The Razer Edge is a handheld gaming device that consists of an Android tablet with a 6.8 inch display and a detachable controller that fits onto the sides when you need it, but which can be removed when you don’t.

First announced last fall, the Razer Edge will go on sale later this month. Razer says you’ll be able to pick up a WiFi-only model from its web store for $400, and Verizon will offer a 5G model for $360 (or $10 per month for 36 months) to customers who add a new line to their account or $600 to those who don’t.

While the Razer Edge is hardly the first Android-based game console, it stands out in a few ways.

The Logitech G Cloud, for example, was designed first and foremost as a cloud gaming device. So it ships with a mid-range processor. The Razer Edge, meanwhile, is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3X Gen 1 chip which was meant for gaming devices. While the chip is more than a year old at this point, the Razer Edge will be the first commercial product that I’m aware of to use it.

And unlike most Android phones, the Razer Edge has a fan for active cooling, which could help with performance during extended gaming sessions.

It also ships with Razer’s new Kishi V2 Pro detachable game controller, which has analog triggers, microswitch buttons, haptic feedback, and a 3.5mm audio passthrough port.

That said, while the hardware itself well may be worth $400, it remains to be seen how much demand there is for a dedicated handheld gaming device that ships with Android but doesn’t make phone calls. This isn’t a console that can replace your phone… and that makes me wonder if some folks wouldn’t prefer to just buy a controller and slap it on their existing phone to save $300 or so.

Here’s a run-down of some key specs for the Razer Edge:

Razer Edge / Edge 5G specs
Display6.8 inches
2400 x 1080 pixels
AMOLED
Up to 144 Hz
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1
RAM8GB
LPDDR5
Storage128GB UFS 3.1
Battery5,000 mAh
ConnectivityWiFi 6E
Bluetooth 5.2
5G model: mmWave and sub-6GHz, 4G LTE Cat 22
Ports1 x USB Type-C
1 x microSD card reader (up to 2TB)
1 x SIM card slot
Audio2 x speakers
2 x digital mics
1 x 3.5mm audio jack (in Razer Kishi v2 controller)
Camera5MP front-facing (1080p/60fps)
SoftwareAndroid 12
Dimensions260 x 85 x 11mm
Weight264 grams (tablet)
401 grams (tablet + controller)
Pricing/availability$400 / January 26 (WiFi model)
$360 – $600 / January 26 (Verizon 5G)

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11 replies on “Razer Edge handheld game consoles launch Jan 26 for $399 and up”

  2. The only thing I don’t like about this product is the fact that the controller is removable. Why would someone want to remove the controller? It’s not like you would use this as a Phone, and it’s not big enough to act like a tablet.

    It just looks flimsy, cheap, and it doesn’t even look like it was designed for this device. The appearance doesn’t give me confidence that I could safely put it in a backpack without risking damaging the flimsy controller.

    Maybe if I had the chance to handle it, I could be convinced otherwise. I’m looking forward to some video reviews to show how durable it is.

    I’m on the verge of buying an Android gaming device, like the AYN Odin, mostly to play Gamecube and PS2 games. This Razer Edge has much better specs, but I’m just not into the idea of the removable controller.

    1. Razer is selling the controller separately for use with other phones.
      Seeing the 50% price increase for being stuck using Verizon for mobile data honestly makes me think Razer is making the thing-that-should-be-a-Razer-Phone-III-but-isn’t just to get itself publicity for the controller that it wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

      1. Oh I didn’t realize that this was the exact same controller as the one they were already selling. I was hoping it was a variant that used a physical connection, like pogo-pins or something.

        I’m not interested in a Bluetooth controller, or a detachable one. The AYN Odin is going to get my money.

    2. I didn’t notice this at first, but they’re using a 20:9 aspect ratio for the display, and it has rounded corners (yuck).

      That makes the decision easy for me, I won’t buy this. 16:9 is the widest screen I’d buy for portable gaming.

  3. I already use thr razer handheld with my samsung phone it works great. Used to use it with stadia. Now i use it with geforcenow. Wonder if this gaming system will have its own library or if we will have to use apps like those

    1. It’s Android. It doesn’t need its own game library, it has the whole Play Store.

        1. IIRC Verizon isn’t allowed to lock 4G/LTE access due to the amount of spectrum the FCC let them buy.

          They can definitely lock mmwave/UWB access.

          I’m not sure about 5G low band or C-bands.

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