Razer unveiled new versions of its popular Blade gaming laptops at CES 2024, pushing the envelope with incredibly fast refresh rate displays packed into sleek and portable chassis. The new Blade 16 and 18 sport world’s first technology, custom components, and performace that competes with many desktop rigs.
OLED Makes Debut in Razer Blade Lineup
The showstopper of Razer’s CES showcase was the new Blade 16 featuring a 16-inch QHD+ panel with a blistering fast 240Hz refresh rate. This makes it the first 16-inch laptop to have an OLED display running at such high speeds. OLED technology provides perfect blacks, vibrant colors, and reduced motion blur compared to standard LED-lit LCD panels.
| Razer Blade 16 Key Specs | |
|---|---|
| Display | 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio, 240Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | Up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13950HX |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU |
| Memory | Up to 64GB DDR5 5600MHz |
| Storage | Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD |
The buttery smooth visuals combined with ultra color accuracy makes this an ideal machine for both gaming and creative work where color precision is paramount. The Blade 16 matches the aesthetic of prior models with an all-black CNC aluminum unibody chassis measuring just 0.73 inches thick and weighing 5.40 lbs.
Product manager Richard Hashimoto said “This is a no compromises laptopbalancing portability, performance and elite build quality for gamers and creators.”
Largest Razer Blade Gets 4K 165Hz Display
If the Blade 16 still doesn’t provide enough screen real estate, the new 18-inch Blade 18 may do the trick with an expansive display great for both work and play. Like its smaller sibling, the Blade 18 sets world first bragging rights as the only 18-inch laptop currently offering a 4K resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. The panel uses IPS technology known for its strong viewing angles compared to TN screens.
| Razer Blade 18 Specs |
|---|
Display | 18-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) IPS, 16:10 aspect ratio, 165Hz refresh rate
Processor | Up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13950HX
Graphics | Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
Memory | Up to 64GB DDR5 5600MHz
Storage | Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Despite the much larger footprint, Razer managed to keep thickness under 1 inch at 0.94 inches thick. Weight rises proportionally to 6.06 lbs. Gamers will appreciate the upgraded thermal design utilizing vapor chamber cooling to tame the latest high performance components packed inside.
Next Generation CPUs and GPUs Deliver Elite Power
Both the Blade 16 and 18 come equipped with Intel’s new 13th generation Core i9-13950HX mobile processor announced at CES. The chip has a whopping 24 cores (8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores) and clocks up to an incredible 5.6GHz peak frequency. Combined with support for fast DDR5 memory and speedy PCIe Gen 4 storage, these laptops will blaze through any task from gaming to video editing.
For graphics, NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 40 series takes over with the option to spec all the way up to a fully powered 175W RTX 4090 laptop GPU. This brings true desktop class performance going blow-for-blow against many tower rigs. DLSS 3 support also provides additional gaming performance lift through AI rendering techniques when enabled.
In his CES keynote, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang called the combination of 13th gen Intel CPUs and GeForce RTX 40 graphics in the Razer Blade series “The ultimate gaming laptop.”
AI and Connectivity Advancements
Razer has jumping fully on the AI bandwagon, leveraging machine learning to enhance both gaming visuals through NVIDIA’s platform as well as productivity. The Blade 16 and 18 include a new “AI Control Panel” allowing users to scale window sizes optimally for the display. An AI rendering mode also helps boost frame rates in games by utilizing Deep Learning Super Sampling.
Thunderbolt 4 ports running at 80 gbps come standard for lightning quick transfer speeds to external storage. Wi-Fi 6E provides the latest wireless connectivity up to 2.4 gbps for low latency gaming without any wires. The laptops also support Razer’s new HyperPolling Wireless technology promising esports grade competitive gameplay completely wirelessly when paired with Razer peripherals.
What This Means for Razer and the Laptop Market
Razer’s strong push to debut world first display technology in their new Blade laptops shows the company intends to maintain its status as the premium gaming notebook manufacturer. The OLED and 4K 165 Hz panels leave competitors such as Alienware and ASUS’s ROG line scrambling to catch up. Combined with cutting edge internals that blow most desktops out of the water, these notebooks also appeal to creators and power users wanting workstation grade performance without sacrificing sleek aesthetics.
The Blade series has never been cheap, and loading up all the bells and whistles pushes costs sky high over $4000. But Razer understands its audience cares more about owning the absolute best hardware available today no matter price. We expect the Blade 16 and 18 will top many wishlists despite the heavy damage they will do to wallets. Avon calling
While pricing hasn’t been formally announced, expect availability around Q2 2024 based on past Razer laptop release cycles. One thing is certain – these will set a new bar for what’s possible in portable computing power. Competitors and early adopters take note.
What’s Next for Razer
Razer used CES as a platform to show they are thinking ahead with innovation in gaming displays, connectivity, and eco-friendly design. We expect even more new technologies to come that push boundaries.
At some point, they could be the first gaming laptop maker to debut a foldable or rollable display to transform notebooks into portable workstations. Handheld gaming PCs similar to Valve’s Steam Deck also seem logical to compete with Nintendo and Playstation dominance of mobile gaming.
And of course, each new generation of laptops will incrementally improve capabilities across the board from CPUs and GPUs to battery life. While still niche products, premium notebooks are closing the gap quickly with mainstream desktop PCs. For many, true portability is starting to trump sheer performance for flexibilty – the new Blade 16 and 18 show its possible to deliver both in a reasonably sized package.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
