New Razer Blade Gaming Laptop – Skylake CPU and GeForce GTX 970M GPU

By Nathan Kirsch

RAZER LAUNCHES NEW BLADE NOTEBOOK

Razers iconic 14-inch gaming laptop is faster and more capable than ever before

For Release on March 15, 2016:

IRVINE, Calif. Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced its new Razer Blade gaming laptop. The Blades specs have been improved across the board from its predecessor, and it is now more affordable than ever before.

The new Razer Blade houses the latest 6th generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M GPU with 6 GB of VRAM. PCIe SSD technology offers up to three times faster speeds than traditional solid-state drives. Killer Wireless-AC is included. All models will feature 16 GB of DDR4 dual-channel RAM.

razer blade

All Razer Blade models also come with a stunning 3200×1800 QHD+ display. The laptop remains 0.70 inches thin, but now weighs only 4.25 pounds, making it even more portable than previous generations. The screen and internals are housed in a CNC-milled aircraft grade aluminum chassis.

The Razer Blade following Razers Blade Stealth Ultrabook will be the second laptop in the world equipped with individually backlit RGB keys. Millions of color options for the anti-ghosted keyboard are available thanks to Razers Chroma technology.

All Razer Chroma products, which include mice, keyboards, headsets and a mouse mat, feature 16.8 million customizable colors and a range of effects such as spectrum cycling, breathing, reactive and more. Lighting effects are enabled through Razers Synapse software that allows synchronizing lighting colors and patterns between Chroma devices with the click of a button.

An SDK is available for developers to integrate Chroma lighting effects in-game. It is already supported by AAA game titles, including Call of Duty, Dota 2, Overwatch and Blade and Soul.

The Razer Blade gaming laptop will follow the Razer Blade Stealths direct-to-consumer pricing model to keep costs down. Previously at $2,399 for a QHD+ display, the new Razer Blade now starts at $1,999.

We are getting much more aggressive as far as price point, but that hasnt come at a cost to the performance or design of the Razer Blade, says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. Weve improved nearly every aspect of the 14-inch laptop, from CPU and GPU performance to system memory and port selection. Chroma technology unlocks an unprecedented, immersive experience on a gaming laptop.

The new Razer Blade will be compatible with the Razer Core external graphics enclosure as part of a beta program upon launch. Utilizing Thunderbolt 3, the Razer Core connects to the Razer Blade, providing desktop-class graphics and additional connectivity such as USB 3.0 and Ethernet. Thunderbolt 3 provides remarkable connectivity via the Blades compact USB-C port at speeds of up to 40 Gbps, the fastest, most versatile link to any dock, display or data device.

Pre-orders for the Razer Blade will start today on RazerStore.com. Units will ship in April. Further retail availability will be announced later this year.

Price:

U.S. $1,999 256 GB PCIe SSD
U.S. $2,199 512 GB PCIe SSD

Availability:

Razerzone.com Pre-order March 15th, ships in April

Product features:

  • Intel Core i7-6700HQ Quad-Core Processor (2.6 GHz / 3.5 GHz)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M (6 GB GDDR5 VRAM)
  • 16 GB Systems Memory (DDR4, 2133 MHz)
  • Windows 10 64-bit
  • 256 GB / 512 GB SSD (PCIe M.2) options
  • 14.0-in. IGZO QHD+ 16:9 Ratio, 3200×1800, with LED backlight, capacitive multi-touch
  • Anti-ghosting keyboard with per-key lighting Powered by Chroma
  • Killer Wireless-AC 1535 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.1)
  • Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
  • USB 3.0 port x3 (SuperSpeed)
  • HDMI 1.4b video and audio output
  • 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo port
  • Built-in webcam (2.0 MP)
  • Built-in stereo speakers
  • Array microphone
  • Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater Edition
  • 7.1 Codec support (via HDMI)
  • Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) security chip embedded
  • Razer Synapse enabled with programmable keyboard, trackpad, backlighting, and fan control
  • Kensington security slot
  • Compact 165 W power adapter
  • Built-in 70 Wh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Approx. Size: 0.70 in. / 17.9 mm (Height) x 13.6 in. / 345 mm (Width) x 9.3 in. / 235 mm (Depth)
  • Approx. Weight: 4.25 lbs. / 1.93 kg

For more information about the Razer Blade, please visit razerzone.com/blade.

About Razer

Razer is a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers.

Razer is transforming the way people play games, engage with other gamers and identify with the gamer lifestyle. Having won the coveted Best of CES award consecutively for six years, the companys leadership in product innovation continues to create new categories for the gaming community that is estimated to have over 1 billion gamers worldwide.

Razers award-winning design and technology include an array of user interface and systems devices, voice-over IP for gamers and a cloud platform for customizing and enhancing gaming devices.

Founded in 2005, Razer is backed by Intel Capital, IDG-Accel and Heliconia Capital Management (Heliconia), a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore investment company Temasek.