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So much better than before: Razer Blade Pro 17 Laptop Review

The gold standard for ultrathin 17-inch gaming laptops. It may have took Razer a few tries, but they've finally crafted a nearly perfect Blade laptop and one of the best gaming laptops for its size category. This latest Blade Pro iteration drops the inessential features of previous generations for a lighter, smaller, more efficient, and more streamlined gaming experience that everyone — and not just Razer fans — can appreciate.

The 2019 Blade Pro 17 is the third generation model in Razer's lineup of 17.3-inch gaming laptops. It's a complete redesign of the Blade Pro 2016 and 2017 with many of the novelty features dropped in favor of a more streamlined experience. It also introduces narrow bezels to the Blade Pro series for the first time with many design elements lifted from the 15.6-inch Blade 15 series.

Current SKUs are more limited especially when compared to the wide range of Blade 15 options. There is just one display (1080p at 144 Hz), one CPU (Core i7-9750H), and three GPUs to choose from (RTX 2060. RTX 2070 Max-Q, RTX 2080 Max-Q) in contrast to the large variety of displays and processors available on competing alternatives. Our review below will show that this more focused approach by Razer works in their benefit to provide the best core gaming experience possible without the distracting auxiliary features users may not need.

Prices range from $2500 to $3200 USD depending on the GPU. Direct competitors include other ultra-thin enthusiast laptops like the 17.3-inch Alienware m17 R2, Lenovo Legion Y740, Asus Zephyrus S GX701, Asus ROG Scar III GL704, Acer Predator Triton 700, and the MSI GS75.

More Razer Blade reviews:

Current Blade Pro 17 2019 SKUs (Source: Razer)
Current Blade Pro 17 2019 SKUs (Source: Razer)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q (Blade Pro 17 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-9750H 6 x 2.6 - 4.5 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1090 MHz, Memory: 1600 MHz, GDDR6, 430.86, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2666, 19-19-19-43, Dual-Channel
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, AUO409D, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, 512 GB 
Soundcard
NVIDIA TU104 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
5 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 5 USB 3.1 Gen2, 5 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: SD reader (UHS-III)
Networking
Realtek RTL8125 2.5GBe Family Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000/2500MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19.9 x 395 x 260 ( = 0.78 x 15.55 x 10.24 in)
Battery
70 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Razer Synapse, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.75 kg ( = 97 oz / 6.06 pounds), Power Supply: 790 g ( = 27.87 oz / 1.74 pounds)
Price
3200 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Take the 15.6-inch Blade 15 aluminum-magnesium chassis, enlarge it for a 17.3-inch form factor, and you essentially have the new Blade Pro 17. Razer has applied what they've learned from the Blade 15 series onto their third generation Blade Pro design and the results are impressive. Chassis rigidity in particular is excellent with essentially no flexing or creaking of the base when attempting to twist it or depress its keyboard center. Even the lid is stiffer than the lids of many other narrow-bezel 17.3-inch laptops including the Asus Zephyrus S GX701. It's amazing how Razer has translated its Blade 15 chassis so well for a larger screen size while maintaining the robust build almost 1:1. The 17.3-inch MSI GS75, for example, is also an enlarged version of its smaller 15.6-inch GS65 sibling and yet it feels comparatively weaker and more flexible.

In short, you'll have a good idea of how the Blade Pro 17 looks and feels if you've ever handled a Blade 15. The flip side to this is that the notebook suffers from many of the same drawbacks as the current Blade 15 including the fingerprint-loving surfaces and limited hinge angle. The lids of the Lenovo Legion Y740 or Alienware m17 R1 can open almost the full 180 degrees in comparison.

Build quality is perfect on our test unit with no unintended gaps or defects between materials. It's a much more minimalist and unibody approach when compared to competing gaming laptops that ultimately jibes very well with Razer's current crop of Blade 15 and Blade Stealth offerings.

The Blade Pro 2017 was notoriously heavy at about 3.6 kg. The thinner bezels and significantly smaller dimensions of the new Blade Pro 17 have shaved off 800 grams (!) from the final weight to be more in line with other ultra-thin 17.3-inch gaming laptops including the Lenovo Legion Y740 and Asus ROG GL704GW. It's still about 500 g heavier than the MSI GS75, however, since Razer utilizes a stiffer skeleton with vapor chamber cooling.

Footprint is small for its size category especially when compared to the Lenovo Legion Y740 or Alienware m17 since these alternatives have large "jet engine" rear ends dedicated for cooling.

The new chassis is sleeker, simpler, slimmer, and literally sharper around its edges and corners than the Blade Pro 2017 model
The new chassis is sleeker, simpler, slimmer, and literally sharper around its edges and corners than the Blade Pro 2017 model
Fingerprints will accumulate very quickly all around the smooth matte surfaces
Fingerprints will accumulate very quickly all around the smooth matte surfaces
The bezel "chin" is much smaller when compared to most other 17.3-inch gaming laptops
The bezel "chin" is much smaller when compared to most other 17.3-inch gaming laptops
Lid opened to maximum angle (~140 degrees)
Lid opened to maximum angle (~140 degrees)
424 mm / 16.7 inch 281 mm / 11.1 inch 22.5 mm / 0.886 inch 3.6 kg7.94 lbs412.6 mm / 16.2 inch 304.9 mm / 12 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.8 kg6.17 lbs410 mm / 16.1 inch 292.5 mm / 11.5 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.6 kg5.8 lbs399 mm / 15.7 inch 273 mm / 10.7 inch 26.4 mm / 1.039 inch 2.9 kg6.37 lbs396 mm / 15.6 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 2.3 kg5.02 lbs395 mm / 15.6 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 19.9 mm / 0.783 inch 2.8 kg6.06 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The Blade Pro 17 comes with all ports as found on the Blade Pro 2017 but with a second USB Type-C port thrown in for good measure. Many of the existing ports have also been upgraded for faster speeds including the USB ports (USB 3.0 to 3.2), Ethernet port (1 Gbps to 2.5 Gbps), and SD card reader (UHS-II to UHS-III). Ports are evenly distributed and evenly spaced toward the rear of the chassis where they are easy to access. Our main complaint is that the AC adapter cable can be thick and unwieldy to handle.

