Razer Blade Pro (GTX 1060) - Review 2022

The Blade Pro is the most premium laptop in Razer's lineup, complete with a big 4K display and Nvidia GTX 1080 graphics, but its $3,999 price tag keeps it out of the grasp of many gamers. Considering of that, Razer is offering a eye ground solution that keeps the high-end chassis, but makes some sacrifices to dial back the toll. The effect is the new Blade Pro with a GTX 1060 and a 17-inch 1080p screen. At $2,299.99, it's much less expensive than the original, though not exactly cheap. Y'all can get a slightly beefier GTX 1070 graphics card at this price, but the Blade Pro delivers solid HD gaming performance in a slim form factor with a premium design. Whether you desire to clasp higher frame rates out of your pricey gaming laptop or yous value the build and other features more, the GTX 1060 Blade Pro is worth considering if your budget is limited.

Same Look, Smart Changes

The idea backside the less expensive Blade Pro is delivering the same premium chassis at a lower price, so it'due south identical to the higher-end version. Built with quality all-blackness aluminum and a greenish Razer logo on the chapeau, this model measures 0.nine by sixteen.7 by 11 inches (HWD), same every bit before. Due to the internal changes, withal, it weighs virtually a pound less at 6.78 pounds, which is light for a 17-inch laptop. The GTX 1080-begetting Origin EON17-X (2017) and the Alienware 17 R4 weigh 8.6 and 9.8 pounds, respectively, so the Blade Pro acquits itself well. It'due south still fairly large for frequent travel and would accept upwardly more bag infinite than yous'd probably want on a commute, but it is on the slimmer and lighter side for a desktop-replacement.

Ane prey of the reduced cost is the excellent low-profile mechanical keyboard yous get with the $4,000 model. Typing even so feels comfortable, though, and the keys deliver a proficient amount of travel. Each fundamental is withal individually backlit, also, and then you're not giving up the fun customizable lighting and effects Razer is known for, all manageable through the included Synapse software. The touchpad, placed off the right of the keyboard rather than beneath it, also feels sturdy. The book coil bar, an inclusion seen on some fancier desktop keyboards, is something I now miss when it'south non around, and then it'south great to have on a laptop in a user-friendly identify. The speakers, while non booming or bassy, provide loud and clear sound that doesn't distort at higher volumes.

The gorgeous 4K touch on brandish becomes a non-touch 1080p screen on this version of the Blade Pro. The glossy finish is replaced with a matte one, which cuts downwardly on reflections, but yields a duller picture. The screen is still vibrant when gaming, and 1080p is a sugariness spot for smooth game performance, specially with a GTX 1060 bill of fare. The display does offer a 120Hz refresh rate, which is another appealing feature for gamers looking for the smoothest gameplay.

It's worth noting that, in many ways, the fully featured Bract Pro is aimed not simply at gamers, but artists and designers. The 4K version's screen is superior for these tasks, with THX certification and high color accuracy, which y'all don't go in this version of the laptop. Every bit such, the GTX 1060 Blade Pro loses some of its other utility and more firmly establishes itself equally a high-quality midrange gaming laptop. It withal has detached graphics and a fast processor for completing media tasks, then information technology'south not suddenly incapable, but it is less of a artist's organization.

There's just ane storage option for the less expensive model. The laptop comes with a 256GB One thousand.2 SSD and a 2TB 5,400rpm difficult drive, which should be plenty of space for well-nigh users. The lowest storage option for the premium version is a 512GB SSD (it tin can become upwards to 2TB), so you're getting a lot more space hither by default, even if less of it is speedy SSD storage. As for ports, the offerings are the aforementioned on both laptops: In that location are 3 USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, an Ethernet jack, and an SD card reader. That's plenty of connectivity for peripherals, external storage, and virtual reality headsets. The Blade Pro integrates dual-ring 802.11ac wireless and Bluetooth 4.1. Razer supports the Blade Pro with a one-twelvemonth warranty.

Hard disk drive Gaming...at a Premium

Even if information technology's not the full-powered version, this Blade Pro's 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, GTX 1060, and 16GB of memory mean it's no slouch. Its PCMark eight Piece of work Conventional score, which simulates general productivity speed, was on the higher stop for laptops. Demanding 4K screens lower the scores for this test, so this is one area that this Blade Pro beats the more expensive model and its slightly faster processor. Normalcy is restored on the multimedia tests, where the 4K version is a bit faster all around, merely this unit tin yet whip through your average tasks and do some content creation on the side without much holdup.

While the GTX 1060 is a capable, well-priced card, it doesn't fare as well in head-to-head comparisons in this price range. The Bract Pro's slim premium build and other features bump upward its price before you fifty-fifty get to the graphics—most laptops at this price point are getting you lot a GTX 1070. Every bit such, the performance is going to be less impressive than other laptops you lot may spend between $2,000 and $2,500 on, then information technology may be hard to justify dropping that much on a GTX 1060, which often comes in laptops priced less than $2,000. Razer's own 14-inch laptop, the 2022 Blade, includes a 1060 for $i,899, and that's with paying extra for the course factor. Another good example is the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro, a 17-inch GTX 1060 laptop that's only $i,699.

Related Story See How Nosotros Test Laptops

That said, this Blade Pro posted solid 1080p numbers on the Heaven and Valley tests prepare to ultra-quality settings, averaging 65 frames per 2nd (fps) and 72fps respectively. Newer, more demanding titles may require you lot to turn down a few settings to not dip beneath 60fps or expect choppy, but for the most function you tin play games at or virtually maximum in Hard disk. The HP Omen 17, priced similarly to this Blade Pro, scored 90fps and 83fps on these tests, demonstrating the increased headroom a GTX 1070 gives you for more bells and whistles or more demanding games.

Similar the PCMark score, battery life is also improved by the drop to 1080p. A 4K screen drains a lot of power. This unit lasted for seven hours and ane minute on our rundown test, as opposed to the 4K model's short 3:46 fourth dimension. 7:01 is a great showing for anylarge-screen gaming laptop, most of which typically run out of juice much faster. On the aforementioned examination, the Alienware 17 R4 ran for 3:30, the Omen 17 for 3:xiv, and the EON17-10 for 2:17, so the Bract Pro is well alee of the grouping hither. The V17 Nitro is an exception here, with like results at vii:28. The battery life helps sell the portability attribute of the slimmer blueprint, since yous'll actually be able to utilize it off the charger for a while if yous practise bring it with you.

Cost Compromises

This less expensive Blade Pro delivers on its promise of the attractive build of the orginal model for less money, though I take some reservations nigh the price considering the graphics menu choice. A GTX 1060 card at $2,300 is a bit difficult to consume, merely at the same time, information technology'south boosted by thoughtful features, and this laptop is perfectly suited to 1080p gaming. This lower-price Blade Pro is an appealing option, merely if you value the extra frames you'll become with a GTX 1070 over the pattern, roomy storage, and 120Hz display, yous tin do improve. Alternatives like a conservatively configured Alienware 17 R4 or Origin EON17-Ten (or mayhap a smaller 15-inch laptop, like the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming) volition become you lot more than performance for your dollar.