The Razer Blade 18 is an 18-inch gaming laptop, succeeding the Razer Blade 18 (2023) model. This version features the Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 4080, or 4090 GPU. It supports up to 64GB of RAM, and storage can be expanded up to 4TB. Users can choose between a 300Hz QHD+ (2560 x 1600) Mini LED display and a 200Hz 4K+ (3840 x 2400) panel. 

The Razer Blade 18 is a powerful laptop with massive gaming capabilities. Its 18-inch display appeals to many gamers who can afford a premium gaming laptop. There are plenty of ports, including a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, to ensure a high-speed internet connection during online gaming. Due to its high performance, it occasionally gets hotter, and its cooling fans can be pretty loud.

Blade 18: Cheatsheet

What is it? This is the Razer Blade 18, a high-end gaming machine.

Whose is it for? The Blade 18 is designed for those who require a powerful machine for gaming and other tasks, and can afford its price. It is also suitable for anyone who needs a replacement for their desktop with a more portable machine. 

What does it cost? The prices start at $3,099 and range up to $4,799.

What do we like? The Blade 18 boasts a magnificent display and formidable specifications, designed explicitly for gaming. Its speakers are impressive, and it also includes a wide array of ports.  

What don’t we like? The primary issue for many users is its high price. It gets a little warm during long gaming sessions, and its cooling fans produce a noticeable amount of noise.

Blade 18: Specification

These specifications distinguish Razer from its competitors. Razer provides only one processor, the 14th-generation Intel Core i9-14900HX, which runs at 2.4 GHz. It features 24 cores and can boost up to 5.8 GHz. This processor is one of the fastest from Intel and is suited for a laptop of this calibre.  

Blade 18: Gaming Performance

We ran games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator, along with high-power-consuming software such as Blender. While playing Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080, this laptop averages 63.63 FPS (frames per second). However, when shifting to 4K resolution, the average FPS drops to 18.42. Finding a portable machine capable of running Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K can be challenging, as this game requires significant power. Nonetheless, the performance of the Blade 18 was not surprising. 

While playing Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1080p (Full HD), the average frame rate ranges from approximately 80 to 120, depending on the complexity of the scenery and weather conditions. A key point to remember is that, at 1080p, the game relies more on the CPU, especially in densely populated areas. In contrast, at 4K (Ultra HD) resolution, the frame rate hovers around 60; at times, it drops to 55 frames per second in heavily populated and modern cities like New York City.

While testing Blender, the RTX 4090 laptop’s graphics card achieves a benchmark score of around 7,100. The GPU render time is about 3 seconds when using OptiX acceleration. In contrast, the CPU render time is roughly 1.5 minutes. 

Note: GPU rendering is usually faster than CPU rendering, particularly when using OptiX acceleration. While the Intel Core i9-14300HX is a high-performance processor, GPU rendering proves to be more efficient in complex scenes. 

Blade 18: Display

If the specification becomes the primary reason to buy this laptop, then the display could become the secondary reason. Razer offers the display in two options: a 300Hz QHD+ mini LED and a 200Hz 4K model that lacks mini LED technology. Both displays are 18 inches; this is the 18 from which the Razer Blade 18 comes.

When comparing its display to those of other laptops, you’ll notice the difference in display quality, especially considering its price tag. The display is the second main factor that enhances your gaming experience; obviously, the first is performance. Imagine paying a hefty amount for a gaming laptop, only to discover that its performance is excellent, but its display is lacking; this would ruin your gaming experience. Nevertheless, Razer keeps this in mind.

Blade 18: Ports

Razer didn’t return to the field of ports, offering everything you need. An incredible Thunderbolt 5 port that allows for transferring data and connecting devices at a massive speed of up to 250 Gbps. This port can support three 4 K displays at 144Hz, which is impressive. 

In addition to this powerful port, Razer offers three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a 3.5 mm audio port, and a card reader port. 

Blade 18: Drawbacks

The Razer Blade 18 is a very potent laptop, but it also comes with some drawbacks that prevent it from being a perfect laptop. Thankfully, none of them are at such a level that would prevent you from buying this laptop.

Size:

The most apparent thing you noticed earlier when you pointed your eyes on it. This laptop is large due to its 18-inch display and numerous other components. The size is 15.74 x 10.83 x 0.85 inches, and it weighs about 6.80 pounds. The size is approximately the same as last year’s model, although this one is lighter, weighing around 7 pounds. However, compared to a computer, this is still adjustable to a certain extent. If we assume Blade 18 as a portable computer rather than a traditional laptop, this would not be incorrect.

Expensive:

Indeed, the Blade 18 provides substantial power, but its price is also rather steep. Its cheapest model sells for $3,099 and the most expensive one sells for $4,799.

