Razer Edge review: A nifty option for gaming on the go, but do you really need it?

Based on a two-piece design including a detachable gamepad, the Razer Edge is a portable gaming handheld meant to play both traditional Android games and titles from cloud services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce now. Featuring a Snapdragon G3x chip, the Edge has solid performance similar to that of a flagship Android phone from 2022. Meanwhile, Razer’s virtual control remapping function makes it possible to play touchscreen games on a controller, which can come in handy for games like Genshin Impact that don’t have native controller support. All told, the Edge offers an interesting twist on traditional gaming handhelds, and starting at $400, it's a good value too. The one downside is that anyone with a relatively recent smartphone can get nearly the same experience by buying a Razer Kishi V2 and attaching it to their handset on their own.
Pros: Relatively affordable, Bright 144Hz OLED screen, Has active cooling, Passthrough charging and 3.5mm audio, Includes a MicroSD card slot for expandable storage.
Cons: 5G model is expensive and only works on Verizon, Chunky bezels, Somewhat awkward aspect ratio.
Engadget Score: 71
Read our full review of Razer Edge here: www.engadget.com/razer-edge-r...
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[@Fondleburg]

Thank you for helping me decide to hold off on getting this.

[@busterhoodstar6598]

I just bought the 256g Steam Deck. I already have every console and a Switch. I haven't scratched the surface of my Nintendo library and I really couldn't justify the need for a Steam Deck. But after holding the Deck in my hands and playing with it and I'm glad I did.

[@meric12131415]

Cool happy to hear that you're enjoying your new deck any games in particular you play

[@busterhoodstar6598]

@The Gadget Guru Yes. Unlike most Steam Deck owners who fill up their memory and cards with a bunch of titles, I decided to go a different route. Money isn't an issue. I bought Mad Max and promised myself for once that I'd complete the game before getting another. It's a little redundant but still pretty enjoyable. I'm thinking Tomb Raider next. These are games that I haven't played and have been out for a while. Unlike the newer titles that people are trying to get to run on the Steam Deck, I figure these older titles will run pretty smooth.

[@meric12131415]

@@busterhoodstar6598 🤣 oh man they definitely run way better on deck and it's portable I mean I have on mine 256 by the way sonic adventure DX directors cut one of my all time childhood favourites vanquish and binary domain

[@meh-87]

I got a Kishi used for $25.. Perfect for occasional trips or to bring when I know I'm going to be waiting around. This seems excessively priced.

[@NeoConker626]

The $300 is the tablet. The controller is $100, which is what one costs standalone and I think what the Kishi originally was at retail too. Yea if you wait a couple yrs and get one used it'll be cheaper. But if you don't want the tablet core (if you have a newer phone for example) you can just get the Kishi 2 on its own. Or a used Kishi 1. Or the Gamevice Flex, which is actually more the real successor to the Kishi 1 lol (the company that made the Kishi for them went on to update it under their brand while the Kishi 2 is a different design)

[@meric12131415]

Agreed I think just slapping my phone on a Kishi is much more cost effective than the edge itself

[@Gaurav-cy5lu]

We need a ARM based handheld pc which can run steamdeck os. And increase game compatibility with arm64.

[@mendellalvarado4285]

Great video, Sam! One of your best. 👍

[@IAMSUPREME22]

"Relatively low starting price of $399.." EXCUSE ME

[@NizarElZarif]

considering the hardware inside (sceen, monitor, controller, Processor ....), the price isn't bad. But the problem is a device like this isn't really needed. There are very few little Android games that can take advantage of the hardware or even worth playing. The idea of cloud gaming is that you can play on any device. With steam deck at 400$ it is hard to consider anything else beside Nintendo switch for exclusives.

[@bluex610]

Counting inflation, this would be like $320 in 2018. Not bad really...

[@meric12131415]

🤣 I know right

[@NecroAsphyxia]

Hard to justify this when the Steam deck exists...

[@jeffery8168]

@@NecroAsphyxia Just wish the sd had a high refresh rate screen, maybe in the steam deck 2, which will prob come for another 5 years

[@jaughnekow]

Cloud gaming only works in regions with a good and affordable internet connection and I don't think there's a lot of those.

[@yensteel]

When I visited Singapore, I tried out GeForce now there. It works as expected with low latency but some blockiness. But there are so few games that I cancelled within a week. Cloud gaming could have worked, but it needs a lot of users and quality internet to make it take off. Even google gave up.

