I’m in an unfortunate position. I test gaming laptops every day, which means I’m often left with a device that I realistically wouldn’t buy. That causes me a lot of grief when every device gets returned, and I’ve been experiencing this more often than usual over the past month or so. I reviewed the Razer Blade 16 back in May, and it quickly became my favorite 16-inch device on the market, but its $2,999.99 MSRP for an RTX 4070 model has kept it out of my personal reach.
However, if you’re looking to invest in a high-end rig before Prime Day, you’re in luck. The Blade 16 has just dropped to a new record low price at Amazon, $2,599 for the first time for a full $400 discount. I didn’t expect to see this before the main event, and considering this configuration has only had one price swing in its life, it’s an excellent result.
Still, that’s $2,599 for a machine with specs you can easily find for much less. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 also has an OLED display and RTX 4070 graphics card, but cuts an additional $1,000 off the final price. You get that model for $1,599.99 now at Best Buy, down from $400. The Blade 16’s premium build, improved panel, and more durable design make it my favorite on paper, but Asus is really where most gamers should look for Prime Day gaming laptop deals.
Razer Blade 16 vs Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Which Should You Buy?
I tested RTX 4090 configurations of both the Razer Blade 16 and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 in my attempt to find the best gaming laptop for the job. That means the benchmark results below aren’t indicative of an RTX 4070 configuration like the models mentioned above, but they do illustrate the difference between the two devices.
Row 0 – Cell 0 | Fire attack | Time Spy | Return (1440p, epic) | Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1600p, Highest) |
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 | 30,285 | 14,863 | 117 fps | 148 fps |
Razer Blade 16 | 32,336 | 19,814 | 106 fps | 180 fps |
The Razer Blade 16 sneaks past the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, but not by enough to justify an extra $1,000 for the everyday player. While my Returnal benchmarks actually put the Asus ahead, Razer claws it back significantly with a less demanding title like Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The G16 is slightly better at handling the really tough stuff, though Razer is more consistent across the board.
Of course, the Blade 16 has other features as well. This is a slick design, and it’s one that many have come to lust after over the years. That matte black unibody chassis feels far more premium in the hands compared to the G16, even with Asus’ recent 2024 revamp. The display is another factor – with Razer’s adopted Samsung panel besting Asus’s in color and vibrancy, side-by-side. But if you don’t need a top-tier display, there’s no point in buying one. And if you’re not going to notice the difference between 148fps and 180fps from game to game (remember, we only really need 60fps to be fluidly spectral), there’s no point pumping the throttle.
The Razer Blade 16 remains my favorite 16-inch gaming laptop, and I’d still recommend it to anyone with $3,000 to spare. However, most people aren’t going to be spending that much money on Prime Day, and given the Zephyrus’ current retail price, the G16 makes more sense for most players.
We also collect all the latest news Prime Day PC Deals prior to the main event, as well as the best prime day gaming deals in general. For more portable play, check out the Prime Day Nintendo Switch Deals what we are excited about.