It's worth mentioning that the Blade Pro 17 AC adapter is incompatible with the last generation Blade Pro 2017. In contrast, the latest Blade 15 shares the same AC adapter port as the Blade Pro 17 for compatibility between screen sizes.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: SD reader UHS-III, USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.2 Gen. 2, HDMI 2.0b, Kensington Lock
Right: SD reader UHS-III, USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.2 Gen. 2, HDMI 2.0b, Kensington Lock
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Left: AC adapter, 2.5 Gbit RJ-45, 2x USB 3.2 Gen. 2, USB-C 3.2 Gen. 2, 3.5 mm combo audio
Left: AC adapter, 2.5 Gbit RJ-45, 2x USB 3.2 Gen. 2, USB-C 3.2 Gen. 2, 3.5 mm combo audio

SD Card Reader

As one of the first laptops to ship with a UHS-III SD card reader, the Blade Pro 17 can support transfer rates of up to 624 MB/s with the appropriate SD card. We unfortunately have a Toshiba UHS-II SD card only and so we can't put this to the test, but the fact that the chassis integrates a card reader at all is more than what we can say for the Blade 15, Alienware m17, or Zephyrus S GX701.

A fully inserted SD card will protrude by about 2 mm and so it doesn't sit completely flush against the edge.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
176.6 MB/s +1%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
174.4 MB/s
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
80 MB/s -54%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
50 MB/s -71%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
207.8 MB/s +2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
203.4 MB/s
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
85 MB/s -58%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
52 MB/s -74%

Communication

The Blade 15 and Blade Pro 17 are some of the first laptops to ship with Intel AX200 wireless. This particular module offers Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax connectivity for transfer rates of up to 2.4 Gbps compared to 867 Mbps on the Blade Pro 2017 with the Killer 1535. Future Athena Ultrabooks are expected to come equipped with Intel AX200 modules as well. We experienced no connectivity issues during our time with the unit.

Note that our transfer rates recorded below are slower than the theoretical maximum of the AX200 since our server setup is limited by a 1 Gbps line. Wi-Fi 6 routers have yet to become ubiquitous or even affordable and so most users today will not be able to exploit its benefits. In other words, it's more of a future-proof feature for now.

Removable M.2 WLAN module sits adjacent to the M.2 storage bay
Removable M.2 WLAN module sits adjacent to the M.2 storage bay
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
697 MBit/s
Alienware m17 P37E
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
659 MBit/s -5%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
605 MBit/s -13%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
528 MBit/s -24%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
356 MBit/s -49%
iperf3 receive AX12
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
686 MBit/s
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
671 MBit/s -2%
Alienware m17 P37E
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
670 MBit/s -2%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
599 MBit/s -13%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
598 MBit/s -13%

Maintenance

The bottom panel is secured by a dozen T5 Torx screws. Servicing is easy as the panel comes off without much effort and users have direct access to the SODIMM slots, storage bays, and WLAN slot. The motherboard has changed completely when compared to the Blade Pro 2017 GTX 1080 where RAM is soldered.

Note the two smaller fans that bisect the battery in order to provide additional air intake. No other gaming laptop comes equipped with fans this close to the trackpad. Razer says it may eventually drop the two fans from future iterations of the Blade Pro 17 depending on the CPU and GPU configuration.

The vapor chamber cooler adds a lot of extra weight with the promise of better cooling than traditional heat pipes
The vapor chamber cooler adds a lot of extra weight with the promise of better cooling than traditional heat pipes

Accessories and Warranty

Extras include a warranty card, Quick Start guide, a set of Razer logo stickers, and a small velvet cleaning cloth. We don't think it would be too much to ask for a free carrying sleeve much like how Asus includes one for its flagship ZenBook Ultrabooks.

The one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies with options to extend up to three years via RazerCare. The added protection is pricey at an additional $450 USD compared to ~$260 USD from Dell with the same three-year coverage and accidental damage protection.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Razer has essentially lifted the Blade 15 keyboard and applied it here on the Blade Pro 17 to replace the mechanical switches on the Blade Pro 2017. Thus, our existing comments on the Blade 15 keyboard all apply here including the very shallow travel, light feedback, and generally quiet clatter. The keyboards on the competing MSI GS75 and Asus ROG GL704 feel deeper and firmer than what is offered here on the Blade Pro 17. While we prefer the stronger tactility on the aforementioned alternatives, we've also spoken to gamers who find the Razer Blade keyboard to be just fine. It's definitely something worth trying out in person before committing to a purchase.

We appreciate the fact that the F keys and Arrow keys are the same size as the main QWERTY keys for uniform feedback. These same keys tend to be smaller and therefore spongier on most other laptops. Still, we can't shake off the fact that the per-key RGB backlit keyboard feels very barebones on the Blade Pro 17. Previous Blade Pro models had volume wheels, RGB trackpad lights, and dedicated auxiliary keys for a more unique experience. Perhaps this minimalist approach is for the best.

Touchpad

The large clickpad is exactly the same as on the Blade 15 down its texture, very quiet feedback, and even dimensions (13 x 8 cm). The glass surface is completely smooth for an even glide no matter the movement speed and the 144 Hz display refresh rate gives a more responsive feel overall. Our main complaint is that the integrated mouse keys continue to be soft with a spongy and unsatisfying click when pressed. Razer may as well just go all way and mimic the MacBook Pro clickpad for future iterations of the Blade series.

