Razer Blade Pro 17 review
The Razer Razer Blade Pro 17 ranks as the #76 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 81. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #153-ranked features among 745 laptops. Consider the MSI Stealth 17 Studio or MSI Raider GE68 HX, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Razer Blade Pro 17: A Mixed Bag? While I was initially excited about the prospect of owning this laptop, my experience with it has left me feeling underwhelmed. The 4K display and 120Hz refresh rate are touted as major selling points, but in reality, they're more gimmicks than game-changers. The battery life is abysmal, and gaming performance suffers due to the high resolution. At $3,700, this laptop feels overpriced and underpowered. Unless you're a serious content creator or gamer who needs 4K output, there are better options out there that won't break the bank. Is it worth it? Probably not.
Build
The Razer Blade Pro 17 boasts impressive build quality and design, reminiscent of previous Razer laptops. The matte finish is clean and refined but unfortunately prone to fingerprints. A notable omission is the lack of a number pad due to the placement of two speaker grilles next to the keyboard, which also perpetuates the frustrating arrow key layout from smaller Razer machines. Despite these drawbacks, the device's build quality is exceptional, making it a solid choice for mobile productivity and professional creative work. For a superior build, Razer Blade 17 could be the right choice.
Display
The Razer Blade Pro 17's display is a letdown despite its impressive specs. The 4K resolution is too small for the human eye to appreciate from a normal viewing distance, and the increased pixel density makes it difficult for light to pass through, resulting in weak brightness. Gaming at 120Hz with the screen set to native resolution leads to battery life and performance issues. While it's excellent for mobile productivity, the display's limitations make it feel overpriced. A better alternative might be Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 3, featuring a next-level display.
Performance
The Razer Blade Pro 17's performance is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, its Core i7 and RTX 2080 Max-Q combo provides ample power for photo and video editing, with excellent thermal management to keep temperatures in check. However, gaming at native 4K resolution proves to be a challenge, with most games struggling to reach 60 FPS. The laptop's battery life also takes a hit, lasting less than two hours when playing games at 120Hz. While it can handle workloads that were previously reserved for desktop workstations, the Blade Pro 17's performance is ultimately hampered by its pursuit of buzzword specs over practical gaming resolution. You may find Razer Blade 15 Advanced a better fit, thanks to its superior performance.
Battery and Charging
The Razer Blade Pro 17's battery life is underwhelming, lasting less than four hours with the screen set to 120Hz and using the discrete graphics card. Watching videos without editing them drained the battery in under two hours. On the other hand, when plugged in, the laptop performed admirably, maintaining an average CPU speed of 3.1GHz while turboing to 99 degrees. The dedicated GPU stayed cool at 68 degrees, but this came at the expense of some fan noise.
Connectivity
The Razer Blade Pro 17 boasts an impressive array of connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3, Ethernet, HDMI, and a full-size SD card reader. Additionally, it features Windows Hello Wi-Fi 6, making it a bonafide workstation for mobile productivity. The inclusion of a headphone jack is also a welcome touch, providing users with flexibility in their audio setup. MSI GE66 Raider might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded connectivity.
Features
The Razer Blade Pro 17 boasts a sleek design with a matte finish that unfortunately shows fingerprints easily. It features a 4K display, but with a weak 310 nits peak brightness and increased pixel density making it difficult for light to pass through. The laptop also has a Core i7 processor, RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU, and ample internal horsepower for photo and video editing. For an improved features, Razer Blade 17 is worth considering.
Support and Maintenance
The Razer Blade Pro 17's build quality is similar to previous models, with a refined design and large trackpad, but its matte finish is prone to fingerprints. The keyboard has RGB backlighting, but the speaker grilles next to it prevent a number pad and can accumulate dust. Despite these issues, the laptop excels at mobile productivity, with ample internal horsepower for photo and video editing.
Pros
1. The Razer Blade Pro 17 has ample internal horsepower for photo and video editing.
2. It has excellent connectivity options including Thunderbolt 3, Ethernet, HDMI, and a full-size SD card reader.
3. There's a large display option available, which is a nice feature compared to the MacBook Pro.
4. The machine can handle workloads that a short time ago were only possible on a large desktop workstation with NVIDIA Studio drivers.
5. It's capable of gaming at 120Hz albeit probably with the resolution turned down if you're playing AAA titles.
6. The GPU hit a maximum temperature of just 68 degrees while gaming, which is very comfortable even for a desktop graphics card.
7. Razer's thermal engineers came through with good cooling performance, maintaining an average CPU frequency of 3.1 GHz and keeping temperatures below 80 degrees Celsius.
8. It's more like a Swiss Army knife - you can game at 120Hz or get some real work done at 4K depending on your needs.
Cons
1. The machine costs $3700, which is quite expensive compared to other laptops in the market.
2. The display resolution might be too high for gaming purposes, leading to potential performance issues.
3. The fans can get noisy while cooling the system during intense usage.
4. The current year still hasn't settled on 1440p as the standard resolution for gaming laptops despite it being a sweet spot for many users.
5. Many laptop makers prioritize buzzword-y specs over actual user needs, resulting in unnecessary features like high resolutions that may not be beneficial for all users.
6. You might need to compromise on resolution or performance while gaming at 120Hz due to hardware limitations.
7. The machine is designed more for showcasing tech capabilities rather than catering specifically to gamers' needs.
8. It's a shame that laptop makers are prioritizing movie-related technologies (like 4K) over the actual gaming community's preferences, resulting in unnecessary features like high resolutions.
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