Razer’s brand-new, redesigned Blade 16 gaming laptop may have finally achieved perfection

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When you envision a high-end gaming laptop, it’s likely that the Razer Blade comes to mind. For quite some time, Razer’s luxury models have held the number one spot, a realm accessible only to select gamers and professionals with generous budgets. However, in recent years, there has been a sense that the Blade series hasn’t evolved as much as expected.

At CES 2025, Razer is moving away from any sense of standing still. The newest Razer Blade 16 has been officially unveiled, and it represents what could be the greatest leap forward in generations that Razer has ever undertaken. A completely new design that sets a new standard for Razer, a significant transition from Intel to AMD, advanced next-generation NVIDIA graphics, and other features make the Razer Blade 16 (2025) one of the most anticipated laptops of the year.

Recently, I had an opportunity to test some preliminary models of Razer’s upcoming flagship product, set to release within a couple of months. My experience with these prototypes has boostered my confidence in Razer’s laptop development more than ever.

The Razer Blade is taking back its spot at the top

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Upon experiencing the latest Razer Blade 16 (2024), I found myself questioning if they’d taken my previous critique to heart. It seemed as though each and every point I raised in my previous assessment was meticulously addressed, leaving me quite impressed. The high cost, while still substantial, appears more justifiable with the improvements made. The design, once considered tired, now feels fresh and modern. The keyboard, a source of disappointment before, has been upgraded for a more comfortable typing experience. Lastly, the issue of throttling under load seems to have been resolved, ensuring smooth performance even during heavy usage.

We’ll dive right into discussing the updated design. The latest Razer Blade 16 (2025) retains its robust, CNC-milled construction from a single aluminum block for exceptional durability, but it has been reduced by as much as 32% in thickness compared to last year’s model. This means the new Blade 16 is now only 15mm (0.59in) thick, making it the thinnest Razer Blade ever produced, according to Razer. The reduction in thickness is quite noticeable when compared to the previous model, which appears bulky and heavy in contrast to the sleek, slender, and polished design of the new Blade 16.

The Razer Blade’s significant decrease in thickness doesn’t seem to have affected any other aspects of its user experience, according to Razer. However, one aspect I can personally evaluate is the keyboard. Razer informed me that the keyboard on the Razer Blade hasn’t undergone a significant transformation for quite some time, but this new version features a 50% increase in key travel (up to 1.5mm), a 20% boost in switch durability (up to 6 million presses), and an overall improvement in responsiveness, tactility, and comfort compared to previous versions.

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In simpler terms, Razer informed me that the keyboard on the device is yet to be completely refined and wasn’t fully developed in the initial models I tested. However, even with its ongoing improvements, I noticed a clear and significant upgrade compared to last year’s model. The new Razer Blade 16 truly excels in design and keyboard quality.

A significant change in partnership is noticeable under the hood of the new Razer Blade 16 (2025). Historically, these top-tier laptops have run on Intel processors, but this time around, they’re teaming up with AMD. I am optimistic that this switch will only lead to enhanced user experiences.

The recently launched Razer Blade 16 now features up to an AMD Ryzen 9 HX 370 processor, a CPU I’m quite familiar with from my past device reviews such as the ASUS ProArt P16 (2024). At that time, I recall desiring that the Razer Blade 16 was more similar to the ProArt P16, and AMD’s latest mobile processors significantly contribute to this sentiment. Impressively, these AMD Ryzen chips are not only cool and efficient but also surpass Intel’s current Core Ultra series in power. Given Razer’s aim to make their devices thinner than ever before, it was a logical decision to incorporate the potent AMD Ryzen family into the design.

By opting for AMD Ryzen AI over Intel Core i, the Razer Blade 16 now stands as the initial Copilot+ PC from Razer and its first AI-focused computer overall. The potent Neural Processing Unit (NPU) within the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 offers up to 50 TOPS of computational power, empowering an abundance of AI functionalities and potentially influencing future Razer endeavors. Notably, this change also means that the Blade 16’s RAM is now permanently attached (soldered), but it can be expanded up to 64GB at a speedy 8,000MHz – representing a substantial improvement over last year’s 5,200MHz.

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In a novel improvement, the latest thermal system, boasting a unique custom vapor chamber at its heart, ensures the AMD chip maintains a cooler operation under stress compared to what the previous Blade 16 models could handle. This advancement allows Razer to fit in the most potent next-generation NVIDIA graphics, despite the thinner casing, even though this piece isn’t primarily about discussing that particular upgrade.

Regrettably, I don’t have complete specifications or all the details for the Razer Blade 16 (2025) yet, as it’s not due until the first quarter of the year. However, what I can share is that OLED technology has returned once more, with the Blade 16 featuring a QHD+, 240Hz OLED panel that boasts a lightning-fast 0.2ms response time. From my brief hands-on experience, this display looks promising and should deliver an excellent visual experience.

Users can rest assured they won’t see a decrease in available ports annually when it comes to the Razer Blade 16 (2025). Although some ports have been rearranged, the same variety remains intact. The only notable change is swapping Thunderbolt 4 for USB4 due to the laptop’s transition to AMD. However, this alteration should not affect more than 0.1% of users.

Overall, I was thoroughly captivated by my experience with the Razer Blade 16 (2025), and I can’t wait to explore more about what Razer has managed to achieve. It seems that the Blade 16 might have attained perfection in the realm of ultra-premium gaming laptops, but until I’ve tested a full production model, my final opinion remains tentative. After all, even the most impressive design means nothing if the laptop performs sluggishly.

The Razer Blade 16 (2025) isn’t coming until a few months from now, but you can check Razer.com regularly for updates about this laptop. Additionally, make sure to follow Windows Central as we will provide an extensive review of the new Blade 16 once it becomes available.

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2025-01-07 07:18