The Razer Blade Stealth is a terrific ultrabook, great for use at home and on the go. But like most laptops, you can always make it a little better with some great accessories.

With that in mind, here's the stuff you should be looking at for your own Razer Blade Stealth.

Related: Top Amazon Prime Day Computer Accessory Deals Ranked

Razer Protective Sleeve

Razer's official sleeve for the Blade Stealth is made from a PVC canvas that's both durable and water-resistant, so your laptop will be safe and dry. As you'd expect to find, there's a soft interior to protect against scratches, and it's overall a very well made and professional looking sleeve.

The best part is that the flap is large enough to fold over flat and be used as a mousepad when you're out and about. A small detail, but one which makes it even easier to recommend this sleeve. Grab one for $40.

See at Razer

Razer Core V2

The Razer Core is pretty pricey, but what it does for the Blade Stealth is turn it into a full desktop gaming PC. By attaching it over Thunderbolt 3, you can connect a full desktop GPU for proper PC gaming when you're at home.

Besides the graphics card, the Core also has a bunch of IO, expanding the connectivity of your Blade Stealth massively with external displays and additional USB capacity.

It's fairly pricey at $500, but combined with a Blade Stealth it's a lot less than having an ultrabook as well as a desktop gaming PC at home.

See at Amazon

Logitech MX Master 2S

For when you're not gaming there's no better mouse than the Logitech MX Master 2S. Not only is it ergonomically designed and absurdly comfortable to use, but it's got a great sensor, additional hardware buttons for shortcuts and pretty good battery life at around 70 hours.

You get up to 4000 DPI and either Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz wireless connection, and while it's around $90, it's hard to do better.

See at Amazon

Razer Deathadder Elite

The DeathAdder Elite isn't new, but it's certainly one of the most popular gaming mice on the market and one of Razer's finest.

Thanks to the smart design it sort of disappears into the palm of your hand, and with DPI up to 16,000, you're getting one smooth ride. The mechanical mouse switches are durable and precise, and a few extra buttons allow for a bit of customization through Razer synapse.

It's perfect for both gaming and everyday use, ridiculously comfortable to use and pretty good value at around $65.

See at Amazon

Dbrand skin

Not only will a skin protect the surface of your Blade Stealth, it'll give you the chance to really make it your own with a custom color and finish. The folks at Dbrand have their full range available for the laptop, and with prices starting at $24.95 for just the top skin, it's an affordable way to customize.

You can also get skins for the bottom and for the trackpad, with or without a cutout for the Razer logo. And if you want suggestions, the black camo looks pretty hot.

See at Dbrand

Mophie Powerstation AC

The biggest problem with the Mophie Powerstation AC is catching it when it's in stock. This isn't your average battery pack, as it contains a 22,000 mAh battery and a 100W power output so you can charge a laptop, such as the Blade Stealth, over USB-C.

Obviously it'll also let you recharge a phone or tablet, with 2.4A outputs available to quick charge those where supported. It's covered with a durable fabric finish, and while it's $200, for the heavy mobile laptop user, it's a worthy investment.

See at Amazon

These two laptops are both quite similar and very different. The Razer Book 13 is the company's first laptop targeted at non-gamers, with refined styling and focus on what people want from an Ultrabook. By contrast, the Blade Stealth has begun to move away from being an Ultrabook and become a true gaming laptop with the addition of dedicated NVIDIA graphics and high refresh rate displays. Whichever you end up choosing, you're going to get one of the best Windows laptops around.

Razer Book 13 vs Razer Blade Stealth: Tech Specs

On paper, there's little to choose between the two on a sheer spec comparison. Both have 11th Gen Intel processors, though the Razer Book 13 has a Core i5 option; otherwise, they're very close in most areas. They look very similar, color aside, and they're both 13.3-inch laptops.

This is no surprise because whenever Razer makes a laptop, you can guarantee it will have some of the best hardware available at that time.

There are some important differences to consider, though, which will certainly help you decide which is for you.

To game or not to game

The biggest differentiation between the two laptops is that one is targeted at gamers, the other is not. There has been a crossover with the Blade Stealth ever since it debuted, but at its heart, it has always been a product for gamers. And with an NVIDIA GTX 1650 inside, the latest generation of Blade Stealth can game without the addition of an external GPU.

That is still an option for the Blade Stealth and the Razer Book, but eGPUs are still a very niche product. The fact you no longer need one is certainly a reason for gamers to turn towards the Blade Stealth.

Paired with that dedicated graphics on the Blade Stealth is also the option for a high refresh rate 120Hz 1080p display. Razer did away with the 4K option and instead introduced a 1080p OLED panel as the alternative, so for a high resolution, you'd need to look at the Razer Book 13.

But as a package, the Razer Blade Stealth is the most powerful 13-inch laptop you can get and the most portable you can do some serious gaming on. That horsepower also makes it attractive to creators looking to accelerate apps such as Adobe Premiere Pro with that NVIDIA GPU.

The new best Ultrabook

For its first attempt at a regular Ultrabook, Razer absolutely nailed it. The Razer Book 13 isn't just good compared to Razer's other laptops; it's arguably the best Ultrabook money can buy right now. And that includes Dell's all-conquering XPS 13.

The Razer Book 13 is a little powerhouse of an Ultrabook, with an 11th Gen 28W Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU and fast LPDDR4X memory, and for the most part, the internals are comparable to the Blade Stealth aside from the graphics.

The Razer Book 13 perhaps looks more attractive for folks who need things like an HDMI output or a high-resolution display. And without a dedicated GPU, the battery will certainly last longer.

And like the Blade Stealth, the Book 13 also has an RGB keyboard and superb speakers with THX Spatial Audio. Razer doesn't tend to cut corners, and it's clear to see in the Book 13. It has everything. It's also considerably less expensive than the Blade Stealth, which could seal the deal if you're not into gaming.

Which should you buy?

It comes down to what type of laptop user you want to be with your new Razer notebook. If gaming or content creation isn't high on your list of priorities, then go for the Razer Book 13. It truly is a remarkable laptop, high quality, powerful, well designed, and impeccably made with a much more attractive asking price.

All these points also apply to the Blade Stealth, but with added graphics power and the option of a high refresh rate display to enjoy your games on. Both are incredible laptops, and we'd recommend either of them, but exactly which depends on what you plan to do with it.

What you need to know

• Razer is refreshing its popular Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook.
• A new, more powerful 11th Gen CPU is added at 28 watts.
• Gone is 4K, and instead, OLED at full HD is offered in addition to a 120Hz full HD display.
• The new Razer Blade Stealth 13 goes on sale this month (October) starting at $1,800.

It has been six months since Razer refreshed its popular and ground-breaking Blade Stealth 13 laptop. Appropriately labeled as the first (and virtually only) gaming Ultrabook, Razer is further tweaking its formula based on new technology available.

The tl;dr of today's announcement is the Blade Stealth is now significantly more powerful with a respectable processor bump. Razer is also dropping that 4K model and replacing it with dazzling full HD OLED. Here is all you need to know.

Razer Blade Stealth 13 (Late 2020)

Available starting in October with no new price bump (pricing starts at $1,800), Razer is going with Intel's latest 11th Gen Core i7 processor – the quad-core i7-1165G7. While Intel's usual refreshes are modest, this 11th Gen chip is now 28-watt (versus 25-watt earlier), matching Apple's chips used in its MacBook Pros.

That i7 processor jumps from a base CPU speed of 1.3 GHz to 2.8GHz with peak turbo in tow increasing from 3.9 GHz to 4.7Ghz. All this power in just a 13.3-inch Ultrabook at 3.1 pounds (1.41kg) is remarkable. Razer claims this setup is now "2.7x faster in content creation and more than 20% faster in office productivity" than the last model.

The new i7 is paired with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (Max-Q Design) – so nothing new there, but the two should result in real gaming in a very portable machine.

As usual, Razer is offering two display types depending on your priorities. If you game heavily, you'll want to opt for the matte, non-touch 120Hz full HD LCD screen – again, high-refresh displays are not standard in this form factor. For those more interested in content creation, Razer is dumping the overkill 4K option in favor of full HD OLED with touch (and Gorilla Glass). With deep blacks and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, this is an excellent choice for video and photo editors (who like to game on the side).

Another small change is the ports. Razer is going all-in on Thunderbolt 4 by adding a second Type-C port giving users even more options for high-end peripherals and charging options. There are still two Type-A ports for good measure as well.

The rest of the late-2020 Blade Stealth is mostly the same. You get four-upward firing speakers (now with THX Spatial Audio instead of Dolby), Windows Hello IR camera, 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and 512GB of fast SSD (which you can upgrade yourself). Charging is accomplished via a 100-watt Type-C adapter.

Price and availability

The late-2020 Razer Blade Stealth 13 starts at USD 1,799.99 / 1,999.99€ MSRP and will be available in October at Razer.com and through select retailers in Fall 2020.

Amazon has a unique sale going on right now as part of the deals of the day. You can get the Razer Blade Stealth 15 gaming laptop on sale for hundreds off in multiple configurations. The base version is $1,399.99 today and offers the most value considering it was going for as much as $1,700 in early August and has never dropped lower than $1,500 before. This same configuration is currently $1,600 at Razer.

Upgrade to an RTX 2070 Max-Q graphics card and get the laptop for $1,899.99. This one will definitely provide a better graphical experience, but the deal isn't quite as valuable since it's only about $100 off the regular price and it has been lower. You can also upgrade to a better graphics card and a 4K OLED display with the version of the laptop on sale for $2,099.99. That's $200 less than what it was selling for in July and a match for its lowest ever.

The original version of the Razer Blade Stealth on sale includes some amazingly powerful specifications for just $1,400. You'll get a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with up to 5.0 GHz, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card that's capable of ray tracing and cinematic-quality rendering, and a 512GB solid state drive for storage.

The 15.6-inch display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a 144Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for gamers. It's all built inside an aluminum unibody frame which is less than an inch thick and still as durable as possible. Other features include Wi-Fi 6 as well as Thunderbolt 3, both USB-A and USB-C ports, and HDMI.

The laptop also lights up and that lighting can be customized with Razer Chroma, a tech that lets you sync the lighting across all your Razer hardware. The memory and storage for the laptop are both expandable as well, so you can keep adding to it as you need.

While the world is staying home in quarantine, the tech companies have at least been keeping us entertained with hardware launches, and today, once again, it's Apple's turn with a new 13-inch MacBook Pro. And while some corners of the internet will go wild, as you'd expect, those of us that follow the Windows scene can look again and wonder just why folks are eager to throw piles of cash at the Cupertino giant.

There was a time when Apple led the way in making desirable, high-end laptops, but those days are gone. In the world of the 13-inch laptop, there is a new king of the hill for professional class hardware, and it comes from Razer, not Apple.

What you get with the new MacBook Pro 13-inch

Make no mistake, the hardware on the MacBook Pro 13-inch is excellent. Much is unchanged, like the Retina Display with True Tone which will continue to look eyewatering good. Apple's sticking with the Touch Bar, too, even though it's pretty weak compared to something like ASUS' ScreenPad, and while there are no legacy ports, there are still four USB-C Thunderbolt 3 connections which are more than you'll find on most Windows machines.

The new stuff sounds good, too. 10th Gen Intel processors with Iris Plus graphics, a better keyboard and a higher base storage capacity from its SSD. Apple's also using fast LPDDR4X RAM, and even though the design is pretty dated at this point, you at least know it's going to be well built.

There are some flies in the ointment, though, the first is that the 10th Gen models only start at $1,800, not the $1,200 entry point that you see in the store. Yes, Apple really did just launch two "new" versions of the MacBook Pro 13-inch with 8th Gen Intel processors. Sly dogs.

There's also no dedicated graphics, and to me, that's the biggest omission from a laptop which calls itself "Pro" in 2020. Apple and NVIDIA don't work together, OK, and maybe AMD's new RX 5500M just won't work in the MacBook Pro chassis. I'm not claiming to be smart enough to figure it out, but Apple really should be. Especially when you're having to fork out $2,000 just to get a Core i7.

After all ... Razer figured it out.

The Razer Blade Stealth is the king

Enter stage left, the Razer Blade Stealth. Swooping in like a wrecking ball to rewrite the rulebook for a 13-inch Ultrabook. High resolution and high refresh rate displays? Check. Dedicated graphics? Check. 10th Gen processors? You bet.

Obviously, it's never black and white, and the rumors of Apple's switch to its own design, ARM-based CPUs continues to swirl, but those don't exist yet and what does exist is, frankly, underwhelming. Razer, by comparison to Apple, is a small company, but a company that is continually pushing innovation. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

The latest refresh to the Blade Stealth is mind-blowing. There's no other way to describe it. Sure, it's targeted at gamers like the rest of the Blade lineup, but as we've come to see in recent times, the crossover between gaming machines and other fields like content creation are continually blurring.