This price tag is out of reach for many gamers, but regardless of which version you choose, you will receive an Intel Core i9 processor. The main difference lies in the GPUs, and the worst you can expect is RTX 4070.

Keyboard:

Despite its large size, Razer doesn’t include a number pad on its keyboard. This space is utilized for more efficient speakers, but personally, a number pad can be a valuable tool for users in their daily lives. 

The keyboard is positioned at the center, which creates a significant amount of space along the keyboard. Sometimes, I will not find the correct position of the keyboard while typing. 

Many gamers use an external keyboard for a better gaming experience, often opting for a high-quality mechanical keyboard. If you purchase an external keyboard, you may not need to worry about the built-in one. However, those who prefer using a mouse and a standard keyboard, like me, often face difficulties while typing. 

Hot:

As with the previous version, this model also tends to get hot during gaming. While playing games, the hottest part of the laptop reached 134 degrees. However, Razer did a great job by moving the hottest parts away from where you rest your hands; the touchpad only gets hot upto to 82 degrees. 

The heat is not a bad thing—after all, all gaming laptops get hot. However, the Razer 18 should have a better cooling system to prevent overheating. 

Blade 18: Verdict

While the Razer Blade 18 is an expensive machine, it is worth every penny if you know how to utilize it effectively. If you’re looking for a gaming powerhouse with portability, this laptop is an ideal choice. The primary motivation for developing this machine is to enhance the gaming experience through portability. You can play games even at coffee shops. 

If you love portable machines, then you don’t need to worry about the price. The Blade 18 is one of the best laptops available, and it is worth every penny. 

The Alienware m18 marks the company’s debut in the 18-inch laptop segment. It also delivers tremendous performance. Alienware debuted the new m18 in 2023, offering ample power compared to competitors like the Razer Blade 18 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 in the 18-inch laptop category. These are the new heavyweights in the world of laptops, designed to replace large desktops. With their enormous weight and size, they provide enough performance to enhance your gaming experience.

The price tag is comparable to most gaming PCs, but Alienware offers a better gaming experience with added portability. No doubt, if you have a gaming PC, you shouldn’t buy this, but if you want a gaming machine with portability, then this would be a better choice. 

Alienware m18: Price

The price starts at $2,099, and after upgrades and other customizations, the cost can increase to $4,999. You can purchase this laptop from Dell’s official website and other authorised retailers at a base price of $2,099.

For the base price, you will get:

• Intel Core i7-13650HX Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU
• 16 GB of DDR5 RAM
• 512 GB of NVMe SSD
• 18-inch QHD+ 165Hz

If these specifications are insufficient for your workload and gaming needs, you can opt for upgrades. According to the internet, the high-end specifications of the Dell Alienware m18 can cost $4,949 before tax. At this price, you receive one of Intel’s leading processors, the Core i9-13900HX, a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, 64 GB of RAM, and 8 TB SSD storage.. The display is also upgraded to an 18-inch FHD+ 480Hz, which features a significantly faster refresh rate compared to the default one, but with a lower resolution. 

Alienware m18: Specs

Alienware m18: Design

Dell’s Alienware m18 is a massive laptop. The vital thing to note is that it’s hard to hold it in one hand due to its high weight of 9 pounds. It is also larger and heavier than the Razer Blade 18 and the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18, the two largest competitors of Alienware in the 18-inch laptop category.

When you open the laptop, a premium keyboard with hexagonal cutouts runs along the top, topped by a stunning display that awaits you. The bezels surrounding the 18-inch screen are slim, thickening slightly at the top and bottom where the webcam and Alienware logo are placed. 

The colour of the Alienware is striking; the dark grey finish reflects the image of the dark side of the moon, with the aluminium body featuring hexagonal cutouts and a lightning logo. Furthermore, you can customise every RGB light to your liking, as the RGB lights on the keyboard and in the rear section are as stunning as a rainbow.

Alienware m18: Display

The 18-inch QHD+ 250Hz display in the Alienware m18 provides ample space for multitasking and gaming. If you’re opening an 18-inch laptop for the first time, the display size may be a surprise. However, you will soon acclimatise, and then you will appreciate the benefits of such a large screen. 

I would not recommend buying this laptop solely for the large screen, but it becomes increasingly difficult to work on laptops with smaller screens. You can watch movies and TV shows on the big screen with brightness. Alienware promises that this machine can achieve up to 300 nits of brightness. Three hundred nits of brightness is not a significant issue, as many of the best laptops on the market can achieve 400-500 nits of brightness.

While this brightness works well indoors, it may present challenges outdoors. It is lower than the brightness of the Razer Blade 18 (495 nits) and Strix Scar 18 (402 nits).

