The new design shrinks the arrow keys in favor of a full-size Shift key on that
VLGHVLQFHWKH\¶UHOHVVHUXVHGNH\VIRUPRVWXVHUVDQ\ZD\DQGLW¿[HVWKHPLV
hit problem. Otherwise, the keyboard is very comfortable to type on (if slightly
on the shallow-travel side), and each key is individually backlit with
customizable lighting. The touchpad remains best in class, among the most
comfortable to use on any Windows laptop, with extremely smooth panning and
a quality feel.
There are more external changes in the form of ports. The 2020 version
includes a UHS-III SD card reader as well as USB Type-C ports that support
charging (in addition to the power jack and brick that charge the laptop).
In total, the Blade 15 includes two USB Type-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 3
support, and both with 20-volt PD 3.0 charging), three Type-A USB 3.1 ports,
an HDMI connection, and the SD card reader. That’s a generous mix.
COMPONENT CHECK: BLAZING FAST DISPLAY AND HIGH-END
PA R T S
There’s one more major physical change on our model, and while it is visible,
\RX¶GEHIRUJLYHQIRUQRWQRWLFLQJLWRQ¿UVWORRN7KHIXOO+' E\
pixel) display now boasts a blistering-fast 300Hz refresh rate, a feature that
began making its way into a batch of high-end gaming laptops this year. It’s
certainly a feature for enthusiasts, since only hardcore competitive gamers even
VHHNRXW+]RU+]GLVSOD\V