I initially planned on buying a Razer Blade 15 with RTX 2070 Max-Q and 512 GB SSD this week until I found out that the local Microsoft Store ran out of stock. Later down the line, I read about how the Razer Blade 15 can come with either the LG panel or the BOE panel. The BOE panel appears to be riddled with problems related to changing refresh rates whereas the LG panel has been featured in reviews for being a great panel. This is important to me since I plan on lowering the refresh rate down to 120Hz since I play fighting games which are locked at 60fps.
Before I make my purchase, are there ways to identify whether the laptop has a BOE panel or an LG panel? Would the product number or serial number help identify this? Are there other panels aside from LG and BOE that I should know about?
$2599.99 is a lot of money and although the laptop appears to be an amazing product, I would rather not be a victim to cost-cutting practices by ending up with a cheaper and more problematic panel than what was featured in reviews.
Razer Blade 15 Panel Lottery
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It would be great if somebody who knows about the different random panels that appear on the Razer Blade 15 could help me out or give advice.
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On blade 14 they use auo panel (better color acuraccu for pro user) and lg (less BLB on 14 2017 model but noticable BLB on 2018 15 model) on fhd and boa on 4K, 15 fhd is mostly lg, boa was less BLB panel but came with pwm issue and somehow can't lower refresh rate, but I think it was last year unit issue, I don't hear yet on 2019 rtx model or even 2018 advanced model recently, only maybe base model with 1060mq still has pwm.
Userlevel 7
Joikansai
On blade 14 they use auo panel (better color acuraccu for pro user) and lg (less BLB on 14 2017 model but noticable BLB on 2018 15 model) on fhd and boa on 4K, 15 fhd is mostly lg, boa was less BLB panel but came with pwm issue and somehow can't lower refresh rate, but I think it was last year unit issue, I don't hear yet on 2019 rtx model or even 2018 advanced model recently, only maybe base model with 1060mq still has pwm.
Thanks for replying. I am actually concerned because of what I've read in Reddit concerning the BOE panels found in the Razer Blade 15. Here are some that I've read about:
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/9xlw59/calling_all_blade_15_144hz_boe_panel_users/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/9xfurc/beware_of_pwm_on_blade_15_advanced_144hz_boe_panel/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/av5846/panels_on_new_rtx_laptop/
A random chance to get a defective unit is one thing but getting a cheaper panel that was intentionally built into the unit is another. I'm just hoping that later stocks feature more of the LG panel found in review units or a better panel. The Sharp IGZO display looks amazing and would have been preferred but it's too bad that a glossy display is not for the majority so I'll have to settle for a matte display with a chance of backlight bleeding.
It would help a lot if there was a way to distinguish whether the laptop has an LG panel or a BOE panel before buying because I am playing a double lottery here as it stands: a lottery hoping I get a working unit and a lottery hoping that I get a better panel. This is in addition to the silicon lottery in hopes that I get a good CPU.
Userlevel 7
RocketSkates93
Thanks for replying. I am actually concerned because of what I've read in Reddit concerning the BOE panels found in the Razer Blade 15. Here are some that I've read about:
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/9xlw59/calling_all_blade_15_144hz_boe_panel_users/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/9xfurc/beware_of_pwm_on_blade_15_advanced_144hz_boe_panel/
https://www.reddit.com/r/razer/comments/av5846/panels_on_new_rtx_laptop/
A random chance to get a defective unit is one thing but getting a cheaper panel that was intentionally built into the unit is another. I'm just hoping that later stocks feature more of the LG panel found in review units or a better panel. The Sharp IGZO display looks amazing and would have been preferred but it's too bad that a glossy display is not for the majority so I'll have to settle for a matte display with a chance of backlight bleeding.
It would help a lot if there was a way to distinguish whether the laptop has an LG panel or a BOE panel before buying because I am playing a double lottery here as it stands: a lottery hoping I get a working unit and a lottery hoping that I get a better panel. This is in addition to the silicon lottery in hopes that I get a good CPU.
Yes igzo Panel from Sharp forgot to mention, being used on stealth and Blade 14 touchscreen before 4K 2017 (BOE), but again I wouldn’t be worried on 2019 model, boe issues was on 2018 I think when Razer try to solve BLB issues on lg panel, indeed BOE was less BLB but those pwm and refresh rate issues was popping up, they should address it already. So hope you get luck with that, I had also not bad lottery luck, only minimum BLB when I bought Blade 15 as early adopter all panel was LG on that period. CPU was not too great but okay with -130mV undervolting and gpu as well with +210 overclocking, some user got -160 UV and +230 OC silicons lottery luck.
Userlevel 7
Joikansai
I wouldn’t be worried on 2019 model, boe issues was on 2018 I think when Razer try to solve BLB issues on lg panel, indeed BOE was less BLB but those pwm and refresh rate issues was popping up, they should address it already.
The third Reddit link I posted has somebody complaining about their BOE panel on the Razer Blade 15 RTX 2060 having PWM issues and being unable to change refresh rates so I don't think that problem went away.
I would much rather have minor BLB problems over being unable to change refresh rates and having PWM issues.
Userlevel 7
RocketSkates93
The third Reddit link I posted has somebody complaining about their BOE panel on the Razer Blade 15 RTX 2060 having PWM issues and being unable to change refresh rates so I don't think that problem went away.
I would much rather have minor BLB problems over being unable to change refresh rates and having PWM issues.
Read it again, it’s indeed pwm but refresh rate can be changed. Though quite weird with BOE since Notebookcheck Blade 2070 and Lisa from mobiletech review on Blade 2080 shows LG panel. Maybe lower price get lower quality panel, like ssd options before, lower (base capacity) is always slower one, not huge though.
Userlevel 7
Joikansai
Read it again, it’s indeed pwm but refresh rate can be changed. Though quite weird with BOE since Notebookcheck Blade 2070 and Lisa from mobiletech review on Blade 2080 shows LG panel. Maybe lower price get lower quality panel, like ssd options before, lower (base capacity) is always slower one, not huge though.
You're right, the refresh rate problem appears to be resolved. The PWM problem though isn't looking good. The review sites like the ones you mentioned shows an LG panel which is why I am hoping to get one with it but it looks like panels attached to the Razer Blade 15 are random.
It seems a little underhanded that the review units get good panels for amazing reviews while the ones sent to retail stores get random panels as a way to cut costs.
I'm planning to get one from Microsoft Store but I'm hoping that I may be able to check what panel it has before making a purchase (not sure if they will let me).
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