Razer Blade 17 review
The Razer Razer Blade 17 ranks as the #152 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 79. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #137-ranked connectivity among 744 laptops. Consider the Razer Blade 16 or MSI Raider 18 HX, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Razer Blade 17 is an impressive machine with a beautiful design and build quality that feels premium. Its sound quality is also noteworthy, rivaling that of the MacBook Pro. The webcam finally breaks free from 720p limitations, offering a significant improvement over its peers. However, this comes at a steep price tag, making it hard to justify. While it's built to last and performs well, the competition offers more bang for your buck. Unless budget is not a concern, this laptop might not be the best value proposition. Its battery life is also subpar, devouring power quickly. A more affordable option with similar specs might make this one hard to recommend.
Build
The Razer Blade 17 boasts an exceptional build quality, with premium materials that exude durability and sophistication. The design is sleek and modern, making it a desirable addition to any workspace or gaming setup. Although the price tag may be steep for some, the attention to detail in its construction justifies the cost. If you're willing to invest in a high-quality laptop that will last, the Razer Blade 17's build quality is certainly worth considering. You might prefer Razer Blade 16, designed with an upgraded build for a better experience.
Display
The display on the Razer Blade 17 is a mixed bag. On the plus side, it boasts excellent color accuracy and brightness, making it suitable for creative professionals and gamers alike. The QHD resolution also provides a crisp and detailed visual experience. However, the display's viewing angles are somewhat limited, with colors shifting slightly when viewed from the sides. The keyboard backlight is another notable feature, with customizable lighting effects that add to the laptop's premium feel. Unfortunately, the display's overall performance falls short of expectations, with some users experiencing issues with brightness and color consistency. Overall, while the display is not perfect, it still provides a solid visual experience for those who need it. For a superior display, Razer Blade 16 could be the right choice.
Performance
The Razer Blade 17's performance is a mixed bag. While it's built for gaming and delivers impressive visuals, its overall speed lags behind the competition. The GPU's 165W max graphics power can't keep pace with rivals boasting 175W, resulting in noticeable performance gaps. Battery life also suffers due to excessive power consumption. However, the Blade 17's thermal and power profiles can be tweaked for optimal performance or battery life. While it's not the fastest gaming laptop on the market, its sleek design and high-quality build make it a worthwhile consideration for those willing to compromise on speed. A better alternative might be MSI GP66 Leopard, featuring a next-level performance.
Battery and Charging
The Razer Blade 17's battery life is subpar, burning through power quickly when unplugged. It's disappointing for a device that's supposed to be portable. The charging time is also lengthy, making it inconvenient for those who need to use their laptop on the go. This lack of battery life and slow charging speed are significant drawbacks in an otherwise excellent gaming laptop.
Connectivity
The Razer Blade 17's connectivity options are decent but unremarkable. It features a single USB-A port, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet jack. The lack of additional USB ports or an SD card slot may be inconvenient for some users. However, the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 ensures reliable wireless connectivity. Overall, the Blade 17's connectivity is adequate but not particularly noteworthy. If you’re after a better connectivity, Razer Blade 15 could be the ideal option.
Features
The Razer Blade 17 boasts impressive features, including MacBook Pro-level sound quality and a 1080p webcam. It also features customizable RGB lighting with various animations, as well as thermal and power profiles that can be tweaked for performance needs or battery efficiency. A dedicated NVIDIA GPU is available for optimal performance. Razer Book 13 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded features.
Support and Maintenance
The Razer Blade 17's strengths lie in its design and build quality, sound quality, and webcam performance. However, I have reservations about its price, battery life, and keyboard comfort. For those seeking value for money, this laptop might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you're willing to invest in a premium product with long-term durability, the Blade 17 could be worth considering.
Pros
1. The machine is just beautiful, it definitely feels like it's built out of pretty premium materials which gives you the impression that it's gonna last a really long time.
2. Sound quality is MacBook Pro level, I was pretty impressed considering many gaming laptops have speakers that sound almost worse than smartphone speakers.
3. Webcam finally stepped up to 1080p and does look quite a bit better than the others.
4. The machine had Macbook pro level quality
Cons
1. Price is a major concern, Razer Blade 17 is quite expensive compared to its competition for what it can do and no options that i've seen so far for discounts
2. Battery life is terrible, the machine absolutely burns through power do not get this computer if you plan to use it unplugged pretty frequently.
3. Performance isn't as fast as the competition, especially when comparing it to other machines with gpus with 175 watts max graphics power versus the 165 with this one.
4. Keyboard is uncomfortable to type on, key presses are just so shallow that sometimes it almost made me second guess whether I actually fully pressed a key or not.
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