Razer Blade 14 QHD

AMD CPU + Razer Blade 14 = razor sharp laptop

- SAM LEWIS

THE RAZER BLADE 14 has been referred to as a subtle beast. Indeed, the chassis gives little away, other than that it’s clearly a premium laptop. But Razer is hoping that what lurks beneath the aluminum structure will lure gamers in. This time, Razer has introduced an AMD chip into the Blade 14—and not just any old chip, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX to be precise, a pretty mean processor for gaming. In this model, you can also find the range-topping GeForce RTX 3080. For a compact device, such as the Razer 14, this is a pretty impressive feat. So, let’s see how well Razer has executed this idea and whether it is worth your time.

The laptop gives off a premium look and feel, with a build quality that’s comparable to an Apple MacBook Pro. We’re on team PC, of course, but that’s a compliment for the Blade 14. There is no chassis creaking or screen wobble, and combined with the matte black design, it makes a great-looking laptop that’s only 0.6-inch thick. The only branding is Razer’s classic green LED emblem on the lid and a subtle logo under the screen. Above the screen is a 720p webcam with microphone, which is handy for when on the move. It’s no showstopper but will be fine for hopping on a Google Meet call.

The screen also gets a thumbs up. Its classic 14-inch size is ideal for portability and compactness, while still being a decent size when gaming on a desk. Sure, a 15-inch display is easier on the eye and better for gaming, but this is a perfect size for throwing in a rucksack and taking with you on the move. To have desktop performance that you can carry around with you is quite impressive. The display has a high refresh rate at 165Hz to make everything a bit zippier. Even scrolling through the internet is a more enjoyable process with a fast refresh rate.