The Razer Blade 16 is designed to be the gaming-focused various to the MacBook Pro, and I’m all the time right here for that. I really like a gaming laptop computer that also seems and looks like a considerably regular laptop computer, and the brand new Blade returns to a thinner and lighter chassis design after the last-gen bought a bit chunky. The highest-end configuration additionally adopts the brand new flagship Nvidia RTX 5090 laptop GPU and a fair heftier value of $4,499.99 ($200 greater than the 4090 mannequin).
I’ve spent a while with the brand new Razer Blade 16, however my first evaluation unit had noticeable {hardware} points and was changed by Nvidia, which offered the Blades for RTX 5090 testing. I’ve solely had the substitute unit for a number of days, and whereas it doesn’t exhibit any of the identical efficiency points or buzzy audio system, it’s had a few random bluescreens of its personal. I’m in troubleshooting talks with Razer, however whereas that’s ongoing, I’m nonetheless testing this laptop computer and sizing up my emotions about it. Contemplate this me posting by way of it — a bit glimpse into my inner dialog. (You’re welcome. But in addition, I’m sorry?)
I really like a lot of the {hardware} on the brand new Blade — most. Its 16-inch, 2560 x 1600 OLED show with a 240Hz refresh price stays a stunning panel to work and play on, similar to its predecessor. And the keyboard and trackpad are total superb. My largest gripe with the keyboard is the brand new column of macro keys on the precise, which frequently causes me to mute the microphone once I imply to hit the precise arrow. It’s one more drawback that might have been averted by utilizing the usual inverted-T arrow key association that’s simpler to seek out by really feel. Are Home windows laptop computer makers ever going to be taught?
The thinner and lighter chassis is a welcome change (it shaves off a complete 7mm and 0.8 kilos), although I have to do extra thermal testing to see if it’s pretty much as good at cooling because the final mannequin. There’s additionally Razer’s Laptop Cooling Pad, which can provide the Blade 16’s GPU and CPU as much as 25W extra energy every. I’ve it right here, so I’ll see if HyperBoost is well worth the added noise and additional $150. I additionally wonder if thicker gaming laptops may eke out extra juice from the RTX 5090.
As I’ve already written, the RTX 5090 GPU within the Blade 16 is a fantastic improve when you take pleasure in DLSS and body era. I’m going to proceed testing it, together with extra gaming whereas on battery energy. Nvidia’s made some big claims about how highly effective but power-efficient the 50-series laptop computer playing cards are, and in my early testing, the 5090 is about 20 % extra environment friendly than the 4090, so I’m intrigued.
However I’m skeptical, as a result of once I’m not gaming, the Blade 16 struggles to get by way of a primary work day on battery, even whereas utilizing productiveness apps like Slack, Chrome, and Google Docs on the built-in graphics. Its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 “Strix Level” CPU can simply stretch past eight hours of labor in different gaming laptops, just like the 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, however I can’t get 5 and a half hours with the Blade, regardless of enabling Superior Optimus and triple-checking the graphics settings in Nvidia Management Panel, Home windows Settings, and Synapse. (Possibly there’s one thing misconfigured someplace, so I’ll proceed testing this too.)
This laptop computer is meant to be nice for productiveness, artistic apps, and gaming. It prices four-and-a-half thousand {dollars}. A part of me actually likes what it has to supply, and I’m downright impressed with how cool it will possibly run below load, however one other a part of me thinks the worth is outlandish if issues are randomly crashing below gentle masses and it’s a must to cost a number of instances a day. For that cash, you should purchase a $2,000 MacBook Pro that may deal with artistic workflows and final nicely over a complete day (when you don’t thoughts MacOS, in fact). And also you’d have one other $2,500 to spend on a decent gaming laptop computer, or perhaps a extra highly effective desktop.
Nevertheless, I’ll concede that having one gadget to do all of it is a slick proposition. I maintain coming again to how good this laptop computer seems and feels. And boy does it make video games look fairly and run them easily, both on its good OLED or on an exterior 4K monitor. It’s, in any case, meant for video games.
I can nonetheless see myself loving the Blade 16. However we’ll must see within the full evaluation, after a complete bunch extra testing that’s hopefully (fingers crossed) devoid of any additional technical hangups.
What do you assume? Does any laptop computer truly make sense for almost 5 grand? Let me know within the feedback, and if there’s something particularly you’d prefer to see examined on the Blade 16 for the complete evaluation.
Pictures by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge