QHD FTW: Display, Keyboard, and Ports
The good news is that any of these GPUs will make good use of the Razer’s high-refresh-rate display. To reiterate, our model comes with the QHD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) 165Hz display. For the base model, competitive multiplayer games will run at high frame rates, and even the RTX 3060 should be capable of AAA gaming at 60fps. The base RTX 3060 GPU might be a bit underpowered for 1440p resolution, but Razer wisely paired it up with the 1080p screen option, so that won’t be an issue.
(Photo: Molly Flores)
The combination in our review unit, meanwhile, is pretty mouth-watering for enthusiasts, and we’ll see how far it can push frame rates in the testing section. The screen looks bright, sharp, and vibrant. A 14-inch display, of course, could be small for some, especially if you’re used to playing on a big monitor. If you’ve read this far, though, you’re likely at least considering it, and smaller screens are a necessity for portability. Once you’re playing, as long as you’re in a comfortable setup, the difference between it and a 15-inch screen isn’t too noticeable.
As with the other Blade laptops, the Blade 14’s keyboard and, especially, its touchpad are superior to those of your average Windows laptop. The keys can be individually, colorfully backlit and deliver a nice typing experience. They don’t break new ground (unlike the mechanical keys on Alienware’s Cherry MX laptop keyboard) and don’t offer a ton of tactile feedback, but the keyboard still earns a thumbs up overall.
(Photo: Molly Flores)
The power button has also been moved to a key in line with the function row, rather than the small button of other Blade laptops. The touchpad is extremely responsive, smooth, and roomy. It feels great to use, which is crucial for a system you’ll often take on the road without a mouse (even if you’ll probably use a mouse for gaming).
The ports round out the build, a respectable number on this smaller system. The left flank holds a USB 3.1 Type-A port and a USB-C port, while the right side offers one more of each plus a full-size HDMI connection. Given the AMD processor, the USB-C ports don’t support Thunderbolt 3 or 4 (largely tied to Intel platforms), but they do offer power delivery.
(Photo: Molly Flores)
(Photo: Molly Flores)
The laptop also includes a 720p webcam (with Windows Hello face recognition), plus support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
Razer Blade 14 (2021) – Software
Like most Razer products, the Blade 14 makes extensive use of its Synapse customization software. The software allows for customization of the keyboard and system lighting and offers some simplified performance settings for the larger laptop. These are broken into the Customize, Lighting, and Performance tabs.
The customization tab allows you to control some basic options and completely program the keyboard. You can enable Gaming Mode to disable the Windows key and shortcuts like alt+tab and choose whether the function row defaults to secondary functions, like volume and screen brightness, or F1-F12 by default. Clicking a key on the graphic of the laptop’s keyboard opens up a side-panel for remapping keys or assigning macros. If you’ve ever used a Razer gaming keyboard, you’ll feel right at home with the ability to create shortcuts, control the mouse, create profiles to use with individual games, or program entire second layers of keys accessible when holding another key through Razer Hypershift.
The Lighting tab is where you’ll control the lighting for the keyboard and the brightness of the illuminated logo on the laptop’s lid. This is a Razer product, so the options for RGB customization are plentiful with 11 different preset effects or the ability to create your own theme with the Advanced Effects tab. You can also choose how the lighting performs to save battery when not in use.
The Performance tab is arguably the most important of the bunch but is also the most limited. Here, you’ll be able to choose your default performance mode when plugged in or running on battery, set a static fan level, and swap between 60Hz or 165Hz refresh rates to save on battery. Performance modes are limited to Balanced and Custom. Inside the custom settings menu, the CPU and GPU can be set to low, medium, or high performance, and Boost for the CPU only.
The suite is fully functional but lacks the added perks and insights offered by the competition. Synapse offers no performance metrics or overclocking options. There isn’t even a dedicated Battery Saver option, which feels like an odd omission on the Blade 14 especially. For users who crave a simplified experience for performance customization, Synapse will deliver but it may leave more advanced users wanting.
Интерфейсы и камера
Razer Blade Stealth обладает более богатым выбором разъёмов по сравнению с другими ультрабуками. Слева находится разъём для наушников, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3 USB-C с четырьмя линиями PCI Express. На правой стороне есть один разъём USB-C 3.1 и два USB 3.0. Только один из них поддерживает Thunderbolt 3, но оба способны подзаряжать аккумулятор.
Лучшим аппаратным обновлением стала новая веб-камера с поддержкой лицевого распознавания Windows Hello. Больше не нужно вводить длинные сложные пароли и пин-коды для доступа к системе. Камера без проблем распознаёт пользователей при разном освещении, с очками, под разными углами.
