Project Carol and soundbars: Razer is making an audio statement at CES

Razer announced a whole host of new releases at CES. This includes its annual head-turning concept, but it's the peripherals that are catching the eye.

A new generation of Razer Blades

On top of the usual updates of new processors, –13th-gen Intel Core i9 HX chipset, Nvidia RTX 40 series GPUs with up to 175W TGP and upgradeable DDR5 5600MHz memory– the new Razer Blade has also adopted the 16:10 aspect ratio for its display.

In addition, the Razer Blade 16 has the world's first 16" HDR-capable dual-mode mini-LED display. The screen can reach 1000 nits peak brightness along with a sub-3ms response time.

But what makes it unique is a dual native mode switching feature, which lets you switch between a native UHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate (Creator mode) and a native FHD+ resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate (Gamer mode).

Razer says the Blade 16 delivers 35 per cent more graphics power per cubic inch than any other 16" gaming laptop on the market right now.

If it's a desktop replacement you're looking for, the Razer Blade 18 is Razer's first stab at the 18-inch laptop category. It is also the company's most powerful laptop. It retains the same sleek form factor and sports an 18" QHD+ 240Hz display.

Other features include a 5MP camera, a THX spatial audio six-speaker array, upgradeable components, a comprehensive port selection, and hyper-efficient vapour chamber cooling.

Both the Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 will be available in Q1 2023 at Razer.com, RazerStores, and select retailers starting at US$2,700 (S$3,600) and US$2,900 respectively.

The edge of mobile gaming

Hardcore mobile gamers will have a new object to lust after. The Razer Edge has a 6.8" AMOLED display and 2400×1080 FHD+ resolution that boasts a 144Hz refresh rate.

It's also the first device powered by and designed around the new Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 Gaming Platform, and it has active cooling for long gaming sessions.

For now, it's only available in the US and is priced at US$00 (Wi-Fi). The 5G version will be available through Verizon though pricing has not been finalised.

Largest sensor ever in a webcam

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra boasts the largest sensor ever used in a webcam. It uses a Sony 1/1.2" Starvis 2 sensor with a 2.9 μm pixel size paired with a custom, ultra-large F/1.7 aperture lens that Razer says can capture almost four times more light than other webcams.

For context, the sensor is only slightly smaller than the 1/1.12" sensor on the Mi 11 Ultra.

The camera can convert raw 4K 30 FPS (or 1080P 60 FPS) footage into uncompressed 4K 24 FPS, 1440p 30 FPS, or 1080p 60 FPS directly into streams, and the AI-powered Face Tracking Auto-focus tracks your face with a "true bokeh effect" without additional hardware or software.

Like many smartphones, the Kiyo Pro can capture footage with High Dynamic Range (HDR) at 30FPS. If you need further tweaking, Razer Synapse lets you finetune settings including ISO, shutter speed, pan, tilt, and more.

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is now available at Razer.com and prices start at $450.

Supporting Meta Quest 2 users, literally

Together with healthcare equipment company ResMed, Razer designed the Razer Adjustable Head Strap System and the Razer Facial Interface for Meta Quest 2.

The Razer Adjustable Head Strap System has a quick slip-on design and distributes the weight more evenly during gameplay. The Razer Facial Interface uses medical-grade, hypoallergenic materials to reduce skin irritation and reduce facial pressure.

These accessories will be available in the US in Q1 2023, but we're not sure if they will be available here in the future (probably not).

World's first head cushion with near-field surround sound and haptics

Project Carol is Razer's concept project this year, featuring the world's first head cushion with enveloping near-field surround sound and haptics.

It uses near-field surround sound along with 7.1 surround sound to create a more enveloping soundscape. It also supports Hypersense, which means that game sounds will be converted into haptic feedback in real time for a more immersive experience. 

Project Carol is natively supported on PC, and is designed to fit with all gaming chairs via elastic straps. It is rated for up to 8 hours of wireless gaming with a single charge.

World's first beamforming soundbar with head-tracking AI

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro is the world's first beamforming soundbar for desktops with head-tracking AI. It was developed in partnership with THX (Spatial Audio) and leading 3D audio beamforming experts, Audioscenic.

Although merely a compact desktop setup, the Leviathan V2 Pro was designed to always keep users in the sweet spot for an optimal surround soundstage.

It achieves this through the help of an integrated IR camera and AI tech, which tracks your head and adapts the audio beams to your position in real time.

There are two modes: THX Spatial Audio Virtual Headset for stereo content and THX Spatial Audio Virtual Speakers for multi-channel content to simulate a full home theatre system. And yes, it supports Razer Chroma RGB (need you ask?).

The Leviathan V2 Pro will be available from February 2023, starting at US$400 at Razer.com and RazerStores.

ALSO READ: CES 2023: LG shows off world's first signature wireless 97-inch OLED TV

This article was first published in Potions.sg.