Razer Blade 16 (2023) review

Trade in Razer Blade 16 (2023)

(Image credit: Future)

The Razer Blade 16 (2023) emerges as an exceptionally pricey gaming laptop, effortlessly dominating benchmarks and challenging bank balances with its prowess.

This high cost is typical of Razer’s offerings. Despite debates over its value proposition, it’s undeniable that the company consistently integrates potent hardware into aesthetically pleasing packages. The 2023 Blade 16 exemplifies this ethos, boasting a top-tier 13th Gen Intel Raptor Lake CPU and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series laptop graphics card.

While I hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend this machine for everyone, given the abundance of excellent alternatives in our list of the best gaming laptops, those with disposable income will find much to admire here.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: SPECS

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: PRICE AND CONFIGURATION

• Starts around $2,499
• Expect to pay upwards of $4k if you want the power of a 4090

The Razer Blade 16 (2023) kicks off at $2,499, but for our review, Razer provided an upgraded unit priced at $4,299.

For this substantial investment, you receive an Intel Core i9-13950HX processor paired with the formidable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, complemented by 32GB of RAM and a generous 2TB of storage spread across two 1TB NVMe M.2 SSDs. Additionally, it features the “dual-mode” 16-inch Mini-LED display, offering either 120Hz at a resolution of 3840 x 2400 or 240Hz at 1920 x 1200 — more details on this shortly.

(Image credit: Future)

If you prefer starting with the entry-level option priced at $2,499, the model features a downgrade in GPU to an RTX 4060, along with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of NVMe storage. Additionally, it comes with a 1440p, 240Hz display. Razer’s typical hardware aesthetic is black (and green), but it’s also available in “Mercury” (white).

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: DESIGN

• Simple black-and-green aesthetic is gorgeous
• At 5.4 pounds it’s not exactly light, but it is sturdy

The Razer Blade 16 review unit we received is undeniably gorgeous. Its black, anodized aluminum shell is sleek and devoid of excessive design elements (after removing some stickers and badges), with subtle green accents on the lid badge and USB ports. Razer has maintained a simple aesthetic throughout the Blade line’s existence, prioritizing the internal components of the laptop over flashy external features like Transformer-style baffles or motorcycle-inspired grilles, which I appreciate.

(Image credit: Future)

Green happens to be my preferred color. If green isn’t your preference, you have full control over the keyboard’s color scheme using Razer’s software, adjusting each key individually. Unfortunately, you can’t alter the color of the logo on the lid, which may be disappointing but makes sense for branding purposes.

This device is built like a tank, which arguably outweighs its aesthetics. The shell is sturdy, showing no signs of bending or flexing when pressure is applied. The display hinge strikes a balance between firmness and smoothness, staying securely in place while typing but effortlessly opening or closing with just a finger. At 5.4 pounds, it’s not exactly lightweight, but I’m willing to overlook a bit of weight when such power is packed into a shell that’s barely an inch thick.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: PORTS

• Plenty of ports for peripherals
• An Ethernet jack would be nice for downloading big files and games

Our review unit of the Razer Blade 16 (2023) boasts ample ports. Positioned on the left side, you’ll discover a duo of USB 3.2 Gen A ports, accompanied by a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and the connector for the proprietary power brick.

(Image credit: Future)

On the right side, there’s an additional USB-C port, another USB-A port, an HDMI port, a Kensington security lock slot, and an SD card reader. This array of ports satisfies my needs. With a USB-C port on each side, it optimizes charging possibilities (provided your power brick can deliver sufficient power). The USB-A ports offer flexibility for connecting peripherals to enhance the gaming experience, while the SD card slot allows me to utilize the available horsepower for photography workflows.

(Image credit: Future)

I share your sentiment regarding proprietary power bricks, but concessions are necessary to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of such high power. Additionally, I would appreciate the inclusion of a gigabit Ethernet port, particularly considering the hefty sizes of modern games, often exceeding 100GBs. However, I’m prepared with numerous USB-C dongles to compensate for this absence.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: DISPLAY

• Rare dual-display mini-LED screen looks great but costs $1,700 extra
• Being able to swap between 4K and 1200p is cool but requires restart

The 16-inch mini-LED display stands out as perhaps the most significant component of this machine, contributing approximately $1,700 to the price tag according to Razer’s configurator, and offering a distinct productivity advantage.

There are two selectable modes: the first boasts a resolution of 3,840 by 2,400 pixels with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the second features a resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels with an impressive 240Hz refresh rate. It’s evident that the higher resolution mode is tailored for creative endeavors, aligning the hardware towards content creation and similar tasks. Despite the hardware’s potency, achieving a consistent 60 frames per second without compromising on visual fidelity can be challenging.

(Image credit: Future)

However, switching between the two display modes necessitates a restart of the machine. While the NVMe SSDs facilitate a swift process, I found it cumbersome to adhere to this procedure every time I wished to alternate between modes during use. Rebooting the machine each time I felt like procrastinating didn’t suit my workflow preferences.