К сожалению, камера с разрешением 720p не лучшая для видеочатов. Картинка получается зернистая, выцветшая, особенно при слабом освещении вокруг. Для видеоконференций проще использовать смартфон или купить веб-камеру получше.
Final thoughts– Razer Blade 14
I’ll come right out and say it – this laptop really blows me away. To have this kind of performance come out of a 14-inch form factor that is under 4 lbs, is pretty awesome by itself. Add in the fact that it doesn’t throttle under load, is built well, has a nice screen and trackpad, and even has decent battery life? Amazing!
This small size does come at a cost though – the laptop does get pretty hot under load. One of the few disappointments I have with this laptop is just how warm it gets for even normal usage.
The fan noise is also a little troubling. It’s not really how loud it gets, it’s more of how fast it gets there and how often it fluctuates. Don’t get me wrong, these are small complaints. But they are worth mentioning, especially if you’re sensitive to them. Especially coil whine, which I detected.
That aside though, I think many could overlook the cons and find that the value in what Razer has to offer in this notebook.
I do hope that this is the beginning of a new trend for Razer, which is designing their lineup to push the limits of the form factor by pairing the hardware appropriately and offering the right cooling solution.
For example, hopefully, we’ll see a Ryzen processor in a new Razer Blade 15 someday. That would certainly mean better battery life, and perhaps they could even make the battery smaller, allowing for an even thinner and lighter laptop.
Or better yet, leave the thickness of the Razer Blade 15, put a better keyboard in there, better speakers, and ditch the 15” screen for one of the newer 16” 16:10 QHD 100% DCI-P3 panels. Yup, that would be my dream laptop, so Razer, please do that next. 
Back on topic, if you’re shopping for a 13-14” laptop and want the best performance, this and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 are probably the only options to choose from. The G14 is limited to an RTX 3060 for now, so Razer clearly is the more powerful option in this compact segment. But then again the G14 is a lot more affordable, so we’ll follow-up with a closer comparison of the two in another article.
If you’re debating between 14-15” though, you might want to check out your options in physical stores first. This is a significantly smaller screen size than the 15” screen I’m used to working on, and it may be a little too small for your eyes, especially with QHD resolution.
I think I’ve covered all I can though, and hopefully, this was thorough enough to help those make an informed decision. I’m happy to answer any questions you have in the comments section below.
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Review by: Derek SullivanDerek Sullivan — Review Editor. In addition to being a tech enthusiast, I have a career as a Biomedical Engineer. I enjoy taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and finding ways to make them better. My other hobbies include spending time with my family, «Do it yourself» projects such as home automation, and running.
Let’s talk specs
When it comes to the actual specs, there’s very little variation between the configurations that Razer offers. You can choose between the RTX 3060, 3070, and 3080 (the 2022 models come with a 3070 Ti or a 3080 Ti). In addition, you can choose between a QHD or FHD display. The two QHD models come with a 165Hz refresh rate while the FHD model has a 144Hz refresh rate. The FHD is also only available on the RTX 3060 model. All currently available 2021 models also come with the same amount of RAM and storage. Which is 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM and a 1TB SSD.
All three models also come with the same ports, keyboard, and speakers. Here are the full specs for our review unit.
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q (8GB of VRAM)
- Memory: 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM
- Storage: 1TB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 3)
- Display: 14-Inch, 165Hz
- Resolution: 2160 x 1440
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-C (charging and DisplayPort), 1x power port, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack/microphone jack
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2
- OS: Windows 10 (upgradeable to Windows 11)
- Battery & adapter: 61.6WHr rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, 230W power adapter
- Camera: Windows Hello built-in IR HD webcam (1MP/720p)
All-in-all, a respectable set of specifications. Yes, you might be able to find a laptop with the exact same specs or very similar that puts out a little better performance. But remember, if you’re looking at a Blade, it’s also because you, like us, love that sleek anodized aluminum chassis with a matte finish that only Blades offer.
