The "New" Razer Blade - Better than Ever

The video opens with Linus praising the new Razer Blade as one of the few products to win his editor’s choice award, and immediately pivots to the question of whether this 2016 refresh truly advances the line. He notes the model’s physical redesign, emphasizing a slim 0.7 inch thickness and a 4.25 pound unibody aluminum chassis, paired with a 14 inch 3200x1800 EXO LCD. The panel maintains a large bezel and 10-point touch, and while he points out viewing angles and G-Sync absence as compromises, he highlights the improved cooling and a more comfortable overall experience for long sessions. On the internals, the notebook gets a Skylake Core i7-6700HQ, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a GTX 970M with 6 GB of VRAM, alongside a shift to NVMe storage with a PM951 in place of the older 950 Pro. He provides measured commentary on thermals, showing that CPU temperatures hover around 80 to 85 degrees Celsius under load, with the cooling system prioritizing hand warmth and sustained performance, even if there is some throttling under heavy GPU use. The audio-visual package is scrutinized as well, with a refreshed webcam and microphone that perform respectably for a laptop microphone, and wireless connectivity upgraded to a Killer 1535 module that delivers fast and stable transfers. Battery life is cited as improved enough to notice a day-to-day difference, and Linus signals that the blade’s value proposition has shifted downward in cost without sacrificing modern features, all while retaining the Blade’s recognizable build quality and portability. The review concludes with a balanced verdict on gaming at 1080p, the continued appeal of the keyboard, and a nod to future expansions via USB-C and potential external GPU support, while noting the absence of an SD card reader as a missing convenience. Overall, Linus endorses the 2016 Blade as a refined, better-priced option that competes strongly with Windows alternatives and maintains the premium feel that defined the line, inviting viewers to consider price-to-performance as the core takeaway. The host’s closing remarks frame the Blade as a no-compromise mobile workstation for enthusiasts who value build quality, thermal behavior, and a compact form factor over raw, all-out gaming muscle. Finally, the video weaves in promotions and affiliate messaging, but the core narrative remains a measured assessment of how the new Blade stacks up against earlier models and competing laptops.

Topics · technology · laptops · hardware_review · gaming_laptops