What you need to know
- The Razer Blade 17 and Razer 15 Base Model are getting updated with Intel's latest H-series processors.
- The Razer Blade 17 starts at $2,399.99, gets a new HD webcam, faster memory, and an anti-fingerprint coating.
- The Razer Blade 15 starts at $1,799.99 with an updated CPU and GPU.
The Razer Blade 17's always been a lightweight monster of a machine, and Razer intends to keep it that way in 2021, jamming it full of new hardware to help keep it on the cutting edge of tech. If you're interested in learning about two of the best gaming laptops' latest iterations, here's the rundown of what to expect.
First, there's the big get of both machines having the latest Intel 11th Gen H-series processors. You'll get a Core i7-11800H with the Blade 15 Base Model and a Core i9-11900H with the Blade 17, meaning that with either system, you'll be more than equipped to run games and stay relevant in laptop circles for a good few years.
Those processors will be accompanied by the RTX 3070 and 3080, respectively. But powerhouse processors and GPUs aren't everything. There are other bells and whistles accompanying these refreshed laptops, including an updated Full HD 1080p webcam for the Blade 17. The Blade 17 also sports an anti-fingerprint resistive coating to help ensure you don't smudge up the chassis. Both machines boast Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and faster memory compared to their predecessors.
Razer Blade 15 Base Model
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | FHD 144Hz or QHD 165Hz |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 laptop GPU |
| Memory | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe |
| Audio | THX Spatial Audio |
| Ports | 2x PCIe 4.0 SSD slots |
| Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Height | 0.78" / 19.9 mm |
| Availability | Pre-orders available now |
| Pricing | Starts at $1,799.99 |
Razer Blade 17
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | Up to a 4K touchscreen |
| Processor | Intel Core i9-11900H (up to 4.90 GHz) |
| Graphics | Up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 laptop GPU |
| Camera | Full HD 1080p webcam |
| Audio | THX Spatial Audio |
| Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Availability | Pre-orders available now |
| Pricing | Starts at $2,399.99 |
.
These aren't the only Razer machines to receive updates in recent memory. Just a few short months ago, the regular Blade 15 got its refresh. Expect the cycle to continue for the foreseeable future, meaning if you miss out on this update, there'll always be another one a few months later to help make you a couple thousand dollars lighter. And keep in mind that Razer laptops frequently crop up in Black Friday and Prime Day sales. If you want a portable gaming machine with Intel's latest hardware and are eager to save a few bucks along the way, consider waiting for those event periods.
Less is more
The Razer Blade 15 Base isn't going to challenge Razer's top-of-the-line portable gaming machines, but it also won't break the bank quite as aggressively. If you want a powerful NVIDIA GPU and Intel CPU in the tiniest package possible, you could do a lot worse than a Blade 15 Base.
A laptop for work and play
The refreshed Blade Pro 17 for mid-2021 brings RTX 3080 GPU, Intel 11th Gen H-series processors, faster memory, and a new anti-fingerprint coating for the chassis.
