.webp)
Thanks to the latest wave of handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck and the Ayaneo 2, gamers can now enjoy their favorite games while on the move with greater ease than ever before. However, these devices are often too bulky to fit into your pocket. Thankfully, with the increasing popularity of cloud gaming, a new category of portable machines like the Razer Edge is emerging, aiming to make mobile gaming even more convenient. These devices run lightweight Android apps, while cloud-based services such as GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud provide the computing power necessary for demanding games. Additionally, for those who need access to their games anytime and anywhere, there is even a model that supports 5G connectivity. But is it worth investing in a cloud gaming handheld, even with a relatively low starting price of $400?
Design-wise, the Razer Edge takes a different approach compared to Logitech's rival game streaming handheld, the G Cloud. The Razer Edge features a two-piece design, consisting of a plain matte black slab called the Edge, which houses a 6.8-inch 144Hz OLED display. It also comes with a detachable controller that can be combined with the Edge for gaming.
Those familiar with Razer's other mobile gaming products will notice that the gamepad on the Razer Edge looks similar to the Kishi V2, with a few differences. In fact, the gamepad that comes with the Edge is called the Kishi V2 Pro and has the same buttons, triggers, and joysticks as the Kishi V2. The two additional features are haptic feedback and a 3.5mm audio jack, which is essential since the Edge only has one USB-C connector. On the bright side, the Edge does come with a microSD card tray, which is a welcome addition for those who need extra storage space.
As for the exterior design, the Edge has a simple plastic body that is slightly bigger and thicker than a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The device has a boxy frame and relatively large bezels, resulting in a bulky slate that is neither a tablet nor a smartphone. Additionally, the Edge features stereo speakers on each side, and there are several vents on the back to help with cooling. Finally, the Edge comes equipped with a 5MP front-facing camera on the longer side of the device, designed to support live streaming while gaming.
Overall, the Razer Edge has a simple design that prioritizes function over style, without even the usual Razer RGB lighting. However, the lack of a fingerprint sensor is a missed opportunity, as relying solely on a PIN or password can become tedious. Adding an in-screen fingerprint sensor to the Edge 2 would be a welcome addition.
Setting up the Edge for gameplay is relatively easy. The gamepad extends to accommodate the Edge, and users only need to align the USB-C port before snapping the controller back into place. Razer has included small cutouts to prevent the stereo speakers from being muffled, and while there is some slight wiggle room on the left side, the setup feels relatively secure. Overall, users can feel confident that their Edge won't fall apart during intense gaming sessions.
Once the initial setup is complete, the Razer Edge displays the Android 12 home screen with a colorful wallpaper and green accents, which Razer has customized. Users can launch games and services by tapping on their respective icons. However, to make the most of the Edge, one needs to press the button on the gamepad below the right joystick, which summons Razer's Nexus app. This app serves as both a launcher and a place to tweak settings for the Edge's controller remapping, livestreaming, and haptics features.
The Edge detects games that feature controller support automatically when connected to the Kishi V2 Pro. Therefore, in games like Diablo: Immortal or Streets of Rage 4, players can jump right into the action. Moreover, the Kishi V2 Pro can now remap touchscreen controls to the gamepad's physical buttons and joysticks, making playing games like Genshin Impact more enjoyable, especially for those who prefer physical buttons over virtual ones.
The process of activating the Edge's touchscreen remapping feature can be a bit challenging for new users. This is because they need to manually update the Nexus app in the Google Play Store and toggle on an accessibility setting to enable the virtual controller feature. Additionally, the device may need to be restarted a few times before everything starts working properly. However, this setup process is a one-time requirement, so users won't have to repeat it for every app.
Once a game is launched, a semicircle icon appears at the top of the screen, allowing users to access a menu to map physical buttons to virtual controls. This process is simple and only takes a couple of minutes depending on the game, and the virtual layout is saved for future sessions. It's important to note that this feature only works when launching a game via the Nexus launcher, not from the Android homescreen or app tray.
While the virtual controller feature can improve accessibility for some games, it is not a complete solution. The feature is still in beta and may not address issues such as menu buttons that do not align with the virtual controls, as I discovered when playing Mega Man X Dive. Consequently, users may still need to touch the screen occasionally. Moreover, while the virtual controller can be useful, it does not add much to traditional mouse and keyboard games. Therefore, playing complex PC games such as Civ 6 on the Edge via the Steam Link app is not an optimal experience. As a result, I tended to stick to regular Android apps or console games from Xbox Game Pass.
