Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld
MSRP $350.00
“The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld is a well-built, but niche device for hardcore cloud gaming enthusiasts only.”
Pros
Excellent battery life
Comfortable design
Best cloud gaming apps supported
Plays cell video games
Cons
No 4G or 5G
UI points
Expensive for what it’s
The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld is the primary of a brand new form of gaming system: a handheld tailor-made particularly to cloud gaming. Streaming video games from the cloud is one thing that folks can do with a PC, cellphone, or Samsung TV, so there’s quite a lot of stress on this handheld to show why gamers ought to be keen on it … particularly after they can purchase a less expensive cell controller just like the Razer Kishi V2 for his or her cellphone.
After going hands-on with the system, it’s undoubtedly not with out its deserves. It’s snug to carry, prioritizes the cloud gaming apps out of all of the app fluff on a typical cellphone, and has superb battery life. It’s additionally an unimaginable area of interest product that in all probability gained’t be definitely worth the $300-plus you’ll should spend on it if you happen to’re not already all-in on cloud gaming.
The specs on deck
While this will seem to be an entirely unique piece of expertise, it’s actually only a closely modified Android pill constructed to look and play like a Nintendo Switch. The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld encompasses a seven-inch multitouch IPS that shows at a 1920 x 1080 decision with a 60Hz refresh fee. While it’s not pushing the boundaries of cell {hardware}, the display screen and backbone are sufficient for many cloud gaming, which tends to sacrifice decision first.
This system will solely enchantment to probably the most hardcore cloud gaming followers who don’t wish to sit at their console or pc.
The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld has all of the buttons you’d count on from a contemporary controller. Its triggers are a bit small, and its buttons and D-pad really feel softer when pressed than I desire, however the controls nonetheless felt very responsive. The textured grips on either side make it extra snug to carry than a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con. The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld additionally helps options like haptic suggestions and 3D gyroscope, although these by no means had been that noticeable or helpful throughout my time with the system.
Running on a Snapdragon 720G with solely 4 GB of RAM, this isn’t probably the most highly effective {hardware} on the market, even in its value vary. Still, that doesn’t matter a lot when it may run the Xbox Series X model of a sport like Deathloop easily as a result of the hand held itself isn’t working the sport natively. As a consequence, one’s web connection will make or break the expertise.
Although my expertise streaming cloud companies on the system was easy, I used to be additionally very restricted in the place I might play it as a Wi-Fi connection or Ethernet connection is required. With no 4G or 5G help, the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld isn’t a tool I’d wish to tackle a visit the place Wi-Fi could also be questionable, so it fails to compete in one other space the place gadgets just like the Nintendo Switch thrive.
It’s most helpful at your property — someplace the place you in all probability have already got a console, cellphone, or TV that may do the identical issues and play the identical video games, maybe even natively. Because of that important limitation, this system will solely enchantment to probably the most hardcore cloud gaming followers who don’t wish to sit at their console or pc. That’s a disgrace as a result of its cloud gaming apps are good, and it has a big benefit over different gaming handhelds in a key space: battery life.
Switching up the way you play
The Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck have notoriously poor battery life, however that isn’t a difficulty for the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld. I booted up Chivalry II on the Xbox Cloud Gaming app at 100% battery and stored the sport working. The cost lasted about 11-and-a-half hours, and the system by no means bought very heat. It’s not the fairly 12 hours Logitech guarantees in advertising, nevertheless it’s nonetheless wildly spectacular for a gaming handheld and the most effective factor concerning the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld. Recharging isn’t too shabby both, as you will get it again as much as 100% battery life after about 2 hours and 15 minutes of charging.
The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld is an effective way to expertise cell video games which have controller help, however aren’t on a system like Nintendo Switch.
It has a customized UI created with the assistance of Tencent Games and runs on a model of the Android 11 OS. While gamers can sync apps from different Android gadgets onto the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld, it has 4 main apps: Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, Steam Link, and Google Play.
The Xbox Cloud Gaming app lets Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers play choose video games by way of the cloud. The library is already strong with AAA video games like Halo Infinite and Deathloop in addition to nice indies like Unsouled and Echo Generation. Meanwhile, Nvidia GeForce Now lets you stream video games you personal from high-end PCs. I used this to play by means of a few of 2014’s Thief and had a nice expertise taking part in one thing launched when OnLive was nonetheless a factor. Nvidia GeForce Now has secretly turn out to be among the best cloud gaming companies, because it’s nice for players who can’t afford high-end PCs.
If you like your individual PC construct and simply wish to sport from a unique a part of your own home, Steam Link permits you to stream video games working in your PC. If you wish to use some other cloud gaming or cell apps, you’ll should obtain them from the Google Play Store. The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld is an effective way to expertise cell video games which have controller help however aren’t on a system like Nintendo Switch, even when that’s not what Logitech constructed the system for.
Another space the place the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld shines is taking part in video games like Doom Eternal, which needed to make some sacrifices with its Nintendo Switch port. Here, you’re taking part in a model of the sport working on an Xbox Series X or a high-end PC whereas getting the identical handheld expertise. I even bought Google Stadia up and working properly on the hand held, so it’s an gratifying solution to expertise that platform’s library in the previous couple of months of its existence.
The cellphone issue
While I had fun taking part in numerous video games on the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld, I couldn’t assist however take into consideration the way it was pointless each time I performed it. I already personal a Razer Kishi V2 and an Android cellphone well-equipped to play cloud video games, and the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld by no means did sufficient to interrupt out of being a novelty system.
If the consumer expertise had been significantly better than a cellphone, it’d’ve gained me over, however the outcomes are combined. The touchscreen is required for keyboards or quantity pads, so you’ll be able to’t even unlock the system with out utilizing the touchscreen, although it in any other case options totally remappable controls. You can pin apps, however can’t make folders. Unless you might have an iOS or Android system with a poor display screen that may’t use cloud gaming companies, this product isn’t providing something that’s uniquely essential.
With a present value of $300 and an eventual $350 price ticket looming over the system, the Wi-Fi-limited Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld squarely sits as a good system that can solely enchantment to hardcore cloud gaming fans like myself. At that price ticket, most gamers could be higher off shopping for a Nintendo Switch OLED mannequin, saving a bit extra and choosing up a Steam Deck, or spending much less on a Razer Kishi V2 to dabble in cloud gaming on their cellphone.
Cloud play has turn out to be a really supplementary type of gaming, and because of this, that is additionally a really supplementary system for cloud players. If the system already intrigues you, you would possibly get some mileage out of it. But with companies like Xbox Cloud Gaming coming to the Meta Quest, Samsung TVs, and different {hardware} you in all probability already personal, the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld doesn’t do sufficient to show {that a} cloud gaming system like that is essential. It’s for many who desire a fourth or fifth solution to cloud sport in their very own dwelling.
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