negative to this premium-priced favorite. If you’re going
to buy this elite gaming laptop today, it may as well be
the newest version.
THE BLADE DESIGN: AS SHARP AS EVER
In physical design, this Razer Blade 15 matches the
model we reviewed earlier this year. As an internal
component and features update, its chassis and build
quality remain at the same superb level, a slim and
premium machine that stands out even among high-
end competitors.
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weighs 4.4 pounds, one of the lightest top-end gaming
rigs around. The new Alienware x15 is a hair thinner at
0.62 inch, but it’s heftier at 5 pounds. The Blade 15’s
all-metal design looks and feels great, setting the
benchmark for the category, especially as many
competitors use plastic builds.
With the build unchanged, I hardly need to mention
that the touchpad remains one of the best on any
Windows laptop, exceeded only by Apple’s solution for
its MacBooks. The keyboard is less of a standout but is
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feedback (they’re a bit shallow), but there’s little room
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laptop keyboard, co-developed with keymaker Cherry,
has frankly spoiled us, but the Blade’s keys are good
enough among non-mechanical solutions. The keyboard
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backlighting, which you can play with using the
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support, the power port, and the headphone jack. On
Razer Blade 15
Advanced Model
(Late 2021)
PROS
Same premium, sleek,
and light all-metal
build. Top-end
performance in our
RTX 3070 configuration
with 360Hz display.
Superior touchpad,
upgraded 1080p
webcam. All models
include at least 1TB of
storage, a good fit for
gaming.
CONS
Pricey, especially as
configured. Chassis
gets quite hot in spots
while gaming.
Diminished battery life.
BOTTOM LINE
This modest update to
the premium Razer
Blade 15 ups the ante
with a newer CPU and
improved 1080p
webcam. While the
battery life falls short,
its GeForce RTX
graphics and high-
refresh screen options
deliver a top-end
gaming experience.