No more dedicated volume control, auxiliary keys, mechanical switches, or oddly-placed trackpads on this latest Blade Pro revision
No more dedicated volume control, auxiliary keys, mechanical switches, or oddly-placed trackpads on this latest Blade Pro revision
If you're familiar with the Blade 15 keyboard, then you're already accustomed to the Blade Pro 17 keyboard
If you're familiar with the Blade 15 keyboard, then you're already accustomed to the Blade Pro 17 keyboard
Identical clickpad to the Blade 15 for better or worse
Identical clickpad to the Blade 15 for better or worse
Additional ventilation grilles underneath the redesigned bar hinge
Additional ventilation grilles underneath the redesigned bar hinge

Display

As of this writing, the Blade Pro 17 ships with only one panel option: matte 1080p IPS at 144 Hz. Users who want 4K UHD, touchscreen, OLED, 240 Hz, or glossy are out of luck for now. A closer look at the display reveals it to be an AU Optronics B173HAN04.0 panel as found on a handful of other 17.3-inch gaming laptops including the Asus TUF FX705 and Zephyrus S GX701. All these laptops share similar qualities like color coverage, contrast, and response times as a result.

When compared to the 4K UHD IGZO panel on the Blade Pro 2017, this 1080p panel is an improvement in many ways. It offers a faster native refresh rate for smoother movement, significantly faster response times for less ghosting, and a much brighter backlight (300 nits vs. 230 nits) as shown by our comparison table below. These advantages come at the cost of resolution and gamut, but we find this to be a fair trade off from a gamer's perspective where fluidity and responsiveness are usually priority over color accuracy.

Onscreen content appears crisp with only a slight tinge of graininess as is common on most matte panels. Slight backlight bleeding is present on the top and bottom edges of our unit that only becomes noticeable when watching videos with black borders in a darkened environment.

The edge-to-edge glass option on the Blade Pro 2017 will not be returning
The edge-to-edge glass option on the Blade Pro 2017 will not be returning
Razer advertises a bezel of only 6.0 mm from the sides
Razer advertises a bezel of only 6.0 mm from the sides
Matte subpixel array
Matte subpixel array
Light-moderate uneven backlight bleeding along the bottom and top edges
Light-moderate uneven backlight bleeding along the bottom and top edges
305.8
cd/m²
290.9
cd/m²
291.9
cd/m²
289.1
cd/m²
299.3
cd/m²
288.7
cd/m²
292.4
cd/m²
289.9
cd/m²
294
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B173HAN04.0 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 305.8 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 293.6 cd/m² Minimum: 14.99 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 299.3 cd/m²
Contrast: 1032:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.55 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2.9
ΔE Greyscale 3.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
88.7% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
89% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.28
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
B173HAN04.0 (AUO409D), IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
AU Optronics B173HAN03.2, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Sharp LQ173D1JW33 (SHP145A), IGZO, 17.30, 3840x2160
MSI GS75 8SG Stealth
N173HCE-G33 (CMN175C), IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Alienware m17 P37E
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0, IPS, 17.30, 3840x2160
Display
2%
4%
40%
6%
38%
Display P3 Coverage
60.6
62.9
4%
64
6%
88.9
47%
63.6
5%
86.4
43%
sRGB Coverage
89
87.8
-1%
90.4
2%
100
12%
95.4
7%
99.9
12%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
62.1
63.9
3%
64.8
4%
99.7
61%
65.5
5%
99.1
60%
Response Times
-3%
-81%
-547%
-6%
-308%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
6.8 ?(3.4, 3.4)
7.2 ?(3.6, 3.6)
-6%
15.6 ?(8, 7.6)
-129%
60.8 ?(28.8, 32)
-794%
7.6 ?(3.8, 3.8)
-12%
35.6 ?(19.6, 16)
-424%
Response Time Black / White *
9.6 ?(5.2, 4.4)
9.6 ?(4.4, 5.2)
-0%
12.8 ?(7.6, 5.2)
-33%
38.4 ?(22, 16.4)
-300%
9.6 ?(5.2, 4.4)
-0%
28 ?(16, 12)
-192%
PWM Frequency
204.9 ?(20)
25510 ?(17)
Screen
13%
-30%
-22%
24%
-29%
Brightness middle
299.3
288
-4%
299.1
0%
230
-23%
355
19%
357.9
20%
Brightness
294
287
-2%
273
-7%
207
-30%
327
11%
347
18%
Brightness Distribution
94
91
-3%
81
-14%
83
-12%
85
-10%
94
0%
Black Level *
0.29
0.2
31%
0.27
7%
0.2
31%
0.26
10%
0.33
-14%
Contrast
1032
1440
40%
1108
7%
1150
11%
1365
32%
1085
5%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.55
2.33
9%
5.07
-99%
5.62
-120%
1.54
40%
6.57
-158%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.73
5.34
-13%
10.55
-123%
10.24
-116%
3
37%
9.86
-108%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.9
2.47
15%
3.31
-14%
0.77
73%
6.74
-132%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.5
1.19
66%
6.8
-94%
4.54
-30%
2.19
37%
4.3
-23%
Gamma
2.28 96%
2.41 91%
2.46 89%
2.36 93%
2.42 91%
2.6 85%
CCT
7101 92%
6710 97%
7805 83%
6625 98%
6893 94%
6403 102%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
57
57
0%
58.5
3%
88
54%
61
7%
88.4
55%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
88.7
88
-1%
89.9
1%
100
13%
95
7%
100
13%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
4% / 9%
-36% / -30%
-176% / -80%
8% / 17%
-100% / -52%

* ... smaller is better

Razer advertises 100 percent sRGB coverage while our own independent measurements show this to be a little less at 89 percent. It's not an issue for gamers, but graphic designers hoping for full AdobeRGB coverage a la the Blade Pro 2017 will not find that option here.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further measurements with an X-Rite colorimeter reveal good grayscale and colors albeit with a color temperature slightly on the cooler side. Our calibration addresses this for a warmer temperature (7101 vs. 6590) and a more accurate grayscale (average deltaE 3.5 vs. 2.1). In general, however, we don't find an end-user calibration imperative since the display is already quite accurate out of the box.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
9.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5.2 ms rise
↘ 4.4 ms fall
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 20 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
6.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3.4 ms rise
↘ 3.4 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 14 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is better than the Blade Pro 2017 because of the brighter backlight and matte panel to reduce glare. Still, the Blade Pro 17 was not designed to be used outdoors frequently even though its sleek dimensions might suggest otherwise. Onscreen content will become washed out even on a cloudy day. Viewing angles are otherwise excellent with just slight changes to contrast, colors, and brightness if viewing from abnormally obtuse positions.

