Razer is the latest company to enter the handled gaming console market, following in the footsteps of Nintendo’s Switch, Valve’s Steam Deck, and Logitech’s G Cloud. At its RazerCon 2022 event, the gaming company unveiled the Razer Edge 5G, an Android-based handheld gaming console that will be available exclusively through Verizon beginning in January 2023. Razer will also sell a Wi-Fi version of the device through its website and retail outlets.
The Razer Edge 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 steam deck gaming pc Platform, which runs at 3GHz and is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The display on the front is a 6.8-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) AMOLED with a 144Hz refresh rate. According to Razer, the screen has been optimized to use less power, and the lights are powered by a 5,000 mAh battery. However, no data on fast-charging technology has been provided by the company.
The Razer Edge 5G’s main selling point is its cellular connectivity suite, which is based on Verizon’s Ultra Wideband network. The latter uses Verizon’s high-band (mmWave) and mid-band (C-band) spectrum to deliver the carrier’s fastest speeds. To clarify, the Razer console can connect to Sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G bands, while Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E round out the connectivity options.
Bringing 5G connectivity to cloud game streaming
The Razer Edge 5G, like its Logitech counterpart, is an Android-based device, which means it will have access to the entire Google Play Store catalog of games. It is, however, a cloud-based machine, and as such, Xbox Cloud Gaming is central to its credentials. Furthermore, the model will be able to stream games from Nvidia’s cloud gaming service, GeForce Now.
Buyers of the Razer Edge 5G will be able to access their PC game library via Steam Link, while console-side titles will be accessible via Xbox’s own remote-play system. According to the company, “Steam Link users can enjoy the gameplay at 144Hz” on the console. Support for Parsec and Moonlight is also being considered.
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The device appears to be a gaming tablet at first glance, but the company will include the Razer Kishi V2 Pro mobile gaming controller in the retail package. The new Pro model, an improved version of the Kishi V2, adds the proprietary Razer HyperSense tech for more precise haptic feedback, as well as a 3.5mm jack to the mix. Microswitches are located beneath the face buttons for improved tactical response. Razer promises console-quality controls but won’t say how much the handheld gaming console will cost when it hits stores next year.