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Specs as reviewed – Razer Blade 14
| Razer Blade 14 | |
| Screen | 14 inch, 2560×1440 px, IPS equivalent, 165 Hz, matte, 100% DCI-P3 with FreeSync |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 8C/16T, 3.3 Ghz base, up to 4.6 GHz Boost |
| Video | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM 80-100W with Dyn Boost 2.0 with AMD Vega and Optimus |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR4 3200Mhz (soldered) |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 NVMe |
| Connectivity | Intel AX210 Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | 2x USB-A 3.2 gen2, 2x USB-C with DP 1.4 and PD 3.0 support, 1x HDMI 2.1, mic/earphone |
| Battery | 61.6 Wh, 230 W charger |
| Size | 320 mm or 12.59” (w) x 220 mm or 8.66” (d) x 16.8 mm or .66” (h) |
| Weight | 1.78 kg (3.92 lbs) |
| Extras | individually lit RGB keyboard, Windows Hello HD webcam, stereo speakers, Kensington lock |
Операционная система и софт
Razer Blade работает под управлением операционной системы Windows 8.1 и совсем не отягощён дополнительным софтом, что нужно отнести к его положительным сторонам. Компания предустановила на него только программу Razer Synapse 2.0, которая позволяет хранить определенные настройки фирменной техники в облаке и загружать готовые варианты конфигурации. На ноутбуке она даёт возможность настраивать клавиатурные макросы как для игр, так и для системных функций. С сайта Razer можно также скачать бесплатные программы для VoIP, эмуляции звука 7.1 для стерео наушников и ускорения работы компьютера в играх.
Обзор Razer Blade 14 (2021): компактной игровой системы
Razer Blade 14 (2021) похож на другие ноутбуки Razer: он мощный, стильный и дорогой. Однако, это первый 14-дюймовый ноутбук компании с 2017 года, со времён оригинального Blade 14 с компактным корпусом.
В качестве железа модель 2021 года использует новейший процессор AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX и видеокарту Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, поэтому производительность в играх превосходная. Корпус небольшой, хотя небольшие недостатки всё же есть: ПО недостаточно оптимизировано, разъёмов мало, а клавиши расположены слишком тесно.
В целом Blade 14 от Razer подойдёт превосходно для того, чтобы играть где угодно и во что угодно.
Razer Blade 14: Hardware and design
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
So, what’s an AMD Razer Blade actually like? Surprising nobody, it’s excellent. From the up to the Razer Blade Pro 17, there’s a unified design language and consistently outstanding build quality. If you stand back it’s impossible to tell it apart from the Blade 15 unless you have a tape measure in your hand. Or you left the Ryzen sticker on.
The key difference on the outside is the overall form factor. It’s a little bit smaller and lighter than a Blade 15 and since 14-inch gaming laptops aren’t exactly common, it already stands out from the crowd. This is an incredibly portable gaming laptop, and its compact nature is all the more mind-boggling when you take a read of the spec sheet.
The entry-level model is nice, nothing particularly earth-shattering, but what you can get inside a Razer Blade 14 is astonishing. It’s also not that hard to choose the one you want, since there are only three configurations and the biggest differentiator is the GPU. There are a couple of displays, too, with either a 144Hz 1080p panel or the one we have which is a matte 1440p 165Hz display. And it’s glorious.
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| Category | Razer Blade 14 |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 14-inch FHD 144Hz14-inch 1440p 165Hz |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX8-core, 16-thread3.3GHz (4.6GHz boost) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA RTX 3060 6GBNVIDIA RTX 3070 8GBNVIDIA RTX 3080 8GB |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 3200MHz (fixed onboard) |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD |
| Security | Windows Hello compatible IR cameraTPM 2.0 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A Ports, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with Power Delivery and Display Port 1.4, HDMI 2.1 |
| Audio | THX Spatial Audio, 3.5mm headset |
| Battery | 61.6Wh230W Power adapter |
| Dimensions | 0.66 x 8.66 x 12.59 inches (16.8 mm x 220 mm x 319.7 mm) |
| Weight | 1.78kg (3.92 lbs) |
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
All versions of the Razer Blade 14 come with AMD’s most powerful laptop processor to date, the Ryzen 9 5900HX. With this comes 8-cores and 16-threads, with a base clock of 3.3GHz and a maximum boost up to 4.6GHz. It’s a full-fat 45W chip based on AMD’s latest 7nm Zen 3 architecture. The Ryzen 9 5900HX does of course come with integrated Radeon graphics, but you won’t be using that for what this laptop is best at.
That’s because on the graphics front NVIDIA has taken care of business. You could have the RTX 3060 or the RTX 3070, or you could have what’s inside the review unit Razer sent us, which is the RTX 3080 8GB. In a 14-inch laptop that weighs under 4lbs. Hopefully, now you’re starting to get a feel for why the fact this laptop even exists is astonishing.
Moving down to 14-inches does come with one compromise, and that’s the fixed RAM. It’s not uncommon for laptops this size to have soldered RAM, but if you’re a fan of the upgradeable nature of the Blade 15 it’s something to consider if you’re stepping down a size. The move to AMD provides another compromise, and that’s the lack of Thunderbolt 4. So you can’t use this with the .
