When choosing from the list of the best gaming laptops, you will find only a few gaming brands should be on your radar. One of those brands is definitely Razer. However, one question that often pops up from potential buyers is, are Razer laptops reliable?
Razer laptops are incredibly reliable with their solid alumimum construction, cutting-edge hardware, and impressive customer service. You can count on your Razer laptop to last. The only downside is the short battery life, if that is more important then Razer will not be the most suitable option.
Having said that, to answer this query in more detail. I decided to buy the latest flagship Razer Blade 15. It is equipped with a NVidia GeForce RTX 3070 TI graphics card and an Intel Core i7-12800H Alder Lake CPU. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, and boy, this gaming laptop does not disappoint.
How Reliable Are Razer Laptops?
Razer laptops are generally considered reliable; they are well-built machines with aesthetically pleasing designs. They boast an impressive range of components and features to help enhance your gaming experience. It is no surprise why they have become so popular with gamers.
Concerning reliability, many reviews speak highly of the durability and longevity of Razer laptops. Most users report that their laptops remain in good condition after several years of use. I can vouch for the quality of these beautiful gaming machines.
What Makes Razer Laptops Reliable?
The best Razer gaming laptops are designed and built with gamers in mind, and they offer some of the highest performance you’ll find in a gaming notebook. When it comes to considering whether a laptop designed for gaming is reliable or not.
In this case the Razer Blade 15, there are a few things you need to take into account. They are:
- Build Quality
- Cooling System
- Battery life
- The Hardware
- Warranties
Reliable & Solid Build Quality
The advanced model I opted for was the Razer Blade 15. It features an impressive QHD 240 Hz display which is not only beautiful. It is the ideal screen resolution for my work, and this includes image design, video editing, and off course gaming.
The Razer Blade 15 is the perfect laptop for these sorts of tasks. Come to think of it, it delivers excellent performance in anything I throw at it. Weather that be a long session playing Call of Duty Warzone or designing my most creative work in Photoshop.
However, it was the build quality that was the first thing I noticed, the craftsmanship is like nothing else I’ve seen before. There are no sharp edges, and the chassis is sleek, and the laptop has a lightweight form factor. Its premium quality feel makes it arguably one of the finest gaming laptops out there.
In comparison to other gaming laptops that mostly have aluminium frames and the rest of the build is plastic. Only brands such as Apple, and Dell with their Alienware M and X laptop ranges can match Razer on build quality but not so much on the compact design that Razer offers.
Moreover, these premium materials don’t stop at the new advanced edition of the Razer Blade 15. The whole range of laptops from Razer, including the base model, Razer Blade Stealth and the Razer Book and Razer Blade 14. All feature the same sleek and compact designs.
They are also all packed with high-end components and this ensures Razer laptops are durable and far more reliable than most other laptop brands when it comes to their build and hardware. That said, this luxury does come at a higher price.
If you are willing to meet the higher price tag and looking for a new gaming laptop that is thin and lightweight. One that can also withstand a few knocks. A Razer Blade laptop is definitely a wise choice.
Extremely Reliable Cooling Systems
Razer laptops also feature a reliable and advanced cooling system. Unlike most gaming laptops that use traditional cooling methods. With copper or metal heat pipes that can also add to the weight of the laptop. And are far less effective as this system can only transfer heat in one direction.
Whereas Razer utilizes vapor chamber cooling which is far more efficient as it can spread heat in two directions. Vapour chamber cooling works by pushing heat up and away from the GPU and CPU. Which then dissipates the heat out through the keyboard area.
The downside to this is that it does make the surface feel much warmer. In some cases, it can feel quite hot. This is why Razer Blade laptops seem to have a reputation for being hot laptops.
This, however, is down to how vapour chamber cooling works. Plus, the combination of the aluminium materials. You see, aluminium is a fantastic heat conductor, and when paired with this advanced cooling method results in the surface of a Razer laptop feeling hot to the touch.
All that said, it may surprise you to know Razer Blade laptops are some of the best cooling gaming laptops tested in the last few years. As shown in the graph below.
That is not to say, you do not have to put heat reducing measures in place. Something as simple as investing in a laptop cooling pad for the Razer Blade 15 laptop, reducing unnecessary processors, and ensuring you laptop is elevated will help in keeping your laptop cooler.
Razer Laptops Offer Great Performance
You cannot argue with the fact a Razer laptop will offer some of the best performance available in today’s gaming laptops. The latest Razer has to offer can match or outgun other powerful laptops. Such as the Asus Rog Zephyrus g range or other premium gaming laptops like the Alienware X17 and 15’s.
When it comes to the latest hardware the Razer Blade 15 reliability is up there with the best. They pack in hardware that will allow you to play games on high settings. Plus, enjoy a high frame rate all without experiencing lag or other issues.
The Razer model I have packs in a powerful 12th Gen Intel Core Alder Lake processor. Paired with a NVidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card. It offers great performance in the most demanding tasks.
