Razer's latest Blade 18 gaming laptop now features the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus chip, accompanied by a $500 price increase over last year's model, starting at $3,999.99.
New Features and Specs
The new Blade 18 maintains its predecessor’s GPU options with configurations starting from an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, scalable up to an RTX 5090. The device also boasts a dual-mode 18-inch display which Razer claims is 20% brighter. It offers resolutions of 3840 x 2400 at 240Hz or 1920 x 1200 at an ultra-fast 440Hz. Despite the high refresh rates, it's noted that a 1200p resolution might not appear as sharp across an 18-inch screen compared to 4K.
Connectivity Options
The 2026 Blade 18 continues to offer a comprehensive range of connectivity options, featuring Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an SD card slot, and Ethernet. Additionally, it supports charging via Razer's proprietary reversible charging plug and USB-C at 100W.
Price Increases Across Models
The Blade 18’s price hike follows a trend seen in other Razer models. The Blade 16, which utilizes Intel's Panther Lake chip, has also seen its price rise since its March announcement. Originally priced at $3,499.99 with an RTX 5080 and $4,499.99 with an RTX 5090, it now costs $3,999.99 and $4,899.99, respectively.
Unanswered Questions
Razer has not provided an explanation for these price adjustments, but speculation points towards the ongoing RAM shortage impacting costs. The Verge did not receive a response from Razer by the time of publication regarding these changes.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/930343/razers-blade-18-is-getting-a-500-price-hike-and-a-new-intel-chip
