Editors' Rating:
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
Sharp As a Knife
For the first time since its debut, the Blade Stealth sees a noticeable exterior design change. The screen has increased from 12.5 inches to 13.3 inches, but the body size has stayed the same. The bigger screen is achieved through thinner bezels, an aspect Razer had been somewhat reluctant to change. Although they're more slender, they don't quite match the edge-to-edge display of the XPS 13 Touch$799.99 at Dell.
The touch display is gorgeous. A 0.8-inch diagonal increase isn't a big number on its own, but it makes a difference at this size, and the laptop is better for it, especially since it doesn't increase the chassis size. The resolution is QHD+ (3,200 by 1,800), and like many Razer systems, uses IGZO technology for brighter and more vibrant colors, and it shows. The display is extremely crisp and colorful, making it a joy to use. It's a little reflective under bright lighting, but I prefer that to a duller matte finish, and it has fairly wide viewing angles. A 4K option is available as well, but only at the 12.5-inch size.
Other than screen size, our Stealth looks about identical to the last model, though it's now also available in a new gunmetal color. The chassis is made of the same high-quality CNC aluminum that Razer machines have become known for, and the laptop is as portable as ever. Though it's nicely made all around, I'd say the XPS 13 feels more premium. It weighs 2.93 pounds and measures 0.52 by 12.6 by 8.1 inches (HWD), easy to carry under one arm or toss into your bag for a commute. It's not the absolute lightest out there (especially if you look at some entry or midrange options), but it's as thin as the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro and within less than a pound of the slim, convertible HP Spectre x360 13 (2017)$1,583.99 at Amazon.
Shine Bright
It's hard to miss the lighting on many Razer products—whether on peripherals or computers, multi-colored LEDs dubbed Chroma have in many ways become the company's calling card. The color is provided here in spades by the keyboard, with each key once again individually backlit. That means you can have them all glow and shift in unison, select a wave or ripple effect, or make each key (or groups of keys) separate changing or static colors. All of this is easily accessible through Razer's Synapse software, which is among the better free lighting customization applications out there for keys and peripherals. Somewhat curiously, it should be noted the gunmetal model only comes with white backlighting.
As for the keys themselves, the typing experience is comfortable. It feels like there's a bit more travel this time around (I dinged the last model for somewhat shallow-feeling keys), so typing on this laptop for an extended period is a breeze. The metal touchpad is smooth and responsive, one of my favorites around. The speakers produce clear sound and don't distort at the highest levels, though their maximum volume is hardly booming (unlikely a problem since you probably won't sit too far from a 13.3-inch display).
Port options aren't too numerous, but most bases are covered. The left side holds a USB 3.0 port, the headphone jack, and a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, which also serves as the charging port. On the right, there's another USB 3.0 port and an HDMI port for connecting to other displays. That's enough to get file transfer and multi-screen done, and the USB-C functionality is there, albeit not while charging at the same time. It is helpful, though, that the Stealth doesn't inconveniently opt for only USB-C, like we see on some of the slimmer ultraportables, including the 2017 Apple MacBook$1,299.00 at Apple Store. The laptop also includes Killer wireless (dual-band 802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.1, and is covered by a one-year warranty.
Watch: Razer Blade Stealth (Late 2017) Review
The USB-C port has added functionality when combined with the Razer Core, an external graphics enclosure. You can install a desktop graphics card of your choice into the Core and connnect it to the Stealth via USB-C, turning your ultraportable into a gaming system when it's docked at home. The Core isn't really meant to be taken with you (though nothing's technically stopping you), but rather, allow you to come home from a commute and turn the same laptop you use for daily tasks into a gaming system. Whether or not you want to play on a 13.3-inch screen is another question, though with the HDMI port, you could also connect another monitor if you wish. This is a purely optional use of the Blade Stealth, and another added expense, but if you don't have a gaming or media system at home, the cost of the Core ($499.99) and a graphics card is still less than everything needed for a desktop.
For storage, this model comes with a 256GB SSD, which is the lowest amount you can order. Both color models are available at 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, but the price skyrockets to $1,999.99 for the highest capacity. 256GB is decent for a non-gaming system, but think carefully if you're someone who will save a lot of large media files and other projects as it may fill up faster than you think. That said, 256GB is somewhat surprisingly standard at this price point—the XPS 13 Touch and others offer the same amount (the base MacBook Pro only offers 128GB).
Trusted Travel Companion
This version of the Blade Stealth is equipped with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-7500U processor (same as the late 2016 model), 16GB of memory, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 620. Unsurprisingly, because of the shared processor, this unit put up about the same numbers in general productivity and multimedia testing as the 2016 i7 version. A year has passed since then, so while there have been newer machines out in that time, there haven't really been any CPU jumps. Coffee Lake (the name of Intel's newest processor generation) desktops are just now starting to launch, and a more expensive Kaby Lake R (refreshed seventh-generation CPUs) Stealth is coming, but laptops have generally stayed put in that time. The performance for multi-tasking and lighter media projects was perfectly acceptable for this laptop, and it's a good companion for light-load work and travel. It also ran quietly during testing, a bonus as it won't bother you or those around you with revving fans.
Since the Stealth is the rare non-gaming computer in Razer's lineup, its integrated graphics-driven 3D performance was lackluster. That's par for the course for ultraportables, which forgo discrete graphics cards (and their requisite cooling components) to be the lightest and thinnest around. As such, you can expect to play low-lift or simpler 2D games moderately well, but any high-end 3D games are mostly out of the question. Any video or rendering work that benefits from a graphics card will be slower and frustrating, so don't look to this laptop as a workstation.
Battery life is solid, if not spectacular. It lasted for 8 hours and 3 minutes on our rundown test, which is certainly enough to get through a work day, even if it's not on the higher end for ultraportables. The previous model (with its smaller screen) lasted for 9:20, the XPS 13 Touch for 10:42, and the 2017 MacBook Pro for a leading 16:26, while the 4K Spectre 13 x360 was more similar to the Stealth at 8:18.
Pick of the Pack
The newest Razer Blade Stealth is undoubtedly one of the most attractive options on the market, and for less money than other premium laptops. The 13.3-inch screen size looks stunning and elevates an already-great metal design, the keyboard is customizable, and it's a quick performer. The Dell XPS 13 Touch (Rose Gold Edition) arguably has a bit more premium of a build, and avoids some of the small complaints I have with the Stealth (slightly longer battery, you don't have to unplug the charger to use USB-C) but it's also $250 more as tested. Given that the Stealth offers a brilliant screen at the same resolution and many shared features, it's unparalleled for value in the high-end price tier, earning our Editors' Choice.
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