If you need more power, Razer also has laptops with Intel Core i9 and AMD Ryzen 6000 series CPUs and NVidia RTX 3080 Ti GPUs. That will deliver even more powerful performance in anything you do.
There are simple no limits with the Razer Blade laptop range. If you are looking for a new gaming laptop to take on some heavy-duty gaming or other heavier workloads. Razer Blade is a reliable laptop that will not let you down and will prove to be a wise choice.
The Battery life is a Concern
The Razer Blade laptop range is not the most suitable choice for gamers and other users who plan to travel. It is true, Razer laptops do not have the most impressive battery life. So, if battery power is more important to you, then you are better off looking elsewhere.
With that said, I recently purchased the Razer Blade 15 to hopefully confirm if Razer laptops do or don’t have the best battery life. I understand, even on their previous models the battery life was poor.
So, I decided to test this theory, and this is what I found.
| Battery Rundown Test | Time (Hours) |
|---|---|
| Everyday Work, Emails, Browsing | 4:59 |
| Video Playback @720p | 5:09 |
| Sitting Idle, Zero Processors | 6:56 |
| Adobe Photoshop Work | 4:05 |
| Light Video Gaming | 5:29 |
In light of this, the Razer Blade 15 comes with some powerful components inside. However, compared to other gaming laptops like the Lenovo Legion 5 or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus, the Razer Blade 15 does fall short. And therefore, Razer laptops are not reliable when it comes to their battery life.
Users Had Issues with the Razer Blade Batteries Bulging!
One thing that concerned me before buying my new Razer Blade 15 was the user complaints about the battery bulging. So, I did some digging and found that laptop batteries should not exceed a certain temperature.
In the case of a Razer laptop, the one I have anyway this temperature is 65 degrees Celsius or 149 degrees Fahrenheit. These details are shown on the battery itself (see image below).
If the Razer Blade laptop battery exceeds these temperatures it may overheat. Or worse the battery may even fail altogether. The only way to prevent this from happening is to maintain proper temperature management.
Fortunately, I have not suffered any issues with the battery in the Razer Blade 15. (I will ensure to update this post if that changes).
On the plus side, Razer now offers a 2-year battery warranty on all their new gaming laptop. This means Razer has taken note of the problems that some users experienced over the last few years. So, if something happens, Razer will now offer a replacement battery.
Razer Offers Extended Warranties
Razer has one of the most comprehensive and reliable warranty packages available for laptops. In comparison to other brands, it is by far one of the most impressive. For starters, all their Razer Blade laptops come with the standard 1-year warranty. (+2-Year Battery Warranty)
In addition, for a fee you can take advantage of their extended warranties. These include the Razer Care Elite (most expensive) or the lesser Razer Care Essential warranty package.
You get 24-hour claim support, although in some instances video evidence may be required. Razer also offers FREE two-way shipping for repairs. Most other gaming laptop brands will charge for this shipping. You are also covered for accidental spills, drops, and falls.
However, adding one of these warranty packages does add to the cost of an already expensive gaming laptop. That said, on buying my Razer laptop I decided to go with the Razer Care Elite warranty.
Mainly because I use my Razer laptop for work as well as gaming. So, it is important that I have that extra piece of mind. Then if something goes wrong my investment is covered.
Pros & Cons: Best Razer Laptop
Razer laptops are some of the most powerful laptops you can buy. However, Razer laptops are also some of the most expensive options too. So, what do you get for your money?
A lot, actually. Razer laptops come with top-of-the-line specs. Including the latest processors, graphics cards, DDR5 memory and the latest SSD storage including dual M.2 slots.
Razer Blade laptops also come with the full range of ports and high-quality displays. From QHD OLED 240Hz display’s to 360Hz and 4K 144Hz display options. Razer laptops also feature next-level front facing speakers. Nifty Chroma RGB keyboards and responsive trackpads.
In other words, if you’re looking for a gaming laptop that can handle the most demanding games and offer greater precision in anything you do. A Windows laptop from Razer should be on your radar.
All that power comes at a price, both in terms of money and battery life. Razer laptops are more expensive than comparable models from other brands. Their battery life tends to be shorter as well.
If you’re looking for a laptop that you can take with you on long trips or use for extended periods. All without having to worry about recharging, a Razer laptop might not be the most suitable choice.
Here are the Pros and Cons of a Razer laptop.
PROS
CONS
Conclusion:
Should you buy a Razer laptop? Are Razer laptops reliable? If you’re looking for the highest possible gaming performance in a laptop. And you don’t mind paying extra, then yes – a Razer laptop is reliable and definitely worth considering.
The build quality and the design are unmatched. The best Razer gaming laptops are solid, sleek and lightweight, which makes them highly durable and extremely portable.
Keep in mind that you will have to sacrifice some battery life in exchange for all that power and portability. But if you work from home, like me, battery life should not be as big an issue.
To finish off, the Razer Blade 15 is by far the most impressive gaming laptop I have owned. I would recommend one to anyone looking for a classy looking laptop that won’t break down too easily.
Thanks for reading, see you next time!
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