– CPU upgrade: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (+100 MHz) with a minor performance bump.
– Display: 18″ IPS 16:10, 600 nits; options 3840×2400 at 240 Hz or 1920×1200 at 440 Hz; full DCI-P3.
– GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU with 24 GB GDDR7, 175 W + 25 W Dynamic Boost.
– Build, battery, and I/O: CNC-milled aluminum chassis (2.87 cm thick, 3.2 kg), three fans, 99 Wh battery, glass multi-touch trackpad; Thunderbolt 5/4, three USB-A (10 Gbps), 2.5 GbE, HDMI 2.1, SD reader.
– Pricing and configurations: base model $3,999 (290HX, RTX 4070 Ti, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD); RTX 5080 upgrade +$500; top model $6,999 (RTX 5090, 128 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD).
The Razer Blade 18 was last upgraded in February 2025. Today, Razer unveiled the Blade 18 (2026), which receives two main upgrades.
Upgrades
Firstly, Razer is replacing the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus with 100 MHz higher clock speeds, which should result in a minor performance upgrade.
Display and GPU
Secondly, the display on the new model achieves a brightness of 600 nits instead of 500 nits. The 18-inch IPS panel in 16:10 format can be used either with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,400 pixels and a frame rate of 240 Hz, or with 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and 440 Hz. The DCI-P3 color space can be displayed in full. As usual, Razer combines the flagship processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU with 24 GB GDDR7 graphics memory and a TDP of 175 watts plus 25 watts Dynamic Boost.
Hardware and Build
Razer installs three fans, six speakers, a 99 Wh battery, a glass multi-touch trackpad and a keyboard with single-key RGB lighting.
Chassis and Ports
However, the very high performance takes its toll – the CNC-milled aluminum unibody housing is anything but compact with an overall thickness of 2.87 centimeters and a weight of 3.2 kilograms. Nevertheless, the chassis offers plenty of ports, including Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, three USB-A ports (10 Gbit/s), 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 and an SD card reader.
Availability
The Razer Blade 18 (2026) is now available from the Razer online store. The model with Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti laptop GPU, 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD costs $3,999, which is $500 more than the previous model with Core Ultra 9 275HX. The upgrade to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPU costs $500. For the top model with GeForce RTX 5090, 128 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD, Razer charges $6,999.