Outdoors on cloudy day
Outdoors on cloudy day
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on cloudy day
Outdoors on cloudy day
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

Whereas the Blade Pro 2017 had two 7th gen CPU options (i7-7700HQ and i7-7820HK) and two GPU options (GTX 1060 and GTX 1080), the current iteration of the Blade Pro 17 has just one 9th gen CPU option (Core i7-9750H) with three GPUs to choose from (RTX 2060, RTX 2070 Max-Q, RTX 2080 Max-Q). Razer has leapfrogged over an entire CPU generation and the benchmark results below will show just how much a performance boost users can expect.

Why is there no Core i9-9880H option? According to Razer, the Core i9 offers no significant benefits to gamers and so they have opted to focus on just the Core i7 for now. Nonetheless, we fully expect Razer to eventually introduce additional Blade Pro 17 SKUs in the future much like how the Blade 15 series has expanded into several different configurations.

Nvidia Optimus comes standard across all current SKUs which unfortunately omits G-Sync from the lineup.

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

CPU performance is exactly where we expect it to be. CineBench results are within 1 percent of the average Core i7-9750H in our database taken from 13 other laptops. Users can expect about 44 to 53 percent faster multi-thread performance over the Core i5-8300H, Core i5-9300H, or older Core i7-7820HK as found on the Blade Pro 2017. In general, however, the Core i7-9750H offers just marginal benefits over the last generation Core i7-8750H at best. The octa-core Core i9-9880H as found on the MSI GE75 can offer almost 50 percent faster performance than the i7-9750H in our Razer.

Performance sustainability is average. By running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop, we are able to record a performance drop of almost 10 percent by the second loop as shown by our comparison graph below. Some laptops with the older Core i7-8750H like the Alienware m15 or Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW are able to maintain faster clock rates for longer for better performance despite having a last generation processor.

See our dedicated page on the Core i7-9750H for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

065130195260325390455520585650715780845910975104011051170Tooltip
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1076 (1067.18-1187.86)
MSI GS75 8SG Stealth GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ (RAID 0); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1017 (1007.38-1101.08)
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1187 (1126.76-1226.54)
Alienware m15 P79F GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1123 (1106.07-1188.78)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Intel Core i9-9900K
212 Points +18%
Alienware m17 P37E
Intel Core i9-8950HK
191 Points +6%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
189 Points +5%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
  (170 - 194, n=82)
183.7 Points +2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H
180 Points
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
Intel Core i5-9300H
176 Points -2%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points -3%
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H
166 Points -8%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
158 Points -12%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
144 Points -20%
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Intel Core i9-9900K
2022 Points +71%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
1721 Points +46%
Alienware m17 P37E
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1238 Points +5%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel Core i7-8750H
1227 Points +4%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
  (952 - 1306, n=85)
1182 Points 0%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H
1180 Points
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H
821 Points -30%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
805 Points -32%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
771 Points -35%
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
Intel Core i5-9300H
757 Points -36%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
2.11 Points
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
  (1.96 - 2.19, n=10)
2.1 Points
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.81 Points
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
1.64 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
18.94 Points
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
  (11.3 - 14.1, n=10)
13 Points
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
9.21 Points
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK
8.39 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
42456 Points
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
  (28251 - 36304, n=13)
33539 Points
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
20687 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
6967 Points
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
  (6659 - 7214, n=13)
6923 Points
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
4770 Points
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
197.1 s *
Average Intel Core i7-9750H
 
154.4 s *
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
118.7 s *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
180 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1180 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
119.7 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank the Blade Pro 17 in the same ballpark as other competing laptops with RTX graphics including the Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW and Alienware m17. More notably, scores are significantly better than the last generation Blade Pro 2017 to show just how much of a performance boost the new model can bring to the table.

We didn't experience any software or hardware issues on our test unit save for two BSOD crashes early on in our testing. Both would occur whilst running Prime95 or Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but updating Windows and Synapse appears to have fixed the issue.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10
Score
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6306 Points +10%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (5374 - 6202, n=9)
5842 Points +2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5734 Points
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
5632 Points -2%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
5555 Points -3%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
3991 Points -30%
Essentials
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
9608 Points +1%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
9473 Points
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (8791 - 9927, n=9)
9356 Points -1%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
8780 Points -7%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
8711 Points -8%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
8255 Points -13%
Productivity
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
8416 Points +12%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (7180 - 8200, n=9)
7640 Points +2%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
7599 Points +2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7482 Points
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
7331 Points -2%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
5259 Points -30%
Digital Content Creation
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
8419 Points +17%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (6675 - 8862, n=9)
7594 Points +5%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
7325 Points +1%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
7227 Points 0%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7219 Points
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
3975 Points -45%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
4861 Points +10%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (4207 - 5539, n=9)
4603 Points +4%
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
4550 Points +3%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
4531 Points +3%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4412 Points
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
3812 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6004 Points +6%
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (4755 - 6593, n=9)
5755 Points +1%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5672 Points
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
5663 Points 0%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4765 Points -16%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
2486 Points -56%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4412 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5672 points
PCMark 10 Score
5734 points
Help

Storage Devices

Two internal M.2 2280 PCIe x4 bays are available with optional RAID. Our specific test unit comes equipped with a high-end Samsung PM981 SSD in contrast to the older Samsung PM951 on our Blade Pro 2017. We commend Razer for sticking to Samsung SSDs across its entire Blade lineup as most other OEMs typically source from multiple manufacturers with an undesirably wide range of performance differences. When buying an Alienware or MSI, for example, it becomes a gamble as to whether or not you'll receive a Toshiba, Lite-On, or Samsung.