The base model has a MacBook Pro-matching 16GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB of storage. Razer pairs these, though, with a Core i7-1065G7, and in this case a full HD display but with a 120Hz refresh rate. Because gamers want fast refresh rates.

Where Razer really pulls ahead is that the Blade Stealth doesn't rely on Iris Plus graphics. It has a GTX 1650 Ti 4GB inside from NVIDIA. And let's not beat around the bush, it annihilates the Iris Plus G7 integrated GPU. And the price for all this? $1,800.

You see where I'm going. If you'd like a more content-creation friendly 4K touch display, it's another $200 on top. Pretty good, right?

Why buy Apple anymore?

We've written many comparisons with Apple's laptops because whether they run Windows or not, they're in direct competition to a number of the best and brightest from this side of the OS ocean. And we'll always try to be as fair as possible, but one question always comes back around.

Why should anyone buy a MacBook Pro?

Ultimately, we settle on the same answer. Apple's software and services are locked-in. While you can enjoy much of what Microsoft makes on a Mac, you can't reverse that. And for folks entrenched in apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, there's no comparable product on Windows. Apple's control of the hardware/software mix results in an incredible, optimized experience, and it's totally understandable that those who use them wouldn't be able to leave them behind.

But for everyone else, Apple isn't the king anymore. The Windows family continues to innovate, benefitting from advances made by Intel and AMD, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Razer, ASUS and so many more. The ecosystem is thriving, and aside from a small group, there really is no "must buy" reason to get a Mac anymore.

If you're looking for a 13-inch Pro laptop, give the Razer Blade Stealth a try.

The Razer Blade Stealth is one of those odd laptops that try to straddle the line between Ultrabook and gaming PC. Featuring a 13.3-inch display and typical Ultrabook hardware, there is nothing particularly special about the Blade Stealth compared to the many options available. Nonetheless, there's something about this symmetrical beauty that makes it supremely enjoyable, including excellent fundamental, such as typing, display, trackpad, ports, and great battery life.

I've been using the Blade Stealth for a few weeks now, and despite one potentially annoying flaw, it's been hard for me to put it down.

Razer Blade Stealth (2019) features, display, and specs

Ultrabooks in 2019 are mostly all the same if you look at display sizes, resolutions, processors, RAM, and storage. Whether you go with premium offerings from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft, or others, all those laptops are in the same ballpark for performance. Because of that, the Blade Stealth comes off as "just another Ultrabook" – at least on paper. But what makes a laptop great, though, are not the specifications, but the overall feel, usage, and enjoying it. That's something that Microsoft gets with the Surface line, which is why it is so highly praised. As it turns out, Razer can do that too.

For this review, we used the $1,599 Blade Stealth (it was briefly on sale for $1,399, which is a much better deal). It has 16GB of DDR3 RAM (better for battery), a matte full HD display, 256GB of storage, and a respectable Intel Core i7-8565U processor. New this year is the option for an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 for some extra graphics punch. While it's not even close to an NVIDIA GTX 1050, it is this generation of laptop's equivalent to Intel Iris Pro or Iris Plus graphics, which are no longer available. If you can splurge a bit, get the version with the MX150.

Ports options are basic but well-balanced. There are two USB Type-C ports, with one being Thunderbolt 3 (the other for charging, data, or display out) and two Type-A ports along with a headphone jack. Razer ditched HDMI, which is fine for 2019 as many are making the change to Type-C for external displays.

For the display, the bezels are quite thin – at least on three of four sides. Razer is still using a broad "chin" for the bottom. I don't mind a large bottom bezel as it helps keep the display higher giving better viewing angles, but I would not say no to a taller 16:10 display in this same chassis. Gaming laptops benefit from 16:9, but this is not really a gaming laptop.

The matte full HD display is also part of Intel's new low-wattage series, something we saw recently with the excellent Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 and HP's Spectre Folio. Sipping just one watt of power (versus the normal two) this new display technology adds hours to a laptop's battery life. That matte display is non-touch, but there is a glossy 4K touch model, as well, though you'll pay $1,899 for the model with it. While 4K is neat at 13-inches, it is overkill for most consumers.

The full HD version hits around 98 percent for sRGB and 74 percent for Adobe RGB, making it very color accurate. Brightness is also excellent at over 400 nits. What Razer is missing here is a solid HDR option, which is becoming a trend this year. That aside, though, I enjoy this display – viewing angles are high, blacks aren't gray, brightness is excellent, and being matte, I could stare at it for hours without any eye fatigue. Skip the glossy 4K option unless you can justify it.

For user-upgrades don't expect much. Only the solid-state drive (SSD) for storage here is user replaceable with the RAM soldered on, so buy the configuration you want and need.

Razer Blade Stealth (2019) keyboard, trackpad, and audio

One thing that annoys me about Razer is inconsistency. The Blade Stealth feels different than the Blade 15, which feels different from the Blade Pro, which is odd since they all look the same except for size differences. The Blade Stealth, though, is my favorite of all the Blades specifically for the keyboard and trackpad.

The keys have a nice "pop" to them when depressed and while key travel is a bit low, it's far from annoying. I still think SteelSeries does it better, especially on MSI laptops, but the Blade Stealth ranks very high for favorite Ultrabook keyboards. For lighting, there is Razer Chroma still, but it is just a single zone instead of individual per-key like on the larger Blade laptops. That's fine, though, as the options are always fun to play with, including choosing all the different colors. Razer is also now correctly illuminates function and media keys, which makes life much easier. One complaint from some users is either the size or placement of the right shift key. Depending on how you type, you may make frequent use of the right shift key, in which case you will find this laptop challenging to adjust to for daily typing.

Razer nails the trackpad. It's one of the largest in any 13-inch Ultrabook, save for Apple's MacBook Air or Pro laptops. With smooth glass and powered by Microsoft Precision drivers, it's perfect. Even the click is excellent, again, differing from the larger Blade's stiffer button mechanic.

For audio, Razer uses four top-firing speakers with a dedicated amp. Dolby Atmos software is included. While HP and Lenovo are catching up to Microsoft for the sound, the Blade Stealth still does quite well compared to them, but Stealth's lead is undoubtedly shrinking. That said, these are outstanding speakers with ample volume and clarity, putting this laptop near the top.

Razer Blade Stealth (2019) is a power and battery champ

Razer uses the standard 15-watt Intel Core i7-8565U processor in the Blade Stealth. Performance is on par with the Huawei MateBook X Pro, making it one of the better performing Ultrabooks.

Cooling is handled by dual fans located on the bottom of the laptop. Placement of those fans makes them less than ideal when in your lap as both your legs will likely block them. That issue is only a problem if plugged in and set to performance mode, which is when those fans kick in to keep things cool. While the fans can get loud and the Blade Stealth can get toasty, that's only when plugged in and in full performance mode. Using it unplugged and like a productivity-based laptop, the Blade Stealth stays cool and quiet.

CPU

Geekbench 4.0 Benchmarks (higher is better)

PCMark

PCMark Home Conventional 3.0

GPU

Geekbench 4.0 CUDA (higher is better)

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (higher is better)

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The NVIDIA GeForce MX150 is not a gaming GPU, but it does give a substantial improvement. Some techies may lament that Razer didn't use the newer MX250, but that GPU in theory only offers around a five percent performance boost. While that may have been pleasant, the benchmarks reveal Razer's implementation of the 25-watt MX150 GPU is slightly better (49,982 on Geekbench) than Huawei's MX250 in its MateBook 13 (48,430), making the point doubtful.

Storage is also OK with the PCIe NVMe SSD, but write times are slightly lower than the average competition. Read speeds (2,850 MB/s) are more within range and what people will experience daily. Users can always upgrade the SSD later, which may not be a bad thing since this laptop only ships with 256GB (the 4K model comes with 512GB).

Battery life is excellent, pushing past eight hours and making this an "all-day" laptop for many. That longevity is due to the 53WHr battery and that low-wattage full HD display. Opting for a 4K touch screen will shave 20 percent or so off those times making it still OK for many, but certainly less than what we'd like. Razer includes a braided and tiny 65-watt USB Type-C charger, which helps with fast charging. While Razer could have gotten away with a 45-watt charger that extra 20 watts help with the MX150 GPU so you can comfortably run this laptop maxed out while still gaining a charge.

Blade Stealth and Razer Core X Chroma eGPU

Razer also sells its line of external GPU (eGPU) housings including the new $399 Core X Chroma. Although eGPUs are still niche, being able to connect the Blade Stealth to an NVIDIA RTX 2070, as one example, is an impressive thing. Through one single Type-C cable you can charge the Blade Stealth, game on an RTX 2070 to an external monitor, enjoy better audio, and get a full desktop experience with just one single laptop.

While gaming with a quad-core Ultrabook processor may seem limiting, these days it's the GPU that does most of the work. That means hitting consistent 60 frames per second (FPS) in DOOM while G-Sync is on is guaranteed and downright enjoyable. To be clear, any Ultrabook with Thunderbolt 3 can connect to a Razer Core X Chroma eGPU – the Blade Stealth is not unique in this regard. But it is evident Razer is betting on those who want a uniform, seamless experience (including syncing that sweet RGB Chroma lighting) with a jet-black Razer-endorsed setup.

While it's not cheap ($399 for the eGPU housing, another few hundred for a good NVIDIA or AMD graphics card), the experience is a lot of fun.

Razer Blade Stealth (2019) bottom line

The Blade Stealth surprised me. I was immediately impressed by it. The keyboard and trackpad are some of my favorites, setting a very good first impression out of the box. Audio and the display are excellent, and getting that NVIDIA MX150 is a nice boost, too. It's also one of the top performing Ultrabooks available, even slightly beating the Huawei MateBook X Pro.

None of that would matter if the battery were not reliable, something I was expecting to be the case. Instead, the Blade Stealth easily hit eight hours and often going to nine. Along with it being quiet and cool, it made me realize that this is just an excellent Ultrabook. Razer even added Windows Hello with infrared (IR), located at the top bezel – something I have wanted for years in the Blade Stealth.

Granted, not all is perfect. The bottom chin for the display is outdated, making a case for Razer to try and source a 16:10 option next year. I also never complain about coil whine, but this review unit did experience it, which would be annoying in a hushed room.

Price is also a sticking point. When Razer had our Blade Stealth as configured on sale for $1,399 it was a good bargain, but at $1,599 that is less so. For example, the popular Dell XPS 13 (9380) with a 4K touch display is $180 cheaper. Granted, the Blade Stealth gets you the GeForce MX150 in exchange, but that Dell is quite popular for a good reason. HP's convertible Spectre x360 is even more of a value buy and the MateBook X Pro (2018) is still just $1,499. For $100 more you could get the Surface Book 2 13-inch with a GTX 1050 (but no Thunderbolt 3).

Complaining about price and Razer is like shooting fish in a barrel, however. Razer products will always cost slightly more than average due to the better-than-average build quality Razer does now have a better warranty program with RazerCare, at least, to address quality-control issues, which is another matter.

To put it another way, ignoring the price, I found the Blade Stealth to be hard to put down. It's all about the core experience, and as a high-performance Ultrabook the Blade Stealth nails it. Not only does it now look the coolest, it has all the right features to match. The so-called Cult of Razer lives on with the Blade Stealth, and it's earned it. We recommend the $1,599 model with full HD display, MX150, and 16GB of RAM. If you're looking for something not in black, the new limited pink quartz option is quite a stunner, too.

What you need to know

• The late-2019 refresh of the Razer Blade Stealth 13 is now available.
• This update brings Intel's 10th Gen Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and a new Mercury White model with Intel Iris graphics.
• The new Razer Blade Stealth 13 is available now starting at $1,500 for the Mercury White version, or $1,800 for the GTX 1650 model.

After being unveiled at IFA in September, the new Razer Blade Stealth (late 2019) is now available to buy. The latest iteration of the laptop brings some substantial horsepower to the table, and it's now on sale starting at $1,500 at Razer.

The biggest upgrades this year come from the new CPU and graphics chip. The Blade Stealth 13 now includes a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, which pushes clock speeds up to 3.9GHz in boos mode. As for the graphics, the laptop now includes NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1650 chip, which is a huge upgrade over the GeForce MX150 present in older models. The combination of new chips should mean you can get some respectable framerates in a fair amount of games while on the go.

The Blade Stealth 13 includes either a 1080p non-touch display or a 4K touch panel. In addition to the updated GTX 1650 model, there's also now a "Mercury White" finish available, but it's limited to integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics and a 1080p non-touch display.

