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Razer Blade Pro (2016) review: Now this is how you do a ‘Pro’ laptop

DESPITE ITS PREMIUM price, the Blade Pro has arguably been Razer’s weakest laptop ever since 2014. That’s the year the 14-inch Blade (no surname) received a massive performance upgrade, bumping up to an Nvidia GTX 870M graphics card and a crisp 3200x1800 screen.

Meanwhile the 17-inch Blade Pro stuck to the lower 860M-tier card and a 1080p screen—and at a higher price. Suffice it to say, it’s been a while since the Blade Pro felt like it deserved its lofty moniker.

For a time I thought Razer had decided to abandon the Pro model entirely and stick to the 14-inch Blade, but instead Razer was apparently scheming a way to put the Blade Pro back on top. Successfully, I might add. The latest Blade Pro (go.pcworld.com/razerbladepro2016) is one hell of a machine, and an incredible return to form.

Watch the video at go.pcworld.com/bladeprovid

Provided you can afford it.

See ya, Switchblade

The Blade line continues to be one of the most recognizable gaming laptop lines, in part because Razer’s design barely changes year-to-year. That’s certainly true here, with the Blade Pro looking much the same as it always has—a slim, black, and vaguely MacBook-esque aluminum chassis, emblazoned with Razer’s illuminated green snake design on the cover.

Open the lid, though, and you’ll immediately notice changes, both big and small.

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