stressing the influence of initial rolling conditions on microstructure evolution. Advanced characterization techniques, namely line scanning and point analysis SEM evaluation of the distribution of the elemental composition, also phase transformation distribution in weld metal and in areas of base metals, have undergone microhardness testing. Changes in hardness profiles are measured across the welding fusion zone for calibration with the critical thermal cycle affecting the stability enhancement by the additive niobium. These aspects are taken towards optimizing the industrial application-oriented reliability and performance laser welding process parameter.