Elsewhere, you're looking at 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage.

Older models of the Blade Stealth 13 remain available, helpign to fill out the product line a bit. Prices for the older models start at $1,099 with integrated graphics or $1,299 for GeForce MX150 graphics.

Razer unveiled a massive update to its Blade Stealth 13 at IFA, bringing significantly upgraded horsepower in terms of both graphics and processing power. The refreshed Blade Stealth 13 packs NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1650 graphics and Intel's 10th Gen processors. Plus, there's a new Mercury White color option, though it relies on integrated graphics.

That combination of upgrades is enough to give the Blade 13 Stealth plenty of power to push moderately intense games at high framerates. We got a chance to go hands-on with the updated Blade Stealth 13 and check out its capabilities, which include hitting 60 fps in Forza Horizon 4. Take a quick look at the new Blade Stealth 13 in our video below.

What you need to know

• Razer unveiled a hefty set of updates to its Blade Stealth 13 laptop at IFA today.
• New in this refreshed model are Intel's 10th Gen CPUs, NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and a new "Mercury White" finish.
• The new Blade Stealth 13 (late 2019) is expected to launch by the end of September with prices starting at $1,500.
• The current Blade Stealth 13 models are on sale at up to $400 off.

As IFA kicks off in Berlin, Razer is bringing out the big guns with a late-2019 refresh to its slim Blade Stealth laptop. The new Blade Stealth 13 makes the jump to Intel's latest 10th Gen processors while getting a substantial bump in graphics and a new color option.

The main upgrades here are related to the CPU and graphics chip. Inside the new Blade Stealth 13, you'll find a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, which can hit speeds of up to 3.9GHz in boost mode. The graphics have been upgraded from the GeForce MX150 that was present on the older models to NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1650 chip, which should provide enough power to get some respectably smooth gaming or creative workloads in.

Outside of the CPU and GPU upgrades, the Blade Stealth 13 comes with your choice of either a 1080p non-touch display or a 4K touch panel. The new "Mercury White" finish adds another sleek aesthetic for those who don't want an all-black laptop, but you're limited to a 1080p non-touch display and integrated graphics if you go for that finish. Here's a full look at the spec breakdown.

Blade Stealth (2019): Now a "real" gaming laptop

Razer's ability to squeeze in an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU into the late-2019 Blade Stealth is quite momentous. In our recent review for the early-2019 model, we noted that it was still just a standard Ultrabook, albeit one of the nicer ones we have used. But the Blade Stealth, despite its pedigree and its looks was never a gaming laptop even with the addition of the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 – a modest GPU.

With a GeForce GTX 1650 and a TDP-configured 25watt CPU (up from 15 watts), however, the Blade Stealth can now be considered a real gaming Ultrabook – the first of its kind. Granted, the GTX 1650, which sits between a GTX 1050Ti and GTX 1060 is not a massive performer, but it is a GPU that allows for 60 frames-per-second for many first-person shooters. That's a huge step above any 13-inch Ultrabook on the market, and it's also great for those who want to do video editing as well.

Of course, we'll need to test out the thermals and overall performance. But even if there is some throttling the overall performance of the new Blade Stealth should easily best any other 13-inch Ultrabook available today. Razer accomplished that with making the laptop only slightly thicker, fans that should not be significantly louder, and a starting price that's only $100 more. For these reasons, we're very excited to get our hands on this new edition and put it through its paces.

Hot off the heels of a stellar review here at Windows Central rating it with 4.5 out of 5 stars, the Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Laptop is on sale for $1,199.99 at Amazon. Today's deal saves you $400 off its regular cost there and brings this computer to a new low price.

The deal given is no longer valid and we do not have a better one. However, we have found some similar deals

Razer Basilisk Ultimate wireless gaming mouse with RGB charging dock

$99.99 $140.00 Save $40 1623261311

One of Razer's most comprehensive mice. Uses HyperSpeed tech so wireless feels as responsive as wired. Has a 20,000 DPI sensor with adjustable sensitivity. Customize the controls of the 11 buttons and the RGB lighting. 70-hour battery life.

Razer Viper Ultimate light wireless gaming mouse

$89.99 $110.00 Save $20 1622043795

Has HyperSpeed wireless tech for extremely fast responsiveness that makes it feel like a wired mouse. Weighs only 74g so it moves easily. Has a 20,000 DPI sensor for precision that can be adjusted. Eight programmable buttons.

Razer DeathAdder v2 mini gaming mouse

$24.99 $50.00 Save $25 1620394715

The grip tape gives you unprecedented control over the mouse even during fast-paced gaming. It also has an 8,500 DPI optical sensor with on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. Use Razer Chroma for custom RGB lighting, too.

Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition gaming controller for PC and Xbox One

$79.99 $120.00 Save $40 1620229669

Has a rapid-fire switch for instant actuation including a hair trigger mode to reduce the travel distance when pressing triggers. The four multi-function buttons can be remapped. Syncs with popular games and hardware including Razer gear.

Razer Opus active noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones midnight blue

$149.99 $180.00 Save $30 1619023966

The ANC in these headphones can detect and nullify incoming noise. They have a 25-hour battery life and are engineered for comfort that entire time with leatherette memory foam ear cushions and a well-balanced weight. Can go wired to save battery.

Powered by a quad-core 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, this Ultrabook features NVIDIA GeForce MX150 VRAM graphics along with 16GB dual-channel RAM and a gorgeous matte Full HD screen with 100% sRGB color saturation. Its keyboard has single-zone RGB lighting with the ability to switch between over 16 million colors, and its glass touchpad is ultra-precise too. With its integrated battery, you can expect this laptop to last for up to 13 hours on a single charge

Our review offers a more in-depth look at this computer if you want to know more about it.

Razer last year introduced its first batch of pink peripherals, and they must have been a hit because the company is launching the color across more of its lineup today. Several more peripherals are getting the "Quartz Pink" treatment, including the Basilisk mouse, Huntsman keyboard, Kraken headset, and more.

And for lovers of Razer's laptops, the Blade Stealth will now be available in Quartz Pink as well. Priced starting at $1,600, the Blade Stealth in Quartz Pink will only be available "for a limited time" in the U.S., China, and Canada.

If you're looking to lighten up your gaming setup in time for Valentine's Day, here's a full look at everything getting a coat of fresh paint:

• Razer Blade Stealth
• Razer Basilisk mouse
• Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma mouse mat
• Razer Huntsman keyboard
• Razer Kraken headset
• Razer Raiju Tournament Edition controller
• Razer Seiren X microphone
• Razer Bas Station Chroma headset stand
• Quartz case for Razer Phone 2

"Our fans told us they could not get enough of our Quartz Pink editions," said Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. "We listened and we have given the stunning pink treatment to our latest gaming gear, giving you the unfair advantage in both performance and looks."

The color combo definitely stands out compared to the typical black or silver schemes you see on a lot of gaming accessories out there. If you're interested in giving your own setup the pink treatment, you can take a look at all of the new accessories and peripherals at Razer

See at Razer

Razer today took the wraps off of its latest refresh to the Blade Stealth, and it's a heck of an upgrade. With thin bezels and a new squared look, the Blade Stealth (2019) takes a lot of design cues from its bigger brother, the Blade 15.

But along with a new design, the latest Blade Stealth also comes with some solid boosts to its internals. If you're looking to get deep in the spec weeds, you can check out everything powering the new Blade Stealth below.

See at Razer

Razer Blade Stealth (2019) specs

The Razer Blade Stealth (2019) is available starting December 4 in the U.S. and Canada, and it's coming soon to Europe and select markets in Asia.

See at Razer

The Razer Blade Stealth isn't a gaming laptop, regardless of the badge on the lid. But, with the addition of a Razer Core eGPU, it can become one, while also then being something you can hit the office with and do boring spreadsheets on and won't scream "GAMER" when you're sat around the meeting table.

Following the launch of the Blade 15 earlier this year, Razer is finishing 2018 by giving the Blade Stealth an upgrade, too, and it's a pretty meaty one. It's still no full-on gaming laptop, but for the first time it comes with NVIDIA dedicated graphics.

The new Blade Stealth shares the design language Razer first brought to the table in the Blade 15. That means super-skinny bezels around the up to 4K touch display, a drop of 60% over the previous Blade Stealth. There is also a 1080p matte display, and both configurations promise 100% sRGB color space.

From the outside the new Blade Stealth looks very much like a smaller Blade 15. You get the same squared-off edges and black finish. It's certainly a looker. The whole laptop is more compact than the old model, while retaining a 13.3-inch display.

As this is a Razer laptop you'll be expecting some pretty impressive specs, and you're not going to be disappointed. The headline feature is the option for NVIDIA MX150 graphics, a first for the Stealth lineup which until now has only ever had Intel integrated GPUs. It's also the 25W 4GB variant of the MX150, so while you're unlikely to be getting max frames on Battlefield V, you will be able to do some kind of gaming on it. And for creators it's a definite win.

Elsewhere the new Blade Stealth comes with an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U quad-core processor, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, up to 512GB of PCIe SSD storage, Thunderbolt 3 so you can still use a Razer Core with it for proper PC gaming, a Windows Hello compatible IR camera and a 53.1Wh battery good for up to 13 hours of use.

Oh, and the keyboard has Chroma. If you were worrying it might have been left out. It's a single zone, the touchpad is now larger and Microsoft Precision, and the keyboard has been redesigned to be more responsive.

So, the price then. The new Blade Stealth will start at $1,399 and is available from Razer's store starting December 4 in the U.S. and Canada, coming soon to Europe and select markets in Asia.

We've only spent a short time with it so far, but it's a nice upgrade to what was already a very good Ultrabook. Razer's styling still stands out, and the upgraded hardware inside should make for a really great experience.

See at Razer

Razer reformulated its ultraportable Blade Stealth laptop in mid-2017 with display bezels that were 50 percent thinner, a new Microsoft Precision touchpad, and a gunmetal gray variant.

Razer likes to update its laptops with the latest Intel processors, which is great for consumers who want the best, but it may rub you the wrong way if you just bought last month's model.

That's the case with the Razer Blade Stealth late-2017 edition, which trades in its dual-core i7-7500U processor for a new quad-core i7-8550U. The RAM also gets a needed speed bump.

So how does it hold up? Check out our quick re-review in the video above.

Razer Blade Stealth specifications

Not much has changed from the mid-2017 Razer Blade Stealth, which I thoroughly reviewed back in August.

The main differences come down to the upgraded processor, which is still Intel's 15W model for Ultrabooks, but it now has four cores instead of two. That processor can also idle at lower speeds (1.8GHz) and burst to new levels (4.0GHz) compared to the older version, which idled at 2.7GHz and turbos only to 3.5GHz.

Razer has also bumped the RAM to a more performant 2,133MHz, which while minor is still welcome.

Razer Blade Stealth performance

There is nothing but good news when it comes to performance. The Blade Stealth is still very much an Ultrabook even if it looks like a proper gaming laptop. That means its Core i7 processor can handle standard Windows tasks just fine, but it will struggle when running any intensive PC game.

For those who like to game, though, Razer is hoping you'll want its external GPU system called Razer Core, which can handle up to an NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti graphics card. Running that full system will set you back a lot of money, but I'd be lying if I told you it wasn't extremely enjoyable. While it doesn't solve the problem for gaming on the go, it does let you own a premium Ultrabook that doubles as a serious gaming PC for when you're home and relaxing.

CPU

Geekbench 4.0 benchmarks (higher is better)

The refreshed 8th generation Intel processor boosts the single core speed by a nice amount, but it's the multi-core score that sees the biggest boost.

GPU

Geekbench 4.0 OpenCL (higher is better)

The Razer Blade Stealth gets a small graphics boost with the newer Intel UHD 620 component compared to the mid-2017 model running the Intel HD 620.

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (higher is better)

Our review unit is running a Samsung PM9610 SSD, which is a premium storage solution. The read and write speeds reflect this choice by Razer and it gives excellent performance.

Razer continues to use premium parts in the Blade Stealth making the overall experience enjoyable. The fast processor, RAM, and a solid-state drive (SSD) help justify the steep cost.

Razer Blade Stealth remains an solid Ultrabook

There are much cheaper Ulltrabooks on the market, but Razer has carved out a nice niche for itself with a premium, unique design and quality components. The Blade Stealth is just fun to use. Performance is great for this class, the port selection is good, you get a full Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C jack, and the display and trackpad are top notch.

Where the Blade Stealth stumbles is battery life, which falls just below eight hours. That's not actually terrible considering how thin and light the Stealth is, but it is below that of other Ultrabooks in this category. Likewise, the keyboard is a bit on the shallow side for typing, though it still ranks high for my usage.

