Until Razer embarks on one of its rare complete redesigns, we know what we’re getting when a Blade machine crosses our test bench. That’s not a bad thing—these are some of the most premium gaming laptops around, and no one expects, say, Apple to change the MacBook Pro’s design annually. I’ve just reviewed many similar-looking Razer systems over the years.
This laptop lid has become practically iconic by this point. (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The trademark thin aluminum build, all-black style, and green lid logo stay the same, leading to a machine that feels as trim and luxe as ever. If you’re seeking exact measurements on this thin design, it measures 0.87 by 14.0 by 9.6 inches (HWD) and weighs roughly 5.4 pounds at higher-end configurations like ours. (The lightest is 4.7 pounds.) These are the same dimensions as the 2024 version of the Blade 16.
Razer’s touchpad is roomy and remains one of the smoothest and most responsive on any Windows laptop. I don’t like the keyboard quite as much (other pricey systems have more feedback and travel), but it’s still comfortable. It’s just a bit flat-feeling. The cost of this system is obviously high, and while a lot of that is because of the top-end components, much of it is this more premium build, too. Budget laptops have infamously cheap-feeling keyboards or touchpads, as higher-quality parts are more expensive to produce.
One area for slight improvement: Razer could level up the keyboard a bit. (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
That extends to the display, as well. The only panel currently available on the new model is a 240Hz QHD+ (2,560-by-1,600-pixel) OLED screen. (The screen with variable resolution and refresh rate that was seen on the previous model is no longer an option.) Its colors are brilliant and vibrant, as you’d expect from OLED, and the panel’s incredibly sharp. However, I found one glaring caveat: The shiny finish on this panel is highly reflective. The finish produces enough glare to the point I find it almost constantly distracting—in normal and even lower-light rooms, I see myself reflected in the screen as much as I see the image on the screen.
The single 240Hz display option isn’t a super match for an RTX 5060, but it sings with higher-tier GPUs. (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
This issue was challenging to grapple with while gaming, as I squinted past the reflection in dark environments while trying to aim. I encountered this while running some game-specific performance tests on Doom: The Dark Ages, and it remained a persistent issue while working on this review. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s basically a tinted mirror when the screen displays all black or mostly dark images.
You might not like proprietary power cords, but they do free up a USB port. (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
This laptop’s connectivity is wide-ranging, with its slim chassis thick enough to hold all essential ports. The left edge holds two USB Type-A ports, one USB4 Type-C connection, a headphone jack, and the proprietary power connector. The right flank hosts one more USB port of each type, an HDMI connection, and an SD card slot. The only potential miss here is an Ethernet jack, though it’s never a given on a gaming machine, even big ones. Ethernet can promote a more consistent internet connection, but it isn’t essential, and USB adapters are available.
This is a lot of ports for a laptop this thin. (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Razer also includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 1080p webcam in each Blade laptop. In my testing, this camera delivers above-average picture quality and video sharpness, with clear output and effective handling of lower-light environments.
