The New Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop: Thinner, Lighter, and Powerful
The gaming laptop market has seen a trend of slim and lightweight designs, and the Razer Blade 14 takes it to the next level. This powerhouse of a gaming laptop boasts a powerful CPU and the Nvidia RTX 4070, making it a top choice for gamers. However, with a starting price of $2,399, it may not be the best option for casual gamers who want to play on the go, especially with the availability of alternatives like the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally.
Design and Features
The Razer Blade 14 features a sleek all-black unibody design reminiscent of the MacBook Pro, but without the notch. Weighing just 4 pounds and measuring only 0.7 inches thick, it is comparable to the MacBook Pro 14 in size. Unlike the MacBook Pro, though, the Razer Blade 14 can handle demanding PC games without the need for software like WINE.
The keyboard deck is flanked by speaker grilles that house impressive laptop speakers. Below the keyboard lies a large, accurate trackpad with excellent palm rejection, making it ideal for both gaming and office work. The keyboard itself is comfortable to type on, and the RGB lighting adds a customizable touch.
Display and Portability
The Razer Blade 14 boasts one of the best displays on the market with a 14-inch IPS panel and a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. The display supports HDR, covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, and offers a brightness of 500 nits. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides a slightly taller image, enhancing the visual experience of games.
Despite its slim design, the Razer Blade 14 doesn’t compromise on ports. It features an HDMI port, two USB-A, two USB-C, a dedicated charging port, and a headphone jack. This means you can easily connect your peripherals without the need for dongles. The laptop comes with a sizable charging brick to accommodate the power-hungry RTX 4070.
Performance and Gaming
Equipped with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and the RTX 4070, the Razer Blade 14 is a performance powerhouse capable of running demanding games at high settings and its native resolution. It can handle games like Cyberpunk 2077 with the Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, averaging around 50 fps. With DLSS frame generation, the laptop’s performance increases significantly, reaching up to 74 fps in the benchmark.
Less demanding games like Forza Horizon 5 run smoothly on the Razer Blade 14, achieving 88 fps at 1600p and over 100 fps at 1080p. In CPU-intensive games like Total War: Warhammer 3, the laptop maintains a respectable 56 fps at 1600p, thanks to the Ryzen 9 7940HS.
Battery Life
Surprisingly, the Razer Blade 14 boasts an impressive battery life. In the PCMark10 battery test, it lasted for 9 hours and 19 minutes, almost double the endurance of similar gaming laptops. This means you can enjoy gaming sessions without constantly worrying about finding a power source.
Conclusion
The Razer Blade 14 stands out as a thin, lightweight, and powerful gaming laptop. While it comes with a high price tag, it delivers impressive performance, a stunning display, and a comfortable keyboard. Its long-lasting battery life adds to its appeal. However, for those on a budget or looking for more affordable alternatives, the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally may be more suitable options.