Transfer rates are where we expect them to be from a Samsung PM981. Sequential read and write rates are about 1800 MB/s each compared to almost half that from an Intel SSD 660p or even slower from the Toshiba BG3. Nonetheless, be prepared to spend more for storage as the Blade Pro 17 is one of the few 17-inch gaming laptops without a 2.5-inch SATA III bay.

See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5.5
CDM 5.5
Second M.2 slot for additional storage. Upgrading does not require tearing any anti-tamper stickers!
Second M.2 slot for additional storage. Upgrading does not require tearing any anti-tamper stickers!
No 2.5-inch SATA bay, but at least the M.2 slots are easy enough to access
No 2.5-inch SATA bay, but at least the M.2 slots are easy enough to access
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
Alienware m17 P37E
SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
Razer Blade Pro 2017
2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
MSI GS75 8SG Stealth
2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ (RAID 0)
AS SSD
-40%
-26%
-10%
-19%
7%
Seq Read
1831
1315
-28%
1835
0%
1153
-37%
2599
42%
3005
64%
Seq Write
1744
927
-47%
1121
-36%
1328
-24%
588
-66%
2668
53%
4K Read
45.16
52.4
16%
23.98
-47%
35.05
-22%
37.57
-17%
40.89
-9%
4K Write
107.1
122.8
15%
100
-7%
96
-10%
104.4
-3%
94.4
-12%
4K-64 Read
1240
326.5
-74%
687
-45%
727
-41%
1116
-10%
1366
10%
4K-64 Write
1695
727
-57%
776
-54%
1212
-28%
513
-70%
1197
-29%
Access Time Read *
0.064
0.11
-72%
0.047
27%
0.063
2%
0.051
20%
0.055
14%
Access Time Write *
0.037
0.045
-22%
0.053
-43%
0.04
-8%
0.036
3%
0.039
-5%
Score Read
1468
510
-65%
895
-39%
878
-40%
1414
-4%
1708
16%
Score Write
1977
942
-52%
988
-50%
1441
-27%
676
-66%
1558
-21%
Score Total
4197
1715
-59%
2306
-45%
2784
-34%
2715
-35%
4123
-2%
Copy ISO MB/s
2086
773
-63%
1487
-29%
Copy Program MB/s
425.5
493
16%
608
43%
Copy Game MB/s
555
647
17%
1162
109%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3179 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1859 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 429.5 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 384.6 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1115 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1146 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 41.03 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 100.7 MB/s

GPU Performance

The Razer Blade series was practically designed to be an Nvidia Max-Q laptop. Even the Blade Pro 2017 had an underclocked GTX 1080 since Nvidia had not yet introduced its GeForce Max-Q series to the world. Impressively, the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q in our Blade Pro 17 is able to outperform the average RTX 2080 Max-Q in our database by 13 to 15 percent to be just 14 percent behind the standard RTX 2080 for laptops. Users upgrading from an older GTX 1080 laptop will see a raw performance boost of about 22 to 39 percent.

Much like what we discovered on the Blade 15, however, Nvidia Turing GPUs benefit much more from DX12 than DX11 and so users are recommended to run games in DX12 to get the most out of the RTX 2080 Max-Q. For example, the performance difference between a GTX 1080 Max-Q and RTX 2080 Max-Q is 24 percent when running the DX11-based Fire Strike benchmark compared to 45 percent when running the DX12-based Time Spy benchmark.

As explained here, be sure to set the system to High Performance in order to get the most out of the laptop. Running Time Spy on High Performance returns Physics and Graphics scores of 6791 and 8844 points, respectively, compared to 4998 and 8479 points when on Balanced mode.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
Port Royal
Port Royal
Time Spy (Balanced Mode)
Time Spy (Balanced Mode)
Time Spy (High Performance Mode)
Time Spy (High Performance Mode)
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
27228 Points +18%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
25126 Points +9%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
23032 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (18048 - 23032, n=19)
20658 Points -10%
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
20323 Points -12%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
19236 Points -16%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
18879 Points -18%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
18505 Points -20%
MSI GP75 Leopard 9SD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
15088 Points -34%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, R7 3750H
13355 Points -42%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GM
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
11332 Points -51%
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H
9292 Points -60%
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H
8004 Points -65%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
7374 Points -68%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
11099 Points +25%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
10243 Points +16%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
8844 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (6464 - 8844, n=19)
7903 Points -11%
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
7446 Points -16%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
7431 Points -16%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
6380 Points -28%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
6101 Points -31%
MSI GP75 Leopard 9SD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
5657 Points -36%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, R7 3750H
4867 Points -45%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GM
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
3626 Points -59%
2560x1440 Port Royal Graphics
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
5660 Points +10%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
5148 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (3698 - 5295, n=19)
4531 Points -12%
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
4100 Points -20%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
39651 Points +28%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
30910 Points
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
28083 Points -9%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (23386 - 30910, n=20)
27852 Points -10%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
24868 Points -20%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
24425 Points -21%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
24172 Points -22%
MSI GP75 Leopard 9SD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
20181 Points -35%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, R7 3750H
17170 Points -44%
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H
13125 Points -58%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GM
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
12620 Points -59%
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H
9805 Points -68%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
9032 Points -71%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop), R7 2700X
13883 Points +14%
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
12538 Points +3%
MSI GP75 Leopard 9SD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H
12441 Points +2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
12170 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (9212 - 14894, n=20)
11726 Points -4%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H
11597 Points -5%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10129 Points -17%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
9607 Points -21%
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H
9159 Points -25%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
8450 Points -31%
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H
7932 Points -35%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GM
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
6839 Points -44%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, R7 3750H
6644 Points -45%
3DMark 11 Performance
22693 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
38597 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
18887 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
8460 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Pretty much any title is playable on maximum settings and 60 FPS at the "low" native resolution of 1080p. Performance is only about 10 percent slower than a desktop powered by a GeForce RTX 2070. Reaching a steady 144 Hz, however, will still require a lot of fine tuning in the graphics menu save for popular undemanding multiplayer titles like Fortnite, Rocket League, or Overwatch. Consider engaging V-Sync if screen tearing is undesirable since there is no G-Sync.

