Razer has unveiled an Android gaming tablet with a serious amount of power. Let's take a look.
Razer has officially unveiled the Razer Edge, their new Android gaming handheld in collaboration with Verizon. It is a handheld that is all about delivering the very highest gaming performance possible on an Android device, backed up by the new Snapdragon G3x Gen 1.
To make the most of that performance, the Razer Edge has a 6.8" 144Hz AMOLED display and the Kishi V2 controller that can be taken off the device, allowing players to easily switch between using the controller or the 244Hz touchscreen display.
The device will support games installed locally and streamed via cloud gaming services such as Xbox Games Pass, which combined will offer a huge library of games from the jump. And unlike the Logitech G Cloud, the Razer Edge will have a 5G model, meaning you can truly take your gaming on the road.
It is certainly an interesting proposition, and if you are curious to know more, you can check out all the details below.
Razer Edge - Release Date
Razer expects to start shipping devices in Q1 2023, with interested gamers now able to reserve their device from the Razer store.
Unfortunately, at launch, the Razer Edge and Razer Edge 5G will only be available in the United States.
What is not yet clear is if that will change in the future. The Raze Edge does not have a SIM-card slot, so even though the device is in collaboration with Verizon, that only really makes sense when considering the Razer Edge 5G, which will be tied to the carrier, at least initially, due to the fact that the SIM-card is embedded.
The details of the deal between Razer and Verizon aren't publically available, and it may be that the deal guarantees exclusivity with Verizon and the US market until a later date when it will then be available in more regions and on other carriers not based in the US.
However, that's all conjecture; all we can say just now is that if you are outside the US, you're out of luck.
Razer Edge - Price / Model Comparison
The Razer Edge comes in two models, the Razer Edge Wi-Fi and the Razer Edge 5G, the latter of which obviously supports 5G through its embedded SIM card. The 5G also supports Boomcloud360 audio instead of the THNX Spatial Audio found in the other model.
There is also the Razer Edge Founders Edition, which is the Razer Edge Wi-Fi bundled with the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless headphones.
The Razer Edge Wi-Fi comes in at USD 399.99, the Founders Edition at USD 499.99, and the Razer Edge 5G pricing has not yet been announced.
The 5G edition will also have network costs, and it may well be the device's initial price is cheaper but with an incurring monthly cost for data.
Razer Edge Wi-Fi | Razer Edge 5G | |
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 (3 GHz Kryo CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1
(3 GHz Kryo CPU) |
Screen | 6.8" FHD+ (2400x1080) AMOLED 144Hz | 6.8" FHD+ (2400x1080) AMOLED 144Hz |
RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 | 8GB LPDDR5 |
Internal Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1) | 128GB (UFS 3.1) |
External Memory Support | MicroSD (Up to 2TB) | MicroSD (Up to 2TB) |
Audio | 2-way speakers with 2 digital microphones THX Spatial Audio | 2-way speakers with 2 digital microphones Boomcloud360 |
Camera | Front-facing: 5MP, 1080p @60fps | Front-facing: 5MP, 1080p @60fps |
Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6EBluetooth 5.2USB Type C3.5mm Headphone Jack (via controller) | Wi-Fi 6E5G with Embedded-SIM (eSIM)Bluetooth 5.2USB Type C3.5mm Headphone Jack (via controller) |
Antenna | - | Sub 6 mmWave |
Bands | - | LTE, UMTS, Global LTE, LTE Cat 22 |
Dimensions | 260 x 85 x 11 mm | 260 x 85 x 11 mm |
Weight | 264 g (tablet only)401 g (with controller attached) | 264 g (tablet only)401 g (with controller attached) |
Controller | Powered via USB-C 2 analog sticks 8 buttons 1 D-pad 2 triggers 2 bumpers 2 programmable buttons Razer HyperSense haptics | Powered via USB-C2 analog sticks8 buttons1 D-pad2 triggers2 bumpers2 programmable buttonsRazer HyperSense haptics |
Both devices come installed with Razer Nexus, an Android dashboard designed for gamers. Players can launch games, stream, or capture gameplay at the touch of a button.
Is The Razer Edge Worth It?
It is certainly a better proposition than the Logitech G Cloud - that is, if you opt for the 5G model.
That's because the Wi-Fi-only model is just too limited, especially at USD 399.99, which is the same price as the base model of the rival Steam Deck.
However, with serious power under the hood, a fantastic controller, and a vast library of games, the Razer Edge 5G looks like a great device.
Even when only considering the games available through Android, such a device surely has a place in the market.
First-person shooters like Apex Legends Mobile and the soon-to-be-released Warzone Mobile will surely be a joy to play on this device, and being able to take such a game-focused 5G-connected device on the go is an enticing proposition.
Then if you do make the most out of the cloud gaming potential, you can access the growing catalog of titles available on Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia Geforce NOW. This gives the device a pretty long shelf-life compared to a handheld that is more strictly limited by its own hardware.
We just hope that it will soon be available outside the US...