Despite its small size, the Edge's gamepad feels sturdy and responsive, with tactile buttons and tight joysticks. Moreover, it features bonus controls for Mouse 1 and Mouse 2 on the shoulders, along with additional buttons for taking screenshots, accessing menus, or adjusting general Android settings.
The Edge's screen leaves much to be desired with its wide aspect ratio and bulky rounded bezels. The lack of vertical space can make the device feel cramped, particularly when using the short keyboard. As someone who uses a Z Fold 4 with a tiny exterior Cover Screen keyboard, I've had more typing errors on the Edge. A taller aspect ratio would have been preferable for a better gaming experience, though it works fine for regular touchscreen apps such as Marvel Snap, albeit with an awkward feel in portrait mode. Finding a balance between landscape and portrait games is a difficult task for mobile devices, and the Edge's ratio feels off.
While the cellular connectivity version is a nice addition, it comes with a $200 premium and is exclusively available on Verizon. Moreover, the current state of 5G coverage means peak speeds are not always accessible, rendering the upgrade somewhat unnecessary. Unless you live in a remote area, the standard Wi-Fi-only model is likely sufficient for most users.
Let's first clarify the specs of the Edge before discussing its performance. Initially, both the Wi-Fi-only model and the 5G model were listed with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but Razer has since clarified that the Wi-Fi version actually comes with 6GB of RAM, while the 5G version does have the full 8GB. Also, while some believed that the Edge's Snapdragon G3x chip had an Adreno 730 GPU, it actually features an Adreno 660 graphics processor. As a result, the Razer Edge's performance may not be as robust as you had anticipated, and this is reflected in real-world testing.
For example, in Geekbench 5, the Edge scored a multicore result of 3,410, compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's score of 4,921. In 3DMark's Wild Life Extreme test, the gap was even wider, with the Edge scoring 1,424 versus the Samsung's score of 3,809. This means that the Edge's performance is similar to that of a high-end phone from 2022, which is decent but not particularly remarkable (although it is more powerful than the Logitech G Cloud).
However, if you are streaming games from the cloud, local performance becomes less important, and the Edge is more than capable of delivering smooth and seamless gameplay for titles on GeForce Now and Xbox Live. In addition, I did not encounter any major issues when playing Android games like Genshin Impact.
Battery life
In terms of battery life, the Edge has a clear advantage over other more powerful handheld PCs. It lasted for over 15 hours on our local video test. However, when gaming, the battery life drops down to about seven or eight hours, and even less if you're using cellular data. Despite this, it's still significantly longer than the Steam Deck, which typically runs out of battery after three or four hours.
One quirk with the Edge is that pass-through charging via USB-C using the Kishi V2 Pro is actually slower than plugging a cable directly into the device. Testing with a USB power meter showed that charging speeds when connected directly to the included 45-watt power brick top out at around 25 watts, but when using the pass-through charging on the Kishi V2 Pro, speeds drop down to around 15 watts. While this might not make a huge difference for overnight charging, it can be frustrating if you need to recharge the device quickly and have to disassemble the Edge's components. However, if you have a power adapter that can supply up to 65 watts, the Edge can handle it.
Wrap-up
Let's return to the initial question: Is the Razer Edge worth buying? With a starting price of $400 for the Wi-Fi model, you get a device that offers similar performance to a flagship phone from last year, plus an included controller add-on, making it a decent value proposition. Additionally, the Edge has active cooling to maintain thermals, and the Nexus app from Razer makes it easy to play both touchscreen-only apps and more resource-intensive games from the cloud.
However, the Edge is essentially a bulky phone with an accessory that can be purchased separately for $100. Moreover, if you remove the slab, you can opt for an Android or iOS version of the Kishi V2. If you have a fairly recent phone with good performance, it is probably more sensible to take that route. You would still benefit from having a dedicated gamepad while also having fewer devices to manage and carry around. Alternatively, you could spend the same $400 on a Steam Deck, which is a slightly larger device but has the ability to stream games from the cloud and play AAA games using local hardware.
In summary, the Razer Edge could be a decent option if you have an older phone and don't plan on upgrading soon or if you need a device with a fast cellular connection for gaming on the go. It also presents an interesting value proposition as a dedicated gaming device separate from your main phone. However, for those looking to reduce the number of gadgets they have, or who have a relatively recent phone with good performance, the Edge may not be necessary. While the device can handle tasks like emulation, the Steam Deck is better at it, and for cloud gaming, most modern gadgets can handle it regardless of specs. While the Razer Edge is a passable first attempt, there's room for improvement as devices like this continue to evolve with the growing popularity of cloud gaming.