Razer Book 13 vs. Razer Blade Stealth: Which Razer laptop is right for you?

Razer Book 13 2020
Razer Book 13 2020 (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

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

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Header Cell - Column 0 Razer Book 13Razer Blade Stealth
Processor28W 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G728W 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G711th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7
RAM8 or 16GBLPDDR4X16GBLPDDR4X
StorageUp to 512GB PCIe M.2 (upgradeable to 2TB)Up to 512GB PCIe M.2 (upgradeable)
Display13.4-inch 16:10Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) Non-TouchFull HD+ (1920 x 1200) TouchUHD+ (3840 x 2400) TouchGorilla Glass 6Anti-reflective13.3-inch FHD 120Hz matte (100% sRGB)13.3-inch OLED Touch (100% DCI-P3)
GraphicsIntel Iris XeNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (Max-Q Design)
Ports1x microSD card reader1x HDMI 2.0 port2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) (power, 4 lanes of PCI Express)1x USB-A 3.2Headphone/mic jack2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) (power, 4 lanes of PCI Express)2x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2Headphone/mic jack
BiometricsWindows Hello (face)Windows Hello (face)
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6 Intel Wireless AX 201 (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac)Bluetooth 5.1Wi-Fi 6 Intel Wireless AX 201 (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac)Bluetooth 5.1
Battery56WHr65-watt charger53.1WHr100W USB-C power adapter
Dimensions0.60" x 11.6" x 7.8" (15.15mm x 295.6mm x 198mm)0.60" x 11.99" x 8.27" (15.3mm x 304.6mm x 210mm)
Weight2.95 to 3.11lbs (1.34 to 1.4kg)3.11lbs (1.41kg) non-touch3.26lbs (1.48kg) touch

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

Razer Blade Stealth

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

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

Razer Book 13

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

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.

Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine