Logitech G Cloud

Verdict

The Logitech G Cloud may’ve been the darkish horse of the hand-held gaming world, nevertheless it isn’t going to win this race. Strong {hardware} and spectacular battery life are hampered by a excessive worth.

Introduction

The Logitech G Cloud has launched within the UK and different European international locations, a number of months after arriving within the US. Logitech’s handheld might appear like a rival to the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, nevertheless it’s a relatively completely different proposition.

It’s within the identify however, to level at it emphatically, the Logitech G Cloud is about cloud gaming. Now, you might assume that entails 5G and enjoying completely anyplace however, with Logitech’s handheld, it doesn’t. You received’t discover assist for 5G (or, even, 4G) right here. As an alternative, it’s all about gaming over Wi-Fi.

This limitation brings positives and negatives. For some, it’s more likely to be a dealbreaker, with little deal with native gaming. You received’t discover the uncooked gaming cellular gaming energy of units just like the Asus ROG Ally or Steam Deck right here.

Different key handhelds to pit this machine in opposition to embrace the Razer Edge (not at present obtainable within the UK) in addition to the Nintendo Change OLED and Change Lite. There’s a standard theme when pitting Logitech’s machine in opposition to these units. To various levels, the G Cloud falls down as a worth proposition in opposition to most of those machines.

Design and Display screen

• Strong, if primary, construct high quality
• Nice show, however anticipate extra for the value

Nobody goes to be shouting from the rooftops that you need to see the look of the Logitech G Cloud, however they received’t be shunning it for shoddy design both.

Finally, it’s fantastic. The console feels strong, with its plastic construct feeling prefer it may face up to loads of bumps and bruises. The hand-held is formed with ergonomics in thoughts, with the realm of the machine the place you’ll place your arms designed for a cushty match, in addition to a ridged linear texture for added grip. The machine is predominantly white, with the analogue sticks and the highest of the consoles black. The bottom of the analogue sticks and Logitech’s “G” button are fluorescent yellow.

Put merely, it’s a no fuss design that it’s laborious to complain about till, you see the 329 (usually $299 within the USA) worth. As soon as you realize the value tag, it’d be honest to anticipate extra from the {hardware}. The show is a key perpetrator. In your cash, you get a 1080p IPS LCD panel, no fancy OLED know-how. That feels significantly egregious when you think about the Nintendo Change OLED prices lower than this machine, and that’s a handheld with way more to supply relating to enjoying video games natively on the machine.

The brightness, with a most of 450 nits, is nearly robust sufficient for gaming outdoors. However, this shouldn’t be an enormous problem given the Wi-Fi proximity you’re certain to. It’s a shiny panel too, inflicting problem in direct daylight. No choice to shell out for any sort of anti-glare know-how both, one thing else that might’ve been improved given the lofty worth.

However, in a vacuum, the 7-inch show is pleasingly detailed, as 1080p needs to be at this dimension. It’s completely satisfactory by way of color and distinction too, however no jaws shall be dropped. And, as we don’t stay in a vacuum, you may’t ignore the poor worth proposition.

For ports, you get a headphone jack, USB-C 3.1 and a MicroSD card reader. The USB-C port can be utilized for charging, audio and information switch, however not video.

The MicroSD card slot provides helpful enlargement as much as 1TB. There’s no slot for a 5G (or 4G) sim, with no assist for information outdoors of Wi-Fi a curious transfer for a tool with “Cloud” within the identify. With dimensions of 256.84 x 117.21 x 32.95 mm and 463g, it’s way more transportable than a Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally, with its closest level of comparability in dimension being the marginally smaller and lighter Nintendo Change OLED.

Controls

• Ultimate for streaming
• Finicky mapping for Android
• Low journey however dependable

The Logitech G Cloud handheld sports activities a standard setup of handheld controls, choosing XYBA, two sticks, begin/choose buttons, a D-pad, a house button and Logitech G button. On the highest, you’ll discover a quantity rocker and the facility button.

What makes this a console made for cloud streaming above all else are the controls. The Logitech G Cloud doesn’t play all that properly with Android 11, particularly in case you’re somebody seeking to dive in and also you is probably not acquainted with key mapping.

For cloud gaming, apps like Xbox Cloud Streaming and Nvidia GeForce Now will recognise the Logitech G Cloud controls and also you’re off and away instantly. This isn’t the case for a lot of Android video games, although some do assist native gamepad controls. For lots of titles, you’ll both need to delve into Logitech’s settings and into the “Labs” part to map the onboard keys to factors on the touchscreen. Or, join a separate Bluetooth controller to the G Cloud, however that will be absurd.

Key mapping isn’t the top of the world for individuals who actually need to play Android video games and are in a position to get their heads round setting it up. It would take some trial and error for every recreation however, when you’ve acquired it good, it’ll be saved as a preset and sorted for every time you play going ahead.

However, sure, this machine known as the Logitech G “Cloud” so it’s becoming to have such a deal with working seamlessly with recreation streaming apps. Although, PS Distant Play is an exception, with button-mapping required as soon as once more.

The controls themselves, just like the design of this machine, are completely satisfactory. The buttons really feel responsive however there’s nothing particular occurring. Haptic suggestions is basically missing, and the journey is kind of low.

Efficiency

• Flawless with the correct connection
• Waning Android efficiency
• No speedy app switching

Many units are all about uncooked energy or, at the very least, how software program helps than greatest hone their energy. Nonetheless, a deal with cloud recreation streaming breaks this custom.