[@ronnie2686]

I like that this guy is honest in review

[@geancarloloiolacavalheiro2525]

Thanks for the information

[@sanoska206]

We want a deck competitor, not a phone with control attached to it. Who thought this is a good idea to sell? Just buy a deck!

[@michaelharville886]

The deck won't fit in your pocket though.

[@josem.garibay5478]

@@michaelharville886 neither does this 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@hollywoodguy70]

Why buy a Deck if you already have a tablet and a GFN sub?

[@sanoska206]

@@hollywoodguy70 tablets doesn’t play aaa games.

[@michaelharville886]

@@josem.garibay5478 The Edge tablet fits in my pocket, and the Kishi V2 fits in my pocket.

[@joedavenport934]

Sounds like I'm better off using my S22 Ultra with a gamepad. This is really dumb. I'd wait for Gen 2.

[@DironMc]

Agreed 👍. They should've just make Razer Phone 3

[@jeffery8168]

personally i dont think it makes sense unless it runs windows or linux so u can run steam games with proton

[@AnTran147]

It's an Android gaming handheld, not specifically a cloud gaming handheld like the G Cloud is.

[@justinheuser5676]

Idk whats up with your geekbench score, but mine scored quite a bit higher. The adreno 660 is just fine. Every emulator i run, from nes to ps2, 75% of the games can be ran at 2-10x!!!

[@TechShadow91]

Sorry if I don't understand but what's the difference between this & just getting the normal version and putting your phone in it

[@mattreynolds5122]

I have a razr kishi v2 my only issue with it is the short ass thumbsticks

[@ceesparxxx]

I have never really been into mobile games or computer games. But that being said........what's the holdup on a New Nintendo Switch console?? It's been out for like 6 years now!! Time for an upgrade soon...... Hopefully!

[@yensteel]

Imagine their gross margin with lower spec hardware (Really well designed) and high game prices. They never liked to update their hardware frequently due to fragmentation but you're right, it's been a while. Some quality of life upgrades would be nice.

[@sicfxmusic]

Feeling nostalgic looking at those 2010 bezels 🤣🤣

[@Best-mx2of]

If someone buys it then they need it. Or at the very least, wants it.

[@FahdRiyami]

2:38 DO NOT plug it in that way lol. Plug it in from the non-USB side first, then slide it into the USB-C port. That way you're not plugging it in at an angle, which is bad for both ends of the connector. 4:34 You need to change the resolution in-game to match the aspect ratio of the Edge, it takes less than 10 seconds.

[@hectorgarciamtz]

Backbone seems like a better choice.

[@PreacH0921]

Why would you not just buy a kishi for your phone?

[@vitali2127]

I am living in SE Asia and none of the streaming services are available here, so I would need something like a steam deck. This is just like a phone

[@dead_pixel_]

Anyone tell me the game at 2:57 ,thanks

[@basefree123]

A steam deck at the same price really is a no brainer if you want gaming on the go

[@jeffery8168]

agreed, but i suppose this is more for people who want a smaller device and only play android games

[@trollerbladdering]

I heavily considered in buying one of these to have as alternative to throw in my bag over my steam deck, and no matter which way I slice it, this just feel slike it would be a waste of money that could be dumped into expanding my steam library.

[@jeffery8168]

yeah, i thought of it as a alternative if you wanted a smaller device to play smaller titles, but if you had an old android or ios device, you can always just buy a kieshi and play with that. I bought a steam deck, but also have a kieshi, and I havent touched the kieshi in over a year

[@trollerbladdering]

My daily phone is a Pixel 7 Pro, 512GB. More than once have I purchased a game on the Google Play Store, like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, KOTOR, thinking "Oh, I could definitely play this again. I loved this game." But, I don't play it. I would just end up playing it on my Steam Deck, or now I would play it on the ROG Ally. @@jeffery8168

[@tusharrajvansh1709]

Does anyone else remember razer phone ?? It’s like they suddenly remembered that they used to make smartphones and they can modify it’s body, attach a kishi controller and call it a day 😂😂

[@yensteel]

Oh man, I still remember that phone. There were just 2 versions, one in 2017 and the other in 2018. Then they... As you've said... Forgot. Well more like cancelled. A bunch of other gaming focused phones are still around and it's still a competing market (I'm not sure who the main audience are though. Teens still want a phone with good cameras and you can cool the phone with a metal case).

[@sicfxmusic]

Razor or RAZR or Razer?

