Logitech G, in collaboration with Tencent, announced the Android 11-based portable gaming console Logitech G Cloud.
Logitech G Cloud is a product intended for cloud game services and is compatible with Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia Geforce Now. Tencent cooperated in designing the software of the G CLOUD Gaming Handheld, and since Android is also installed, it is possible to use Android applications too.
Although Google Play apps and games can run locally, however, the G Cloud does not focus on Android games but cloud gaming.
The main specifications are a 7-inch 1920 x 1080 full HD IPS liquid crystal display with a refresh rate of 60 Hz and 450 nits of brightness. It is multi-touch compatible, powered by 2.3 GHz octa-core Snapdragon 720G, dual-band WiFi with 2 x 2 MIMO, and Bluetooth 5.1. USB-C terminal for charging, microSD slot.
The essential game controls are analogue sticks on the left and right, cross keys on the left, ABXY buttons on the right, LR bumpers and analogue triggers on the left and right. After that, the home button, G button, start select option button, etc. It doesn’t have rear buttons or a touchpad, but it does have a 6-axis motion sensor.
In addition to the stereo speakers, it has a 3.5mm headset port, and the USB-C port also supports USB audio. Bluetooth audio supports Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec. If your wireless earphones or headphones are compatible, you can connect with relatively low latency and high sound quality.
It does not have a SIM slot or a modem for mobile networks, as it is intended for streaming — obviously, high-speed WiFi connectivity is a must.
The body size is 256.84 x 117.21 x 32.95mm, and the weight is 463g. Compared to other handheld game consoles like the Nintendo Switch, which is 242mm wide and weighs 420g, the G Cloud is slightly larger and heavier. On the other hand, the Steam Deck is 298mm wide and weighs 669g, so the G Cloud is clearly lighter and smaller.
The main strength of the G Cloud is its long battery life of about 12 hours. Compared to game consoles that need to run games locally, the Nintendo Switch is 4.5 to 9 hours, depending on the game, and the Steam Deck is 2 to 8 hours. Steam Deck is a PC game console, so the load varies greatly depending on the game and settings.
The quick menu on the G Cloud allows you to limit GPU functions and power consumption finely, so if you don’t care about real-time graphics and frame rate, you can make a lot of trade-offs for a better battery backup.
The Logitech G Cloud is priced at $349and will be available in the US on October 17. Still, pre-orders are available on the official website for early adopters for a limited quantity with a price tag of $299.
