Razer’s latest concept blurs the line between gaming on a phone and a computer
Razer, known for its cult status among the gaming community, usually makes a splash at CES with concept devices that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Their latest prototype uses the company’s first smartphone, but not in the way you might think.
The laptop, codenamed, “Project Linda,” looks like any other slick gaming machine… until you look below the keyboard. Instead of the trackpad, you’ll find a slot for Razer’s smartphone, which powers the whole device.
The result? Instead of playing games on the Razer phone’s 5.7” screen, you get a huge 13.3” screen, 200GB of storage, and a full keyboard to play with.
The idea isn’t new. Samsung, like Microsoft and Motorola before it, launched the DeX dock last year, betting that consumers see their smartphone as their main computer. But unlike its competitors, which connected phones to desktop monitors for work, Razer’s prototype is designed to be used on the go for gaming. It can even reportedly charge the phone three times while away from a power outlet.
But if you’re excited to get your hands on “Project Linda,” don’t hold your breath.
Razer often shows off prototypes at CES that never become actual products -- a little like the wild concept vehicles that car-makers unveil at auto shows.
Take “Project Valerie” from last year, a laptop with three screens that slide out from the lid for a panoramic view.
Or 2014’s “Project Christine,” a completely modular PC that allowed users to swap out chips as easily as snapping Lego bricks together.
But sometimes Razer’s concepts do lead to products: 2012’s gaming tablet, “Project Fiona,” eventually did go on sale as the Razer Edge.
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