[@tusharrajvansh1709]

@@Engadget1_Inbox 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Finally … I thought I would never get a chance but finally

[@DironMc]

They should've just make Razer phone 3 instead of this piece of shiet

[@luisgranados2545]

The razed flip phone is the reason Samsung has the Samsung flip phone they did the whole flip phone smartphone thing but they wanted $1500 for it and exclusively at verizon I never sold one lol and I work at verizon they are remaking the razer 2 but with the flip 5 dropping yesterday it’s probably going be behind it and more expensive

[@bullseye0419]

Guys, wake up. It's an Android phone with a controller.

[@texasboyz713]

Should of had another type c for docking

[@yensteel]

It's nice to see Parsec supported on this device! If you have wifi 6/6E or some insanely good internet on Wan and 5G, you could stream your PC games quite fluidly. A normal PC or phone would work just as fine with Parsec though. A steam deck, although heavier, would be more versatile. People have run Parsec on their raspberry pi too!

[@deantzu]

Do you mind if i ask what exactly is parsec?

[@yensteel]

@@deantzu Sorry for eh late reply! Parsec is a free remote desktop software designed for gaming. it's like Steam Link but universal. So you can play whatever games on your main PC you want as long as you've got a good connection like wifi 6. It also has 360 and PS4 controller emulation support as well. I use it a lot both for working remotely and gaming. It's very responsive. The client can be run on windows, android, and Linux. (no iOS), and with virtual networking like zero tier, you don't have to be in the same lan network either.

[@gheorghilassilviu]

Parsec is good, yeah, but I personally prefer Moonlight. It's much better in my opinion

[@yensteel]

@@gheorghilassilviu To be honest, I switched to moonlight/sunshine and tailscale over the summer for gaming. The comment is outdated. The biggest reason is fluidity. Parsec is still superior in terms of remote desktop usage.

[@gheorghilassilviu]

@@yensteel Yeah I can understand where you're coming from. Still for normal usage i still use moonlight having to stream the mstsc and I have the entire desktop not just games

[@stryq69]

my gaming phone has a better cpu than the razer edge. should I just get a razer kishi and use it on my phone?

[@meric12131415]

This kinda reminds me of the kindle

[@thehumanracesucks1017]

I ordered the 5g model... I have a steam deck, I have an s22 ultra, I have a switch & switch oled... I have the asus z13 flow w/ 3080 xg mobile dock.... I don't need this. But I love tech, this looks different from the others. The screen is the big thing... most games won't need more than 60. But oled 144hz.. sign me up. Ilike the kishi g1, new grip looks great. I'm hoping to sell the steam deck and use this. The z13+xg mobile kick the dog out of the switch (emulates switch better) and runs laps around the steam deck. The z13 flow with the dock is better than my nice desktop... so I'm excited to drop the steam deck and replace it with something a little more casual and mobile. With GeForce now upgrades to the 4080 and the better 5g support in my state. I'm excited ti just have this to use at lunch or at dull moments at work and not cause much ruckus.... the steam deck and switch are to big to be causal and no draw and eye. But this, I feel like I could use this in touch and not burn my phone battery or tie up my phone when I have calls. And that screen... ever video I see hates on this thing, but it looks like a "luxury" device that fills a roll for a more casual luxury experience when you have the supporting services and hardware.

[@zerocal76]

Dang bro I thought I had too many devices and I see your lineup. You need to dedicate an entire desk to store those to just grab and go 😁

[@thehumanracesucks1017]

@@zerocal76 it's only expanded since i posted lol. While it is a great device, i dont use it much since i got a i9 + 4090 rig. Im glued to that. lol

[@bluex610]

They need to make a kishi v3 where you can fold the controllers up so it can remain a small profile when not in use. I hate that it's profile is so unnecessarily big when not using it. Kishi v1 had a better way of doing it. Hopefully v3 can fix that.

[@NeoConker626]

I think this is a case of "can't please everyone." The original Kishi had an issue where the ribbon cable in the back was prone to wear, leading to failure (particularly of the left side). It was fixable but, personally I had trouble finding a reliable seller of the correct ribbon. I also noticed that after this started happening to people, a lot of people in android gaming communities would recommend people try Gamesir and Ipega controllers instead. So it doesn't shock me that Razer drew from the Backbone controller design here to address this and win back some community trust. I actually fall into this category, as I did replace my Kishi v1 with a Gamesir X2, which was durable enough but had its own weird problems (GS app is a buggy nightmare and they put the usbc port on the opposite side for some dumb reason). I ordered the Edge last night, so I'm giving Razer another go lol

[@NeoConker626]

Actually, this might be a good recommendation for you, if you want a newer controller with the old design. The Kishi v1 wasn't a unique creation from the minds of Razer. It was made in partnership with the Gamevice developers. Since Razer didn't partner with them for the second controller, Gamevice took their design and updated it under their own brand. So, you may not want a Kishi v2. You should look up the Gamevice Flex. It might be more what you're looking for.

