Titans Collide: Macbook Pro vs Razer Blade 15 Studio
- 2.4GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 processor
- 5GHz max boost speed
- 64GB RAM
- 2666 MHz DDR4
- 1TB SSD drive
- 16MB L3 Cache
- Radeon Pro 5500M 8GB Intel UHD GPU
- 16-inch IPS display with 16:10 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and 3072 x 1920 resolution
- Backlit keyboard with touchbar and Force Touch trackpad
- 6 built-in speakers
- 3 built-in microphones
- 100 Wh lithium-ion polymer battery (rated for 11 hours)
- Dimensions: 14.09 x 9.68 x 0.64"
- Weight: 4.3 pounds
- 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor
- 4.5GHz max boost speed
- 32GB RAM (expandable to 64GB)
- 2667 MHz DDR4
- 1TB SSD drive
- 12MB Cache
- NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen with 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and 3840 x 2160 resolution
- Backlit keyboard with touchpad
- Built-in speakers
- Built-in microphones
- 80 Wh lithium-ion battery (rated for 8 hours)
- Dimensions: 13.98 x 9.25 x 0.7"
- Weight: 4.88 pounds
- Huge display with virtually no bezels
- Responsive keyboard and TouchForce trackpad
- 6 speaker setup sounds incredible
- 8-core i9 processor delivers epic power
- Superb battery life
- No Retina or 4K display
- No SD card slot
- No full-size USB port
- Expensive starting price
- Insane graphics card
- Beautiful 4K screen that's sharp, detailed, and has bang-on colors
- Top-notch power for power-hungry tasks
- Ports galore
- Nice keyboard
- No 8-core processor options
- Bottom can get a tad hot
- Expensive
Over the years I've had a wide range of computers in my office.
Typically, I opt for a high-powered laptop, that way when I travel (not that I'm doing much of that at the moment...) I can take my work with me. After all, I'm a workaholic, so having the portability of a laptop is a must.
For about ten years now, I've been almost exclusively a Mac user and have had various Macbook Pros. There have been some PC laptops sprinkled in there too, but none that I was head-over-heels in love with.
Just a few months ago, I decided I would go all-in with Apple. I got rid of my HP desktop and my 15-inch Macbook Pro and invested in the latest 16-inch Macbook Pro (late 2019).
A few weeks after I made the switch, I was introduced to a new PC laptop (well, new to me, anyway) - the Razer Blade 15 Studio.
Full disclosure - while I bought my Macbook with my own money, Razer sent this rig to me to review. And so far, it's been so good that it has me questioning my loyalty to Apple.
So, I thought, why not compare these two titan laptops to see how they really stack up?
Basic Specs: Macbook Pro vs Razer Blade 15 Studio
Let's start by having a look at the basic specs of these machines. Bear in mind that these are the specs of the specific laptops I have, but there are all kinds of variations you can choose for both.
Macbook Pro 16" Specs:
Razer Blade 15 Studio Specs:
As you can see from these spec sheets, these high-powered laptops are quite similar in many ways.
For example, they both have 1TB of SSD storage, large widescreen displays, built-in speakers and mics, and backlit keyboards.
Additionally, they are roughly the same size and weight, and honestly, they look an awful lot alike as well.
Processors, max boost speed, RAM and cache are similar as well.
So, based on many of these specs, these machines are very comparable.
Pros and Cons: Macbook Pro vs Razer Blade 15 Studio
Macbook Pro 16-Inch
Now let's see what features these laptops have that they've hit out of the park - and which ones are a swing and a miss.
Macbook Pro Pros:
Macbook Pro Cons:
Macbook Pro 16-Inch
Mac users shouldn't be shocked as many of these pros and cons.
For starters, that processor is epic and has power for days. It's just what the doctor ordered for photographers and videographers that need a lot of processing power.
Secondly, Apple has drastically improved their keyboards lately, and this one is no exception. It's responsive, soft to the touch, and a joy to use.
Lastly, the sound from the speakers is fantastic - by far the best I've experienced with a Macbook Pro.
Of course, this is not a perfect laptop. While the screen is nice, it doesn't offer the sharpness, detail, clarity, and color accuracy of the Razer. Not having an SD card slot or any ports other than USB-C is annoying. But the price is the biggest obstacle for most people. You're looking at around $2,400 for the base model. The one I have set me back $3,899.00.
Razer Blade 15 Studio
Razer Blade 15 Studio Pros:
Razer Blade 15 Studio Cons:
By far, the best feature of this laptop (in my opinion, anyway), is the graphics card.
The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 GPU with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM is an insane beast that can eat up and spit out any video-related task you throw at it. I have been astonished with its performance for video editing, and though I'm not a gamer, I also appreciate its performance when I decide to take a break and play a game for a few minutes.
The screen on the Razer is also breathtaking. Not only does it offer incredibly accurate color rendition, but it's also bright, crisp, and highly detailed. It's one of the best laptop screens I've ever seen.
I also appreciate that Razer includes a slew of ports - three USB 3.2 ports Gen 1 Type-A ports, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, MiniDisplayPort, and a SD card reader.
But, like the Macbook, there are a few quibbles...
There are no 8-core processing options. While the 6-core tears it up, it would be nice to have the 8-core option.
Likewise, the cooling system works very well, but I have noticed that sometimes the bottom of the laptop can get a bit hot. This has been a very minor issue so far though.
The price is scary for some folks too - it starts at around $2,400, but if you want the high-powered NVIDIA Quadro graphics, the price will be at least $4,000.
The Verdict: Macbook Pro 16" vs Razer Blade 15 Studio
At the end of the day, I'd actually choose the Razer Blade 15 Studio if I could only have one of these laptops. And, as I noted above, the biggest reason for this would be the incredible graphics card this thing has.
I do so much with video now, and having that NVIDIA Quadro GPU is a Godsend. It absolutely blows the Radeon Pro GPU in the Macbook out of the water.
But, I realize that there are strict Mac people and strict PC people, so if you're firmly in the Mac camp, this late 2019 16-inch Macbook Pro is one of the best you can get. And for you PC lovers, it's tough to beat the display, performance, portability, and graphics of the Razer Blade 15 Studio.