(Image credit: Future)

The display is undeniably impressive. We measured an average brightness of 494.8 nits across the screen, falling just short of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (533.4 nits) but comfortably surpassing the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 (318.6 nits) and Asus’ ROG Strix G18 (383.6 nits).

Whether indoors or outdoors, you’ll have no trouble appreciating deep blacks and rich, albeit slightly oversaturated colors. Additionally, in dimly lit environments, the display truly comes to life, especially when the keyboard’s lighting synchronizes with compatible games like Cyberpunk 2077.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: KEYBOARD & TOUCHPAD

• Big, comfy and quiet keyboard
• Big trackpad affords plenty of room to move

The keyboard dominates the majority of the Blade 16’s chassis, flanked by speakers on either side. There’s ample space on the frame for full-sized keys, ensuring comfortable and accurate typing.

The keys are relatively quiet, offering a satisfying amount of travel with each press. This prevents the sensation of hammering into the frame, whether you’re navigating the horror-infested corridors of Elden Ring or typing away on a piece of prose. However, the arrow keys are an exception; given the prevalence of WASD controls and scroll wheels on mice, I’ve grown accustomed to laptop keyboards sacrificing them to conserve space.

(Image credit: Future)

Measuring at 4 x 6.9 inches, the trackpad feels remarkably spacious. While I typically use a mouse, having ample room to maneuver is a welcomed feature. I found that my swipes and gestures were accurately tracked, and despite its size, the centered position and effective palm rejection ensured I didn’t encounter any accidental swipes or clicks, even with my large hands.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: AUDIO

• Stereo speakers sound loud and crisp
• Light bass

The stereo speakers on our Razer Blade 16 (2023) review unit are positioned at each end of the keyboard and deliver impressive sound quality. While they may lack a bit in bass, as is common when audio isn’t the primary focus, they offer clear and crisp sound, even at higher volumes.

As I continue to listen to Aesop Rock’s Integrated Tech Solutions, I appreciate the clarity of every detail, from the snap of a snare to the subtle cooing of pigeons. Additionally, these speakers can reach impressive volumes without distorting into a tinny sound. For further customization, the THX Spatial Audio app is included, allowing you to tweak the audio experience to your preference.

While I’m not an audiophile myself and don’t delve into equalizers, the provided presets offer a variety of profiles tailored for different activities, whether it’s watching video game trailers, playing a game, or enjoying a video game’s original soundtrack.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

• Killer performance in games and apps at 1200p
• Gaming at 4K is possible, but don’t expect rock-solid 60 frames per second

Indeed, let’s delve into the synthetic benchmarks obtained from our Razer Blade 16 (2023) review unit, providing insights into its overall performance.

In the GeekBench 6 testing suite, the Razer Blade 16 (2023) achieved a score of 13,609, slightly surpassing the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 (13,524). Regarding storage performance, the SSD exhibited a file transfer rate of approximately 1.8GB per second when transferring 25GB of files in 15 seconds. The Legion Pro 5 outpaced it with a transfer rate of 2.1GB per second. Comparatively, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 recorded a transfer rate of 1.6GB per second, while the Asus ROG Strix G18 achieved 1.1GB per second.

On the Handbrake test, involving transcoding a 4K video to 1080p, the Blade 16 completed the task in 4 minutes and 13 seconds. This duration was slightly longer than the Legion Pro 5, which finished in 4 minutes and 5 seconds. In contrast, the Zephyrus took 4 minutes and 51 seconds, while the Strix completed the task in 2 minutes and 52 seconds. These variations in results are largely attributable to the differing strengths and weaknesses of the CPUs (AMD vs Intel), SSD models, and other factors.

During photo editing in Adobe Lightroom, leveraging the 3,840 by 2,400 pixel resolution and the full-sized SD card slot, the hardware demonstrated robust performance as anticipated. While the fans became slightly more audible during intensive editing tasks, the overall editing experience remained remarkably smooth. However, despite the potential for productive pursuits, it’s evident that this machine is primarily designed for gaming purposes.

(Image credit: Future)

In Cyberpunk 2077, I observed an average of 114 frames per second while running the Ray Tracing: Ultra preset at a resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels. This setting maximizes the game’s graphical options and utilizes Nvidia RTX 4090’s DLSS technology, rendering frames at a lower resolution and then upscaling the image to achieve the desired resolution. By comparison, the Legion Pro 5 yielded 69.2 frames per second at a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels. After restarting and switching to the higher resolution of 3,840 by 2,400 pixels, the frame rate dropped significantly to a less satisfactory 40 frames per second.

A similar trend was observed in Total War: Warhammer III. Using the Battle benchmark at a resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels with Ultra settings, the average frame rate reached 145.3 frames per second. However, after increasing the resolution to 3,840 by 2,400 pixels, the frame rate dropped to 52.5 frames per second.

This outcome was expected. While the RTX 4090 and Core i9-13950HX are powerful components, achieving high frame rates at such a high resolution poses a significant challenge, necessitating substantial heat dissipation. Although it’s possible to attain acceptable frame rates at the higher resolution by adjusting settings, it’s evident that the system is optimized for gaming at the lower resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels with a 240Hz refresh rate, while the higher resolution is intended for productivity tasks. However, gaming at the lower resolution with higher frame rates proved preferable for me, and the inconvenience of restarting the machine to switch to the higher resolution mode became burdensome.

