Evolving out of what was originally the 13-inch Blade Stealth (without discrete graphics!), the Blade 14 has cemented its place as the most portable of Razer’s gaming laptops. We last reviewed the 2023 edition at PCMag, but it’s been a few years since I’ve tested a Razer Blade 14 unit myself.
I suppose absence really does make the heart grow fonder, because returning to this new model has made me fall in love with the build all over again. This edition is not identical to the previous version, but it keeps the same core priorities in a trimmer package. The design and aesthetic are right in line with the 16- and 18-inch Blade laptops, too, so the Blade’s appeal hardly comes out of left field. But the recipe is particularly pleasing at 14 inches.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
In short, this is a slim, extra-portable laptop with an all-metal chassis that feels as luxe as it looks. It measures 0.64 by 12.2 by 8.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.6 pounds—potentially heftier than expected for its size, but still mobile. It is, ultimately, a reasonable weight for a metal build and gaming-ready internals, feels super-satisfying to grab (though it is quite fingerprint-prone), and comes off as worth the price premium.
You may not have known it by eyeballing the new model, but a smaller size is one of the main changes: It’s 11% tinier than the previous generation—the thinnest the Blade 14 has ever been, in fact—which is a feat given that the Blade 14 was already compact. What’s more, the laptop packs a 72WHr battery, with a reasonably small charger to help maintain portability. If you want a smaller adapter or just forget your charger, the Blade 14 can also charge up to 100W over the USB Type-C ports.
While we’re on the design differences from last generation, the internal cooling system has been reworked to meet the demand reality of the new components. Dual fans join a (relatively) large vapor chamber that covers the CPU, GPU, and memory to help the system run smoothly in a compact environment. Heat is vented out the rear, and a new thermal gel solution is used across the core parts.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The 14-inch screen makes such a small footprint possible, though it must be said that this is too small for some gamers. With any 14-inch gaming laptop, you really need to know you’ll be gaming on the go, or at least know you’ll be frequently traveling and would like to play games at either end of your destination. If you’re mostly staying put (or leaving your gaming PC at home), a larger laptop makes more sense, but if portability is among your priorities, this size is a good fit.
The display itself is fantastic: a 3K resolution (2,880-by-1,800-pixel) OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, Nvidia G-Sync support, and a glossy finish. It looks incredibly sharp and vibrant, though the panel is reflective enough for glare to be an issue in some settings. It can be tough at times to see darker scenes in games or videos; my own reflection occasionally gave me a jump-scare. The brightness isn’t quite as high as I’m used to, either, which can impact glare—the screen’s not dim, but it looks darker than it should at 50% or 75% brightness, while 100% just about does the job.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The keyboard, meanwhile, is comfortable enough. Like Blade keyboards in general, the keys don’t have a lot of travel, so they feel a little flat without the satisfying feedback of some alternatives. In the end, though, that feel doesn’t hurt the usability, and the best-in-class touchpad is a good complement, as it’s particularly roomy and has some of the smoothest panning on a Windows laptop.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Despite the compact size, the Blade 14 surprises with a wide range of ports. The setup is useful to the average user, and makes the machine particularly appealing to media editors and others who need certain peripherals and outputs. The left edge of the laptop holds the proprietary power jack, a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, and the headphone jack. On the right side, you’ll find one more of each USB type, an HDMI connection, and a microSD card slot. A 1080p webcam delivers superior video quality, while Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 round out the feature set.
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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