The original Blade Stealth never impressed me, but the mid-2017 and now late-2017 editions have changed that perception. The Blade Stealth is one of the nicest Ultrabooks you can get, but it's not for everyone.

Your best bet, like all laptops, is trying to find one in a store like Best Buy or Microsoft to try it out yourself. But if you're looking for something a bit different and the feature set meets your expectations, the Blade Stealth is still forging its path. Let's just hope for better battery life next time around.

See at Razer

Pros:

• Excellent display.
• New Intel processor performs great.
• Outstanding build quality and design.
• Precision touchpad and 16GB of RAM.
• Full Thunderbolt 3 for eGPU.

Cons:

• Traditional laptop design.
• There are many cheaper alternatives.
• Battery life just below eight hours.
• No Windows Hello.

If you're buying a premium Windows 10 laptop you have a lot of great choices. Two of the newest to hit the streets are the Surface Book 2 from Microsoft and the refreshed Blade Stealth from Razer with a quad-core processor.

Both are powerful, highly portable and truly desirable. In a battle, though, which one comes out on top? That depends on your personal preferences. But we can help you make a decision.

• Preorder Surface Book 2
• Buy Razer Blade Stealth
• Buy Razer Blade 14

Surface Book 2 vs. Razer Blade Stealth: Spec comparison

The Surface Book 2 is available in two sizes, with different specs. The Razer Blade Stealth quad-core with either a 12.5-inch touch display at 4K or a 13.5-inch one with QHD+ varying on storage sizes. Rqazer also makes a 14-inch version simply called Razer Blade that is much more powerful. Let's break down the hardware.

To game or not to game

Razer as a brand targets gamers, and the Blade Stealth is no exception. While it lacks a dedicated GPU, thanks to its Thunderbolt 3 connection you can hook it up to a Razer Core when you get home and turn it into a desktop gaming rig with a full-size graphics card. If you want to run a Blade Stealth with a GTX 1080 Ti, you can. And now that there's a quad-core processor in the laptop you'll get better gaming performance than ever.

Essentially, the Blade Stealth is a laptop you can take out all day to work and get great battery life, then come home and tear it up in Pochinki.

Alternatively, the Surface Book is not a gaming laptop. Its target market is far different: professionals and creatives. The major party piece is that the display detaches from the base, giving you both a premium laptop and a killer Windows 10 tablet with a digital pen. The Surface Book is nothing if not versatile.

While the original model was a little lackluster in terms of graphics power, the new one is anything but. It's nothing spectacular at the lower end, but if you're happy to empty your wallet, the 15-inch model will give you a 6GB GTX 1060 inside. That's not only great for gaming (Razer uses it in its Blade), it'll be plenty powerful enough for VR and Windows Mixed Reality.

Suddenly, the Surface Book can do it all — but only in the larger model, which has a really high price.

Surface Book 2 vs. Razer Blade Stealth: Bottom line

Both of these laptops have an element of versatility. The Surface Book 2 can now give you everything you want for work and play, albeit at a premium. It's finally a laptop that can game and do VR as well as being a Surface with inking and a detachable display.

By contrast the Blade Stealth is still just an Ultrabook. The display is attached at all times, it has no pen, and it also has no dedicated graphics of any kind.

The power of Razer Core

But thanks to the power of Thunderbolt 3 on the Blade Stealth you can spend less on the laptop and get yourself a Razer Core external GPU (eGPU) which will transform it into a high-powered desktop machine when you're at home. For instance, you can use a full NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti with the Razer Blade Stealth for outstanding power, while the Surface Book 2 simply cannot.

The Blade Stealth also has a little edge on price. At $200 more than the base model Surface Book 2 you're getting a quad-core eighth-generation processor, 16GB of RAM and an NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) with twice the storage as the Surface Book 2. The 15-inch models with the GTX 1060 start at $2,499, which is a lot of money, but it about evens out when you take into account the price of a Razer Core and a GTX 1060 graphics card on top of a Blade Stealth.

The main difference between the two: You can have a Surface Book 2 that takes all that graphics power with you, no Razer Blade Stealth has that option. If you're not so interested in the graphics power or the Surface-specifics, like a pen and detachable display, the Blade Stealth is an exciting proposition compared to the cheaper Surface Book 2. You get more than $200 worth of extra hardware inside.

Razer also has the very popular 14-inch Razer Blade with a 4K display (see our review), which has a 45W quad-core processor and an NVIDIA GTX 1060 on board. That's also a beastly laptop that should easily rival the Surface Book 2 at 15-inches and best the 13-inch model as well.

Ultimately, the decision on what to get comes down to how you're going to use it. Surface Book 2 can be that one machine that does it all, and you can take it all with you. The Blade Stealth just leaves some it all at home.

• Preorder Surface Book 2
• Buy Razer Blade Stealth
• Buy Razer Blade 14

Intel recently announced the eighth-generation of its mobile PC processors, dropping from 45W quad-core to just 15W ultra-low voltage (ULV) for premium Ultrabooks. Razer is not missing a beat and is now updating its famous Blade Stealth with the new Core i7-855U to leverage the increased performance.

Razer claims the refreshed Blade Stealth will now get 10 hours of battery life, all while peaking at an impressive 4GHz (up from 3.5Ghz) and running 16GB of RAM (which also receives a speed bump from 1,866MHz to 2,133MHz).

Part of the reason the new quad-core processor saves battery is that it drops the base frequency from the previous 2.7GHz to just 1.8GHz during idle time and low-priority tasks, yet it bursts to a much higher speed when needed.

That's impressive for an Ultrabook that comes in at just 2.97 lbs (1,347 g).

We recently reviewed the 2017 Razer Blade Stealth, which picked up a new Quad HD+ (3200 x 1800) IGZO touch-enabled display that reduced the bezels by 50 percent.

Made from machined aluminum and featuring two USB Type-A ports, one HDMI out, and a Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C port the Razer Blade Stealth matches the gamer aesthetic with premium build quality and excellent performance.

In our review, we rated the Blade Stealth a four out of five (or "great") for excellent design, a color-accurate display, an excellent keyboard and its high build quality.

Razer Blade Stealth quad-core tech specs

What's new, and pricing and availability

Considering the Razer Blade Stealth was only recently refreshed, everything else stays the same including that new Microsoft Precision touchpad.

The new Razer Blade Stealth quad-core comes only with a 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) and is available in either black or the new gunmetal color for $1,699.

For those who want to use the new Stealth for gaming, Razer is also announcing the new Razer Core v2 external GPU (eGPU), which lets you pair up high-performance graphics card with the Ultrabook.

You can order the quad-core Blade Stealth in the U.S. and Canada starting today. It'll be headed to the UK, Germany, and France later this year.

See at Razer

Announced in June Razer's revamped popular Blade Stealth laptop for 2017 is now available. Bringing thinner bezels, a larger display, and numerous other hardware tweaks the refreshed Blade Stealth is the Ultrabook that straddles the two worlds of gaming and productivity.

I spent the last week with the "classic" jet-black Blade Stealth and came away impressed. Here is what's to like (and what not to like) about Razer's most popular laptop to date.

About this review

Razer sent a loaner Blade Stealth for this write-up. The model considered features a 1TB SSD for storage, 13.3" QHD+ display, and the black color scheme. The total cost is $1,999. The only configuration variations for the new Blade Stealth is the storage amount (up to 1TB), the display sizes (12.5" at 4K or 13.3" at QHD+) and color (new gunmetal gray, or classic black).

Pricing starts at $1,349 for 512GB, 12.5" 4K display and goes up to $1,999 for the 13.3" QHD+ 1TB model.

See at Razer

What's new for 2017

For 2017, Razer is keeping the exterior and overall design of the Blade Stealth very familiar. However, once you open the lid, there are a few notable changes, which are all for the better. They include:

• 13.3-inch QHD (3200 x1800) IGZO display.
• 50 percent smaller bezels.
• Optional gunmetal gray finish with white backlit keys.
• Microsoft Precision touchpad.
• Seventh-generation Kaby Lake Core i7-7500U processor.
• Up to nine hours battery (improved).
• 16GB of RAM (up from 8GB).

Razer is still keeping the older 12.5" option around with a ridiculous 4K touch display. That model has either 512GB or 1TB of storage and otherwise all the other new hardware updates.

Premium gear

Razer Blade Stealth hardware

The Blade Stealth is a unique device in Razer's lineup because technically it's not an actual gaming PC – at least not without some help from the Raze Core (more on that below). With a standard dual-core Ultrabook processor and no discrete graphics card the Blade Stealth is on par with the Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre x360, Surface Laptop, and Lenovo X1 Carbon.

Nonetheless, Razer always uses premium parts and offers some high-end storage options that when combined with the solid all-metal unibody chassis warrants the more premium price tag.

Razer Blade Stealth specifications

For a modern Ultrabook, those specifications are in line with most premium laptops these days with the one caveat of Intel HD 620 graphics instead of the slightly faster Intel Iris Plus graphics that many of Razer's competitors are offering.

The bump from the previous 8GB of RAM to standard 16GB and higher storage configurations (512GB and 1TB) have all resulted in a price bump too, or rather pushing the high-end up to $1,999 versus the original $1,600. Those changes, however, were done at the behest of customers who yearned for more RAM and higher SSD capacities.

Ultimate Ultrabook

Razer Blade Stealth design

Historically speaking, the Blade Stealth is one of the top laptops that Mac users often consider if switching to Windows. There's a reason why forum posts and article comments are littered with references to the "black Mac" as it has been affectionally called. Indeed, the all metal design and very flat, squared appearance does resemble Apple's MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro line.

With the ability to open the display with one hand, no creaks, and a solid build the Blade Stealth set the bar for premium ever since it was first introduced in January 2016. The Blade Stealth is also the most well-known of the Blade series and cheapest compared to the larger 14-inch and original Blade and even bigger 17-inch Blade Pro. Perhaps it's not surprising the Blade Stealth looks just like a mini-version of the Blade and Blade Pro either.

The exterior of the Blade Stealth is very minimalist with just a slight indentation on the lid and two fan vents on the bottom. On both sides is a bevy of modern connectivity options including two USB Type-A 3.0, one HDMI 2.0a (and update from 1.4b in the original), and one USB Type-C with full Thunderbolt 3 support.

The black model still has some Razer-green accent markings on the ports for some added flair along with a glowing green Razer snake logo on the lid. That glowing logo can thankfully be disabled through Razer's Synapse software.

The lower-right front of the Blade Stealth has a tiny white LED that softly fades in and out ("breathes") when charging.

New for this year is the gunmetal gray version of the Blade Stealth, a concession to customers who wished for a more professional, less flamboyant laptop. That version has a muted, non-glowing Razer logo on the lid, black ports with no green, and standard backlit keys versus the colorful RGB Chroma keyboard found on the black model.

The Blade Stealth is still exceptionally small and thin at just half an inch thick (13.1 mm) and weighs less than 3lbs (1.33 kg). While there are lighter laptops out there, the Blade Stealth feels solid with no flex or wasted space.

Unfortunately, the Blade Stealth – like the Blade and Blade Pro – is a fingerprint magnet. You'll need to wipe it down frequently if those markings bother you. Alternatively, you can opt for the gunmetal gray model, which is slightly better, or toss on a third-party laptop skin.

Overall, there's nothing extravagant, nerdy, or showy about the Razer Blade Stealth in either gray or black. The design can almost be described as generic or derivative of Apple's laptops, but that is also exactly why the Blade Stealth is so popular. It looks like it's for adults with a hint of cool.

Thinner bezels FTW

Razer Blade Stealth display

With all the hype around the Blade Stealth in 2016, I was dead-set on getting one. But then I saw it in person. While the overall design won me over the display did not. At just 12.5-inches the 4K super-glossy touchscreen was too small and too high resolution for my tastes. Moreover, the display bezels looked to be an inch thick and ridiculous.

Thankfully, that has all changed. By just inserting a larger 13.3-inch screen into the same panel Razer reduced those bezels by 50 percent. This shift is a win-win as users get a larger display that frankly looks normal now. While Dell, Huawei, and HP are fighting over the slimmest bezels, Razer is comfortable with just thin-ish ones.

That 13.3-inch 3200 x 1800 screen is also a touch-enabled Sharp IGZO – the same as found in the popular XPS 13 – and gets excellent color saturation and LED light distribution. Using a colorimeter, it hit 98 percent Adobe sRGB and 77 percent Adobe RGB making it very color accurate. The blacks are deep and avoid the typical gray hueing found in regular IPS screens.

It's also a very sharp monitor that balances color, contrast, and resolution nicely. I wouldn't mind a shift from the 16:9 aspect ratio to a more modern 3:2, but Razer is still about gaming at the core and gamers prefer the wider look.

