Razer Blade 16 switched to AMD processors and became 30% thinner, but lost battery capacity

Razer has announced a significant update to the Razer Blade 16 gaming laptop, both inside and out. In addition to the new processor and GPU, the Blade 16 is now overall thinner than the previous 2024 model and has several improvements to the audio system and keyboard.

The new Razer Blade 16 has ditched Intel chips and is powered by a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and «Nvidia’s next-generation» GPU. The company has increased the number of speakers from four to six, and the display retains the 240Hz OLED panel introduced in last year’s lineup. This is the first time that Razer has installed an AMD processor in the Blade 16.

Razer says it’s all packed into a chassis that’s 30 percent thinner than last year’s model, just 14.9 mm in the front and 17.4 mm in the back, not including the legs. For comparison, the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 is 15.5 mm thick, including the legs. The new Razer Blade is also deeper than last year’s model, measuring 250.5 mm from front to back, compared to 244 mm for the 2024 Blade 16. Razer also increased the key travel of the keyboard from 1 mm to 1.5 mm. And now, of course, there is the Copilot key.

However, the reduction in thickness has led to a decrease in battery capacity. Instead of 95.2 Wh in the 2023 model, a 90 Wh battery is now available. It can be charged to 80% in about 45 minutes. Razer says it is using a new thermogel that covers a larger internal surface than the 2023 model, which should improve cooling of the powerful components.

However, the switch from Intel to AMD processors may smooth out the negative impact of the reduced battery capacity. The Verge reviewers tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 against the same laptop with Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. It turned out that the AMD version worked 3 hours longer in non-gaming tasks and generated slightly less heat. Although Asus usually sets a much lower power consumption limit for its gaming laptops than Razer.

The new Razer Blade 16 should hit the market in the first quarter of 2025. Its price has not yet been announced.

Source: The Verge