[@bluex610]

@Ryan nice, I will definitely check out other controllers. I'm still just using a ps4 controller with a clip and it works well. But will definitely upgrade soon for something more portable.

[@TronSAHeroXYZ]

Now I know why all the multiplayer people in genshin have red bar connection. It's because of this thing poor wifi.

[@tomphann1903]

$250 on Amazon right now!!!

[@Braiseee]

"Is this a device you need." no you dont NEED any form of gaming console, you WANT it. Just because you have an interest. while you can play these games on. bigger sized tablet that has LTE with an xbox controller the size doesnt make it portable. while you can play these games on a phone ypu dont want a device that makes calls because getting a call is going to cut you out of a game. there are many areas where people dont have a proper internet connection or any internet connection and cant play modern games online or maybe need to rely on a service like xbox game pass but cant use it with out a dedicated device. the service is cheap for it as an add on with lte. you can get it down to 10 bucks or less for dedicated 5g with a hotspot. mobile games not having console controls inst the edge's fault it's the nature of mobile gaming apps. though it does have a couple of flaws its still very solid for a first run. Price point is the major flaw here.

[@themandaloriangamingnetwor4964]

Can I get my steam games on this?

[@jeffery8168]

no, it runs android, u have to use cloud gaming services to play PC games

[@AzadC]

Any 5g phone with a razer kishi controller would work just fine way cheaper option than this

[@mvevitsis]

The corners on that screen are hideous.

[@thedarkknight1971]

I've watched a load of these review videos and one thing i'm looking for that NO-ONE has touched on is... Does it support USB-HDMI (video out via USB C) capabilities??? A stand alone mobile gaming platform is one thing, but being able to go home, plug it into a USB hub (that has HDMI plugged into a TV) and then continue gaming, is another thing that makes it worth buying.... 🤔

[@JT1031]

Yup, it does have video out through USB-C

[@thedarkknight1971]

@@JT1031 Cool... WILL keep this in mind... Thanks bud! 👍. 😎🇬🇧

[@carlostrewartha5565]

AT LAST ... RAZER PHONE 3! ... oh wait...

[@metalskinn460]

Those Razer analogue sticks are just poorly placed and the dead zones are just too large. Not to mention all the problems inherent with games streaming.

[@iplz]

I'm actually interested but the bezels are disgusting

[@SP95]

Relatively low starting price of $399

[@marcojokesaround6600]

I just purchased this for $250 brand new. Do I need it? Absolutely not. Do I enjoy impulse buying, yes. Did I get it for a good price? Please make me feel less guilty. Blessings.

[@SpeedFan442]

Do y like it ( is bad or good ???

[@SpeedFan442]

Idk if I should ask my dad one or not \\ idnt have a phone I'm using a tablet so I think it would be good for me

[@marcojokesaround6600]

@@SpeedFan442 I actually haven’t opened it yet. I’m a huge nerd and waiting for my screen protector to come in. I will have an update for sure this weekend. But my heart is telling me I am going to love it.

[@SpeedFan442]

@@marcojokesaround6600 I'm also kind of a nerd and I just need a gaming phone or gaming devices

[@SpeedFan442]

@@marcojokesaround6600 I'm also kind of a nerd

[@NecroAsphyxia]

So... Why does this exist clwhen the steam deck exists?

[@jeffery8168]

oled 120hz, for people who only want to play android games, but I get your point

[@chm2]

Do I need an extra device in my life? Nope. Will just use my android phone.

[@vladdeqzira9692]

Who the hell needs fingerprint, face detection, or passwords on their gaming console? What could you possibly have to hide on a gaming device? Have people gone insane?

[@SecretSilence26]

You do realize that this is also an android tablet? So things like online banking and messaging is very much possible here...

