Razer Blade Stealth

Put away the control pad, this one’s been made for professionals.

Unlike Razer’s other laptops, the Razer Blade Stealth isn’t really a device for gaming — it’s only got a basic Intel HD 520 GPU, which is a far cry short of the performance you’ll see from an Nvidia or AMD mobile gaming part. Instead, the US company is aiming for a broader audience with this sleek and light ultrabook — and it’s hoping it’ll have mass appeal thanks to a very low starting price. Locally, you can only order one of these directly from Razer’s own site — the company says it’s cutting out the middle-man so it can offer the lowest prices possible.

In the flesh, what’s apparent right from the outset is that the overall build quality is first-rate: this is a slick and solid laptop with a gorgeous keyboard and trackpad, outstanding high-res screen and low 1.25kg carry weight. The included charger is also very light and compact, so it’s not a chore to cart it around if needed, and Razer hasn’t overloaded the system with crapware — in fact, the only thing that could perhaps be considered superfluous is Razer’s own Synapse driver software.

Razer’s made some interesting choices, like implanting a Core i7-6500U processor in every unit (it’s one of Intel’s lower-power CPUs, so it’s still only a dual-core chip) and 8GB of memory with a 12.5-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440-pixel) IGZO touchscreen display. Those relatively high-end parts make $1,549 seem like a steal.

It largely delivers on that on-paper appeal too: the IGZO display offers 100% RGB colour coverage and is almost obscenely, the keyboard keys have a great balance between resistance and throw-length and the trackpad is one of the most responsive and consistent of all the Windows laptops we’ve tested. We had zero issues with multi-finger scrolling and other actions that can often trip-up trackpads on Windows.

And if you do want to add gaming, Razer has an upcoming accessory called the Core, an external graphics card enclosure that lets you install your own card of choice and then plug it into a compatible laptop (or even desktop) via Thunderbolt 3 — not just Razer hardware. There’s no word yet on local pricing, but in the States it’s set to sell for US$499, so expect something around the AU$800 mark.

There are some shortcomings to the Blade Stealth, however, like a battery that lasts about three-and-a-quarter hours. While that isn’t bad given the high-end components and slim profile, it certainly cuts into this one’s appeal as a portable all-day device.

That IGZO display has a wide bezel around it too — it’s big enough that it feels like Razer could have easily squeezed a 13.3-inch display in here, a screen size that would offer a bit more versatility and headroom.

Our test unit emitted some coil noise from the charger — a whine that would have been enough for us to return the unit, had we purchased it ourselves — and it’s a problem others have been complaining about on Razer’s forums.

At this price and with this build quality, we’re willing to let some things slide, however, and if you want the thinnest and lightest unibody Windows ultrabook, the Razer Blade Stealth is hard to pass up.