Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

The Razer Blade is losing its edge

Luke Larsen
By
The Razer Blade 14 and 18 on a table.
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
CES 2024
Read and watch our complete CES coverage here

For years, a more cutting-edge gaming laptop than the Razer Blade has not existed. But at CES 2024, other companies have started pulling ahead in some key areas.

It’s not that Razer didn’t bring updates this year — don’t get me wrong. The Razer Blade 16 now has what Razer calls the first 16-inch 240Hz OLED gaming laptop, and while that is technically true, it’s not as impressive as it sounds. In fact, Razer had a 15-inch 240Hz OLED laptop just last year, which is nearly identical. It comes with Intel’s Raptor Lake Refresh HX chip and still can be configured up to an RTX 4090 for graphics.

Recommended Videos

But really, there’s just not a lot here that feels exciting or new. The design still looks good, of course, but the external changes are minimal. It’s a tried-and-true aesthetic, but it’s been a while since any changes have been made.

Related

Razer also has a new version of its Blade 18 with a 4K 175Hz display. This is being sold as a desktop replacement, but it’s not using advanced panel backlighting — just standard LED. Laptops like the MSI Titan 18 HX are taking things further, with a 4K 120Hz but using mini-LED for better HDR.

The Razer Blade 16 on a chair in front of a window.
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

The biggest problem is with the Razer Blade 14, which didn’t get a panel update like the other models. It’s still using a QHD 240Hz LED display and comes with the new Ryzen 8945HS. Meanwhile, laptops like the redesigned ROG Zephyrus G14 have moved to a 2880 x 1800 OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It can hit 500 nits and should provide some impressive HDR performance. Not to mention — the Zephyrus G14’s new look is starting to encroach on the Razer Blade’s territory for its sleek, minimalist design. Like seriously, Asus is really gunning for Razer with this one.

Again — don’t get me wrong — I still think these new Razer Blade gaming laptops look solid. And until we review any of them, we won’t know important things like performance, battery life, and display quality. But from the vantage point here at CES, these new Razer Blades don’t have the same luster as they used to, especially when lacking proper HDR on the Blade 14 and 18.

The Razer Blade 16 will cost $3,000, with presale starting today and officially rolling out on January 18. The Razer Blade 14 is coming later, with preorders on January 23, while the Razer Blade 18 still seems a way out.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Luke Larsen
Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
It’s the right time to buy an older gaming laptop
An Alienware m16 gaming laptop in use on a desk, playing Baldur's Gate III.

Typically, buying the latest hardware is recommended. When it comes to gaming laptops, each year we see new GPUs and CPUs that are worth the extra cash -- or even waiting a few months for.

But this year, things are different. We've just seen a slew of new gaming laptops unveiled during CES 2024, but if it's extra performance you care about, you won't find much new.

Read more
Glasses-free 3D gaming can be amazing — but only if it’s done right
Lies of P on Samsung's glasses-free 3D gaming monitor at CES 2024.

Glasses-free 3D is making a comeback. And please -- don't roll your eyes and write this off as a gimmick just yet.

I saw two similar 3D gaming monitors at CES last week that used this technology and tracked your eyes to fool you into seeing depth in a 2D screen. It's pretty convincing stuff, especially for games. I really want to see this technology come to fruition, but based on what I've seen so far, it needs to be done the right way if it hopes to get people's attention. The term "3D" has left a bad taste in people's mouths, and if this new wave of monitors wants to undo that, it needs to make a good first impression.
A tale of two methods
Samsung Has a 3D Gaming Monitor That Doesn’t Need Glasses | CES 2024

Read more
Anything is possible in this new era of gaming monitors
A gaming monitor playing Hot Wheels Unleashed.

Sometimes, you get everything you've wanted. We probably won't see much innovation from gaming monitors over the next couple of years. We're on the heels of CES 2024, and we saw some exciting gaming monitor announcements -- the first 4K QD-OLED displays, a 480Hz OLED monitor, and even some experimentation with glasses-free 3D.

After several years of innovation only applying to the most expensive of expensive gaming monitors, displays are finally providing a leap forward for gamers. Gaming monitors have hit a new mountaintop peak -- time to enjoy the view and imagine the possibilities of what comes next.
The peak

Read more