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Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: A Surprisingly Good Alternative to Steam Link
You might be wondering if you really need another Steam Deck dock besides the one you already have. Razer’s $80 Handheld Dock Chroma is a sleek and feature-rich dock that’s worth considering. Even with a 100W power delivery, it might not be necessary for your handheld, which comes with three USB-A ports and a single HDMI 2.0 port. But what sets this dock apart is Razer’s solid Windows handheld software, which is surprisingly efficient and easy to use.
Razer’s Software: A Mixed Bag
Razer’s software suite is notorious for being confusing and bloated. The company has three interconnected programs – Synapse, Chroma, and Cortex – that often accomplish similar functions. Chroma is supposed to act as the main control for Razer’s RGB lighting products, but it also interacts with the company’s Sensa haptics, such as its Freyja cushion and Kraken V4 Pro headset. Synapse is supposed to bridge between your various Razer products and any connected firmware, while Cortex is a game launcher with a "game booster" that closes out some apps and features to free up RAM for playing games.
Cortex for Handheld: A Breath of Fresh Air
Cortex for handheld is clean, snappy, and surprisingly efficient for playing games. It’s a vast improvement over Razer’s confusing and bloated UI on PC. The software releases some memory every time you load up a game through the client, which doesn’t add much to increase framerates, but it only takes two seconds to complete before opening a game. The settings tab also includes two additional tabs for all your usual gaming launchers and all your installed games.
Razer’s Remote Play: A Game-Changer
Razer’s Remote Play is one of the best alternatives to Steam Link. It works with any Android- or iOS-based phone once you install Razer Synapse to the device, but Cortex on handheld makes it very easy. You can connect to your host PC with a Razer account or a PIN code. The core of the service is meant to provide latency-free streaming, and the added benefit of Razer’s software is how it automatically adjusts resolution to match the device.
The Verdict
You don’t need the Dock Chroma to get the Cortex software on your handheld, and 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 Razer dock is solid and pretty, although it may not work for your favorite device. Let’s hope Razer’s software improves over time rather than devolving into the mess of modern Synapse.
[Image: The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma includes one HDMI 2.0, three USB-A, an ethernet port, and up to 100W of USB charging with passthrough. © Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo]
