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.
| Category | Razer Blade Stealth 13 (late 2019) | Razer Blade Stealth 13 (Mercury White) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Display | 13.3" FHD Matte13.3" 4K Touch | 13.3" FHD Matte |
| Processor | Quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 | Quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4GB GDDR5 RAM) | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR4 3733MHz | 16GB LPDDR4 3733MHz |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe M.2 | 256GB PCIe M.2 |
| Front Camera | 720p, Windows Hello IR | 720p, Windows Hello IR |
| Security | Intel Platform Trust Technology, Windows Hello | Intel Platform Trust Technology, Windows Hello |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | 1x Thunderbolt 3 power port (4 PCIe lanes), 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 power port, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A | 1x Thunderbolt 3 power port (4 PCIe lanes), 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 power port, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A |
| Audio | Stereo (4 speakers + Smart Amp), 3.5mm headphone/mic combo, array microphone, Dolby Atmos | Stereo (4 speakers + Smart Amp), 3.5mm headphone/mic combo, array microphone, Dolby Atmos |
| Battery | 51.3 Wh | 51.3 Wh |
| Dimensions | 0.60" x 11.99 "x 8.27" (15.3mm x 304.6mm x 210mm) | 0.60" x 11.99 "x 8.27" (15.3mm x 304.6mm x 210mm) |
| Weight | Up to 3.26 lb (1.48 kg) | 2.99 lbs (1.36 kg) |
| Colors | Black | Mercury White |
| Availability | Late September | Late September |
| Price | From $1,500 | From $1,500 |
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.
The new Razer Blade Stealth 13 is due out later in September, but you can currently get your hands on its predecessor at a pretty solid discount.
