Razer revealed its Blade Stealth 13 Early 2020 version. The latest model replaces the GTX model from last year and begins at $1,799. It will be out in the second quarter of 2020.
The best news is that, compared to the 60Hz displays on previous versions, the latest Stealth is the first Ultrabook with a 13.3-inch 120Hz display! (Razer will also have a 4K touchscreen interface optimized for content creators). For gaming, a higher refresh screen is best, because it offers smoother visuals when in play. According to Razer, the new panel would cover 100 percent of the sRGB spectrum.
Reviewers have lauded the late 2019 Blade Stealth as being the most powerful ultraportable ever made. The computer was just 3.13 pounds and 15.3 mm thick, and was operated by a GTX 1650 Max-Q. It was a tremendous accomplishment for Razer to fit such powerful hardware into a slim shell, and finally made the Blade Stealth a capable gaming laptop. Previously, it would have been highly rare to see something more powerful in an ultraportable computer than an MX 150 graphics card; the heat output was deemed too much for such a form factor.
But while the configuration was good, and could manage games like Overwatch without a problem, reviewers decided that the task of running AAA titles was not entirely up to them. Engadget tried to run Destiny 2 and called that "stuttery" experience.
This stealth is much more ambitious and Razer obviously hopes it will serve the needs of serious gamers better.
- It's still lighter at 3.11 pounds, and again thick at 15.3 millimetres.
- This one has a Max-Q design with GTX 1650 Ti, and a GDDR6 memory of 4 GB.
- This Stealth uses the same Core i7-1065G7H as its predecessor, but uses a 25W version, while the previous one uses a 15W version. In general, a higher wattage processor results in higher performance — but also more power consumption and more heat.
- Razer fixed the keyboard for the Blade, just as it did on the latest Blade 15 update. You won't have to worry about mistakenly pressing the up arrow anymore; Razer stretched the shift key and wedged the two directional keys under it.
The problem, of course, is how this computer would stack up against Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which is operated by AMD. The model we tested was $1,449, only a little heavier, and could run Red Dead Redemption II pretty good in high settings.That's the portable gaming laptop to beat at the moment, and the Blade Stealth 13 is perhaps our first look at whether Intel is up to the challenge.