Alienware m18: Ports

The Alienware m18 features a multitude of ports distributed across both sides and the rear of the laptop. Along the left side, you will find an Ethernet jack, two USB-A ports, and an audio jack, surrounded by two exhaust grills. On the right side, you will find only a USB-C port, which feels lonely as it is situated on the front edge, whereas most laptops have ports at the back edge.

All the main ports are located on the rear of the laptop. The laptop features two USB4/Thunderbolt ports, an additional USB-A port, an HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort, a card reader port, and an audio jack, all located on the back. It is complemented by custom RGB strips that run around the rear tray. 

Alienware m18: Keyboard and Touchpad

I value the Alienware keyboard for its full size and, naturally, the integrated RGB lights, which are crucial for gaming laptops. Additionally, it features Cherry MX mechanical keys. While it may cause some noise during typing that can be heard on a video call, this is not a significant issue, as a good typing sound enhances your typing experience.

However, if you prefer to type quietly, you will need to acclimatise to the sound. Furthermore, Alienware’s keyboard features a number pad, which is very useful, and this is something I miss in the Razer Blade 18.

A large touchpad is located in the left corner beneath the keyboard, extending to the bottom. If you are tall and have long arms, this touchpad will not present any inconvenience for you.

Alienware m18: Gaming Performance

With the specifications mentioned in this article, Alienware becomes a formidable gaming machine. With these, it can achieve over 60 frames per second in most games. I play F1 2021 on this machine, and it achieves an average of 194 frames per second (FPS). At the maximum resolution available in the game, it reaches up to 165 FPS. I also compare Alienware with other gaming laptops in the industry, and it outperforms them. No doubt, some laptops can achieve higher frames per second (FPS) than this, but it’s still quite impressive. 

Most PCS can’t run Cyberpunk 2077 because it requires massive power that can only be achieved with the RTX 40 series and above, but our Alienware manages to handle it with ease. When playing on the highest settings, NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 image-scaling technology was enabled, allowing me to play Cyberpunk at 60+ frames per second without any issues.

Even with DLSS 3 image scaling turned off and playing at the highest settings, Alienware still managed to deliver over 20 frames per second. It’s not the best way to play, but it’s still playable. I recommend steering clear of maximum graphics settings if you intend to play for an extended period. If you are playing at the highest setting, you may encounter some lag due to a heating issue.

 Alienware m18: Average FPS Difference

As illustrated in the table above, our Alienware ($3,549 as tested) outperforms the ASUS ROG Strix Scar ($3,899) and Razer Blade 18 ($3,799) in the specified games. This is the primary reason it can replace your heavy desktop. 

Alienware m18: Verdict

The Alienware m18 is the heaviest and most powerful laptop, and its extraordinary performance, particularly in gaming, demonstrates that it is the most prioritised option for replacing a desktop. 

With this, you will get rid of those massive PCs that are only suitable for gaming at home, but with this, you can play anywhere, even at a coffee shop.

If you already own a laptop that runs games well and do not wish to spend more money on this but intend to replace it, you might consider some less expensive alternatives. However, if you seek a replacement for superior gaming performance and desire a larger screen and a mechanical keyboard akin to a PC, then trust me, Alienware is the best option for you. 

Neither the Strix Scar 18 nor the Razer Blade 18 boasts a keyboard as beautiful as that of an Alienware, thanks to its Cherry MX mechanical keys. Although these laptops feature a brighter display and are lighter than the Alienware, their strengths do not match those of Alienware. Consequently, they are referred to as a desktop replacement.

Among the leading gaming laptops, standing out requires a significant difference. The market is mainly filled with black, red, and RGB-themed designs. When I first saw the new Dell G15, priced at $1,659.99 (with an entry-level price of $599.99), I was genuinely impressed.

This Dell laptop offers attractive color options and features like a bright, vivid 165 Hz 1080p display. It also delivers strong performance thanks to an Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 4060.

If you are considering buying a Dell G15, pay close attention to the specs. Some compromises were made to keep the entry-level version affordable. Also, the vibrant colors are only available on the base models.

G15: Performance

G15: Design

I had resigned myself to the idea that finding a laptop with a unique color was unlikely in 2023. However, I was genuinely surprised when I unboxed my review unit. The pastel lilac, deep purple, and mint shells give it an incredible look.

Despite offering a wide range of colors, the Dell G15 doesn’t seem as high-quality as it looks. The plastic feels flimsy and bends easily at the top shell, which doesn’t match its price. I’d be worried about dropping it, as its weight could cause the plastic to crack. However, this seems unlikely given the laptop’s size, which is unfortunate because its design is worth showcasing.