Running Witcher 3 for a full hour reveals steady frame rates throughout to suggest no interrupting background activity. The only exception is towards the beginning of the test where frame rate dipped to 31 FPS momentarily before jumping back up to normal. We're unsure what happened here, but this anomaly never occurred a second time during the stress test.

See our dedicated page on the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q for more technical information and gaming benchmarks.

The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 OC
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop)
103.4 (81min - 119max) fps +18%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Intel Core i9-9900K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
100 fps +14%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
87.4 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (65.7 - 92.7, n=22)
79.2 fps -9%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
73.1 fps -16%
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
71.8 fps -18%
Razer Blade Pro 2017
Intel Core i7-7820HK, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
64.9 fps -26%
Alienware m15 P79F
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
64.4 fps -26%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-7820HK, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
64.2 fps -27%
MSI GP75 Leopard 9SD
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
57.6 (46min) fps -34%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502DU
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q
48.8 fps -44%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GM
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
40 fps -54%
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
Intel Core i5-9300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
35.4 (28min) fps -59%
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
27.9 fps -68%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
12.6 fps -86%
0510152025303540455055606570758085Tooltip
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø83.5 (31-90)
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 307.6 282.2 252.3 177.7
The Witcher 3 (2015) 287.9 237.3 152.2 87.4
Rocket League (2017) 249 247.7 248.4

Emissions

System Noise

The cooling solution consists of two large ~55 mm fans, two small ~35 mm fans, and a vapor chamber cooler covering both processors and all VRAM modules. This is the first time we've seen four distinct fans on a 17-inch gaming laptop as most other OEMs are content with just two fans and traditional copper heat pipes instead. Does Razer's unique approach to cooling pay off?

While the Blade Pro 17 is quieter than the Blade Pro 2017 across the board, users must remember that fan noise and behavior depend highly on the power profile. High Performance mode will cause the fans to pulsate and respond to changes in processing load more frequently when compared to Balanced mode. If simply video streaming, word processing, or browsing when high performance is not required, we recommend staying on Balanced mode where fan noise is generally steady and quiet at 31.2 dB(A). Otherwise, fan noise can fluctuate anywhere between 30 dB(A) and 38 dB(A) when web browsing on High Performance.

Gaming on High Performance will induce a loud fan noise of 51 dB(A). This drops to just 44.6 dB(A) when gaming on the Balanced profile instead. The difference in noise is significant and so gaming on Balanced mode is a real option if you don't mind the slightly higher temperatures and slightly lower frame rates. If High Performance is more desirable, however, then the Blade Pro 17 is about as loud as the Asus GL704 or Alienware m17 despite the fancy vapor chamber cooler and extra fans. We find the 50 dB(A) range to be difficult to ignore when gaming without a good pair of headphones.

We're able to notice very minor coil whine or electronic noise on our test unit when in a completely quiet room. It's not bothersome or noticeable in more real-world conditions.

Largely symmetrical cooling solution for symmetrical surface temperature development
Largely symmetrical cooling solution for symmetrical surface temperature development
Vapor chamber coolers are rare on laptops. Certain Asus ROG G Series laptops utilize a similar approach to cooling
Vapor chamber coolers are rare on laptops. Certain Asus ROG G Series laptops utilize a similar approach to cooling
The smaller fans occupy space that would have otherwise been used by the battery
The smaller fans occupy space that would have otherwise been used by the battery
Ventilation grilles near the front just for the two smaller fans
Ventilation grilles near the front just for the two smaller fans
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
Razer Blade Pro 2017
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0)
MSI GS75 8SG Stealth
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ (RAID 0)
Noise
-8%
-3%
4%
-7%
-8%
off / environment *
28.2
29
-3%
28.2
-0%
28.3
-0%
30
-6%
30
-6%
Idle Minimum *
28.2
29
-3%
28.2
-0%
31.5
-12%
30
-6%
31
-10%
Idle Average *
28.2
32
-13%
28.2
-0%
31.6
-12%
31
-10%
32
-13%
Idle Maximum *
30.8
40
-30%
31
-1%
31.6
-3%
33
-7%
41
-33%
Load Average *
42
46
-10%
50.8
-21%
32.3
23%
43
-2%
47
-12%
Witcher 3 ultra *
51
51
-0%
50.8
-0%
43
16%
55
-8%
47
8%
Load Maximum *
53
52
2%
50.8
4%
45.5
14%
58
-9%
48
9%

* ... smaller is better

Fan noise profile (White: Background, Red: Idl, Blue: 3DMark 06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Fan noise profile (White: Background, Red: Idl, Blue: 3DMark 06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Prime95+FurMark)

Noise Level

Idle
28.2 / 28.2 / 30.8 dB(A)
Load
42 / 53 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.2 dB(A)

Temperature

Dual rear exhaust
Dual rear exhaust

Surface temperatures when idling are flat on both sides of the laptop with the bottom being just slightly warmer overall. When gaming, surfaces can become as warm as 43 C to 47 C which is typical of most ultra-thin gaming laptops. These hot spots are generally toward the rear of the chassis away from the WASD keys and palm rests for more comfortable use as shown by our temperature maps below.

