Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 vs Razer Book 13 2020 Comparison

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Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021

15.6 inches | January 2021

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Razer Book 13 2020

13.4 inches | November 2020

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Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 vs Razer Book 13 2020 Comparison Overview

Razer Blade 15 Base...

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Razer Book 13 2020

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Razer Blade 15 Base...

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Razer Book 13 2020

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In this review, we will be comparing Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020, two laptops by Razer. Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 was introduced to market in January 2021 and Razer Book 13 2020 was launched in November 2020. There is only 2 months difference between Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Razer Book 13 2020 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 10750H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
16GB Ram
355 x 235 x 19.9 mm (13.98 x 9.25 x 0.78 inches)
Weight: 2.09 kg (4.61 lbs)

Razer Book 13 2020 Key Specs

Launched in November 2020
13.4" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
295 x 198.5 x 15.1 mm (11.61 x 7.81 x 0.59 inches)
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 over Razer Book 13 2020

Display Size	15.6 inches vs 13.4 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
GPU Fabrication Process	8 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	12 TFLOPS vs 1.41 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Faster data transfers
NVMe Type SSD	Yes vs No	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.1 vs 1x USB 3.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v3.2 vs v3.1	Better HDMI connectivity
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 2.0	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Razer Book 13 2020 over Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021

Weight	1.40 kg vs 2.09 kg	0.69 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~88.9% vs ~80.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	3.2 mm vs 4.8 mm	1.6 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	169 ppi vs 141 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1200 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm vs 14 nm	Newer Generation CPU
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Flexible cable positions
USB-A Port Type	3.2 vs 3.1	Faster USB-A

Common Strengths of Razer Book 13 2020 and Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.1 vs v5.1	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v3 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Razer Book 13 2020 and Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 vs Razer Book 13 2020: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and the Razer Book 13 2020.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.09 kg (4.61 lbs)	1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Surface Area	834 cm2 (129.3 inches2)	586 cm2 (90.7 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~80.4%	~88.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.8 mm	~3.2 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.13 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.286 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Silver

Comparison of the Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and the Razer Book 13 2020 External Dimensions

Weight

Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 weighs 2.09 kg (4.61 lbs), whereas the Book 13 2020 weighs 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 2.09 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.95 kg

Razer Book 13 2020 1.40 kg

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 1.22 kg

Thickness Comparison

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 19.90 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.17 mm

Razer Book 13 2020 15.10 mm

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 15.38 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 is 0.13 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Razer Book 13 2020 is 0.10 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 vs Razer Book 13 2020: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 10750H Intel Core i7 11800H	Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i7 1165G7
Base Frequency	2.6 GHz	0.9-2.4 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5 GHz	4.2 GHz
Number of Cores	6	4
Number of Threads	12	8
L3 Cache	12 MB	8 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU
CPU Fabrication Process	14 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1188	1324
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	5917	4633
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1183	1355
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	7338	5087

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Razer Book 13 2020.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 10750H

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1135G7

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 8GB	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
Base Clock Frequency	1215 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1567 MHz	1100 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	95 W	15 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes
Type	Dedicated	Integrated
FLOPS	12 TFLOPS	1,408 GFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	System Shared
Memory Type	GDDR6	System Shared
Memory Bus	192 bit	System Shared
Memory Speed	14 Gbps	System Shared
Shading Units Cores	3840	640
TMUs	120	40
ROPs	48	20

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 has a FLOPS value of 12 TFLOPS whereas the Razer Book 13 2020 ' has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB	8GB 16GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	2933 MHz	4267 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	LPDDR4X
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Book 13 2020's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Razer Blade 15 Base Edition (2021)	Razer Book 13 (2020)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	65 Wh	55 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left, Right
Charge Power	230 W	65 W

Moreover, the Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 boasts a larger battery capacity of 65 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Book 13 2020's55 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 65 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.1 Wh

Razer Book 13 2020 55 Wh

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 53.1 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and the Book 13 2020 have similar max. storage capacities of 512 GB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	512 GB	256 GB, 512 GB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	No

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 vs Razer Book 13 2020: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Razer Book 13 2020 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, Book 13 2020 has a smaller 13.4" display.The total usable screen area of the Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the Book 13 2020's total usable screen area is 521cm² / 81inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Book 13 2020 features a higher pixel density with 169 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 141 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 144 PPI

Razer Book 13 2020 169 PPI

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 186 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The Book 13 2020 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 300 nits

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 319 nits

Razer Book 13 2020 500 nits

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 438 nits

Razer Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 vs Razer Book 13 2020 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 have USB-A ports. Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 has 3x USB 3.1 USB-A ports, while Book 13 2020 has 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 have USB Type-C ports. Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 has 2x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Book 13 2020 has 2x USB 3.1 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 feature Thunderbolt ports. Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 has Thunderbolt 3, while Book 13 2020 has Thunderbolt 4.

HDMI
Both Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 feature an HDMI port. Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 offers 1x HDMI 2.1, while Book 13 2020 offers 1x HDMI 2.0.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Blade 15 Base Edition 2021 and Book 13 2020 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.1	v5.1
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.1	1x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.1
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 3	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No