Because phones are getting more powerful and cloud streaming is becoming more popular, mobile gaming is bigger than ever, and many companies are trying to get in on the action. Some of the biggest smartphone companies are working to make their devices good for gaming, which is enough for most people. Other companies are taking a different approach with accessories and specialty devices. Handhelds are a fast-growing market, with the Nintendo Switch kicking off the modern era in 2017 and companies like Valve following suit with the Steam Deck.
Razer Edge 5G: Description
The Razer Edge 5G, like the Logitech G Cloud, is a device that uses Android to let you stream content from the cloud and download apps from the Google Play Store. It is better than the G Cloud, though, because it has 5G capabilities that make it possible to play games anywhere. That makes it about the same as many smartphones, but it gives you a different kind of mobile gaming experience you can buy this product directly from Razer’s website.
Razer has definitely made a great device. It runs games well, is light, has a lot of features that make it easy to access your favorite services, and comes with one of the best mobile accessories, the Kishi V2 Pro controller.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great AMOLED display
- Lightweight, easy to hold
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Doesn’t overheat too much
Cons
- Expensive
- Can get a bit warm depending on the game
Razer Edge 5G: Specifications
| Screen | 5MP, 1080p at 60 FPS |
| Storage | 128GB (up to 2TB with microSD card) |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Dimensions | 10.2 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches |
| Weight | 9.3 ounces |
Razer Edge 5G: Design
From a design point of view, the Razer Edge is kind of a clever idea. Razer didn’t make a traditional video game handheld. Instead, they made a device that can be used for more than one thing and is more flexible. The Edge is basically a small tablet that comes with a Razer Kishi V2 Pro controller that can be taken off.
That makes it more like the Nintendo Switch than the Steam Deck in terms of how it works, which is the right direction for a device like this that is meant to be used on the go. The tablet unit doesn’t have a special user interface made for gaming. Instead, it just runs a regular Android OS. So, you can use it like any other Android phone or tablet and put any app on it.
Even though the Logitech Cloud G could do the same things, its size and controls that couldn’t be separated made it less useful. If I want to play Marvel Snap on Logitech’s device, I have to flip it vertically and use the touchscreen while the controls awkwardly hang on the top and bottom. With Razer Edge, I can just take off the Kishi and use the core tablet unit like a phone. This may seem like a small change, but it’s actually a big one that makes the Edge feel less limiting. It’s not just a way to play games.
Display and audio
With its 6.8-inch, FHD+ (24001080), 144Hz display, the Razer Edge offers a great experience in terms of raw specs. This is much better than both the Nintendo Switch (even the OLED model is 720p at 60Hz) and the Steam Deck, and the graphics are much sharper. This is even more true when playing an Android game or something in GeForce Now that can keep up with the higher refresh rate.
But not everything is going well. One thing is that the Razer Edge has the same 20:9 aspect ratio as most smartphones. This is great for mobile-optimized games, but most streaming services on Android only let you play in 16:9, which means the sides will be very wide.
But I only think this is a small problem. Razer also made the odd choice to round off the corners of the screen, which makes the already thick bezels even more noticeable. This isn’t noticeable when using streaming services, again because the black borders are so thick, but it does make games like PUBG Mobile look a little strange. The Razer Edge’s screen is just bright enough to use outside on a cloudy day, but not bright enough to use when it’s sunny.
Razer Edge 5G: Software
We’ve already said that the Razer Ege 5G runs a nearly stock version of Android 12, so setting it up should be easy and feel familiar. Just use your Google account to sign in, and you’re good to go. It comes with Google apps and not much else besides the Nexus app, which gives you access to Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Streaming, Steam Link, Nvidia GeForce Now, Epic Games, Google One, and Parsec. It will also suggest games on the Google Play Store to try.
The app for Nexus is a good idea. When you press the button on the Kishi controller, the app opens, where you can see all the games you’ve downloaded. But it’s simple and mostly has suggestions and not much else. But Razer has been making changes to the app. For example, earlier this year, it got the ability to change how buttons are used as touch inputs.
During my review period, pressing the Nexus button didn’t always work, but an update to version 2.0 near the end of my testing fixed many problems. Even the media capture button, which rarely worked for most of the time I used the Edge, now works reliably and saves screenshots right away to Google Photos, no matter what app I’m using. This is great because it’s almost impossible to take and share screenshots on Steam without this feature.
Razer Edge 5G: Controller
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro pad that comes with the phone is a spring-loaded pad that can be expanded. It fits perfectly into the USB-C port on the phone. When the phone is attached, the left side of the handset can be moved a little bit, so you can slide it to keep it level.
If you’re used to your Xbox controller, for example, you might find the Kishi controls a little tight, as some people have said. Mortal Kombat 11 had a few mistakes on the shoulder buttons, especially with the M1 and M2 stuck in there, which made it hard to pull off powerful combos. The Kishi V2 Pro is very easy to hold and is good for your body. There is also support for rumble, which is something that not all of these clip-on controllers have.
Razer Edge 5G: Performance
When I tried out games like Marvel Snap, I didn’t find any problems, which is what you’d expect from games that were made for mobile devices and worked well on them. But what’s really cool is how easy it is to play emulated games on it. During testing, I found that it was easy to put my GameCube files on the device and that they ran smoothly. It took less than a minute to set up the Kishi V2 Pro to work with GameCube controls, and it worked right away.
After a year of Linux problems on Steam Deck, I think this will be my dedicated emulation device of choice as long as it’s still around, especially since its screen is better than the one on Steam Deck. When it comes to cloud streaming, the Edge’s 5G capabilities are a real ace in the hole.
There is a $400 model that only works with Wi-Fi, but there is also a Verizon version of the Edge that can stream games over 5G. Even though this device is more expensive than the Wi-Fi model when bought separately, it’s a better deal if you already have a Verizon plan because you can add it to your account and pay it off like a phone. In the long run, buying the console that way will save you the most money.
Razer Edge 5G: Battery life
The battery life of your smartphone is a big selling point for the Razer Edge 5G. If you can’t play games on your phone because you know it won’t have enough power to get you home at night, this device might be the answer. Or, you could just buy an external battery pack for a fraction of the price of a Razer Edge 5G and play games on your smartphone until your heart is content.
Also, the 5,000mAh battery life of the Razer Edge 5G lets you play cloud games for about five hours. But if you use 5G, you might only get a little less than that. That’s enough for, say, a long train ride.
Final Words
I’m not going to sit here and act like this is a handheld game device that everyone needs. Many people, and probably most, will be fine with a smartphone with good hardware. Even more so at this price. But that shouldn’t stop you from getting something made just for cloud gaming.
Razer and Verizon worked together to make a great handheld gaming device. It’s also a lot of fun to use. So, for some people, the Razer Edge 5G isn’t worth the money. You have no reason to buy one if you already have a phone that can play mobile games well. And if your phone is also 5G, you already have a device that lets you play games in the cloud on your mobile internet.
FAQs
Can Razer Edge play pc games?
Streaming games can be played on the Edge, just like on your phone or tablet. I played Xbox Game Pass games that streamed from the cloud and games that I streamed locally. If you have a gaming PC, you can stream games locally with Steam Link. You can also stream games from the cloud with Nvidia GeForce Now. 08-Mar-2023
Can the Razer Edge make calls?
Since the Razer Edge is a tablet for gaming, it doesn’t have a native call function. But you can still make calls through third-party apps like Whatsapp or Discord, and you can control them through “Media Volume.”