The temperature gradient is noticeably steeper on the Razer when compared to the MSI GS75 meaning that the average surface temperature is warmer on the MSI. The palm rests, for example, top out at 33 C when gaming on the Razer compared to 38 C on the competing GS75. While we prefer the palm rests to be cooler, we can't say we found them to be uncomfortably warm when gaming, either.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 load (top)
Witcher 3 load (top)
Witcher 3 load (bottom)
Witcher 3 load (bottom)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (bottom)
Maximum load (bottom)

Stress Test

We stress the laptop with synthetic loads to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When running Prime95, the CPU can be observed reaching as high as 4 GHz for the first few seconds before hitting a core temperature of 77 C. Thereafter, clock rates drop to the 3.2 to 3.3 GHz range in order to maintain a cooler core temperature of 65 C. Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously results in CPU and GPU temperatures of 85 C and 70 C, respectively. Overall, the Blade Pro 17 is cooler than the competing Alienware m17 where core temperatures can reach over 90 C when subjected to similar processing conditions.

Running Witcher 3 is more representative of real-world gaming loads. CPU and GPU temperatures stabilize at 77 C and 67 C, respectively, with the GPU clock rate in particular running stably at 1530 MHz compared to 1335 MHz on the aforementioned Alienware m17. The faster clock rate is likely at least partially responsible for the faster than expected performance from the synthetic 3DMark tests above.

Again, keep in mind that there is a small but measurable GPU performance difference between Balanced and High Performance modes. As shown by our table below, running on High Performance mode results in slightly faster GPU clock rates and even memory clock rates (1600 MHz vs. 1500 MHz). Core temperatures become cooler as well since the system fans run louder in this mode.

Running on battery will limit performance. A Time Spy run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of only 1662 and 2441 points, respectively, compared to 6791 and 8844 points when on mains. The High Performance Synapse profile becomes grayed out when on battery power.

System idle
System idle
Prime95+FurMark stress (High Performance mode)
Prime95+FurMark stress (High Performance mode)
Prime95 stress (Balanced mode)
Prime95 stress (Balanced mode)
Prime95 stress (High Performance mode)
Prime95 stress (High Performance mode)
Witcher 3 stress (Balanced mode). Note the more variable CPU Turbo Boost clock rates
Witcher 3 stress (Balanced mode). Note the more variable CPU Turbo Boost clock rates
Witcher 3 stress (High Performance mode)
Witcher 3 stress (High Performance mode)
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
System Idle -- -- 56 48
Prime95 Stress (High Performance) 3.2 -- 65 49
Prime95 + FurMark Stress (High Performance) 3.5 1440 85 70
Witcher 3 Stress (High Performance) 4.1 1530 ~77 67
Witcher 3 Stress (Balanced) 3.7 - 4.1 1470 ~85 72
Max. Load
 38.2 °C
101 F
43 °C
109 F
37.2 °C
99 F
 
 33.6 °C
92 F
38 °C
100 F
31.8 °C
89 F
 
 31 °C
88 F
26.8 °C
80 F
31 °C
88 F
 
Maximum: 43 °C = 109 F
Average: 30.6 °C = 87 F
39 °C
102 F
47.2 °C
117 F
40.6 °C
105 F
33.8 °C
93 F
42.4 °C
108 F
36 °C
97 F
31 °C
88 F
35.2 °C
95 F
32.2 °C
90 F
Maximum: 47.2 °C = 117 F
Average: 37.5 °C = 100 F
Power Supply (max.)  59 °C = 138 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.6 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.2 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.5 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32.8 °C / 91 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-3.9 °C / -7 F).

Speakers

Razer has dropped the THX certification for the Blade Pro 17 and, to be honest, we don't even notice the difference in practice. Audio quality is still decent for a 17-inch form factor with a drop off at 250 Hz as is common on laptop speakers. The Alienware m17 has the advantage here with its louder volume and broader range. Perhaps a dedicated subwoofer would be the next step for the Blade Pro series for stronger bass should audio be a priority. Until then, the integrated speakers on the Blade Pro 17 can get the job done even if the oomph factor is missing.

Pink noise at maximum volume
Pink noise at maximum volume
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2043.6442538.140.73137.939.34038.939.55037.336.36336.836.48035.337.210034.242.912533.148.416033.558.320032.962.325031.467.831531.171.44003170.150030.271.663029.472.680029.175.7100028.773.8125028.175.3160027.974.6200027.671.1250027.667.7315027.463.1400027.466.3500027.170.9630027.271.1800027.164.3100002759.21250026.956.71600026.954.6SPL40.283.6N3.960.4median 28.1median 67.8Delta1.95.635.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseRazer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-QApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 51% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 40% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The Blade Pro 17 is indubitably more power efficient than the Blade Pro 2017 when given the same processing conditions. Idling on desktop draws 16 W to 26 W on the Blade Pro 17 versus 31 W to 44 W on the last generation model. When running Witcher 3, consumption is about 14 percent less which becomes even more impressive when you remember that GPU performance is actually up by 22 to 39 percent between the Blade Pro GTX 1080 and RTX 2080 Max-Q. The significantly improved performance-per-Watt has a direct impact on battery life as our next section will show.

We're able to record a maximum consumption of 214 W from the relatively small (~17 x 7 x 2.5 cm) and lightweight 230 W AC adapter when running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously. If running only Prime95, consumption spikes to 130 W for the first few seconds when Turbo Boost is at its maximum before falling to 97 W. This behavior mirrors our CineBench loop test and stress test observations above.