Brightness is suitable for indoor use, but at just around 315 nits it won't be great outdoors. Even inside I could use the Blade Stealth at 100 percent brightness, which is strange.

While I don't often use touch displays on a regular Ultrabook, it is nice to have the feature available as is with the Blade Stealth.

Razer still offers the 12.5-inch 4K version of the Blade Stealth – also refreshed with a new CPU and more RAM. Razer sees that version for graphics pros and those who prefer a higher pixel-per-inch (PPI) count – 353 PPI versus 276 in the QHD+ model.

Interestingly, there is not a matte, non-touch option for the Blade Stealth (unlike the 14" Blade in the full HD model). I'm a bit surprised at the omission as it seems to be a good pairing with the gunmetal gray model, which targets workplace professionals.

Precision is here

Razer Blade Stealth keyboard and trackpad

Another reason why Razer wins so many awards is that it tends to have excellent keyboards (even if inconsistent across models).

With just 0.87mm of key travel, the Blade Stealth's keyboard is shallow compared to the preferred 1.2 to 1.5mm of travel found in other Ultrabooks. Regardless, the actuation, key response, and well-spaced chicklet island-style keys mostly make up for it. While there is an adjustment period, I had no issues typing on the Blade Stealth.

Razer's famed RGB Chroma system is here with 16.8 million colors and individually backlit keys. Users can control the various Chroma light effects like ripple, wave, reactive, starlight, fire, breathing or just plain-old static. There is also the ability to configure each key with a distinct color, which helps makeup for the secondary function key emblems not being lit. While that function key lighting decision gives an immaculate look to the Blade Stealth (and Blade and Blade Pro), it's frustrating when in low-light to change the display brightness or volume using those dedicated keys.

At least Razer did swap out its original trackpad for a new one with Microsoft Precision drivers. The large trackpad is smooth with no dedicated right or left-click keys (unlike the Blade). Clicking is even, and a tad soft, but the overall feel is excellent, and it ranks up there with any other premium laptop with a Precision touchpad.

Audio done right

Razer Blade Stealth speakers

Razer is fond of putting its speakers on top flanking the keyboard where many companies opt for speakers on the laptop's underside. The Blade Stealth has two top-firing speakers that sound excellent especially with the including Dolby software. The speakers blend in with the chassis with small pin holes and a very symmetrical design.

The speakers are not exceptionally loud, and they can be played at 100 percent, but they also do not clip or distort either even when maxed out. I would describe the audio as very uniform whereas many laptops tip towards tinny there is just enough richness here to make put the Blade Stealth on the winning end. The only speakers that sound similar (or maybe slightly better) are the Surface Laptop, MateBook X, and MacBook Pro.

Nothing extraordinary

Blade Stealth benchmarks

Ironically, the performance of the Razer Blade Stealth falls mostly in line with other high-end laptops in its class.

Ultrabooks, by definition, utilize the U-series of Intel processors and Razer chose the i7-7500U – a seventh generation "Kaby Lake" one for the refreshed Blade Stealth. Traditional gaming laptops utilize quad-core processors – Intel HQ-series – which although powerful draw a massive 45W of power versus just the 15W chips for Ultrabooks. Those quad-core chips also have much higher thermal demands requiring more powerful fans.

While it does well the Blade Stealth is eclipsed by the Core i7 Surface Laptop for pure processor performance and proper gaming laptops like the 14-inch Blade due better in multi-core tests.

CPU

Geekbench 4.0 Benchmarks (Higher is better)

The i7-7500U is an admirable dual-core CPU slightly edging out the Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre 13, but losing to the high-end Surface Laptop, which has a faster processor. It's not surprising that quad-core laptops like the Dell XPS 15, Razer Blade, Razer Blade Pro, and Lenovo Legion Y720 all perform much better with their beefier hardware.

GPU

Geekbench 4.0 OpenCL (higher is better)

It's a bit surprising that Razer did not utilize the newer Iris Plus 640 for built-in graphics with the Blade Stealth. Although not as performant as a discrete GPU the Iris Plus 640 (31,010) gives a decent performance boost over the Intel HD 620 (20,092).

PCMark

PCMark Home Conventional 3.0

The PCMark Home Conventional test takes a bunch of your hardware and determines how well it works together while performing some everyday tasks. The Blade Stealth is still just an Ultrabook and not a real gaming PC, so its results fall in line with expectations.

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

Razer has a good reputation with using premium Samsung SSDs – at least for the 512GB and 1TB models. That's the case here with a Samsung PM961 (960 EVO) being used for the 1TB configuration, and as expected it performs near the top, only being beat by the Razer Blade Pro's crazy RAID 0 configuration.

The good news is the Blade Stealth does well in all areas for an Ultrabook. The CPU at Core i7 is never slow or laggy, and the SSD is the fastest available. Razer also uses the excellent Killer Wireless AC card for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth letting users prioritize data packets for more consistent and reliable internet connections.

My only complaint is for this price it would have been nice to have Iris Plus graphics. While Iris Plus only yields about a 10 percent performance bump, it seems apropos for the Blade Stealth. Of course, such a component would likely drive up the price a bit more and decrease battery, but the option for it would have been ideal.

The bottom line is for a 2017 Ultrabook the Razer Blade Stealth holds its own and the overall package is excellent. I do wonder, however, if Razer will again refresh the Blade Stealth later this year or in early 2018 with Intel's new eighth-generation Core processors, which may finally bring quad-core hardware to Ultrabooks.

eGPU

Razer Core for serious gaming

The Blade Stealth is not a real gaming laptop, but that doesn't mean it can't game – at least at home. The $399 Razer Core external GPU kit lets you add any PCIe graphics card to the Razer Stealth, and the results are incredible.

The concept is simple. For home (or work) users have a large external display and the Razer Core. By attaching the Blade Stealth via the Type-C cable, you can power/recharge the laptop, and use a powerful GPU for serious gaming. The Razer Core can do even more, however, including:

• Power external hard drives and peripherals through 4x USB 3.0 ports.
• Built-in Ethernet jack.
• Power multiple monitors.

Heck, there is even Chroma lighting on the Core too for added flair.

I've had a Razer Core with an Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080Ti-FE for a while now, and it's a powerful system. In theory, Razer Core can work with any PC that has a full Thunderbolt 3 Type-C port including some HP and Samsung laptops (Dells tend to have issues). Razer, of course, suggests that its laptops – for obvious reasons – work the best.

Many modern games are GPU-intensive meaning the dual-core Core i7 in the Blade Stealth is just fine when paired with the right video card. For example, I could play Gears of War 4 on a 2560 x 1440 external display on ultra-settings yielding an impressive 61.5 frames-per-second average. Likewise, for Forza Horizons 3, which maxed out its graphics too.

The GTX 1080Ti is a rather extreme card that starts at $700, which is on top of the $400 Razer Core and the optional external display (you can just use the Blade Stealth's display instead). For those on a budget, a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or even GTX 1060 makes more financial sense.

External GPUs are fascinating devices. It's amazing to use the Blade Stealth with Ethernet, recharging the battery and, leveraging a high-end video card all with a single Type-C cable. If you have the bank, you can create a very minimal setup and have a single PC that goes with you wherever.

Having said that, the prohibitive cost of such an eGPU setup means most users likely won't pursue it. If you do, however, you will be delighted.

See at Razer

Decent

Razer Blade Stealth battery life

Razer claims up to nine hours of battery life for the new Blade Stealth a marked improvement from the previous model.

I peg real-world usage between six and seven and half hours from the 53.6 WHr battery depending on screen brightness. That falls on the low-end for most Ultrabooks and is a bit disappointing. It straddles the line between "all day" usage and requiring packing the charger.

The 45W USB-C charger is excellent for both size and build. While you may have to take it with you at least, it does not substantially add to the weight. It takes nearly three hours to recharge the Blade Stealth when fully depleted fully.

Although I was not able to test it, Razer also has a forthcoming Razer Power Bank that packs a 12,800 mAh battery with USB Type-C and Type-A ports and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. Priced at $149 the kit is meant to give a boost to the Blade Stealth (or any other device) on the go. While a power bank is not as convenient as a built-in battery, it at least gives Blade Stealth owners an easy solution to longer battery life.

Cool and quiet

Razer Blade Stealth heat, fans, and throttling

The Blade Stealth never went above 115 degrees F (46 degrees C) at the bottom exhaust vent. The top deck after thirty minutes of 100 percent CPU usage stayed cool at 102 degrees F (39 degrees C). Due to all metal chassis the Blade Stealth, while never hot, it did feel warm after extended use but stayed in line with similar Ultrabooks.

Fan noise is also low due to the lack of a discrete GPU. There are two fans on the Blade Stealth – one for intake, the other to push air out. During gaming sessions with the Razer Core, you will hear the fans whir up but compared to the bigger 14-inch Razer Blade the Stealth is relatively quiet.

Looking at a 30-minute CPU stress test in a 75-degree F (24-degree C) room and there is no observable CPU throttling, but there is frequent power-limit throttling (PL1). PL1 throttling relates to how hot the laptop chassis gets and is an attempt by the system to keep it below a certain threshold to prevent user burns. Despite the frequent PL1 checks even after thirty minutes of 100 percent CPU usage, the Blade Stealth stayed between 3.1 and 3.5 GHz, which is very suitable for long-term performance even when gaming.

Kind of ultimate

Razer Blade Stealth is a vast improvement

Razer has made all the right changes with the new Blade Stealth. The larger display with reduced bezels is excellent, the Precision trackpad is smooth and accurate, and the audio is better than average. Plus, business types can now get in on the Razer action with the toned-down gunmetal gray model.

Of course, what makes the Blade Stealth so attractive is the overall package. The build quality is outstanding with a solid metal design and premium hardware. Even the port selection is perfect with no cut corners and full future-proofing on board with Thunderbolt 3. Combined with the Razer Core and the Blade Stealth is a seriously enticing alternative for those who do not want two PCs in their life.

This new Razer Blade Stealth is the first one I want to own. That says something. It's fun to use, and it is just cool. Plus, there is something iconic about Razer's designs that make it stand out from the herd.

Where the Blade Stealth falters a bit is battery life, which is just below that sweet eight-hour mark that many people expect in 2017. Moreover, I would have liked to see Iris Plus graphics for an added performance boost.

There is still the larger matter of modern functionality or lack thereof. The Razer Blade Stealth is a throwback to the classic laptop days and suffers the same nitpicking as the Dell XPS 13 and Surface Laptop. While those are excellent devices, you lose some flexibility compared to two-in-one Ultrabooks like the HP Spectre x360. Indeed for $1,919 from HP you can get 1TB SSD, 4K touch display with inking, facial recognition, and a faster CPU with Iris Plus graphics compared to the $1,999 Razer Blade Stealth. Moreover, you can even use the Spectre x360 with the Razer Core with the same results for gaming.

Still, the Blade Stealth is in its own league. Its classic design and Chroma RGB keyboard are its strength rewarding users with a familiar yet dazzling experience. Despite the benefits of two-in-ones I rarely find myself using all the features.

If choosing between the 4K 12.5-inch model with its goofy fat bezels or the newer 13.3-inch QHD+ just go with the latter – more screen is the winner. The choice between gunmetal gray and black is tougher as I find the Chroma RGB keyboard fun, but I'd likely opt for the toned down gray model if I had to buy one. Either way, I'm just glad there is now a choice.

Back in early 2016 when the Blade Stealth was announced Razer called it the "the ultimate Ultrabook" and said it had the potential to "disrupt the PC industry." In many ways, Razer succeeded by telling its competitors to step up their game, as unfortunately, they did. That makes the new Razer Blade Stealth not so ultimate anymore, nor very disruptive in 2017. Nonetheless, it has only improved with this refresh, and it is still easy to recommend if you're interested in joining "the cult of Razer."

See at Razer

Pros:

• Normal display bezels!
• Excellent QHD+ display.
• Outstanding build quality and design.
• Precision touchpad and 16GB of RAM.
• Full Thunderbolt 3 for eGPU.

Cons:

• Traditional laptop design.
• Cheaper alternatives if not hooked on the Razer brand.
• Battery life just below 8 hours.
• No Windows Hello.

Despite some early announcements Razer is now finally shipping some of its latest laptops – at least in the U.S. and Canada (for now).

Razer Blade Stealth 13.3" in gunmetal gray

The new Razer Blade Stealth with its 13.3-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1800 pixels) touchscreen – a bump from the previous 12.5-inch – is now shipping in gunmetal gray.

