Razer Blade 2018 Review: The Sharpest Blade Yet

Razer bills itself as a computer company “for gamers, by gamers,” and this commitment does show in its products. Razer’s latest computer, the latest iteration of the Blade laptop, is a pricey beast, but it’s a marked advancement over its predecessors.

RAZER BLADE (2018) REVIEW

The welcomingly named Blade laptop boasts a 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 4K touch display, meaning you should enjoy a nice, smooth experience playing your favorite video games on the machine. Although competing laptops can offer more vibrant visuals, the Blade is still sharp with its colors and detail. With the intention of keeping your focus on the action, the screen is “flanked by class-leading 4.9 mm thin bezels.” Finally, while the laptop itself is not an aesthetic standout, it isn’t hideous either, encased by a modestly sleek black body.

An eighth generation Intel Core i7 6 core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 grahics chip power the device. Billed as “the world’s smallest 15.6” gaming laptop,” the machine is merely 0.66 inches thick and roughly 4.5 pounds, so it is conveniently portable. Additionally, the Razer Chroma-endowed keyboard allows you to personalize the keys per your design sensibilities. Regarding its port lineup, two USB-A ports, a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port and an HDMI input are included on the Bluetooth-enabled device. Disappointingly, according to Digital Trends’ testing, the battery life can clock in at only eight hours, which isn’t abysmal but nevertheless shorter than ideal.

Razer’s newest Blade laptop recently launched in stores, retailing for $2,399.99. A cheaper $1,899.99 edition is also available if you don’t mind settling for a refresh rate of 60Hz.