Palms-on with Logitech’s new G Cloud Gaming Handheld | Boot Tech

Yesterday, Logitech introduced its $349.99 G Cloud Gaming Handheld, due out within the US on October 17 (till then, it is $50 off to pre-order). Right now, I used to be capable of take a look at it briefly. It was solely a 10-minute demo, but it surely was sufficient to take a number of pictures, launch a number of apps, and see the way it felt in my palms. We could have a full assessment within the coming weeks.

Once I obtained to the testing station, lethal loop (newly out there on Xbox Sport Move) streamed over Wi-Fi to the Xbox Cloud Gaming app in your handheld. Sadly it was the intro sequence with no motion, however I used to be nonetheless capable of run and bounce. Whereas it wasn’t a enjoyable killer, like all of my experiences with cloud recreation streaming, there was solely a touch of enter lag which, for me no less than, is difficult to disregard. On the plus facet, the G Cloud’s buttons, triggers, and analog stick structure all really feel good. As for visible constancy, it is arduous to understand how a lot a congested Wi-Fi community could be blamed, however the recreation’s darkish environments regarded a bit blurry on its seven-inch 1080p IPS panel.

That was not the case once I switched to Fortnite through the Nvidia GeForce Now app. Signing out of Xbox Sport Move and launching a brand new app was satisfyingly fast. My preliminary impression is that in case your fundamental expectations for velocity in a handheld include simply the Nintendo Change, I feel you will in all probability be impressed by the responsiveness of the efficiency and the navigable really feel of the interface, possibly not a lot when you’re coming from a Vapor Deck. at its greatest, Fortnite it appears to be like higher and performs higher on the G Cloud Gaming Handheld than it does on the Change (not a really excessive bar, I do know), although that relies upon fully on the capabilities of your Wi-Fi community. In fact, since that is an Android-based handheld, it is in all probability potential to get Fortnite loaded into this factor and don’t fret about the entire cloud facet. Undecided how nicely it might carry out with its Snapdragon 720G and 4GB of RAM although.

The remainder of my time with the G Cloud Gaming Handheld was spent getting misplaced in its Android launcher that Tencent apparently helped develop, which feels ripped from the times of Android Honeycomb (though the unit I examined was working Android 11). It is easy sufficient to seek out all of its apps, plus the gaming-focused ones it places entrance and middle. Once you have a look at your complete app library, you’ll be able to click on a button on the face that serves as a portal to the Google Play Retailer, the place you’ll be able to obtain just about something, I think about. Aesthetically, the UI is making an attempt to have a gamer vibe which did not fairly win me over.

The G Cloud handheld is comfy to carry. The built-in grips provide a superb quantity of palm help, and the textured plastic across the again and on the triggers is a pleasant contact. Simply by way of ergonomics, I might positively fairly waste a number of hours enjoying on this than on the Change. On the backside, there is a headphone jack alongside a USB-C port that is largely used for charging. It would not help streaming video to exterior screens, I requested, although it’s going to work with USB-C audio transmitters for headphones that supply that type of factor. On the prime left of the hand-held’s rail, there is a quantity rocker subsequent to a sleep change (you too can flip it off through software program). And eventually, there is a microSD card slot on the suitable facet, subsequent to the suitable shoulder buttons.

This handheld feels and appears nicely designed, and it did not take lengthy for me to really feel prefer it’s a tool I would like to spend so much extra time testing. Though, like most Logitech merchandise, whereas it feels polished, spending time with it did not change the truth that I am not a fan of its $349.99 retail worth. You need to be completely satisfied, not solely of this handheld, but in addition of the companies you need to play on. So the price solely goes up from there.

Wanting past this handheld, it is actually arduous to underestimate the worth supplied by a few of the different well-liked handheld consoles proper now, together with the $199 Change Lite or the extra succesful $299 Change that may connect with a TV. . To not point out, the Steam Deck’s $399 beginning worth is a tempting various if you wish to play PC video games on the go. Nonetheless, Android tablets was handheld gadgets which can be available for buy are single so uncommon that the G Cloud Gaming Handheld could possibly be successful. We must see.