These days, the portable console market is heavily dominated by Nintendo Switch and its models, that’s something evident, but they are by no means alone. In fact, in recent times, several alternatives have emerged that, while not solely consoles, can be referred to as portable gaming devices. For example, there are the two featured in this post, Steam Deck and Razer Edge, and we’re going to share some of their most important differences so you can lean towards one proposal or the other.
To be precise, let’s explore several of the key differences between Steam Deck and Razer Edge, something that should help you decide between the two, if you haven’t already. Remember that both portable consoles have been available for some time now (Valve’s since early 2022 and Razer’s since this very 2023), so once you’ve made up your mind, you can go ahead and buy them without any issue.
Steam Deck vs Razer Edge
With the introductions made, we can now delve into these key differences between Steam Deck and Razer Edge that we are going to highlight right here. Before we start, it’s worth mentioning that here we will take a superficial look at their features and some of their differences that we consider relevant when choosing one or the other. However, if you want to know all the details of each one, you can access the official website of Steam Deck and Razer Edge.
Firstly, it’s true that Valve’s portable console has managed to position itself in an advantageous position compared to its competitors (excluding Nintendo Switch, which continues to lead in its own way, as always), but we can’t say that Razer Edge is anything less than a solid alternative. Both devices have screens of a very similar size (7 inches for Steam Deck and 6.8 inches for Razer), although in terms of resolution, there are more differences. Valve’s device has a resolution of 1280 x 800p, while the Razer Edge has one of 2400 x 1080p. Regarding the refresh rate of both consoles, the differences are also very notable, with Steam Deck lagging behind at 60 Hz, while Edge has 144 Hz.
As you can see, in terms of the screen, Razer Edge scores a significant point because what a portable console’s screen can offer is crucial for enjoying the best possible gaming experience. As for the battery life of both, Razer Edge also wins, although by a narrow margin. Additionally, it’s worth noting that while Edge has a 128 GB storage model, its rival comes in three models: 64 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB respectively. However, all of Valve’s models have 16 GB of RAM, whereas Razer Edge has versions with 6 GB and 8 GB of RAM. It’s a closely contested aspect, indeed.
Since we’re discussing the technical aspects, it’s necessary to mention that Valve’s portable console features an AMD APU Zen 2, while Razer Edge has the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1. Regarding operating systems, one runs SteamOS 3.0, and the other runs Android. While Razer Edge wins in terms of screen quality and smoothness during gameplay, it’s worth noting that Steam Deck remains the more powerful option.
Getting into the most exciting aspect of a gaming device, we need to talk about the compatibility of both devices. Steam Deck allows you to enjoy stores like Steam itself, obviously, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect, along with a few lesser-known stores. It also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming, so cloud gaming has its presence on the handheld. Well, all these mentioned stores can be accessed from Razer Edge, which also allows you to play mobile games since it’s compatible with the Google Play Store, given its use of Android.
Therefore, in this regard, they offer very similar experiences, but Edge wins by allowing you to enjoy many more games, no matter how mobile-oriented they are. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Steam Deck gives us the option to play on our TV as it comes with a dock, although this needs to be purchased separately, if desired, at a price of 99 euros. This interesting option is not available on the Razer device, although we understand that if you’re looking for a handheld, this might not be a deciding factor.
Another major difference between the two consoles lies in their design. To put it simply, Razer Edge is similar to the Switch. In essence, this device is an Android tablet that comes with an integrated Razer Kishi controller which can be detached and used with other compatible devices, like our mobile phones. In the case of Steam Deck, the controls are fully integrated into the console, offering a much more secure usage experience.
With all that said, and before we conclude, let’s talk about the prices of both devices. Razer Edge has an official price of 499.99 euros, while Steam Deck is priced as follows: the 64 GB version costs 419 euros, the 256 GB version is around 549 euros, and the 512 GB version is 679 euros. Now that you have all the necessary and relevant information about both consoles, it’s up to you to decide based on what you’ve read in this post. We could recommend what we consider the better purchase, but ultimately, this depends on what each individual is looking for in a handheld.
