Update: It seems the RTX 4090-based versions are now out of stock.
New and Ultra Samsung Galaxy laptops that have just dropped notwithstanding, Razer touts its new Blade 16 and 18 as “still the best” while making their 13- or even 17-inch siblings look lighter than a Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 by comparison. The OEM even goes so far as to praise the new and biggest member of the series as “the most powerful laptop we’ve ever made“.
For those looking for something slightly less gargantuan, there is the 16 based on the same Intel Core i9-13950HX processor with much the same choice of GPUs. On that note, it is now available in RTX 4080- and 4090-powered forms in the US, with its other options with the 4060 or 4070 to follow (this availability may vary by region).
Accordingly, the Blade 16 starts at US$3,599 with its QHD+/240Hz screen option. The Blade 18, on the other hand, can be had with the same display specs for US$3,799 with a 4080, or (brace yourselves) US$4,499 with a 4090.
Then again, Razer notes that its own 4060- and 4070-enhanced alternatives are on the way – as are SKUs with 64GB of RAM, whereas its release-day versions have 32GB.
These initial 16 and 18 offerings are available via first-party listings, with the gift of a free Razer Skin (more or less like Dbrand’s Damascus vinyl) apparently worth US$69.99 and exclusive to those who pre-order these distinctive new Blades while stocks last .
Meanwhile, they have yet to reach channels such as Amazon, although the Ryzen 9 6900HX-based 14 is still available there.
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
.