The new color scheme was announced in June at E3 ditching the green glowing snakes and Chroma keyboard for a more subtle, professional look. Of course, the jet-black Blade Stealth with all the Chroma goodness is already shipping and available.

Other changes with the 2017 edition include:

• 13.3-inch QHD (3200 x1800) IGZO display (new).
• 50 percent smaller bezels (new).
• Optional gunmetal gray finish with white backlit keys (new).
• Precision touchpad (new).
• Seventh-generation Kaby Lake Core i7-7500U processor (updated).
• Up to nine hours battery (improved).
• 16GB of RAM (up from 8GB).

Starting at $1,399 the gunmetal gray Razer Blade Stealth is now shipping in the US and Canada. Best Buy, Amazon, Newegg, and Microsoft.com will be getting stock soon too.

Coincidentally, we just received our review unit of the black Razer Blade Stealth for 2017 in a few days ago. Look for that review sometime next week!

See at Razer

4K UHD Razer Blade 2017 now shipping

Going back to February Razer announced that the new Kaby Lake-edition Razer Blade 14-inch was also getting a new 4K UHD touch display option. While already available in matte Full HD (see my mini-review) the 4K edition is a bump up from the Skylake 14-inch QHD (3200 x1800) version.

Evidently, Razer ran into some tight supply issues to grab that high-end 4K panel as we never thought it would actually ship.

Razer Blade 2016 vs. Razer Blade 2017: New processor delivers real performance gains

Razer Blade 4K UHD is available now in the US and Canada with availability in the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and China by the end of September from $2,399 USD.

See at Razer

Razer announced a significant refresh to its Blade Stealth, the popular dual-core gaming Ultrabook that weighs less than three pounds.

We got some hands-on time with the new laptop at E3 2017 and came away impressed. Very impressed. Here is what's new, improved, and why Razer is proving it understands what gamers want.

See at RazerStore

Razer Blade Stealth 2017

The Blade Stealth, (see our 2016 review) with its 12.5-inch 4K display, quickly became one of the most popular gaming-focused Ultrabooks of the last few years. And it attracted more than just gamers with its super thin design and CNC-machined aluminum chassis. Apple fans who want to trade in their Macs for a Windows PC often check out the Razer line, and the Blade Stealth is a popular choice for converts.

However, the Blade Stealth always had a few complaints from the non-gaming crowd. For example, some users didn't like the glowing Razer logo, and the display bezels were awfully wide. Razer addressed that and other issues with this latest refresh. Here is a list of the major changes:

• 13.3-inch QHD (3200 x1800) IGZO display (new).
• 50 percent smaller bezels (new).
• Optional gunmetal gray finish with white backlit keys (new).
• Precision touchpad (new).
• Seventh-generation Kaby Lake Core i7-7500U processor (updated).
• Up to nine hours battery (improved).
• 16GB of RAM (up from 8GB).

That is a significant shift in design. Luckily, pros and gamers who still want a 12.5-inch 4K display can still grab that version in all black.

Larger display

Instead of the 4K 12.5-inch screen users can also now get the optional 13.3-inch QHD IGZO touchscreen instead, which fits in the same chassis.

The result are bezels that are 50 percent thinner than before, addressing one of the biggest complaints from owners. To put it bluntly, the Blade Stealth now looks like a normal laptop with a 16 x 9 aspect ratio.

Razer also claims 100 percent sRGB color accuracy and up to 400 nits of color brightness with the display.

Goin' gray

Not everyone loves the matte-black look of the Blade Stealth, nor the glowing green snake on the front lid. Razer addressed this by offering a new gunmetal gray scheme that looks outstanding. Not only does it look more professional, it appears to hide fingerprints a bit better than that matte-black chassis.

In place of the glowing green snake logo is a simple non-glowing dark silver one. Again, the goal is to make a laptop you can carry into a business setting without advertising that you're a gamer.

The color scheme choice is also deeper. There is no color Chroma keyboard backlighting. Instead, you get normal white. And the USB ports are black instead of green. While some will see these as "boring," for many people that is exactly what they wanted. Since Razer is keeping the black version with Chroma anyway, the optional choice is welcome.

More precise touchpad

Razer has always had good touchpads, but the new one it outstanding. The large, glass navigation area is now Precision-certified using Microsoft drivers to ensure accurate and consistent cursor movement, which means the device can take full advantage the gestures in Windows 10.

Being a Precision stickler myself, I'm very excited to see this change.

New guts, new glory

The new Razer has a dual-core Core i7-7500U "Kaby Lake" processor, reducing system heat and extending battery life slightly to about nine hours.

Instead of an 8GB option, the Blade Stealth only comes in 16GB configurations now – something that Razer says its customers preferred.

Storage still comes in 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of PCIe NVMe solid state drive (SSD) options, and my hunch is they will be made by Samsung.

Razer Blade Stealth 2017 specifications

Summary

Overall, I'm very excited about the new Blade Stealth, and I love the changes Razer made because it is clear the company is listening to its audience. It's not an easy task building a gaming PC that also caters to students and professionals, but the company is making all the right decisions.

Combined with full Thunderbolt 3 and Type C, users can take this super thin laptop home and connect to the Razer Core external GPU (eGPU; $499 or $399 if purchased with a Blade Stealth) for serious gaming.

You can order one today starting at $1,399 from RazerStore.com. Later this month, you can find the laptop in Best Buy (online and physical), Microsoft Stores (online, and physical) and Amazon.com. Itwill be available in U.S., Canada, UK, Germany and France.

See at RazerStore

If you happen to own a Razer Blade 14 (late-2016) or Razer Blade Stealth, you'll want to pick up a new set of BIOS updates that address a particularly annoying problem: coil whine. Razer recently released the separate BIOS updates for both devices, and they seem to have done the trick according to several Reddit users.

The issue in question is a whining noise that would emanate from some Blade and Blade Stealth laptops when under stress. It's not clear what the exact cause of the issue was, but the BIOS update seems to have solved the problem. While the problem wasn't present for everyone, there isn't any harm in installing the update for those who unaffected.

If you own one other above laptops, you should be able to grab the latest BIOS update through your Razer Updater. Alternatively, you can grab the updates separately for the Blade 14 (late-2016) and Blad Stealth at Razer's support site.

• See the Blade 14 at Razer
• See the Blade Stealth at Razer

The Blade Stealth from Razer was certainly no slouch, featuring an Intel Core i7 6th-gen processor, a stunning display and gorgeous design. But as noted in our comprehensive review, the ultrabook for gamers was held back by mediocre performance in demanding tasks and battery life. The company took these complaints on-board, threw in new components, worked some black magic and we've got the new 2016 Razer Blade Stealth.

So, question is, is it any better? Read our review to find out whether or not you should pick one up.

It lasts longer

So what exactly is new in this refreshed Blade Stealth? Intel has new processors out and Razer took on-board feedback that was provided by reviewers and owners who forked out for the predecessor. In our detailed review of the Stealth we noted how the battery could be improved, and this is exactly what the company has achieved thanks to a combination of measures.

You have the new CPU, as well as a larger and more energy-dense battery (upgraded from 45Wh to 53.4Wh). I managed to get around 7 hours of charge through regular usage — web browsing, email, light video viewing, and communication clients. That's pretty much it, though. Everything else is the same as the older Razer Blade Stealth and that's absolutely fine.

What I enjoy most about the Razer Blade Stealth (2016) is the overall design and build. The machined-aluminum construction of the chassis is absolutely gorgeous. The black and green Razer color scheme is stunning in all light levels, although you will have to battle fingerprints that tend to show up even after lightly touching the laptop. The keyboard backlight feature is also a joy to customize and gaze at.

The latest from Intel

The specifications of even the entry-level Blade Stealth are actually fairly powerful. You have an Intel Core i7 processor, matched with at least 8GB of RAM and a QHD display with touch-screen support. Sure, there's only Intel HD Graphics 620 onboard, and we would have liked to see a GTX 1060 on this machine, the company has opted for maximum portability and this is where the Razer Core comes into play.

Intel's 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors really lend a hand here when it comes to photo and video editing, and the integrated Intel graphics can even handle some of the more recent titles at decent frame rates (so long as you don't go for the 4K display and attempt to render games at that resolution). Thankfully, this also means the laptop runs rather cool and you barely hear the fans. I noticed they weren't even spinning for most of my web browsing and general usage.

Bang for your buck

Razer is usually associated with expensive hardware and peripherals for gamers, but looking at the Blade Stealth will reveal quite the bargain when you consider what's included and how competitors match up. Looking at Apple, for the same price you'll be able to walk out a store with the MacBook Air. Unfortunately, this is a downgrade with an older Intel Core i5 processor, as well as Intel's HD 6000 graphics.

They've certainly nailed the opening price for the Blade Ultrabook family of laptops, and there's also the option to configure just how much storage and RAM you require, as well as whether or not to upgrade from 1440p to a 4K display. It's actually a well thought out line-up, ensuring that even those who select the $999.99 Blade Stealth will be able to power through tasks every day, with the added bonus of hooking up a Razer Core to take advantage of a dedicated GPU.

Should you buy one?

The Razer Blade Stealth was already a solid ultrabook worthy of consideration, but Razer's improvements here have made the 2016 model an even more capable and compelling machine. The display, specifications, backlit keyboard, connectivity with the Razer Core, build quality, and overall bang for your buck makes the Blade Stealth a superb portable gaming laptop.

There are a few things we'd like to see addressed, mainly the keyboard itself. It's more comfortable to use than other ultrabooks on the market right now, but I would like slightly more travel (if at all possible). You also have to take into consideration that while this is an $999.99 laptop, for gaming you'll need to fork out for the Razer Core, as well as a dedicated GPU, which could easily take the overall investment above $1500.

If you're into some serious gaming, need something super-portable, frequently attend LAN events, and don't enjoy heavier gaming laptops (or have the funds for the Razer Blade Pro), the Blade Stealth is a really good option. Should you do some video editing on the go and other more demanding tasks, you may want to look at the Razer Blade with the dedicated GTX 1060 GPU.

See at Razer

Razer has announced that the Blade and Blade Stealth laptops are available for order in Europe with regional layouts for the UK, Germany, and France. We've waited a long time for the company to finally release its notebooks in the region, but that's not all: the Razer Core external GPU dock will also be hitting stores.

Razer Blade Stealth

The Razer Blade Stealth is considered by many to be the ultimate ultrabook, offering ample amounts of power in a thin form factor, ideal for those who are constantly on the move. Pricing kicks off at €1,099 / £999, and here's what you'll be looking at in terms of specficiations:

But fear not if the on-board GPU doesn't sound like a gaming platform — this is where the Razer Core comes into play. This external dock can plug into the Blade Stealth via Thunderbolt and can allow the laptop to take full advantage of whatever supported desktop-class GPU you happen to have installed inside. And since the laptop is already running a Core i7 processor, when you pair this with, say, a GTX 10 series GPU then you've got quite the gaming rig.

Better yet, should you purchase the Core when picking up a new Blade Stealth, you'll be able to save €150 / £100. The Blade Stealth is available for order now.

See at Razer

Razer Blade

The Blade, on-the-other-hand, is ideal for those seeking to do a little gaming when mobile. Starting at €1,999 / £1,749 it's a little pricier than the Stealth, and is considered to be the middle option.

The Blade isn't nearly as svelte as the Blade Stealth, but you're getting a lot more power to take on the go — plus a nice big 14-inch QHD or 4K display backed up by a GTX 1050 GPU. The Blade is available for order now.

See at Razer

Razer Blade Pro

The Razer Blade Pro is the company's new flagship gaming laptop, that is actually the world's first true laptop designed and built for hardcore games. We're not talking the casual title, but the latest blockbusters. The GTX 1080 and Core i7 quad-core processor ensures you have enough power while on the go.

This beast of a laptop will launch in the UK, and Europe come November, starting at €4,199 / £3,499

Keep it tuned to Windows Central for more on the Blade Pro and Blade Stealth, Blade hitting Europe. What do you make of these laptops hitting European soil? Intrigued by the latest NVIDIA graphics? Sound off your thoughts, and which one you're tempted to purchase, in the comments below.

This year, Razer unleashed the Razer Blade Stealth Ultrabook and 2016 Razer Bade gaming notebook. Both support the Razer Core, a unique external graphics enclosure. Today Razer announced revisions to the Razer Blade and Stealth that will make them even better products for work and gaming.

The new Razer Blade Stealth

The Razer Blade Stealth launched in January of this year. Billed as the world's first gaming Ultrabook, the Stealth is incredibly portable. Its profile measures only 0.52 inches when closed, and it weighs less than three pounds. Razer describes it as durable and flex free, something I can attest to, making it well-suited for travel.