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
You’re not left short on ports, though, with both USB-A and USB-C and perhaps surprisingly USB-C PD, meaning you can hook up a 65W USB-C power brick and charge the Blade 14. You won’t be gaming, because that thirsty NVIDIA GPU will just empty the battery before you have a chance to top it up, but if you’re out on the road and want to use the laptop for work without cranking up the RTX then it’s really handy.
Let’s also not forget that the Blade 14 weighs less than 4lbs whatever spec you go for. You can toss one with an RTX 3080 in your bag and barely even notice it. The truth is, a desktop RTX 3080 graphics card wouldn’t be far off the same weight, and you don’t even get a screen.
I also want to shout out the speaker quality. Razer’s typical upward-firing speakers flank the keyboard and they are most excellent. You would struggle to find another laptop this size with such quality and volume. Music, movies, games, all aren’t just tolerable, but enjoyable.
Razer Blade 14: Competition
Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
Probably the closest competition to the Razer Blade 14 comes from the Razer Blade 15. It’s the best gaming laptop you can buy, it’s priced similarly to the Blade 14, looks very similar but substitutes AMD for Intel processors. It makes choosing harder, though, because these are two of the most powerful gaming laptops on the planet.
There aren’t actually many 14-inch gaming laptops out there, which makes the Blade 14 something of an outlier. If you’re looking for something more compact, the ASUS ROG Flip X13 is an option, as is the Razer Blade Stealth. Both are 13-inch laptops, but you can only get a GTX 1650.
The closest competitor 14-inch laptops though are the ASUS and the Acer Predator Triton 300. The former also has a Ryzen 9 inside, while the Acer goes for Intel, but both are closer matches to the entry-level Blade 14.
Keyboard and trackpad
Again, if you’ve ever used a Razer Blade in the past 3-4 years, the keyboard is going to be very familiar. In fact, if you have tried the Razer Blade Stealth, even the layout is the same.
I had no trouble typing on this machine at all, but consider me biased as I have been a Razer Blade 15 owner for over 2 years now. I typed this entire review with no problems at all. The keys are properly spaced apart and the layout is pretty intuitive, as far as keyboards go. The only key I don’t like is the shared up and down arrow key, but it’s certainly better than previous layouts they experimented with in the past.
Taking my bias out of the equation, the keyboard might take some getting used to, if you aren’t familiar with Razer laptops. The travel is very shallow and the feedback is light. After using keyboards from Dell, Lenovo, and Asus, I find that I prefer any of those over this one, mainly because the keystrokes are deeper and there’s more of a positive click.
Like I said though, I got used to it over time and I still type really well on it. But my primary concern is still with games, as having a deeper keystroke for WASD and the left shift key is vital to how well you play. After using some of the competition’s keyboards on their thin and light models, I think it’s time for Razer to improve their keyboard and use some better switches.
The keyboard is per-key RGB, powered by Razer’s Chroma, which is about as good as it gets for RGB software. The options are pretty clever and the software is intuitive to use. The secondary functions on the keys are properly backlit too.
The trackpad is identical to the Razer Blade Stealth 13. It’s glass and pretty much as big as it’s going to get on this form factor. It’s perfect in my opinion, as it tracks very well and feels premium. There’s really no need to go into more detail – I wouldn’t change a thing with it.
Заключение
Прошлогодний Razer Blade 14 сам по себе был впечатляюще тонким игровым ноутбуком. Модель 2023 года, оснащенная новым процессором Ryzen 9 7940HS и графическим процессором для ноутбуков GeForce RTX 4070, представляет собой нечто большее, чем полезное изменение спецификации. Razer находит возможность перепроектировать корпус, включить большую батарею, убедиться, что оперативная память не припаяна, и разместить более красивый и высокий экран. Все плюсы, которые очень приветствуются.
Это также великолепно выглядящий комплект, хотя, если, к сожалению, вам не нравится ОКР, шасси, привлекающее отпечатки пальцев, наверняка вызовет ужас — где моя салфетка из микрофибры? Премиум Razer также очевиден, поскольку Blade 14 примерно на 10 процентов дороже, чем, скажем, Asus Zephyrus G14, в котором используются многие из тех же компонентов.
Но если вы поклонник Blade 14, ориентированного на игры, и его интеллектуального баланса между форм-фактором, впечатляющим внешним видом, производительностью и жизненно важными функциями, модель этого года — лучшая на данный момент.
Razer Blade 14 (2023)
Вердикт: отличный ноутбук, основанный на хорошей работе, проделанной в предыдущие годы.
| Плюсы | Минусы |
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