I'm not a hardcore video gamer but have always had an interest in gaming computers, consoles and the hot talk now are portable consoles like the ROG Ally. Even so the brand that always catches my attention is Razer. Especially the Razer Blade gaming laptop series but never able to have it.
I recently had the opportunity to test the Razer Blade 18, which is Razer's latest large-sized model. Not only that, the specifications of this laptop are also terrible, making me want to actively play video games. At the same time, I also made the Blade 18 a daily laptop for work and in this article I will share my experience of using it and give my opinion on whether it is worth it.
Razer Blade 18 (2023)
18″ IPS LCD screen, QHD+ (2560 x 1600)
240Hz, 16:10, G-Sync
CPU Intel Core i9-13950HX (24-core) i9
1.8 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 5.5 GHz
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB GDDR6 VRAM)
RAM 32 GB DDR5-5600MHz
Storage 1 TB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4)
5MP Primary Camera
I/O 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (PD, DP 1.4 with Nvidia GPU output)
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DP iGPU)
1x RJ45 – Ethernet 2.5GB
1x HDMI 2.1
1x UHS-II SD card reader
Battery 91.7 WHr
330W GaN charging
USB-C PD 3.0 charging reaches 100W
SIM/Telephony None
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E AX211
(IEEE 802.11a/b/d/e/g/h/i/k/n/r/u/v/w/ac/ax/az)
Audio Jack Yes
Waterproof None
Facial Scan System – Windows Hello
Selling Price RM19,999
SCREEN
The 18″ IPS LCD screen is very large for a laptop. I rarely use a laptop of this size and initial impressions make it feel a bit clumsy. Not enough with the size, the supported resolution is QHD+ 2560 x 1600, 240Hz refresh rate with NVIDIA G-Sync, 3ms response time and can also display HDR content. There is no doubt that this is a solid and satisfying specification. The only thing that disappoints is that the brightness is limited to 500 nits only.
Although I don't use this laptop outside the office, sometimes I like a brighter screen to more easily see details and colors on video content or photos that are being edited.
The display ratio is 16:10 which is not awkward for me. But because it uses an IPS screen, when watching a video it does not support full screen and will display a black bar. The screen panel is also quite sturdy, can be opened with one hand and has a thinner bezel than the previous model.
A giant screen for a laptop also makes me no longer need an additional monitor when working and playing. This is probably just for me because of the limited working space in the office. But for you if you still want to use a monitor, make sure the desk space is wide enough. The 18″ size is also easy to multitask with two Windows windows.
DESIGN
Just like the Razer Blade 14, the Blade 18 also looks like a block of granite formed from CNC machined aluminum. This makes Razer look unique and different from other gaming laptop designs that are more elegant, many lattices, cluttered RGB lights and look very thick. Blade 18 still looks like a professional laptop or a MacBook Pro in dark mode.
Blade 18 is a gaming laptop for minimalist users. The hot air outlet grille, fan grille and speaker grille are all hidden below and behind near the hinges. The Razer Chroma RGB system is limited to the keyboard and the logo on the back panel only lights up in green.
On each side of the keyboard there is also a speaker grille that shoots audio upwards. Also in the same area is a large touch pad that is parallel to the body of the laptop.
For I/O, it is on each left and right side of the laptop. On the left is 1x dedicated charging port, 1x RJ45 ethernet, 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C and 1x 3.5mm audio jack. While on the right there is 1x Kensington lock, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C and 1x SD card slot. This indirectly makes it the most complete laptop I have ever used. There is no need to buy the adapter separately if you buy the Blade 18.
As I said earlier, the Blade 18 uses a screen design with a thin bezel and no longer has a large chin with the Razer logo like the previous model. The top bezel can still be loaded with several infrared emitters and a 5MP camera for web camera support and unlocking the laptop without the need for a notch.
This laptop is also one of the heaviest I've ever used at 3.1 kilograms. Therefore, I rarely bring this laptop home because I am not willing to bring it upstream to downstream and only use it as a computer replacement. The duffel bag we've been using all this time is also not big enough to accommodate it. So make sure you have a laptop bag big enough if you want to use the Blade 18.
KEYBOARD
This laptop comes with a keyboard that is very comfortable to use. It's the type of chiclet I'm used to so it doesn't cause any problems during use. Previously, the Huawei Matebook 14s was my daily laptop where every key felt harder compared to the softer Blade 18. In fact, many articles written since a month ago until today are with this laptop.
For playing video games every key is responsive enough as if there is no time lag. My fingers had no problem finding other keys quickly in a gaming session and no problem when pressing hard. The Razer Chroma lamp is also interesting with the ability to move according to the audio being played, the life of the enemy in Mortal Kombat 11, and can also be adaptive according to the profile on Razer Synapse.
TOUCH PAD
It is common now for every modern laptop to use Windows Precision Driver touchpad drivers. The size for this Blade 18 is big enough for my use. Windows gesture controls are no problem because they are always smooth and fast. All movements and touches can also be detected well.
