The words “gaming” and “ultrabook” don’t always collide in the realm of laptops. This is for a very good cause. An Ultrabook, by design, is a small and light laptop with a low-wattage processor and a comparatively loose cooling system, whereas a conventional gaming laptop needs the polar opposite.
Despite this, producers continue to play with these apparently incompatible disciplines. When Razer unveiled the Blade Stealth 13 in 2019, it was the first to do so. Let’s dig into this Razer Blade Stealth 13 analysis now that that’s out of the way (Late 2020).
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q/Intel Iris Plus
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512 PCIe SSD
Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p
Battery: 7:03
Size: 12 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 3.1 pounds
Price in Nepal: Rs. 289,000
DESIGN
Let’s start with the design, as is customary. Razer has retained the tried-and-true blueprint of the gaming Ultrabook from its predecessor. This CNC-machined aluminium unibody style exudes the finest degree of premium-ness. The razor-sharp edge emphasizes the point, but I wish the company had toned it down a notch.
The Razer Blade Stealth 13, on the other hand, takes “cutting-edge technology” a bit too literally. The frames are razor-sharp to the touch, and a subtle cutout at the trackpad’s bottom edges adds to the confusion. As a result, after using the laptop for a long time, I have markings on my wrist.
Apart from that, the Stealth 13 attracts fingerprints and smudges like a magnet. The moisture from your hand gathers up on the keyboard deck after just a few minutes of use, leaving a visible blotch. The lid isn’t immune to the smudges, either. To add insult to injury, they’re also very difficult to remove.
DISPLAY
When it comes to the monitor, Razer offers a 13-inch 120Hz FHD LCD or a 60Hz 4K OLED screen. Ours is the former, which covers 100% of the sRGB color space, while the 4K variant covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space. Unlike the FHD alternative, this one is also touch-compatible. However, with its gaming history, I would warn against the 4K edition for a variety of reasons.
While a more bright, contrast-rich OLED touch screen has its advantages, 4K on a 13″ screen is overkill, and the sharpness of a 1080p monitor would suffice for many consumers. Furthermore, pressing more pixels depletes battery life, which is an important consideration given that a 13-inch laptop can’t fit a big, beefy battery underneath.
In comparison to the matte finish on the FHD alternative, the 4K panel is even more translucent due to its glossy design. Furthermore, the 60Hz limit essentially eliminates the machine’s “gaming” aspect—at least when it comes to competitive games in AAA games or high-FPS shooters.
As a result, whether you want to create content with this gaming Ultrabook, having the more costly 4K OLED version isn’t a good idea. Razer isn’t tossing you a bone for enhancements in other departments for the extra cost, so there’s that.
AUDIO
The Stealth’s twin top-mounted speakers are a great treat when it comes to sound, as they packed my office with clear audio. That’s not to say I didn’t hear the drums and cymbals, or the synthy keyboard; they were just not as prominent. And with the Dolby Atmos program set to Dynamic, the bass guitar was off.
PERFORMANCE
Let’s dig into the results side of things now that that’s out of the way. Unlike other manufacturers that offer a variety of CPU, GPU, and memory variants, Razer is “simplifying” stuff by offering only one Stealth 13 model (besides the display, of course).
The predecessor’s Core i7 Comet Lake CPU has been replaced with the newest Tiger Lake-U processor. The i7-1165G7, to be precise. This quad-core CPU, based on the Willow Cove architecture, has a single-core turbo frequency of up to 4.7 GHz. It will use up to 28W of power, which is less than a typical high-TDP gaming CPU.
TRACK PAD
The glass track pad on the Stealth 13 is almost as well-made as the keyboard. It is focused, and the tall form factor facilitates drag-and-drop operations. This is complemented by Windows Precision drivers, as predicted, and movements perform flawlessly. The combined left/right keys work well as well, but they pale in contrast to those used in other high-end laptops.