For testing, I utilized the Balanced power profile with the CPU set to “High.” Razer’s Synapse software allows for toggling a “Boost” mode, which maximizes the CPU performance and enables setting the fans to run at maximum speed. With these settings, Total War: Warhammer III averaged 56 frames per second at the maximum resolution. However, this performance boost comes at the cost of increased fan noise, resembling an airliner preparing for takeoff, which may not be preferable for everyone.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: BATTERY LIFE & HEAT

• Battery lasts roughly 5 and a half hours surfing the web, 90 minutes gaming
• Get ready for a toasty lap when gaming

The battery life of our Razer Blade 16 (2023) review unit aligns with expectations, albeit not outstandingly so. It endured for 5 hours and 30 minutes during our battery stress test, involving web browsing with the laptop’s brightness set to 150 nits.

During the PCMark 10 gaming battery tests, the machine managed to last for 1 hour and 32 minutes. This duration provides a clearer indication of how long the device can sustain gaming on battery power. While an hour and a half may suffice for tasks like sorting through belongings in Starfield, individual experiences may vary.

Under significant load, the laptop tends to get warm. In Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, we recorded a peak temperature of 129.2 degrees Fahrenheit. During our standard heat test, involving playing an HD video for 15 minutes followed by temperature measurement, we recorded a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Image credit: Future)

Anecdotally, while lounging on the couch and engaging in web surfing and writing tasks, the machine did become slightly warm at times, although never to an uncomfortable extent. With the laptop set to its default “Balanced” performance setting, the fans emitted a persistent hum. However, when plugged in, users have the option to toggle between different automated profiles, including one that operates almost silently, or manually adjust their preferred RPM level.

Conversely, during gaming sessions, such as in Cyberpunk 2077, the fans ramped up significantly, generating noticeable noise, and even the palm rest area warmed up noticeably.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: WEBCAM

• 1080p webcam is fine for day-to-day use and work calls
• IR camera allows you to log in with your face via Windows Hello

For day-to-day conference calls, the full HD webcam performs adequately. Operating in a dimly lit office environment, which is my preference, isn’t ideal, but with some natural light filtering in from specific angles, the captured image remains clear. Additionally, the microphone effectively captures dialogue with clarity.

Of particular note is the support for Windows Hello on the IR camera, enabling users to bypass the password and log in with a simple glance. However, beyond this feature, there isn’t much else noteworthy to mention about the webcam setup.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: SOFTWARE

• No bloatware worth noting besides Razer Synapse
• Synapse is annoying but required for full RGB controls

Windows 11 comes with a lot of bundled features, which may not appeal to everyone. Fortunately, Razer keeps things streamlined by only including their Synapse software. If you’ve ever used a Razer device before, you’re likely familiar with it: the app serves as a central hub for controlling various aspects of the laptop, from switching between display modes to customizing the RGB lighting for each individual key on the keyboard.

To take advantage of profile syncing across devices, you’ll need to sign up for a Razer account. Additionally, you can integrate the Razer ecosystem with third-party devices like Philips Hue lights to create elaborate RGB setups. While setting up a device in Synapse might initially cause decision paralysis, the app offers a plethora of options once you start exploring its features. If you’re not a fan of the app recommending other Razer products, you can easily disable this feature in Synapse’s settings.

RAZER BLADE 16 (2023) REVIEW: VERDICT

So, what’s your game plan with this machine? If you’re all about flaunting the latest tech and specs, then you’re in for a treat. The hardware exudes quality, from the sleek black chassis to the comfortable keyboard and generously sized trackpad. While Razer Synapse’s RGB flexibility may be lost on someone as aesthetically uninspired as myself, the array of customization options it offers is undeniably enticing. And let’s not forget the star attraction: the dual-display technology. It’s like having ultra-HD resolution for business tasks during the day and higher frame rates for gaming after hours.

But let’s circle back to that hefty $4,000 price tag. Personally, I’m more about fast frame rates than scrutinizing pixels, and the hassle of restarting the machine just to switch display modes is a bit of a turn-off. I usually settle for the 1,920 by 1,200 resolution, which probably underutilizes the machine’s potential. However, perhaps you’re more ambitious than I am. The higher resolution display is fantastic for photo editing, boasting strong color accuracy, but my trusty 27-inch 1440p monitor gets the job done just fine; I’ll simply zoom in.

If you’re in the market for a portable workstation tailored for creative tasks, you’re already in MacBook Pro territory. Conversely, if gaming is your priority and you crave high frame rates, options like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8, and Asus ROG Strix G18 offer compelling alternatives at a lower price point. In fact, with the money you’d save, you could purchase a couple of Legion Pro 5s and still have enough left over for a mouse and a few displays.

But let’s face it, none of those alternatives come close to the cool factor of what Razer’s offering here. If you decide to invest in this machine, rest assured you won’t be disappointed. Just be sure to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

Source: Tom’s Guide