My problem is the same as Effi when reviewing the Blade 14 which is the unsatisfactory click system. The entire upper part is left click only while the lower part is the standard which is left click and right click. I still feel that Huawei's attempt on their Matebook is the closest to a Windows laptop providing an experience similar to the Track Pad of a MacBook.
USAGE AND BENCHMARKS
The Razer Blade 18, like most Windows laptops, runs the Windows 11 operating system. There are no special features or functions offered except for the Razer Central application. Using this laptop on a daily basis is not easy because of its large size and weight. As I said in the paragraph above, the Blade 18 is not a “laptop” but a computer replacement.
Typing articles in WordPress, running two web browsers with multiple tabs simultaneously, editing photos in Adobe Photoshop and editing videos in Adobe Premiere provide a satisfying experience. It's very smooth and the laptop doesn't heat up because everything is fast. However, what is less pleasant is the noise of the fan which is very noisy in automatic mode.
Blade 18 is a laptop that focuses on gaming. The 13th generation Intel Core i9 processing chip, NVIDIA RTX 4080 16GB VRAM graphics card, 32GB RAM memory and 1TB SSD internal storage are the specifications that I always want if I want to build my own PC set. When I can experience everything on this laptop I feel very satisfied.
The video games Control, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Mortal Kombat 11 and Forza Horizon 5 all had no problem playing at the highest graphics settings. Some games suggest Ray Tracing settings be turned off or set to low due to insufficient memory. When I started playing it, it kept making me miss the days of having so much free time to play video games all day.
I also put the Razer Blade 18 to the test with some benchmark tests. In 3DMark the score recorded is as below and it is the highest we have ever seen in the our test lab. The PCMark 10 test confirms that it is not only suitable for hardcore gaming sessions but also for performing tasks in the office if necessary.
For internal storage as usual I use CrystalDiskMark 8. The score obtained for reading is 6853.51 MB/s and writing is 4499.78 MB/s. This is the highest score I've tested myself and all data transfers from other devices to the Blade 18 with USB-C are really fast.
AUDIO
On paper the Blade 18's speaker specs are fantastic. Equipped with 2x tweeters, 4x sub-woofers, 3 smart amplifiers, supports 7.1 codec with HDMI and is recognized with THX. For my use I feel the Blade 18 focuses more on very deep bass with a strong and lively thump.
The audio produced is quite balanced and tasty. Even better than most laptops I've tested. Too bad to my ears it wasn't satisfying enough for video games and forced me to wear a set of Razer headphones. But to enjoy videos on Netflix or YouTube I can still receive them.
BATTERY
The Razer Blade 18 is loaded with a 91.7 WHr battery with 330W GaN charging support via its own charger. Blade 18 also supports USB PD 3.0 charging up to 100W via USB-C connection but the system will warn that the power is insufficient if it detects heavy background activity. I didn't calculate the charging duration because throughout use I frequently connected the charger for consistent performance.
In terms of battery durability for daily use such as writing articles, watching videos and surfing the web with maximum screen brightness, QHD resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, this laptop can last up to 4 hours. For a gaming laptop, this is a proud endurance because another gaming laptop in the our lab, the Acer Predator Helios 18, only lasts around 2 hours.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Razer Blade 18 2023.
1x 330W GaN charger block.
1x 3 pin head cable.
1x Manual.
1x Razer Sticker.
1x Wiper cloth.
CONCLUSION
After almost two months of using the Razer Blade 18 as a daily laptop I cannot deny that this is the best laptop I have ever used. Although the productivity performance is not my favorite because even light tasks cause the fan to spin fast and noisy, the Blade 18 is quite satisfactory when playing video games.
Attractive design, great screen, acceptable speakers, large touchpad and a keyboard that feels good to type on. The Razer Blade 18 is a fully equipped laptop that is perfect for me.
It's just that due to its large size and very heavy weight, I can't carry the Blade 18 everywhere. If I can get more or less the same usage experience in a smaller package, I will definitely choose it as a personal laptop. The recently launched Razer Blade 14 2023 is the best candidate unfortunately Razer Malaysia has confirmed so far there are no plans to sell it in Malaysia.
The Blade 18 that I use is sold at a price of RM16,499. Is it worth it? For those who want a high performance laptop that can be used for play as well as work it is a good choice. There are not many other gaming computers that can offer the same performance in a compact and neat package.
But for people like me, it's not worth it because it's a laptop that's difficult to carry anywhere, so I'd better buy a desktop with comparable specifications and with more money I can still buy a PlayStation 5. The decision is in your hands.
PROs and Advantages
The screen is fast, beautiful, gigantic and satisfying.
Excellent performance for productivity and high graphics gaming.
All-round I/O support with full-size HDMI 2.1.
Nice, comfortable and colorful keyboard.
The minimalist design looks like a dark mode MacBook.
No heating problem.
CONS and Cons
Disappointing touchpad click system.
Unsatisfying speakers for a THX system.
RAM is soldered to the motherboard.
The fan is too noisy.
The price is quite high.