With the Logitech G Cloud, it’s all about your connection. Streaming apps like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now require 10Mbps and 15Mbps web connection velocity at least respectively. Velocity received’t inform the entire story although, with good Wi-Fi pivotal for easy gameplay on the Logitech G Cloud.

Sadly, Logitech hasn’t left customers greatest outfitted to take care of a vital a part of this machine, solely equipping it with Wi-Fi 5 courtesy of the virtually three-year-old Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G. As such, I’d warning anybody who experiences common Wi-Fi points on their present units, whether or not at residence or anyplace else you’d plan to play, from choosing up the G Cloud.

My private expertise was combined, however anticipated. At residence, the place I’ve a mesh Wi-Fi setup, I had few points. Video games ran seamlessly throughout Xbox Cloud Streaming and GeForce Now. There was barely any stuttering or drop-outs. As such, I had a blast.

Despite the poor worth proposition of the Logitech G Cloud, enjoying video games with a strong connection is pleasant. You do usually lose sight of the very fact video games aren’t working natively, and I acquired positively misplaced enjoying huge Xbox titles like Ghostwire Tokyo and Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty.

Utilizing GeForce Now, I dove into Cyberpunk 2077 and, once more, was massively impressed with the nigh flawless latency. The Logitech G Cloud completely fulfils its targets, when you have the connection to assist it. Latency does turn out to be an issue when streaming aggressive on-line video games. You aren’t going to turn out to be an eSports champion coaching on this machine, and I’d need to suggest avoiding aggressive video games for probably the most half.

Fulfilling its streaming promise is all properly and good however what of those that fancied some Android gaming on this Android-powered handheld. Properly, the efficiency comes again to the G Cloud’s working theme, it’s satisfactory. Our benchmarking confirmed scores of 1058 in 3DMark Wild Life in addition to 741 single-core and 1797 multi-core in Geekbench 6. For GFXBench Aztec Ruins and Automotive Chase, the Logitech G Cloud scored a measly 12 and 18fps respectively.

The efficiency of the Logitech G Cloud is massively outstripped by the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1-powered Razer Edge 5G in addition to high-end Android telephones that tout gaming prowess.

Regardless of these low artificial benchmark scores, the G Cloud has robust efficiency in Name of Responsibility Cell, closing in on 60fps at Excessive settings. Although, the identical couldn’t be stated for Genshin Influence, with Low settings introducing stutters even when restricted to 30fps. Efficiency can also be noticeably missing with the 64GB eMMC storage, with recreation and replace set up taking a noticeably very long time.

It’d, admittedly, be infuriating if this low powered machine was a loud one however I’m comfortable it runs close to silently more often than not anyway. You received’t be disturbing your loved ones as you sidestep watching Saturday night time TV to sneakily enjoying Redfall on the couch beside them.

The audio system aren’t going to win you over in case you’re not sure about this machine, as headphones or Bluetooth are sometimes the audio weapon of alternative for handheld customers. Nonetheless, in case you’re pressured to make use of these audio system they’re completely satisfactory. There’s little in the best way of a broad soundstage however the audio is inoffensively nice and might get fairly loud.

Battery Life

• Gloriously lengthy 10-12 hours of battery life
• Costs up in round two hours

Given the customarily sub-10 hour battery lifetime of many rival handheld consoles, just like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Change OLED, the Logitech G Cloud claims of 12 hours of battery life look spectacular. That is one space the place Logitech’s console excels, particularly in case you’re dedicated to primarily streaming video games on this machine.

You’ll get to that touted 12 hours in case you’re streaming video games over providers like Xbox Cloud Streaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, enabled by a hefty 6000mAh battery.

The returns are diminishing the extra intensive Android titles you decide to play on this machine although. The lengthy battery life is a coup, as you hardly ever really feel such freedom on a handheld machine, the place any sort of intensive gaming can take a hefty chunk out of your playtime in underneath an hour. The charging is speedy, with the G Cloud getting from 0-100% in round two hours.

Video games and Software program

• Recreation streaming provides a large catalogue
• Logitech residence display is refreshingly easy

You’ve acquired a whole lot of video games obtainable to you given the Logitech G Cloud machine’s strategy. The breadth of the Xbox Cloud Streaming library is on the market to you, from Ghostwire Tokyo, Wo Lengthy Fallen Dynasty and a complete lot extra, in addition to all of the titles obtainable to you thru Nvidia GeForce Now assist, throughout platforms like Steam, Epic Video games Retailer and Ubisoft Join.

The choice of video games opens up even additional in case you play by a connection to an present PC gaming machine through Steam Hyperlink or streaming providers like Shadow, providing your entire recreation library at your fingertips. Then, in fact, there are Android video games too.

You might be spoilt for alternative when you have the subscriptions or present gaming libraries to assist the Logitech G Cloud. Fortunately, you get six months Xbox Recreation Go Final (or simply three months if it’s being added to an present subscription), one month of Nvidia GeForce Now Precedence and one month of Shadow streaming.

The software program utilized by Logitech largely favours simplicity. The default residence display is akin to a Nintendo Change, there are few frills. Nonetheless, this handheld mode does restrict you to at least one app at a time, so there’s no speedily dodging between video games or apps. However, you may choose out of this and into an ordinary Android pill mode in case you’d favour a tad extra management.

I discovered that navigating the Logitech G Cloud, in no matter mode, ran fairly properly. However, the one problem I bumped into was apps often being reluctant to open, requiring a console restart to get across the problem. It occurred primarily with conventional apps, just like the Google Play Retailer, relatively than video games, so wasn’t a problem that continuously acquired in my manner.