Steady consumption when running 3DMark 06
Steady consumption when running 3DMark 06
Steady consumption when Witcher 3
Steady consumption when Witcher 3
Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Note the spike in power consumption before dropping and stabilizing at 97 W
Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Note the spike in power consumption before dropping and stabilizing at 97 W
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Consumption remains relatively steady at about 208 W
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Consumption remains relatively steady at about 208 W
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.65 / 1.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 16.2 / 20.4 / 26.1 Watt
Load midlight 96.5 / 214.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8, AHVA, 1920x1080, 17.30
Razer Blade Pro 2017
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 2x Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP (RAID 0), IGZO, 3840x2160, 17.30
MSI GS75 8SG Stealth
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ (RAID 0), IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
MSI GE75 9SG
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR, AHVA, 1920x1080, 17.30
MSI GP75 Leopard 9SD
i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Power Consumption
-9%
-47%
13%
-8%
17%
Idle Minimum *
16.2
19
-17%
31
-91%
13
20%
13.9
14%
10
38%
Idle Average *
20.4
22
-8%
36
-76%
17
17%
18.8
8%
15
26%
Idle Maximum *
26.1
29
-11%
44
-69%
23
12%
23.1
11%
22
16%
Load Average *
96.5
102
-6%
107
-11%
90
7%
112.3
-16%
92
5%
Witcher 3 ultra *
182.9
190
-4%
212
-16%
147
20%
231
-26%
153
16%
Load Maximum *
214.3
231
-8%
258
-20%
215
-0%
291.5
-36%
216
-1%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Small AC adapter for a gaming laptop
Small AC adapter for a gaming laptop

Battery capacity has dropped from 99 Wh on the Blade Pro 2017 to 70 Wh on the Blade Pro 2019 because the extra pair of internal fans occupy battery space. Even so, runtimes are actually longer on the new Blade Pro despite the reduction in battery capacity. We're able to record 4.5 hours of real-world WLAN use compared to 3 hours on the 2017 model when set to the same Balanced profile and Optimus conditions.

Recharging from empty to full capacity takes 1.5 hours as is normal on most laptops.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
4h 55min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 40min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 26min
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 70 Wh
Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GW
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 66 Wh
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 90 Wh
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 76 Wh
Razer Blade Pro 2017
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 99 Wh
MSI GS75 8SG Stealth
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 80.25 Wh
MSI GE75 9SG
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 65 Wh
Battery Runtime
-4%
16%
-32%
-17%
11%
5%
Reader / Idle
295
372
26%
543
84%
253
-14%
464
57%
WiFi v1.3
280
235
-16%
296
6%
190
-32%
197
-30%
316
13%
294
5%
Load
86
67
-22%
49
-43%
81
-6%
54
-37%
Witcher 3 ultra
52

Pros

+ Thunderbolt 3, 2.5 Gbit Ethernet, and UHS-III SD card reader
+ easy serviceability; 2x SODIMM + 2x M.2 2280
+ above-average RTX 2080 Max-Q performance
+ small and lightweight AC adapter
+ sleek, classic Razer design
+ Windows Hello integration
+ Wi-Fi 6 comes standard
+ quiet during low loads
+ per-key RGB lighting
+ rigid base and lid

Cons

- Core i7-9750H is not any faster than the Core i7-8750H
- weaker webcam than Blade Pro 2017 (1 MP vs. 2 MP)
- could be quieter when gaming on High Performance
- soft feedback from the keyboard and clickpad
- smaller battery capacity than Blade Pro 2017
- thick AC adapter cable is unwieldy to handle
- no 4K UHD, 240 Hz, or OLED options yet
- no subwoofer or fingerprint reader
- extended warranty is pricey
- no 2.5-inch SATA III bay
- no G-Sync

Verdict

In review: Razer Blade Pro 17 RZ09-0287. Test model provided by Razer
In review: Razer Blade Pro 17 RZ09-0287. Test model provided by Razer

Historically, Razer Blade Pro laptops have always had novel features to distinguish themselves from competitors. The Blade Pro 2015, for example, had a unique screenpad while the Blade Pro 2017 had mechanical keys, trackpad lights, THX certification, and a volume wheel. The 2019 Blade Pro 17 drops all these fancy features to focus on the basics and the outcome is the best Blade laptop to ever come out of Razer. The gen-to-gen improvements are actually tangible and not just marginal or superficial; it's 22 percent lighter, 24 percent smaller, 30 percent brighter, and 14 percent more power efficient when gaming all while offering up to 39 percent faster graphics performance than the last generation Blade Pro 2017 GTX 1080. Throw in the easily upgradeable RAM and storage and you have a gaming laptop that seemingly checks all the right boxes.

There are several aspects we think could make the Blade Pro 17 even better. Firmer, deeper keyboard keys a la the SteelSeries keys on MSI laptops would improve tactility while the spongy clickpad could certainly take some cues from the MacBook Pro. Fan noise on High Performance is quieter than on the Blade Pro 2017, but it's still loud at over 50 dB(A). Macro keys for toggling between Balanced and High Performance modes would make it much faster and easier than having to open and click through Synapse each time. Integrating a dedicated subwoofer could improve audio quality without ever needing THX certification in the first place. Meanwhile, the AC adapter cable is too taut and could be made thinner and more flexible for easier carrying. These drawbacks aren't enough to bring down what is otherwise an excellent gaming laptop for its screen size and ultrathin category.

Price will likely be a point of contention preventing gamers from taking the plunge. For $2500 USD, users can buy a Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH with the same Core i7-9750H CPU and RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU as our $3200 Blade Pro 17 configuration. Whether or not the price premium is worth the objectively stronger and arguably more luxurious chassis design of the Razer is something only you can answer for yourself. For our money, however, it's definitely worth considering now more than ever before because of all the significant refinements over the Blade Pro 2017.

Razer has streamlined its Blade Pro series for a stronger gaming experience overall. If you're in the market for a thin 17-inch gaming laptop, skip the bloated Blade Pro 2017 and consider the leaner Blade Pro 17. It'll cost a bit more than some competitors, but it'll feel and play a little better as well.

Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q - 09/20/2019 v7
Allen Ngo

Chassis
94 / 98 → 96%
Keyboard
81%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
69 / 80 → 87%
Weight
58 / 10-66 → 86%
Battery
62 / 95 → 65%
Display
87%
Games Performance
95%
Application Performance
90%
Temperature
87 / 95 → 92%
Noise
80 / 90 → 89%
Audio
80%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
78%
88%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > So much better than before: Razer Blade Pro 17 Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2019-06-21 (Update: 2019-06-26)