Razer finally showed off its Edge, its portable Android gaming console. The good news: it looks much better than the last time we saw it in December 2021. The Edge will release a Wi-Fi-only version in January 2023 for $399.99, followed by a 5G version via Verizon in early 2023. It will support the carrier’s ultra-wideband 5G network. Razer has adopted a pre-order model similar to Steam Deck, where people only have to pay $5 to participate.
Razer wants to build a device for cloud game streaming via Xbox cloud gaming or NVIDIA GeForce Now. Razer says the Edge supports up to 144 frames per second through the Steam Link app when streaming PC games locally. The Edge runs on Android 12 and is powered by Qualcomm’s G3X Gen 1 chipset, but it’s not an all-in-one handheld like the concept shown off a few months ago (like Logitech’s G Cloud Gaming Pocket PC is), but a 6.8-inch tablet that can be detached from its controller. That controller, by the way, is a more feature-rich version of the Kishi V2 Pro, including extras like haptics and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The gamepad won’t be sold separately for now, it’s currently only available with the Edge.
Pictured are a few angles of Razer’s Edge gaming tablet. One shows what its top looks like without a controller attached, the power and volume buttons, and what it looks like with a Kishi V2 controller attached from the bottom.
This tablet component stands out for its specs, with its 6.8-inch FHD Plus (2400 x 1,080) OLED screen supporting a 144Hz refresh rate. Along with the G3x Gen 1 chipset, which Qualcomm calls a “gaming platform,” there’s 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, along with 128GB of storage. Bluetooth 5.2 is supported for connecting headphones, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity is also available, making it compatible with some of the fastest routers out there, like Google’s Nest Wifi Pro, Eero’s Pro 6E, and more.
The Edge has a front-facing camera so you can record and stream on Twitch or join a Zoom call while gaming. As for battery life, Razer shared that the Edge will have a 5000mAh battery.
An image shows two Razer Edge tablets. One is shown from the back without the Kishi V2 Pro attached, and the other is shown from the back when nested to the Kishi V2 Pro controller it contains.
While the Edge isn’t the first of its kind, it might stand out at $399.99, which is only $50 more than Logitech’s G Cloud gaming handheld, which has lower specs.
The Edge with Wi-Fi will be available through Razer’s website and the RazerStore, while the Edge 5G will be available exclusively through Verizon.
