Portable gaming has been getting more accessible and more powerful in the last few years. From PC gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally to retro gaming handhelds like the Miyoo Mini Plus, there has never been such a wealth of capable options to choose from. The Razer Edge is one such gaming handheld that was poorly received at launch but offers great value today.
If you have been looking to get into handheld gaming and the Razer Edge has caught your eye, here’s my review of the Razer Edge WiFi model and the Razer Kishi V Pro it comes bundled with.
Table of Contents
What is the Razer Edge?
The Razer Edge is Razer’s attempt at tapping the growing handheld market with a premium product. Remove all the marketing jargon, and the Edge is essentially an Android 12-based tablet with a detachable controller.
Razer Edge Specifications
- Display: 6.8-inch 2400×1080 144Hz AMOLED Display
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1
- RAM: 6GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 128 GB internal storage; up to 2 TB expandable storage (microSD)
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.2, USB C, 3.5 mm headphone jack on controller
Looking at the specs, the main highlights of the Razer Edge will be the AMOLED display and the gaming-focused Snapdragon processor. You should also pay attention to the connectivity options available on the Edge, as these will be important for future expansions, emulation capability, and game streaming. I’ll break down all of these in the review.
How does the Razer Edge feel?
While the Razer Edge is marketed as a complete gaming handheld, in reality it is more like a bundle featuring two components. One is the tablet and the other is the detachable controller. I’ll review both separately, as well as the software, and conclude the section with how it all comes together as a package.
Razer Edge Tablet
At first glance, the Razer Edge will look and feel less like a tablet and more like a modern smartphone. The Edge is best described as a wide rectangle, with flat sides and a flat display. The front of the device is a single glass unit, while the sides feel like aluminium. The rear of the device is made of plastic and features six vents for cooling.
While the Razer Edge appears larger than today’s smartphones, it features a 6.8-inch display that is the same size as my OnePlus 12. The rest of the front features substantial bezels around the display that could have been used better for a slightly larger display. I’ll talk about how this display performs in a later section.
The Edge is also thicker than most smartphones and this is for good reason. Internally, the Edge has a 5,000 mAh battery as well as a tiny fan for active cooling while the tablet is being used. The Razer Edge has a reassuring heft to it and feels well put together. The rounded corners also make it fairly comfortable to hold in the hand.
Razer Kishi V2 Pro
The second part of the Razer Edge gaming package is the Razer Kishi V2 Pro. The controller features an Xbox-style layout with short analog sticks, clicky buttons, and analog triggers. The Kishi controller also features a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB C port that supports pass-through charging. The rear of the controller has a slight contoured bump that is textured to improve the ergonomics.
Having owned and used multiple controllers over the years, I can say that the Kishi V2 Pro feels very good in the hand. When attached with the Edge, there is no flex in the controller, and it feels comfortable to hold for long game sessions.
If you are coming from something like an Xbox controller, you will definitely notice the clicky sound of all the buttons on this controller. I personally quite like that the buttons make an audible sound as it indicates that my input has been physically registered. The analog triggers have a comfortable resistance to them, making them great for quick-fire inputs in shooters as well as precise inputs in racing games.
I was apprehensive about the short analog sticks, with the shorter range of motion these types of sticks offer being something I don’t prefer. After using them for a week, I can say that my apprehension was partially correct. The range of motion is extremely short, which makes it unsuitable for precise aiming without tweaking the sensitivity settings. However, the analog sticks were accurate and did not reduce my gaming experience in games like Clair Obscura: Expedition 33, Sifu, Circuit Superstars, and Absolute Drift.
Razer Edge Software
Whenever there is a gaming-focused device, every brand has a tendency to throw in their bloatware software. For the most part, Razer avoids this. The Razer Edge comes with stock Android 12 and the only Razer app is the Razer Nexus app that acts as a launcher for games.
Apart from this, the edge also comes with these preinstalled apps:
- Steam Link
- GeForce Now
- Parsec
- THX Spatial Audio
All of these apps cannot be uninstalled but can be disabled. I’m happy that Razer has chosen to keep the Edge as close to stock as possible, giving the user the option to customize the device as they like.
Razer Edge Complete Experience
Once you put all of these components together, the Razer Edge comes across as a very well-built, premium gaming handheld device. The combined 401g weight of the controller and tablet is well-balanced in my hand and has been perfect for long gaming sessions. The tablet itself does not get extremely hot thanks to the fan keeping temps under control and the ergonomics of the controller does keep your fingers away from the tablet.
Using the controller to navigate the interface also feels natural and there have been very few instances where I found myself using the touchscreen to navigate (some PS Vita games want you to get touchy).
