Entertainment
Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld hands-on – the new portable console-Lucy Orr-Entertainment – Metro
GameCentral attends Logi Play 2022 and gets to try Logitech’s new Steam Deck rival, as well as a newly upgraded Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel.
![Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld hands-on – the new portable console-Lucy Orr-Entertainment – Metro](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/High_Resolution_PNG-CLOUD-3QTR-Right-102c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
Should Nintendo and Valve be worried? (pic: Logitech)
GameCentral attends Logi Play 2022 and gets to try Logitech’s new Steam Deck rival, as well as a newly upgraded Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel.
While big name AAA games may have been few and far between in the last couple of months, last week Logitech held their first two-day preview event called Logi Play 2022, which showcased, not new software, but new hardware.
The star of the show was the new Logitech G Cloud, a handheld streaming console designed in conjunction with Tencent that features a seven-inch 1080p touchscreen and supports a 60Hz refresh rate, has over 12 hours of battery life, and remappable controls.
We were able to go hands-on with the new portable and found the haptics and general feel of the device impressive. However, while looking slimline and chic, it doesn’t natively support 5G or include a SIM card slot, so there’s a need for a constant strong and steady Wi-Fi connection for you to be able to play anything.
The interface navigation is smooth and reactive, as well as being more visually intuitive and exciting than the Switch. It’s also more ergonomic, while being slightly heavier. We played Metal: Hellsinger through the Xbox Cloud Gaming app, which was streaming via the event venue’s Wi-Fi. Hellsinger relies on precision shooting in time with the music, so there couldn’t be any game better to test the latency with than this.
The G Cloud kept up and there was no sign of lag or screen tearing that might leave visual artefacts. Hellsinger has high visual contrast, but the G Cloud screen never had trouble with the highlights and shadows. The G Cloud’s slimline and intuitive layout for triggers, buttons, and analogue stick all contribute to a very polished product and it’s certainly sexier than a Steam Deck, even if it’s not anywhere near as versatile.
The problem is that the game’s portability relies on having fast, reliable Wi-Fi, which you don’t tend to have on the bus or at the beach. As such, the Logitech G Cloud is on the expensive side ($349) for an Android handheld you can really only use at home and until that issue is addressed I’ll be sticking to my Razer Kishi V2 for iPhone, when it comes to Android gaming on the go.
The G Cloud works great, but only if the Wi-Fi is strong (pic: Metro.co.uk)
The other two most interesting Logitech products at the event were all about gaming audio. The new Astro A30 comes in two models, one that includes a USB-A wireless transmitter that works with Xbox consoles, PC, macOS, and mobile and one that works with those platforms and PlayStation consoles.
The Astro A30 has some stiff competition in its price range, with recent releases such as the 600 Gen 2 Max from Turtle Beach – which has cross-compatibility and the best battery life we’ve seen – or the Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X with its impressive ClearCast microphone.
The Astro A30 does have some standout features though, such as its dual microphones that allow it to pull in audio from up to three sources. 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm are wired all at the same time and microphone functions are controlled by a nifty little joystick at the side of the ear.
You can also change the settings via Logitech’s G Hub mobile app, allowing you to tweak audio with an equaliser. The headphones’ customisable, shiny magnetic holographic speaker plates make it look like something straight out of Netflix’s Cyberpunk 2077 anime, although the €249 price tag doesn’t make it an impulse purchase.
Astro A30 – suitably cyberpunk-y (pic: Logitech)
Also impressive were the Logitech G FITS earbuds, which almost look like something H. R. Giger would design, at least before you put them in your ear. They feature a one-time setup experience that uses LEDs to warm up and morph the ear tips to the exact shape of your ear canal, which is intended to give a better seal and a more comfortable, secure fit.
Support for Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless 2.4GHz connection was impressive and we liked the way the charging case looked like a glowing galactic pebble, although all the gimmicks in the world struggle to justify the heavy price tag of $229.99.
Logitech G gaming mice are often amongst the best and now the Logitech G502 X Plus has been reengineered with a new shape, Lightspeed connection, and microswitches – which deliver optical precision while having a comforting mechanical, clicky feel.
The Pro Racing Wheel and Pedals is not a cheap set-up (pic: Logitech)
Comparable to the new Razer Basilisk V3 Pro in terms of flashy lighting and fast response time, if you like customisable mice then the G502 X Plus is a surprisingly lightweight upgrade, with excellent click latency and a remarkably consistent sensor that makes it great for first person shooters and MOBAs, where speed is everything.
Also getting an upgrade is the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel and Pedals, with a new direct drive wheelbase and load cell brakes. The basic set-up has been around for 10 years now and it’s not hard to see why all it needs is minor upgrades, especially with the TrueForce rumble feedback. You don’t even need a dedicated racing chair, as this wheel can be attached straight to your desk. But since it costs €1,099 for just the wheel be sure not to spill your coffee on it.
Finally, the Logitech For Creators brand had some new additions, with the Logitech Blue Sona broadcast quality microphone (€349) and the Logitech Litra Beam (€119) both looking ultra-streamlined and very flexible, with both bound to give streaming hardware giant Elgato a run for their money.
Every Logitech product is certified Carbon neutral, and they claim to be on track to be climate positive by 2030. Although with Razer Con coming up on October 15 it’s not necessarily sustainability that will be the number one concern for customers, but how much the cost of living crisis is going to affect their spending money.
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