Razer, a renowned gaming laptop manufacturer, has unveiled its latest lineup of Blade laptops, featuring significant specifications upgrades. While the Blade 16 and Blade 18 models have grabbed the headlines with their impressive OLED displays, other minor improvements across the range have also been introduced.
The Blade 16 has been equipped with a remarkable 2560 x 1600 240Hz OLED panel, offering enhanced visual clarity and smoothness during gaming. Additionally, Razer has confirmed that this model will also be available with a dual-mode mini-LED display, which allows users to switch between 4K/120Hz or 1600p/240Hz. What’s even more exciting about the dual-mode display is its new local dimming feature, which can be toggled through software. To complement the improved display, Razer has upgraded the Blade 16’s CPU from the 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13950HX to the 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX. Although the specifics of the new CPU haven’t been disclosed yet, leaked benchmarks suggest that it is comparable to its predecessor. Moreover, the Blade 16 continues to support up to an RTX 4090 GPU, providing exceptional gaming performance. The Blade 16 is available for pre-order on Razer’s official website, starting at $2,999.99.
Moving on to the Blade 14, this model has received a minor CPU update, replacing the previous AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS with the Ryzen 9 8945HS. The new CPU offers improved onboard AI processing, supporting tasks like Windows Studio or Copilot. Razer has also ensured that the Blade 14’s 2560 x 1660 240Hz panel is now Calman Verified, guaranteeing factory calibration to deliver accurate colors. The Blade 14 retains its configurability options, allowing users to choose an RTX 4070 GPU with a maximum power draw of 140W. Pre-orders for the Blade 14 will begin on January 23rd, 2024.
As for the Blade 18, Razer has kept details to a minimum. It has been confirmed that the laptop will come with a 4K 165Hz panel and Thunderbolt 5 support, offering significant advancements such as 240W charging, 120Gbps data transfer, and up to 540Hz refresh rate video. However, further information on the Blade 18 will be released later in the year.
Furthermore, Razer has introduced a new 11-port USB-C dock, encased in aluminum. This versatile dock offers Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, UHS-1 SD and microSD slots, a 3.5mm audio jack with 7.1 surround sound support, four USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. The USB-C ports and two USB-A ports have 10Gbps transfer rates, while the remaining USB-A ports operate at 480Mbps. The dock supports 85W power passthrough and delivers 4K/60Hz display output via HDMI. Priced at $119.99, the USB-C dock is available for purchase now.
Razer continues to push the boundaries of gaming laptops, offering enthusiasts and professionals alike a range of high-performance machines packed with cutting-edge features. With these upgraded Blade models and the new USB-C dock, users can elevate their gaming and productivity experiences to new heights.