Overall, I came away fairly impressed with the Razer Edge and Kishi V2 Pro as a combined package. It reminded me of my PSP, just upgraded for modern gaming.
How does the Razer Edge perform?
With the Razer Edge winning me over with its design, it’s now time to discuss how this device performs. On paper, the Razer Edge has all the right ingredients and for the most part, delivers on its promise.
Razer Edge Display Performance
The 6.8-inch AMOLED display on the Razer Edge is an amazing unit. On first launch, the homescreen hits you with vibrant colours, highlighting the potential of the display. Since the display has a 2400 x 1080 resolution, it offers a near ultrawide experience, with a 20:9 aspect ratio. For reference, an ultrawide monitor has a 21:9 aspect ratio. While retro games may not be able to take complete advantage of the screen real estate, Android and streamed games are immersive experiences on this display.
Playing Dead Cells on the Razer Edge was a visual treat. The vibrant colours and high refresh rate work together to visually engage you. The high refresh rate also helps emulated games feel smooth to play. Razer has really done well to include a good display for the Edge and it has become one of the main reasons I choose to play any controller-enabled game on the Edge.
Razer Edge Android Gaming Performance
On paper, the Razer Edge’s hardware should be able to play everything that is available to download on the Play Store. Unfortunately, that has not been the case due to one limitation: the RAM.
The 6 GB of onboard RAM is enough for the majority of games on the Play Store. However, it doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for more demanding games like Honkai Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero. In both cases, I couldn’t go beyond the start screen.
In terms of other games, the gameplay is smooth and if the game has controller support, you’re going to get the handheld gaming experience you’re looking for. I would personally not recommend using this device without the controller attached as it tends to get very hot when it’s running Android games.
Battery life is also where I would expect a device like this to perform. While playing Metalstorm for 4 hours, the battery decreased by 30-40%. Here battery life will be dependent on the brightness as well as the in-game graphics settings you choose.
Razer Edge Emulation Performance
If you’re looking to only use this device as an emulation device, I have very good news for you. This device is amazing for everything from Game Boy to PlayStation 2 emulation. Th RAM limitation will hurt if you plan on emulating Nintendo Switch games, so it’s best to look at a different device if that is what you want to emulate.
The lower power requirements of emulation also mean you can use the Razer Edge without the Kishi controller. Then again, why would you? All popular emulation software supports a controller and the Razer Edge with the Kishi attached delivers an immersive experience without issue. If you have been looking for a device that feels good in the hand and can emulate just about everything, look no further than the Razer Edge.
Razer Edge Game Streaming Performance
Game streaming is the major reason I considered the Razer Edge. Having streamed games from my PC to my Galaxy Tab, I had everything ready to go. All you have to setup is Artemis and Apollo on your devices and you’re ready to stream.
All games will be rendered in a widescreen aspect ratio at 1080p. If you have a decently specced PC, you can easily use higher graphics settings for more visual eye candy without sacrificing performance. While Razer Edge can output 120 FPS, I would recommend limiting to 60 FPS to smoothly stream your games with low latency over WiFi.
Speaking of latency, your internet connection will be the influencing factor here. My setup uses a 5 GHz WiFi connection to stream without any major issues. At 2.4 GHz, there is greater latency as well as connection instability, which will ruin your gaming experience.
How much does the Razer Edge cost?
At the time of writing, the Razer Edge is retailing for ₹27,999 on Amazon. At that price, I would not recommend buying it, considering you can get a lot more performance and capability by paying ₹12,000 more for the ROG Ally.
I purchased my unit during one of Amazon’s sales for ₹22,000 (with bank discounts on EMI). While on the higher side, the Razer Edge makes more sense at this price if you are looking for a premium emulation and game streaming device. The best price for the Razer Edge, where it is a no-brainer would be just under ₹20,000, bringing it closer to the other handheld devices from Anbernic and Retroid Pocket.
Should you buy the Razer Edge in 2025?
Buying the Razer Edge will come down to your own personal gaming needs. I will be upfront in saying that this device is not for everyone and will need to be justified before purchasing.
At the same price point, there are new smartphones being released that are definitely more powerful than the Razer Edge. If you’re not bothered about your phone storage hosting your emulation library as well as the front camera taking some screen real estate away, you don’t need the Razer Edge. You can just get yourself a good quality controller and turn your smartphone into a handheld device. This is what I would recommend for most people.
However, if you are like me, and you prefer a dedicated device where you can store all your games while also not stressing your primary device, the Razer Edge makes a lot of sense. In the few months I have had the device, I have not played a single game on my smartphone or tablet. The Razer Edge has genuinely become my secondary gaming device when I want to relax more and not be restricted to my PC. If that sounds like you, then the Razer Edge is a must buy.
