Razer’s Edge is one sharp-looking cloud gaming Android handheld

Razer has finally shown off the Edge, a portable Android gaming device. The Edge looks even better than its predecessor. It was last seen in personDecember 2021. There’s a lot to go over with this one. In January 2023, the Edge will be available in Wi-Fi only for $399.99. A 5G-ready version will follow through with Verizon in early 2023. It’ll support the carrier’s ultra wideband and sub-6GHz networks. Razer’s following the Steam Deck reservation model, allowing people to pay $5 to reserve an Edge.

It’s meant to be a great device for cloud game streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia GeForce Now. Razer says that the Edge supports up to 144 frames per second through the Steam Link app when you’re streaming PC games locally. The Edge runs on Android 12 with Qualcomm’s G3X Gen 1 chipset, though instead of being an all-in-one handheld like the concept shown off months ago (like Logitech’s G Cloud Gaming Handheld is), it’s a 6.8-inch tablet that can be removed from its controller. The controller in question is a Kishi V2 Pro. This version includes haptics as well as a 3.5mm headset jack. That gamepad won’t be available separately for the time being; for now, it’s only available packed in with the Edge.

Its specs make the tablet component stand out, including its 6.8 inch FHD Plus OLED display (2,400×1,080) that features a fast 144Hz refresh speed. 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 sports 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 features a front-facing camera that allows you to stream Twitch and jump into a Zoom chat. As for battery life, Razer shared that the Edge will have a 5,000mAh battery, so it will likely last a while if you’re just using it for cloud game streaming.

While the Edge isn’t the first of its kind, it’ll likely have no issue standing out at $399.99, which is just $50 more than Logitech’s G Cloud Gaming Handheld, which has lesser specs. If Razer’s 144Hz refresh rate screen and powerful chipset provide great performance both with cloud game streaming and with running Android games natively, I suspect the Edge will be the one to beat when it is released in early 2023.

The Edge with Wi-Fi will be available through Razer’s site and at its RazerStore locations, while the Edge 5G will be available exclusively through Verizon.