Launch models are available with either 4K (3840 x 2160) or QHD (2560 x 1440) 12.5-inch IGZO displays. Besides portability and high-quality display, the Stealth also features a Razer Chroma keyboard. Each key is individually lit and customizable, allowing for impressive color effects. The Stealth can also be used as a gaming machine with the Razer Core graphics enclosure.

Later this month, Razer will release the first updated version of the Razer Blade Stealth. It boasts several improvements over the launch model, starting with a 15-percent larger battery capacity. The internal battery has increased from 45 Watt hours to 53 Watt hours. The original Stealth had fine battery life, but improvements are always welcome.

The new Stealth is more powerful, too. Its processor has been upgraded to a 7th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor. The i7-7500U offers 2.7Ghz-3.5 GHz processing speeds. RAM has been doubled in several models from 8 GB to 16 GB.

That extra RAM corrects the original Stealth's main shortcoming: the laptop's graphical capability could be enhanced with the Razer Core, but the 8GB RAM limitation was set in stone. Some applications and many games really benefit from additional RAM, and 16 GB should greatly improve the Stealth's performance in general as well as the desktop experience when using a Razer Core.

The new Razer Blade Stealth starts at $999 with 8GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD hard drive, but you can option up on both the RAM And the hard drive all the way to a top-of-the-line model that costs $1799 and includes a 1 TB SSD.

You can preorder the new Razer Blade Stealth at the Razer Store and have it ship later this month. Amazon and the Microsoft Store will also start carrying it towards the end of the month.

Preorder at the Razer Store

The Razer Core

Both the new Razer Blade and Razer Blade Stealth support the Razer Core, but the Stealth especially takes advantage of it. The Core is an external graphics enclosure that allows compatible notebooks and Ultrabooks like the Stealth to access the power of the best graphics cards (it supports NVidia GeForce GTX Series and AMD Radeon 400 series cards). What's more, the Core is plug-and-play and non-proprietary, so any portable computer with a Thunderbolt port should be compatible.

The Core acts as a dock — plug in your notebook with a single cable you'll gain access to expanded I/O options such as 4 USB 3.0 Ports and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Combined with a graphics card, this provides a full desktop experience.

You don't have to be a computer-building expert to use the Core, either. Graphics cards can be swapped out with no tools. A simple thumbscrew holds the graphics card in place. After inserting or swapping a card, the system doesn't even need to be rebooted. It won't even explode. The Core is truly plug and play.

The sticking point of the Core remains its price. It costs $499 on its own or $399 when purchased with a compatible notebook from the Razer Store. Hopefully Razer can bring the price down and make the Core available at other retailers in the future.

The New Razer Blade

Razer's Blad laptops have come a long way in the five years since the first one launched, becoming more compact and more powerful. This fall we're getting the latest iteration, which has the marquee inclusion of the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 video card. The current top of the line in mobile graphics, the 1060 packs 6GB of DDR5 VRAM. Not only can this card handle any gaming graphics thrown at it, it's also VR capable for headsets like the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and OpenSource VR HDK2.

Razer Blade buyers will have options when it comes to the 14-inch display: either a QHD+ IGZO panel with a resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels or a Full HD (1920 x 1080) non-touch matte display. The lower resolution might seem less appealing at first, but along with a lower price it will enable faster framerates and smoother gaming in graphically intense titles.

The new Blade takes advantage of Razer's Touch Point Thermal Technology for heat management. This keeps heat away from areas the user is likely to contact. The left side of the keyboard (which houses the all-important WASD keys), palm rest, and touchpad are kept especially cool. Razer does this with a combination of fans, heat pipes, and spreaders. Air is taken in from the bottom of the notebook and sent out of the exhaust vent hidden between the display and the bottom of chassis.

Chroma technology featured in the keyboards of both the Blade and Blade Stealth allow for more than just personalizing the colors of your keys. Games can actually support Chroma keyboards with unique color profiles and features. For instance, when playing Overwatch the keys will change color to match your character of choice. Games can also highlight and flash keys that they want the player to press, and lots more.

The updated Razer Blade comes standard with a 6th Gen Intel i7 6700HQ quad core processor (with speeds from 2.6GHz to 3.5GHz), 16GB of DDR4 dual-channel RAM, Killer Wireless-AC and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. Like the Stealth, it can also be combined with the Razer Core graphics enclosure for additional graphical power.

The Razer Blade starts at $1799 with a Full HD display and 256 SSD hard drive all the way up to configurations with a 1 TB SSD and QHD+ display for $2399.

Preorders have opened up today on the Razer Store. The new Razer Blade will ship and become available at retail in the latter half of October.

Preorder at the Razer Store

What do you guys think of the improvements Razer has announced for the Blade and Stealth? Is it too soon to release new versions of these notebooks, or are you chomping at the bit to get your own?

What Razer has come up with is an ultrabook that can transform into an even more powerful machine when connected to the Razer Core, an external dock that brings desktop-grade graphics power to the party. Without the Core, the Blade Stealth is still a beautiful device that can handle most of your needs — just don't expect to do any serious gaming with it. And even if you're going to use the Blade Stealth as your primary laptop, there are some significant drawbacks you should know about.

Should you buy the Razer Blade Stealth? Read on for our review.

Hardware

The Razer Blade Stealth is thin, light, and features a 12.5-inch multi-touch display with up to 4k resolution. The rest of the specifications include:

• 6th-Gen Intel Core i7-6500U Dual-Core Processor 2.5GHz / 3.1GHz 
• 8GB dual-channel onboard memory 
• Up to 512GB SSD PCIe M.2
• Intel HD Graphics 520
• Wireless-AC (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.1)
• Chroma anti-ghosting keyboard with individually backlit keys

The base model of the Blade Stealth comes with a QHD (2560 x 1440) display and 128GB SSD that costs $999, while the top end model with 4K display and 512GB option costs $1,599. The RAM isn't expandable, but you can upgrade the SSD on your own.

The Blade Stealth is made of CNC-milled aluminum, and it looks astonishing in black. It feels premium in the hands, too. The laptop weighs only 2.75lbs, and it's about a half inch thin. If you've held a Macbook Pro, the Razer Blade Stealth will feel familiar (though lighter and thinner). It's a fingerprint magnet, though — you'll notice it on the keyboard deck and the lid, so make sure you have a cleaning cloth around.

A standout feature for Razer Blade Stealth is its individually backlit RGB keyboard. It gives you access to 16.8 million color options to each key. There are presets available for the keyboard lights and you can even download more presets made by other people, using the Razer Synapse app. For example, the Wave preset animates all colors in a continuous wave, while the Reactive option lights up keys upon pressing before fading away.

While the keyboard is impressive at first, there are some flaws. Our main complaint is that the function keys aren't lit — well, the F# portion is but the more useful everyday function commands are not — making the volume keys and punctuation marks hard to find in dim lighting. Another issue is the minimal key travel; wWhile it's not difficult to type on the Blade Stealth, it's not very comfortable to type on either.

Below the keyboard is the glass touchpad that feels smooth to touch. We found the default setting to be slow for the pointer, but a quick change in the settings made it more acceptable.

Up front, everything about the 12.5-inch 4K display looks great. We have no complaints about the color, contrast, viewing angle, or brightness. The base model comes with 1440p resolution, but the review unit Razer sent us has the 4K display. If there's something to complain about, it'd be the bezel surrounding the screen — we just wish there was less of it. Though perhaps we've been spoiled by the likes of the Dell XPS series. On a positive note, the screen is very responsive to touch and we had no problems with taps, swipes, or other gestures.

Above the display is a 2-megapixel camera useful for video calls. You can also use it with the camera app to record 1080p video. While it had great color representation, the image itself was not very sharp. For video conferencing, however, it is more than adequate.

The left side has a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, a full-size USB 3.0 port, and a headphone jack. The USB-C port is where you connect the charger, but it's also where you can connect the Razer Core external graphics enclosure (more on that in a bit). The right side has an HDMI port and another USB 3.0 port.

The speakers are placed on the left and right sides of the keyboard. We love the placement because they're facing towards us instead of towards the back or the bottom like in some other laptops. They're loud, clear, and we have no complaints about them.

Software

The Razer Blade Stealth comes with Windows 10 and all the things you can expect from the OS like Cortana, Windows Store, Action Center, and more. The only other pre-installed apps we noticed from Razer are Synapse and Comms. Synapse lets you customize your keyboard's lighting while Comms is a voice chat gaming messenger. We frequently uses Synapse to play the keyboard lights, but haven't needed to use Comms.

Our review unit with Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB RAM had no problems with basic tasks such checking email, browsing the web, and typing documents. We also didn't face any issues when doing some light editing with Adobe Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC.

Just for giggles, we tried launching Call of Duty: Black Ops III, and the laptop expectedly struggled to keep up even at low settings. Having just an integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 GPU, you'll need to stick with more casual games from the Windows Store like Candy Crush or Crossy Road. Like we mentioned earlier, this is not gaming laptop.

If you want to play more demanding games or perform some video editing, you'll need to attach the Razer Blade Stealth to the Razer Core. It's an external dock with a more powerful graphics card inside. Unfortunately, the Core is not available yet, and it'll set you back $500 — plus the cost of the graphics card you're installing inside. It's a great solution if you want to have a very powerful machine at home that can still be a light and portable ultrabook for when you're on the go. The downside, of course, is that you're stuck with the less powerful integrated graphics when not connected to the dock.

If you're looking for numbers, the Razer Blade Stealth had a single-core score of 3,112 and multi-core score of 6,671 on Geekbench 3 benchmark. You can also take a look at the CrystalDiskMark scores below.

For a slim notebook, the fans don't get too loud. In a room where we measured a baseline of about 27 dB on a sound meter, it increased to just about 30 db when the fans spun during a game. The Blade Stealth also doesn't get uncomfortably hot.

Battery Life

We're very disappointed with the short battery life on the Razer Blade Stealth. On average, we get about 5 hours of usage before needing to plug the charger. We can blame the 4K display, Intel Core i7 processor, and the slim body for that, but that doesn't get around the pretty miserly battery life. On the other hand, the power brick doesn't take up much space, so it won't be a problem carrying it in the bag.

Verdict

The Razer Blade Stealth is a great ultrabook to consider, but some flaws prevent us from ultimately giving it our full-throated recommendation. We like the display, build quality, and customizable backlit keyboard, but those high points are offset by the short battery life, uncomfortable keyboard, and that it needs the Razer Core external graphics dock to play modern games, edit video, or do anything else taxing. Unfortunately, the dock isn't available yet, and it requires you to spend even more money on top of what you pay for the laptop.

If you don't need to play demanding games or edit video on the go, then the Razer Blade Stealth gives you the option of having a sleek ultrabook when you're out and about that can transform into a very powerful machine when connected to the Razer Core. If that idea sounds intriguing to you, then maybe the Razer Blade Stealth is the laptop for you.

Are you interested in the Blade Stealth? Let us know in the comments!

See at Amazon

One is made by a well known brand in the field of laptops, and gained a reputation of quality and innovation in recent years, too. The other comes from a relative upstart better known for its PC gaming peripherals. Indeed, the Blade Stealth is one of only two laptops offered by Razer.

Then there's the XPS 13, a laptop we currently have sitting at the top of our recommended list.. While we stand by that, it doesn't necessarily make it the best for everyone.

So, we're putting these two cutting-edge Ultrabooks up against one another. If you're interested in either, let's see if we can help you decide which one you should buy.

The Blade Stealth is a different approach to laptops from Razer, one the company says is going to challenge the standard ultrabook crowd. The first place to look, then, is to see if its packing the hardware.

Here's a breakdown of some of the main specs:

On paper there's really not a lot to choose between them. Razer has a very strong ultrabook packed full of high-end hardware. It's a top of the line laptop and it isn't trying to be anything else.

Dell does offer a cheaper starting price for the XPS 13, which is commendable, but the extra $200 to the Blade Stealth is possibly worth it. You get a decent hardware bump over the cheaper XPS 13, and it's mostly a wash when it comes to pricing at the higher end.

The battery is something to consider, too, since the Razer's is smaller. Both laptops are offered with high resolution displays. If you spec up a Razer Blade Stealth with the 4K option it'll feature a sharper resolution than the XPS 13, but it's going to suck more power, too. And when you've got a smaller battery to begin with, that's even more of a hit in the longevity department.

The biggest differentiator between the two is the Razer Core. This is optional and an extra expense, but it transforms the Blade Stealth into much more than just an Ultrabook. It combines the hardware inside the laptop with a full desktop graphics card as well as expanding the number of available ports. All with a single cable connected to the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port.

