Key Takeaways
1. Gamers prefer a 14-inch laptop with the GeForce RTX 5090, but compact devices face unique challenges.
2. Asus has enhanced the ROG Zephyrus G14 with stronger GPU options (RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080), but it starts at 3400 Euros.
3. Razer offers a lighter design with the RTX 5070 Laptop at a lower price of 2399 Euros, questioning the value of higher VRAM.
4. The RTX 5070 Ti Laptop shows only a 7% performance lead at 1080p over the RTX 5070 Laptop, with better advantages at QHD resolution.
5. Upgrades for gaming laptops, like increased VRAM, are desirable but come at a higher cost; Razer’s Blade 14 remains a good value in its category.
Most gamers likely desire a 14-inch laptop equipped with the GeForce RTX 5090, featuring silent cooling and a reasonable price. However, the situation is not that simple, as compact devices come with their own challenges. Manufacturers are aware of sales trends and can gauge if investing in more powerful models will be beneficial. Asus has put extra effort into the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G14, modifying the chassis and cooling system to support two stronger GPU options, the RTX 5070 Ti Laptop and RTX 5080 Laptop. Nevertheless, this effort comes at a cost, with the G14 featuring the RTX 5070 Ti starting at a minimum of 3400 Euros in Europe. Only time will reveal whether the sales will validate this investment.
Razer’s Approach
On the flip side, Razer has chosen to provide the RTX 5070 Laptop as the top GPU option, now in a sleeker and lighter design. They’ve also cut the price compared to the earlier model, and our reviewed setup with the Ryzen AI 9 365, 32 GB RAM, and RTX 5070 Laptop has a recommended retail price of 2399 Euros. This raises the question: are you truly willing to spend an extra 1000 Euros for an additional 4 GB of VRAM and slightly better performance?
Performance Insights
As addressed in our detailed review of the Razer Blade 14, there are certain restrictions in QHD resolution due to the VRAM, leading to potential frame drops. Indiana Jones, in particular, has been problematic as it is quite demanding on VRAM, which could soon become an issue for the 5070 Ti Laptop as well. But what about gaming at 1080p? We took a closer look at Full-HD performance, primarily focusing on newer titles.
Even with the upgraded processor and the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop featuring 12 GB VRAM, the ROG Zephyrus G14 only leads by about 7% on average at 1080p. There are exceptions, such as F1 25, which has intense hardware demands, but in most cases, the difference is minimal. The advantages of the RTX 5070 Ti Laptop become more evident at QHD resolution, which we have detailed in our review.
Final Thoughts
It would have been great to see a Razer Blade 14 with faster GPU options and increased VRAM to better serve gamers in the coming years. However, such upgrades come with a price. Still, the overall offering of the new Razer Blade 14 presents a compelling value at this price range.
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