Razer has just launched its most potent gaming laptop to date, the Razer Blade 18 (2024). This latest addition to their lineup stands out as the first laptop ever to feature an 18-inch 4K 200Hz display and Thunderbolt 5 ports. For those who might find a 4K screen excessive on an 18-inch laptop, there’s also an option for a QHD+ display with a 300Hz refresh rate. Dive into more details about the features, specifications, pricing, and availability of this new gaming powerhouse below.
Razer Blade 18 (2024) First Gaming Laptop with Thunderbolt 5
Razer first hinted at the Razer Blade 18 earlier this year, making headlines as the world’s initial laptop to embrace Thunderbolt 5 technology. This breakthrough allows users to hook up multiple high-definition gaming displays, versatile all-in-one docking stations, or swift external storage options, thanks to Thunderbolt 5’s impressive bandwidth ranging between 80Gbps and 120Gbps.
But the innovations don’t stop with Thunderbolt 5. The Razer Blade 18 (2024) is also kitted out with a 5MP webcam for crisp video calls, a THX spatial audio system with six speakers for immersive sound, components you can upgrade to keep up with tech advancements, a wide array of ports for all your devices, and the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 for blazing-fast internet speeds. Plus, Razer packs a punch with their GaN (Gallium Nitride) charger, capable of delivering up to 330W of power while being 60% smaller than traditional silicon chargers, making it a game-changer for portability and power.
CPU and GPU: The Main Components
The Razer Blade 18 (2024) runs on a 14th-gen Intel Core i9-14900HX mobile CPU, featuring 24 cores (8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficiency-cores) and 32 threads, with speeds reaching up to 5.8GHz. It comes with 36MB of Intel Smart Cache and has a power consumption of up to 157W. Although the Core i9-14900HX doesn’t quite match the speed of its desktop sibling, the Core i9-14900K, its performance sits comfortably between the desktop-grade Core i9-12900K and Core i7-13700K CPUs, making it a solid performer akin to a desktop CPU.
This Intel Core i9 processor is paired with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 40 series laptop GPUs. The top-end version features the GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU, boasting a full 175W Total Graphics Power (TGP). Built on NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture, it supports the latest in NVIDIA’s tech like DLSS 3 for frame generation, DLSS 3.5 AI reconstruction, and the advanced DLSS 2 upscaling technology.
These cutting-edge upscaling and frame generation features are especially valuable, considering a laptop GPU generally doesn’t pack the same punch as its desktop counterpart. Besides the RTX 4090 option, the Razer Blade 18 (2024) also offers configurations with the RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 laptop GPUs, catering to a range of gaming needs and preferences.
Razer Blade 18: 4K 240Hz or QHD+ 300Hz?
The Razer Blade 18 (2024) comes in two versions, with the premium model boasting an 18-inch 4K UHD+ (3840×2400) screen, a 200Hz refresh rate, a swift 3.0ms response time, and full DCI-P3 color coverage. Razer highlights that this display is not only Calman Verified and precisely calibrated right out of the factory but also versatile enough for both high-level gaming and creative work.
While the idea of a 4K screen on a laptop is quite appealing, it’s worth noting that the Razer Blade 18 (2024) isn’t the sole contender in this space. Several top-tier RTX 4090 gaming laptops also come equipped with 4K displays, making them fierce competitors.
To be honest, a 4K resolution on a gaming laptop might be more than necessary, and even an RTX 4090 laptop GPU could struggle with high-demand games, especially with ray tracing on. The RTX 4090 laptop GPU performs just a bit better than an RTX 4070 Super desktop GPU or is slightly behind AMD’s RX 7900 GRE in speed.
Fortunately, there’s also an 18-inch QHD+ option with a 300Hz mini-LED display. This version offers a 2560×1600 resolution, peaks at 1K nits brightness, features 2K dimming zones with a new on/off switch, and maintains the color precision Razer Blades are known for, including a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and factory calibration with Calman Verification.
For an 18-inch screen, the QHD+ model’s 300Hz refresh rate will likely provide a smoother gaming experience than the 4K 200Hz option. The RTX 40 series laptop GPU will handle QHD+ resolution gaming more comfortably, avoiding the potential performance issues of 4K gaming.
Razer Design
The Razer Blade 18 (2024) boasts a slim profile at just about 0.86 inches (21.9mm) thick, earning it the title of the thinnest 18-inch laptop equipped with an Intel HX-class processor.
To manage the heat from its robust CPU and GPU, the Razer Blade 18 (2024) employs a sophisticated cooling setup. This system stands out with the slimmest exhaust fins in its category, coupled with cutting-edge vapor chamber technology and a trio of fans, ensuring swift and efficient heat dissipation.
How Much Is This Gaming Laptop?
The Razer Blade 18 (2024) gaming laptop is on the market now, with prices kicking off at $3,099 for the 18-inch QHD+ model featuring the RTX 4070 GPU. For the most current prices and availability across the various configurations, follow the link below.
Source: Razer