It's this which plays into Razer's description of the Blade Stealth being the "ultimate ultrabook." The larger Blade laptop is a full gaming machine complete with dedicated GPU, but the Blade Stealth makes do with only the integrated Intel graphics — and that just won't cut it for gaming. So the idea is you have a gaming rig when you're at home and a sleek ultrabook for when you need to go outside.

Dell has a similar product, but it's limited to their gaming-centric Alienware line. And those are quite expensive, too, but nowhere near as portable as either the XPS 13 or the Blade Stealth.

There's also the styling to consider. The XPS 13 is unmistakeable with its InfinityEdge display, while Razer's Chroma system of LED lighting on the keyboard gives the Stealth its own visual edge. You can turn it off, of course, as you might want to if you're hitting the board room for a meeting. The XPS is certainly the more reserved looking of the two, though the Razer Blade Stealth is certainly the most understated of Razer devices.

So, which should you buy? It's a tough question and thankfully you'll be in good hands whichever you get. Dell has a few more options to spec up on the XPS 13, it will likely last longer through most days and is a little more 'business-y' looking if you're going to be using it for work.

But, if you like to work and play and you're partial to PC gaming, the Blade Stealth is an excellent choice. It offers you the freedom to go out to work all day with a sleek, top of the line ultrabook, then come home and pwn some noobs.

The biggest critique right now to the Blade Stealth is availability. For example, it's not yet available in Europe, and we don't exactly know when it will be. The Core is also yet to become available at time of writing. Dell already has an established global store of its own as well as selling through Microsoft. Which gives it an edge if you want one now, for sure. For many, the Blade Stealth will be a waiting game.

• Read more about the Dell XPS 13
• Read more about the Razer Blade Stealth

• See at Dell
• See at Razer

Here at CES 2016 there have been plenty of announcements for premium Ultrabooks. However, what has been neat is how every OEM has managed to not only create high-end hardware but devices that have unique traits and selling points as differentiators.

Razer just announced their new Blade Stealth Ultrabook, which features a 12.5-inch QHD or 4K display panel. I think Razer not only created an exciting laptop, but something that is just different than what HP, Dell, Acer, or others are doing. That variety is important, and I dare you to look at this laptop and not think it has a certain cool factor (even if it's not for you).

We spent some time with Kevin Sather, global director of marketing at Razer, who walks us through what makes the Blade Stealth unique.

Razer Blade Stealth

• QHD (2560 x 1440) or 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution 12.5-inch IGZO touch display
• 128GB / 256GB / 512GB PCIe SSD options
• Intel® Core™ i7-6500U Dual-Core Processor (2.5GHz / 3.1GHz)
• Intel® HD Graphics 520
• 8GB Dual-Channel System Memory (LPDDR3-1866MHz)
• Windows® 10 (64-bit)
• Wireless-AC (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth® 4.1)
• Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C)
• USB 3.0 port x 2 (SuperSpeed)
• Built-in webcam (2.0MP)
• Chroma anti-ghosting keyboard with individually backlit keys
• HDMI 1.4b audio and video output
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo port
• Built-in array microphone
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) security chip embedded
• Compact 45W USB-C power adapter
• 45Wh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery
• 0.52 in. / 13.1 mm (Height) x 12.6 in. / 321 mm (Width) x 8.1 in. / 206 mm (Depth)
• 2.75 lbs. / 1.25 kg

The specs of the Blade Stealth fall in line with many Ultrabooks, but there are a few differences two:

• Chroma anti-ghosting keyboard with individually backlit keys, which look fabulous
• Low $999 starting price, which still features a Core i7 processor and QHD display

Razer is being aggressive in pricing with this laptop and offering many different skews. Even the "base" model still features a WQHD display and Core i7 processor. For a 12.5-inch device, those are impressive features to have in what is already a fantastic, metal laptop.

Of course, the Blade Stealth has a secret weapon up its sleeve in the form of Razer Core. The Blade Stealth is too thin and light to feature a dedicated GPU, so Razer is letting users add it via a separate station. The Razer Core allows you to swap in and out a single double-wide, full-length, PCI-Express x16 graphics card with just no tools. You connect the unit to the Blade Stealth via one cable through USB Type-C, which not only handles all the graphics but also powers the laptop.

Yes, folks, that Thunderbolt 3 40Gbps cable is one powerful tool.

This configuration to me was revealing: you can now have a laptop when out at work that transforms into a gaming rig when you return. Think of this as Continuum but with a laptop. On your desk, you could have some premium monitors, mouse and keyboard setup and your Blade Stealth as the rest. (Before you ask, the Razer Core only works with the Blade Stealth at this time because you need some fancy BIOS settings to be able to connect and hand-off the dGPU during this process; it's similar to how a Surface Book operates).

The downside is Razer Core is still a few months out. The reason is very likely due to Razer having to work with Nvidia and AMD on driver compatibility along with their own BIOS settings. Keep in mind that a lot of what is being done is still on the fringes of modern computing.

Putting aside the gaming value the Blade Stealth is just a fantastic looking machine with the chops. And that is what is cool about it as it's not only for gamers but for people who just want something a little different and with style. Toss in the Razer Core, however, and you just transformed the Blade Stealth into something else.

Razer will be selling the Blade Stealth through their website starting today as well as Microsoft Stores in the coming weeks. For those who like Microsoft's Signature Series, you'll be happy to learn to that Razer ships with such a barebones image of the OS Microsoft has to add some software before they sell it as a Signature device.

I think with the aggressive pricing, stylized design and unique positioning Razer has brought a compelling device to market. Frankly, I want one and I'm not even a hardcore gamer. The laptop is light, the build quality is excellent and let's face it,that glowing keyboard is whimsically cool.

Let us know what you think in the comments and whether you would want such a laptop.

The Razer Blade Stealth ultrabook isn't messing around. The original model was already one of the best laptops money could buy and that's not changing a lot with the launch of the new one at CES 2016. The Razer Blade Stealth is slim, light, packs the latest Intel Core i7 CPU and an optional 4K 3840x2160 resolution 12.5-inch touch display.

On paper at least, it sure does sound like it could well be the "ultimate Ultrabook."

Razer is also launching the Stealth with what they're billing as an innovative direct-to-consumer business model, which it says allows it to sell the laptop with premium configurations at a lower price compared to other, competing brands.

So, what exactly do you get in the ultimate Ultrabook? Here's a quick run down of the major hardware specs:

• QHD (2560 x 1440) or 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution 12.5-inch IGZO touch display
• 128GB / 256GB / 512GB PCIe SSD options
• Intel® Core™ i7-6500U Dual-Core Processor (2.5GHz / 3.1GHz)
• Intel® HD Graphics 520
• 8GB Dual-Channel System Memory (LPDDR3-1866MHz)
• Windows® 10 (64-bit)
• Wireless-AC (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth® 4.1)
• Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C)
• USB 3.0 port x 2 (SuperSpeed)
• Built-in webcam (2.0MP)
• Chroma anti-ghosting keyboard with individually backlit keys
• HDMI 1.4b audio and video output
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo port
• Built-in array microphone
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) security chip embedded
• Compact 45W USB-C power adapter
• 45Wh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery
• 0.52 in. / 13.1 mm (Height) x 12.6 in. / 321 mm (Width) x 8.1 in. / 206 mm (Depth)
• 2.75 lbs. / 1.25 kg

One thing that seems to be missing, especially given Razer's gaming history, is a dedicated GPU, with the specs sheet so far limiting to just the on-board Intel HD 520 graphics. The Stealth launches alongside the Razer Core, an optional accessory that allows you to connect desktop graphics cards to your Razer Blade Stealth using that Thunderbolt 3 port for maximum graphics performance. Check out our roundup of the best graphics cards for hardware that works with the Razer Core.

Bring desktop graphics power to your laptop over Thunderbolt with the Razer Core

So, then, you're interested. But what about pricing and availability? The Razer Blade Stealth can be pre-ordered today directly from Razer with prices starting at $999. The highest-end model will set you back $1,599 and it'll be shipping in January. From February the Stealth will be making its way to the Microsoft Store.

Press Release:

Razer launches the ultimate ultrabook: ultra-portability, maximum performance and unbeatable value

Razer plans to disrupt the PC industry by offering a new direct-to-consumer laptop model where the Razer Blade Stealth will be sold with premium configurations at a lower price points than competitors

LAS VEGAS (International CES 2016) – Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the ultimate Ultrabook™, the Razer Blade Stealth. Featuring an incredibly sleek form factor, the latest Intel Core i7 processor and a stunning 4K display, the ultra-thin notebook also gives gamers the option of unprecedented desktop-level gaming performance with the help of the Razer Core.

Razer is also planning on disrupting the entire PC industry with an innovative new direct-to-consumer model that allows the new Razer Blade Stealth to be sold with premium configurations, but at a lower price point relative to the competition.

The Razer Blade Stealth measures 0.52 inches thin and weighs just 2.75 pounds. Razer's latest chassis is CNC-milled out of aircraft grade aluminum, providing a sleek yet solid design. Its 12.5-in. touch display comes in two resolutions: an Ultra HD variant with an eye-dazzling 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and 100% coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, and a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) resolution version. Both displays are touch-enabled and feature wide viewing angles and high-color saturation to display content with stunning clarity and accuracy.

To power both models, Razer's award-winning design team equipped the Razer Blade Stealth with the latest 6th generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor. PCIe SSD technology offers up to three times faster speeds than traditional solid state drives. All models will feature 8GB of dual-channel system memory, providing a combination of components that offer high performance in an extremely portable form factor.

Razer will be pioneering a new disruptive direct to consumer model that will ship the Razer Blade Stealth with premium configurations but at a lower price to the competition. The base model of the Razer Blade Stealth will start at $999, while the highest-end version will sell for $1,599. With the new direct-to-consumer model, the Razer Blade Stealth is priced significantly less than comparable systems offered from other manufacturers. Available through Razer's physical and online stores, pre-orders are open now and units will ship in January. In February, the Razer Blade Stealth availability will be expanded to Microsoft Stores.

The Razer Blade Stealth's hardcore gaming chops are unlocked via the plug-and-play external desktop graphics enclosure, the Razer Core. A single Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C) cable supplies both data and power and is all it takes to connect Razer's Ultrabook with the Razer Core. The device can accommodate virtually every popular desktop graphics card from both AMD® and NVIDIA®. Physical installation of GPUs takes seconds with the Razer Core—its durable aluminum housing slides open effortlessly and a single screw can secure the graphics card in place. Razer's solution helps future-proof systems, as graphics cards are easily swappable as new components become available.

Bringing desktop-level graphics and 4K external display output to an Ultrabook is only part of the latest systems solution from Razer. The Razer Core contains four additional USB 3.0 ports and Ethernet connectivity. Plug-and-play support with validated graphics cards allows for quick connections without the need to reboot the PC. It is now easier than ever to transform a thin and light notebook into a desktop experience.

"Before today, gamers needed a portable system for everyday work and a separate desktop computer to power their PC games at the highest level possible," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "For the first time ever, there is no need for two separate systems. The Razer Blade Stealth offers the portability of an Ultrabook with the scalability to play hardcore games with desktop graphics performance thanks to the Razer Core. Furthermore, the Razer Blade Stealth starts at just $999 –which is significantly lower than any other comparable laptop in its class."

In addition, the Razer Blade Stealth will be the first laptop in the world equipped with individually backlit RGB keys. Millions of color options for the keyboard are available thanks to Razer's Chroma technology. All Razer Chroma products – which include mice, keyboards, headsets and a mouse mat – feature 16.8 million customizable colors and a range of effects such as spectrum cycling, breathing, reactive and more, enabled through Razer's Synapse software. Synapse allows synchronizing lighting colors and patterns between Chroma devices with the click of a button. An SDK is available for developers to integrate effects in-game, and it is already supported by AAA game titles including Call of Duty® and Overwatch™.

The Razer Blade Stealth joins the Company's storied line of systems products. The 14-inch Razer Blade and 17-inch Razer Blade Pro set the industry benchmark for power and portability, redefining what a gaming laptop could be. At past Consumer Electronics shows, Razer won official "Best of CES" awards with the Razer Switchblade, Project Fiona and Project Christine concepts. The Razer Edge tablet won the CES "Best of Show" in 2013, besting a field of more than 20,000 electronic devices at the world's most prestigious tech tradeshow.

To find out more about the Razer Blade Stealth and the Razer Core, visit http://rzr.to/blade-stealth.

Availability:

Razer Store and Razerstore.com: Razer Blade Stealth on-sale now, shipping January 2016; Razer Core shipping first half 2016 Microsoft Stores: Razer Blade Stealth in February 2016; Razer Core in first half 2016

Price:

Razer Blade Stealth: Starts at $999 Razer Core: Price not yet available