My primary concern with the Dell G15’s design is its portability. I couldn’t easily carry it to different locations. For example, during a vacation, when I tried to bring it along, it didn’t fit into my large carry-on bag. So, I used a smaller bag with a larger internal compartment that is specifically designed for laptops. I’m glad I found an alternative bag that works, but other users might have trouble if they don’t have a large enough suitcase and might have to leave the laptop behind.

G15: Display

Our review unit has a vibrant 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a quick refresh rate of 165Hz. This high refresh rate ensures smooth gameplay. Many games I tested easily surpassed 100 frames per second (FPS), offering a more fluid experience and quicker responses. Overall, this greatly improves the gaming experience.

The 3-millisecond response time is beneficial for gamers playing fast-paced games like Fortnite. Although I don’t notice slight differences in response time unless they are 20 milliseconds or more, many players might find this feature quite advantageous. Aside from that, I didn’t see many other highlights to mention about this display. 

The bezels were quite large, and the display hinge seemed bulky, making the overall design less sleek. The plastic shell also felt flimsy, which lowered the device’s perceived quality. Additionally, the color reproduction wasn’t as vibrant as that of the Razer Blade 14 (2023), which features a bright QHD+ display with excellent color accuracy; when gaming in dark environments, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2, the screen’s ability to display dark shades worsened significantly under different lighting conditions.

G16: Gaming Performance

I have several concerns about the Dell G15, but gaming performance is not one of them. With an RTX 4060 GPU, I didn’t expect the G15 to outperform the Razer Blade 14, let alone beat my favorite gaming laptop of the year. However, I was mistaken. The highly acclaimed game of the year, Alan Wake 2—which I initially thought this laptop would struggle to run effectively—ran very smoothly. 

The game featured impressive visuals, with realistic textures and lighting effects. Although somewhat unsettling, it ran smoothly at a comfortable 147 FPS setting using custom medium-to-high configurations, DLSS 3.5 (balanced), and frame generation. A slight grain or noise was visible when quickly turning the camera, but it was not distracting.

Cyberpunk 2077 was played at 143 FPS settings with medium to high quality, DLSS 3.5, and frame generation enabled. While the Razer Blade 14, equipped with a more powerful RTX 4070 GPU, ran the game at 95 FPS, the Dell G15’s performance was unexpectedly good. 

The game looked better than ever, with smooth frame rates that rarely stuttered whether navigating streets, open areas, or crowded alleys. The main improvements came from the new 2.0 update for Cyberpunk 2077 and the upgraded DLSS 3.5, which handled most of the heavy lifting. However, I wasn’t expecting such a great gaming experience.

G15: Keyboard and touchpad

Dell has thoughtfully included a full keyboard with a number pad on the G15, providing all the keys you might need. Some keys are a bit narrow to fit everything in, but overall, it offers a comprehensive typing experience. I prefer laptops without a numpad, but if you’re into gaming, use Excel, or love customizing macros to extra keys, this setup is perfect for you.

You’ll notice some keys are packed closely together. For example, the page up and page down keys sit right next to the up arrow, which can make it tricky to locate the arrow keys by feeling alone. If you use these keys for gaming or other tasks, keep in mind that this layout might take some getting used to.

The plastic keycaps on this keyboard are of substandard quality. Dell states that the keyboard has 1.4 mm of travel, which is acceptable, but it felt shallow to me. Despite this, it didn’t affect my typing performance — I maintained a speed of 119 words per minute with a 2% error rate during a typing test.

The touchpad is not very large, but it is sufficient for Windows 11 gestures. Occasionally, I pressed the edges, and all inputs registered correctly. However, the touchpad has a somewhat plasticky feel.

G15: Audio

I wasn’t happy about paying $15 to use it, and I also wasn’t satisfied when trying to listen to Dolby Atmos-certified music on Tidal. Neither app showed whether the integration was working. On a positive note, activating a Dolby Atmos EQ profile did produce a noticeable change in sound. However, was that sound difference worth the cost? No, it didn’t improve my experience with this laptop.

G15: Verdict

Not all gaming laptops are the same. Some are designed for portability, while others are high-performance machines suitable for both work and gaming. Specific models excel in various applications, especially gaming. For example, laptops like the Dell G15 are built specifically for gaming.

However, such devices tend to be large, noisy, and fragile for portable use in professional environments. Their displays are often inadequate for video editing and features like an offset keyboard can make typing uncomfortable. Additionally, battery life is usually disappointing. If you plan to use this laptop as your main device, you’ll need to accept these limitations. Only then can you truly appreciate its capabilities and decide if it’s the right choice for you. 

The Razer Blade 14 is priced higher, but it offers a better display, unique features, and similar gaming performance, all in a portable, durable metal chassis. Alternatively, the Alienware m17 R5 is a more budget-friendly option for those who want a similarly sized laptop. It starts at $1,099 and features a last-generation RTX 3050 GPU.