Razer Blade 16 hands-on: a dream gaming laptop computer

Razer has given us a primary take a look at the Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18, which might be launched within the subsequent few months. And I’ll say proper now: I’m impressed.

The Blade 18 is the most important and strongest Razer Blade that has ever been launched, which is neat in itself. But I’m truly much more excited concerning the Blade 16, which is debuting some never-before-seen on a Razer Blade.

First, there’s a Mini LED display screen. And it appears nice. On the display screen, some shades appeared blindingly brilliant towards black backdrops, the place they could’ve appeared washed out on different gaming shows. Black areas, talking of, appeared gorgeously black.

Next to the Blade 16 mannequin in its demo space, Razer truly had a separate panel manufactured from Mini LEDs that mirrored what the Blade 16 was doing. When native dimming zones brightened and dimmed on the Blade, the corresponding diodes brightened and dimmed on the panel. (I do know it’s exhausting to image, however you possibly can see what I’m speaking about within the photograph under.) We have been advised that the Blade 16’s display screen had 1,000 native dimming zones, and that seems like an enormous quantity on paper — however this panel actually highlighted (heh) simply what number of teensy, impartial lights are crammed into that laptop computer, and the way a lot work they’re all doing.

We weren’t truly capable of play any titles on these Blade fashions, since they have been pre-production models — Razer solely confirmed us a video of recreation footage. This meant I used to be not capable of strive the intriguing toggle function (which lets you simply swap between 4K/120Hz and 1920 x 1200/240Hz modes), however my colleague Cameron Faulkner wrote about that earlier at this time if you wish to know extra.

I’m additionally thrilled — thrilled, I inform you — that these laptops have 16:10 screens; it actually does make the 16-inch panel appear countless in comparison with Blades that I’ve used prior to now. As a bonus, the taller display screen makes for an extended chassis, which gave Razer room for a big 95.2Wh battery — which, with all the flowery display screen options this gadget must energy, could also be an actual necessity.

I used to be additionally capable of take the keyboard and touchpad for a spin, and I can affirm that they’re the identical previous giant, sturdy keyboard and touchpad that we’ve seen on Razer Blades previous. Inside, configurations include Intel’s Thirteenth-Gen Core i9-13950HX and as much as Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4090 graphics. The Blade 16 begins at $2,699.99.

Now, all of those additions do include a grand complete of 1 change that I think about a compromise. That’s the scale. The Blade 16 is 5.4 kilos and 13.98 x 9.61 x 0.87 inches. That’s virtually a full pound heavier and over a tenth of an inch thicker than final yr’s Blade 15 (which this isn’t changing, per se, however they’re clearly in the same class).

This is a heavy gadget; it was a ache for me to elevate up, and it definitely doesn’t really feel fairly as slim and smooth because the Blade 15 did final yr. But that’s a compromise some of us might be keen to make to be able to get this Mini LED display screen (in addition to the improved efficiency the Blade 16 brings), and that’s honest sufficient.