Strongest specs
The Razer 15 Blade Advanced Model is a slightly thinner, but also slightly heavier version of the Razer Blade 15 that offers more powerful options for graphics cards and displays for a higher overall price.
For
- Powerful graphics card options
- Great processors
- Plenty of RAM
- Excellent display options
- Slightly thinner
Against
- More expensive
- Slightly heavier
- Disappointing storage
Lowest price
The original Base Model of the Razer Blade 15 is thicker and lighter than its new Advanced counterpart, and trades the ability to be outfitted with cutting edge graphics cards and displays for a lower cost.
For
- Less expensive
- Plenty of RAM and storage
- Great processor options
- Low-end model has excellent storage
- Slightly lighter
Against
- Not many graphics card options
- Less display options
- Slightly thicker
- Disappointing storage options overall
Both the Base Model and the Advanced Model of the Razer Blade 15 are great gaming laptops, but the Advanced Model trumps its older brother when it comes to the specs you can configure it with. However, this comes at a cost: a higher price. If you're short on money or don't want a monster gaming machine, a Base Model Razer Blade 15 will be right up your alley.
Base vs. Advanced: A battle between power and price
When it comes to power, the Advanced Model of the Razer Blade 15 is the clear winner of this matchup. The least powerful hardware you can opt for with it is an NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics card, an Intel Core i7-8750H processor, and a Full HD 144Hz display. The most expensive option is an NVIDIA RTX 2080, an Intel Core i7-9750H, and a beefy OLED 4K Touch screen. Whether you go low or high with the Advanced Model, though, you'll be able to handle all modern games with ease.
The Base Model is a different story. The low point of its specs options is a dated NVIDIA GTX 1060, an Intel Core i7-8750H, and a Full HD 60Hz display, while the high point is an NVIDIA RTX 2060 with an Intel Core i7-9750H and a Full HD 144Hz screen. The best version of the Base Model is definitely a great gaming laptop, but the cheapest option is only average.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Base Model | Advanced Model |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA RTX 2060 | Up to NVIDIA RTX 2080 |
| Processor | Up to Intel Core i7-9750H | Up to Intel Core i7-9750H |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage | Up to 2TB HDD w/ 256GB SSD | Up to 512GB SSD |
| Display | Up to 15.6" Full HD 144Hz | Up to 15.6" 4K OLED Touch |
| Battery | 65 Wh (Up to 6 hours) | 80 Wh (Up to 6 hours) |
| Thickness | 0.78" x 9.25" x 13.98" | 0.70" x 9.25" x 13.98" |
| Weight | Up to 4.63 lbs | Up to 4.83 lbs |
Both models have disappointing storage options between 128, 256, and 512GB SSDs, though strangely, the low-end version of the Base Model comes with one of these and either a 1 or 2TB HDD. More likely than not, you'll need an external hard drive regardless of which device you choose.
There's another area where the Base Model defeats the Advanced Model, though, and that's in terms of pricing. The price of the Base Models ranges between $1,600–$2,000, while the price range of the Advanced Models is between $2,200–$3,300.
In other areas, the differences are either nonexistent or marginal. They have different weights, but the difference is only 0.2 pounds. The Base Model is also slightly thicker, but again, not by much to have it mean anything. Meanwhile, both come with 16GB of RAM, which is more than enough to assist with gaming no matter the other specs.
Base vs. Advanced: Which should you buy?
Overall, the choice between the Base or Advanced Model will come down to what you need and what you can afford. If you're looking for a high-end gaming machine that you want to crank up the settings on and push limits with, then one of the Advanced Models is definitely what you should go with. However, if you want to spend as little money as possible and don't care about not having cutting-edge specs, then one of the Base Model options is going to be perfect for you.
If I had to choose, though, I would go with one of the pricier Advanced Models because I wouldn't mind spending extra money for a machine that offers peak performance. If you want a laptop that can play games, why not get one that can play most, if not all, games?
Go big or go home
The Razer Blade 15 Advanced Models offer high-end performance and a wide range of specs options, but it's more expensive.
Solid gaming at a good price
The Base Models of the Razer Blade 15 offer a solid gaming experience for a fraction of what the Advanced Models cost, though gamers that want to push systems to their limits will be left wanting more.
