Do you really need another Steam Deck dock other than the one you already have? Originally announced during CES, Razer’s $80 Handheld Dock Chroma is a sleek dock. Even with a 100W power delivery, it may not be necessary for your handheld with just three USB-A and a single HDMI 2.0 port. While the hardware isn’t particularly glowing (except for the dock’s RGB lights), the real highlight was Razer’s solid Windows handheld software. Color me surprised.
When Razer sent me its dock for review, I plugged it into my recently arrived Lenovo Legion Go S review unit with Windows. I was already annoyed by the handheld’s existing software when I noticed the dock automatically installed Razer Cortex. I drew in a breath, thinking I was again saddled with unwanted bloatware.
Razer’s software suite is notoriously annoying. The company has three interconnected programs— Synapse, Chroma, and Cortex—and all accomplish similar functions. Chroma is supposed to act as the main control for any of your Razer RGB lighting products, but it also interacts with the company’s Sensa haptics, such as with its Freyja cushion and Kraken V4 Pro headset. Synapse is supposed to bridge between your various Razer products and any connected firmware. At the same time, it also interacts with any of your connected lighting elements and games. I still have a hard time discerning which software to use for different occasions.
Cortex is Razer’s game launcher with a “game booster” that simply closes out some apps and features to free up RAM for playing games. It can be handy, but it has little use for most casual gamers who simply load up Steam. Conversely, Razer’s recently released Cortex for handheld software is clean, snappy, and surprisingly efficient for playing your games. Compared to Razer’s confusing, bloated UI on PC, the handheld client is a clean black void that works just like you need it to.
On Windows-based handhelds, software is still a sticking point. Windows is terrible for small 7- or 8-inch displays. Asus, MSI, and Lenovo have all tried to paper over Windows’ faults with software like Lenovo Legion Space, which has controller-friendly menu navigation and the ability to link your various game libraries to one place. Some software, like Asus’ ROG Armoury Crate for handheld, does an adequate job, but even that suffers from occasionally glitchy and laggy UI as it tries to open various launchers. Legion Space can be sluggish in responding, especially while I’ve been working on the Legion Go S.
The Cortex handheld beta also suffers from occasional glitches, though there are extra benefits. The software releases some memory every time you load up a game through the client. In my tests, this doesn’t add much to increase framerates, but it only takes two seconds to complete before opening a game. Along with the settings tab, there are two additional tabs for all your usual gaming launchers and all your installed games.
Cortex doesn’t allow you to change your system’s performance settings, so you’ll still have to rely on the default built-in software to change performance modes. If that’s a bummer, then know that the best feature of Cortex is the quick access to Razer’s new Remote Play function.
Razer’s Remote Play is One of the Best Alternative to Steam Link
Razer’s remote play works with any Android- or iOS-based phone once you install Razer Synapse to the device, but Cortex on handheld makes it very, very easy. You have to get Cortex running on the host PC, then open the tab for the Remote Play beta. If you’re signed in with a Razer account, you should be able to find the host PC with the Remote Play tab on the handheld. Otherwise, you can also connect it with a PIN code.
Razer’s Remote Play is based on existing open-source streaming software Moonlight and Sunshine (Razer has said its own client and host software are also open-source). The core of the service is meant to provide latency-free streaming, but the added benefit of Razer’s software is how it automatically adjusts resolution to match the device. When you load up streaming on the handheld, you’re shown a full list of installed games from your PC. You still have the option to go into your PC’s desktop to open your launchers individually or get Steam running in Big Picture mode, but as long as your games are updated, the process is relatively seamless.
The screen on your host PC goes dark once you start streaming to reduce wasted electricity. You can also change this in settings by turning off Virtual Display Mode. There’s a dedicated shortcut, CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+Q, to exit out of the game and back to the PC without needing to quit hosting. It works very well, and the software is already set to become my go-to for streaming beyond Steam Link when I’m not using my Steam Deck.
You don’t need the Dock Chroma to get the Cortex software on your handheld. You don’t even need a handheld to enjoy the software’s game streaming. But taken together, it has already proved a boon to my handheld lifestyle. At $80 (the same cost as Valve’s official Steam Deck dock), the Razer dock is solid and pretty, although it may not work for your favorite device. The backplate folds up to offer better support for the handheld, but it will also cover some intake vents for devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S and MSI Claw 8 AI+. So, for the first time in recent memory, I will say Razer’s software is better than its hardware. Let’s hope it improves over time rather than devolves into the mess of modern Synapse.
