Razer Blade 16 (2025) review: ultra settings on an ultra-thin laptop for an ultra-high price | The Verge

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Razer Blade 16 (2025) Review Summary

The Razer Blade 16 (2025) is a high-end gaming laptop with a thin and sleek design, similar to a MacBook Pro. While offering powerful performance, especially with DLSS 4, its high price point and average battery life are noteworthy. The RTX 5090 model shows only slight performance improvements over its predecessor.

Performance

In benchmarks against competitors like Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 and Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (both with RTX 5080), the Blade 16 offers a marginal performance advantage. The RTX 5090 in the Blade 16 is roughly comparable to a desktop RTX 5070.

  • Good performance with DLSS 4, especially in demanding games.
  • Slight performance gains over the RTX 4090 model.
  • Thinner design may limit RTX 5090 potential performance

Design and Features

The laptop is remarkably thin and light for a gaming machine, even lighter than some MacBook Pros. It features an excellent 16-inch OLED display, a good selection of ports, and a surprisingly good cooling system.

  • Thin and lightweight design.
  • High-quality OLED display.
  • Good port selection.
  • Improved, though not perfect, cooling.

Battery Life

The battery life is a significant drawback; even with power saving options enabled, the laptop can barely make it through a workday of mixed use. Performance on battery is impacted by reduced power capabilities.

  • Subpar battery life compared to competitors and MacBooks.
  • Integrated graphics usage leads to sluggishness on battery power.

Price

The price is extremely high, especially for the RTX 5090 version, with a comparable RTX 5080 option available at a substantially lower cost. The pricing strategy might deter some buyers despite the compelling design.

  • High price for the RTX 5090 version.
  • RTX 5080 option offers comparable performance at a lower price point.

Overall

The Razer Blade 16 offers a great balance of performance, design, and features, but the considerable cost and subpar battery life might be deal breakers for many. The very slight improvements over last year's model may not justify the upgrade for current owners.

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