Steam Deck has another competitor on the way, with Razer and Verizon revealing a new gaming handheld in the works. The device promises an interesting feature that the Steam Deck lacks, which may be enough to draw players' attention.
There's no doubt that the Steam Deck took the gaming world by storm, as players were waiting up to a year for their pre-ordered units to arrive. The demand greatly outweighed the supply despite Valve taking steps to avoid hoarding pre-orders, and it seems that other companies have taken note of the success.
While there are several gaming handhelds in the works or that have seen release that can potentially compete with the Steam Deck, the newest among them is the Razer Edge 5G. As the name implies, this particular gaming handheld is unique because it has full access to Verizon's 5G mobile network. Instead of having to use the unit at home via a wi-fi or direct internet connection, like with the Steam Deck, this one can be taken on the go and can access the internet directly.
The new Razer Edge 5G is promoted as being able to play games stored on the unit, streamed from the cloud, or from a game console. The device is equipped with the Snapdragon® G3X Gen 1 Gaming Platform, but further information regarding the specs of the unit haven't been revealed just yet. Razer will provide a full reveal of the unit, including its prices and capabilities at RazerCon, which is being held on October 15.
Handheld gaming was extremely popular for many years, but as consoles became more powerful, the distance between handhelds and consoles or gaming PCs began to widen. However, once the Nintendo Switch came along, it became clear that a portable gaming experience providing excellent graphics and gameplay was becoming a possibility. Although the Switch lacks certain capabilities in comparison to its competing consoles, the Steam Deck has taken the handheld concept one step further, providing a PC-like experience for gamers on the go.
While the Steam Deck does have a decent amount of storage built-in and has the capability to expand it further, the possibility of streaming games on the go with the Razer Edge 5G is likely a big draw for potential buyers. Although this sort of connection is possible by tethering a device to one's mobile phone internet connection, it's easier to have it all in one unit and without depleting the battery of both a phone and a handheld gaming system. However, it remains to be seen if the Razer Edge 5G can compete with the Steam Deck's existing popularity and relatively affordable price point.
Source: Verizon