[@NeoConker626]

​@@SecretSilence26 exactly. Like I have the Ayn Odin, and I literally use Nova launcher and have it setup as a tablet. I prioritize it for gaming (mainly emulation and streaming), but I can multi-task with it. I've got a few games I've alternated with cloud synching from playing on my Tab S6 and the Odin. Even if someone isn't banking and stuff like that, if you're downloading premium Android games to play on it (there's a fair amount of console and pc gaming ports on the Play store) its likely they will sign into Google play with their G account. Don't want any random passerby having access to your Google account if you use it to make purchases.

[@DuMamesGarage]

Its liter an android device lmfao do you know how an android tablet works?

[@jeffery8168]

thats an android thing. U can probably turn off a password or pin. But for those that do have all their accounts signed in for playstore with their credit cards, its probably a good idea to have a passcode

[@A_Faith_That_Is_Ironclad]

disadvantage of cloud gaming is when there is no internet you cant use it unless you bring like a starlink internet package with you

[@AJ670x]

Data gaming is still unreliable. You might as well wait for 6g or even 7g

[@jeffery8168]

even with 6g or 7g, theoretical speeds will be high, but speeds are highly dependant if you're in an area with cell towers and great service. U can cloud game with 5g if you have good service in your area.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen752]

This got to be one of the worst inventions of all time. Solving a problem that was never a problem. Keyword: Android games.

[@alexcrowder1673]

Yeah i dont really get it either. Seems absurdly underpowered and cant really do anything a regular phone cant already do. I got the legion go instead. I can play fallout new vegas locally with high graphics settings, even when on the 8w power saving mode lol. Its quite a beast at 8.6 teraflops vs steamdecks 1.6 teraflops. For perspective the PS5 is 10.2 teraflops, Xbox Series S is 4 teraflops, and the Xbox Series X is 12 teraflops.

[@c331hunt]

This bezels and rounded screen corners are awful

[@Mico605]

If you cant live without games anywhere you are, you have an addiction and should seek professional help. Not another gaming device.

[@Brolylover007]

This is a completely useless product. Get a gaming phone with a gamepad attachment or something. This literally doesn't make sense for any gamer imo.

[@gheorghilassilviu]

You couldn't be more right

[@CloudBlorb]

But not everyone needs powerful machines like steamdeck and not everyone ways a gaming phone because many games and normal apps quickly drawing space and excessive gaming kill the battery. So this is preety good option if you want standalone gaming devices for android. I know smartphone makes more sense but you sacrifice amount of games for apps and usability with it youtube on my phone takes up 32GB GIGABYTES of storage not counting other apps so yeah this is kinda lit

[@gheorghilassilviu]

@@CloudBlorb I understand what are you saying but imo that device was advertised to be two things and it fails in both. It's not a gaming machine (e.g. Steamdeck, ROG Ally) and it's not a phone. It's "something" but that something doesn't have a purpose. You want a gaming machine buy a steamdeck or other type of handheld, want a phone, buy a phone. The point is you can replace that Razer with almost anything and you get the job done. Attach a controller to it and you're good to go

[@arjunkaycee2517]

I think the target audience for this device is young people who can't get a phone with good specs. Maybe their cell carrier doesn't offer it. 🤔

[@jeffery8168]

if you are spending $400 after tax, why not just get a used flagship samsung phone with 120hz and then buy a used kieshi. Then again, not many people want used, and the razer device will have better performance given that its purpose built

[@maroon9273]

Razer is too weak in ram and storage compare to the steam deck/android phones.

[@luiscamacho6308]

No PS Remote Play, No Thanks

[@Phoenix56801]

Stupid device, weak performance too. Just buy a redmagic 7s or redmagic 8 for cheap with a much more powerful chip and buy a controller like a razer kishi. Much cheaper and more versatile as the phone can be used on its own

[@michaelharville886]

I bought both. I wanted a dedicated cloud gaming device. Main con of the RedMagic is supporting fewer 5g bands. Also, the UI is designed terribly for English translations.

[@CandysChannel]

Are you crazy? Those phones are like $775-1100 and impossible to get with poor credit or unlocked because of the high price. I CAN afford the edge

[@jeffery8168]

it has flagship specs, so it might make sense if you didn't want to buy another phone. redmagic 7s or 8 costs 2x without a controller, so it isn't really a great comparison

[@sgtcheater1934]

This guy mumbles alot.

[@Ray__E]

Just get a Steam Deck

[@andrewlangworthy3186]

I never comment on anything, hell this is my first time i think commenting on something. This device is pointless with the invention of the smartphone! Why the hell would someone buy this? Its a useless device!