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When looking for a notebook well-suited to photo and editing, it makes a lot of sense for Windows users to look at laptops designed for gaming. After all, a gaming computer focuses on a powerful GPU, robust CPU and fast memory, all important components when trying to get the best performance out of software like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and video editors. The new Razer Blade 15 refresh ticks all these boxes while maintaining an even thinner design than its predecessors.
Razer originally launched the Blade 15 back in 2018. Since then, the company has added more powerful internal components, faster displays, doubled down on features for gamers while focusing more on creators, and improved connectivity options. The new mid-2021 update adds 11th generation Intel ‘H-series’ CPUs, next-generation Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs, PCIe Gen. 4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and more, all inside the thinnest form factor of any RTX-capable gaming laptop.
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The Razer Blade 15 is a mere 0.62″ (15.8mm) thick, 9.25″ (235mm) deep and 13.98″ (355mm) wide. Compared to the Blade 15, the MSI GS66 is 17% larger, the Gigabyte Aero 15 is 25% larger, and the Alienware M15 R4 is 31% larger, measured in total volume. Razer makes the Blade 15 using precision-crafted CNC aluminum with a durable anodized finish.
With the latest model, there are some key new options for the 15.6″ display. There’s a super-fast display available as an optional upgrade. You can get an FHD display with a 360Hz refresh rate and 2ms input lag, which is great for gaming. There’s also a 240Hz QHD display with 2.5ms lag and G-Sync. For creators, however, a 4K OLED display probably the way to go. The 4K display has 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, touchscreen capabilities, and has a 6500K white point.
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| The Razer Blade 15 has numerous configurations, many including different displays. The top-end configuration includes a 15.6″ 4K OLED touchscreen. |
In terms of new ports and built-in features, there are many. The ‘Advanced’ model includes a UHS-III SD card reader, a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, a new Full HD webcam and USB-C 20V charging. Plus, the notebook includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
Further key improvements come in terms of overall performance. Beyond new 11th-generation Intel H-series and Core i9 processor options, the memory speed is increased to 3200MHz, and there’s PCIe Gen 4 storage.
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Pricing for the ‘Advanced’ model ranges from $2,299 for the base configuration up to $3,399 for the most decked-out Razer Blade 15. The OLED 4K display is only available in the top-of-the-line version. However, a 240Hz QHD IPS-type display with 100% DCI-P3 coverage is available for $2,699. The base model includes the Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card with 8GB of VRAM. The high-end RTX 3080 with 8GB is available for $2,999, and a 16GB version is in the top-end machine. The base model has 1TB (PCIe) storage, while the rest of the models include this plus an open M.2 slot. Every model save for the most expensive includes an 8-core 11th-gen i7 (11800H) processor with up to 4.2GHz with Max Boost. The highest-end Blade 15 has a Core i9 (11900H) with up to 4.9GHz speeds. RAM ranges from 16GB to 32GB. You can see the full specs per model by enlarging the image below.
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| Click to enlarge |
You can preorder the Razer Blade 15 today, with shipping expected to begin in June. As mentioned, prices start at $2,299. We are working on a review of the Razer Blade 15, which should be published in the near future.
Author:
Jeremy Gray
Source: Dpreview
