Razer finally introduces the Edge, its portable Android gaming handheld. Good news: It looks a lot better than the last time we saw it in December 2021. It’s got a lot going for it. The Edge will be released in a Wi-Fi-only version for $399.99 in January 2023, followed by a 5G-ready version through Verizon in early 2023. It will support the carrier’s ultra-broadband and sub-6GHz networks. Razer is following the Steam Deck order model, allowing people to pay $5 to order an Edge.
It should be a great device for streaming cloud games via Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia GeForce Now. Razer says the Edge supports up to 144 frames per second via the Steam Link app when you’re streaming PC games locally. The Edge runs Android 12 with Qualcomm’s G3X Gen 1 chipset, though rather than being an all-in-one handheld like the concept shown months ago (like Logitech’s G Cloud Gaming Handheld), it’s a 6.8-inch tablet that can Removed from his controller. That controller, by the way, is the Kishi V2 Pro, a more feature-packed version that includes the stick and a 3.5mm headphone jack. That gamepad won’t be available separately for now; for now, it’s only available with the Edge.
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The tablet component stands out with its specs, namely a 6.8-inch FHD Plus (2,400 x 1,080) OLED screen that has a fast 144Hz refresh rate. Alongside the G3x Gen 1 chipset, which Qualcomm refers to as a “gaming platform”, there’s 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which should give it some speed, and 128GB of storage. It features Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting headphones, and it also has Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, making it compatible with some of the fastest routers available, like Google’s Nest Wifi Pro, Eero’s Pro 6E, and more.
The Edge has a front-facing camera, so you can stream on Twitch while you game or jump into a Zoom call. As for battery life, Razer shared that the Edge will have a 5,000mAh battery, so it’ll likely last a while if you’re just using it for cloud gaming streaming.
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While the Edge isn’t the first of its kind, it likely won’t have a problem standing out at $399.99, which is just $50 more than Logitech’s lower-spec G Cloud Gaming Handheld. If Razer’s refresh rate screen and Razer’s powerful chipset deliver superior performance both with cloud game streaming and running Android games natively, I suspect the Edge will be the winner when it’s released in early 2023.
The Edge with Wi-Fi will be available through Razer’s website and its RazerStore locations, while the Edge 5G will be available exclusively through Verizon.