Razer didn’t announce as many products at CES this year, but it still has a few new things to showcase coming up in 2024. New Blade laptops headline the latest gear from Razer, ramping up how much further it wants to take its laptops. They’re also not specifically made for gamers, as Razer is staking its claim to creators looking for robust tools to do the job.
Razer Blade laptops get an update
The Blade 16 was a popular choice when revealed at last year’s CES, and it gets an updated look for 2024. For starters, it gets a 16-inch Samsung OLED display with 16:10 aspect ratio and response time as fast as 0.2-milleseconds. That’s 10x the response time of the previous Blade 16. It’s so fast, in fact, that it makes it easier than ever to see exact frames when editing video for more precise edits along the way. Plus it has a 120Hz refresh rate at full resolution and 240Hz refresh rate in 1080p HD that will keep things smooth for gamers. Colour accuracy is also higher with Vesa certification and Calman verification, which is why Razer is positioning the laptop as a productivity tool and not just a gaming one.
The graphics chip will start at the RTX 4070, bumping it up at the low end compared to the 4060 in last year’s model, but configurations will go up to the RTX 4090. Graphics Power Density (gPD) balances the compact size of the laptop without compromising on overall performance, all of which is helped by a max 5.8GHz clock speed. You can also use Razer Synapse to overclock it further. With an Intel Core i9 processor and up to 24 cores, you can find very robust configurations for this laptop.
The body is also different, sporting an aluminum unibody chassis, leaving out any vestiges of plastic. A fingerprint-resistive coating should also keep it looking slick at all times and clear of any scratches. You can expect a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, SD card slot, plus Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for the latest in wireless connections.
Other Razer Blade laptops
There will be a new Blade 18 as well, but details are scarce other than it’s coming in the spring. Razer confirmed it will stand out for the simple fact it will be the first 18-inch 4K IPS panel with 165Hz refresh rate—and be among the first laptops with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. Thunderbolt 5 is set to be ridiculously fast, capable of transferring data at a max rate of 80Gbps—double that of Thunderbolt 4. That would be enough to handle two 8K, two 6K or three 4K monitors at one time. For that, and other reasons, Razer sees the Blade 18 as a desktop replacement.
Razer’s is also coming back with a newer Blade 14. The new 14-inch model will support Nvidia GPUs up to GeForce RTX 4070, so will be both gaming-ready and an option for more intensive creative work being a Calman Verfied laptop. Plus, it’s also the lightest at 4.05 lbs and thinnest at 0.7-inches. Naturally, it’s the most portable option of the three.
More Razer products are coming up
The company also announced a couple other products that could prove useful in a desktop environment. First up is the Razer Aether Monitor Light Bar primarily aimed at gamers, though not exclusively made for them. The idea is to illuminate both the workspace and the ambient areas by way of two beams facing in opposite directions. Out front is a standard LED light to light up the space in front of you, while the rear has Chroma RGB effects and colours for the ambience. There are different modes to try, and both sides are adjustable, both in intensity and colour temperature. It just sits on any monitor with a simple clamp and plugs in via USB-C. It’s also Matter-certified and works with Google Assistant and Alexa when you set that up.
The Razer USB C Dock is also a one-stop shop for all connectivity needs, especially if you’re looking to declutter a desktop space. It’s an 11-in-1 adapter with one USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, four USB-A ports, one 3.5mm jack, SD and microSD card slots, HDMI, Ethernet, and another USB-C port to connect to a computer. It works with PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, and even iPads and Android tablets.
All of these products are coming out very soon, with only the Blade 18 slated for launch at a later time in 2024. Check out the latest Razer laptops and gear available now and watch Best Buy Blog for more from CES 2024.
