Razer AVA AI Companion: Price, Features & 2027 Release Date

Razer’s AI companion is Razer AVA, formerly Project AVA. It’s a desk device that shows an animated character on a 5.5-inch display. It also runs as an on-screen character on Windows PCs.

The hardware includes a camera, microphones, and a speaker. Razer says AVA also remembers your conversations, picks up on your mood, and reacts to what’s on your screen. How well those features work in the shipping product hasn’t been shown yet.

You can’t buy one. Razer takes refundable $20 reservations from US residents only, and its official Razer AVA page targets Early Access in early 2027.

This page separates Razer’s official claims from press reporting and from questions still open.

Razer AVA at a Glance

What Is Razer AVA?

Razer AVA is an AI companion that appears as an animated character on a desk device or on your PC screen. It’s built for conversation, planning, and gaming help, and Razer is adding task automation.

The product has changed shape twice, which explains why search results disagree:

• CES 2025: Project AVA debuted as an esports AI coach concept.
• CES 2026: Razer relaunched it as a holographic desk companion.
• GDC 2026: Razer announced agentic features for multi-step tasks.

Razer markets AVA as a “3D hologram.” CES coverage of the prototype described the character inside a transparent glass enclosure, not floating in open air. The effect looks holographic on a desk, but it isn’t sci-fi projection.

When Does Razer AVA Come Out?

Razer AVA is expected to launch under Early Access in early 2027, with no exact date. Razer’s reservation terms also estimate shipping in early 2027.

The window slipped. At CES in January, Razer targeted the second half of 2026. It updated its US pages in mid-October 2026.

Not every regional page has caught up. Razer’s Middle East and North Africa AVA page shows both answers in the same FAQ: early 2027 and the second half of 2026. Treat the US page and the reservation terms as current.

Razer hasn’t defined what “Early Access” includes. Until it does, read it as a first release that will keep changing.

Razer AVA Timeline

How Much Will Razer AVA Cost?

Razer hasn’t announced a price. At CES, a Razer representative told Engadget the device would sit in the same ballpark as Razer’s other peripherals. Razer sells everything from mice to gaming chairs, so that range says little.

Three separate costs matter, and only one is known:

1. The deposit: $20, refundable, credited toward the purchase.
2. The hardware price: unannounced.
3. Any recurring AI fee: unaddressed by Razer.

Some third-party sites cite a base price near $270, with $299 avatar bundles. None of these figures trace back to Razer, so treat them as unverified.

AVA sends some requests to cloud AI models, which cost money to run. That makes a subscription plausible, but it’s an inference, not a Razer statement.

What Happens After You Reserve Razer AVA?

The $20 deposit holds a place in line. It doesn’t lock in a price. Razer’s published terms work like this:

1. Eligibility: legal residents of the 50 US states and DC, aged 18 or older. One unit per customer.
2. Release order: units release in the order reservations were placed.
3. Purchase window: once your reservation releases, you get at least 24 hours to buy.
4. Payment: the deposit applies through a Razer promo code. Buying requires a Razer ID, but reserving doesn’t.
5. Refunds: you can cancel for a full refund through Razer Customer Support.
6. Product changes: Razer says features, design, and performance may differ from current descriptions. If the product changes, you can still cancel for a full refund.

Before you complete the purchase, check the final price, any subscription terms, and the retail privacy policy.

Can you reserve Razer AVA outside the US? No. Razer hasn’t announced reservations or shipping for any other region.

What Can Razer AVA Do?

Razer pitches AVA across three areas:

• Life: planning your day, meal and outfit ideas, and talking through decisions
• Work: brainstorming and real-time translation of text and spoken conversations
• Gaming: relaying lore, item stats, and backstories mid-game, plus a “Gaming Wingman” mode that celebrates wins and offers encouragement after losses

Screen awareness drives much of this. Razer’s “PC Vision Mode” analyzes what’s on your display over the USB-C connection.

According to Razer’s GDC announcement, AVA can now turn a request into multi-step workflows. A routing layer called the Razer Inference Control Plane sends each request to either a local or a cloud model. Razer also announced app integrations such as Spotify, plus AVA-to-AVA coordination for proposing meeting times and booking calendars across users.

Razer AVA Features: Evidence Status

“Still to be established” doesn’t mean false. It means the evidence doesn’t settle the question yet.

Hands-on impressions so far are mixed. After a CES demo, Android Authority described the experience as uneven. That session predates the agentic update and used prototype software.

Is Using Razer AVA in Games Cheating?

Razer’s earlier Project AVA FAQ said AVA is a coach and trainer, not a tool for automated play. The current page dropped that answer.

Razer hasn’t said how AVA’s screen reading interacts with anti-cheat systems. Check each game’s rules on overlays and third-party assistants before using AVA in ranked matches.

Razer AVA Hardware Specs and System Requirements

Razer’s product page lists:

• Dual far-field array microphones
• HD camera with ambient light sensor
• Swappable 5.5-inch 3D holographic avatars
• Customizable showcase LEDs and Razer Chroma RGB
• Combined power/mute button, plus volume controls
• Down-firing full-range speaker
• USB Type-C port for data and power

System requirements: Razer says AVA needs a direct USB-C connection to a Windows PC. It hasn’t published supported Windows versions, RAM, GPU needs, dimensions, or processor details.

Does Razer AVA Work on Mac, Phones, or Without the Hologram?

Razer AVA launches on Windows only. Razer says it reaches PC and the desktop hologram first, with other platforms later and no timeline. The marketing mentions texting AVA from your phone, but Mac, iPhone, Android, and console users should wait for dates.

Can you use AVA without the hardware? Razer describes AVA as both a desk device and an on-screen companion. The beta runs as software on Windows through Razer Cortex, and only selected applicants get in. Testers sign an NDA.

Razer hasn’t said whether the on-screen version will ship alone, come bundled, or be free.

Which AI Model Powers Razer AVA?

Razer’s US product page doesn’t name a model. It says AVA uses “state-of-the-art LLMs” and is built to support other AI platforms, including a dedicated Razer AI.

Razer’s earlier Project AVA concept page said AVA ran on xAI’s Grok engine. Engadget and Android Authority reported the same from CES. Android Authority added that Animation Inc. designed the characters.

Dropping Grok’s name doesn’t prove Razer dropped Grok. What’s established is narrower: Grok powered the CES demos, and Razer hasn’t confirmed the model lineup for launch.

Is Razer AVA Safe for Privacy?

Razer AVA combines a camera, microphones, screen awareness, and persistent memory in one system. Its privacy depends on which data it processes, where that data goes, and what controls users get.

What Razer promises: interactions are protected by your Razer ID, sensitive information is stored securely, and beta data is wiped when the program ends.

What reporters observed at CES: Engadget reported the mics can be muted and that Razer plans a physical camera shutter on retail units. Android Authority said the camera reads your surroundings only with permission.

What Razer hasn’t documented:

• Whether the power/mute button cuts the microphone in hardware or in software
• When the camera is active, and whether you can disable it fully
• Which screen content AVA captures, and whether you can exclude apps
• Which data stays local and which goes to Razer or an AI provider
• Whether you can view, edit, and delete stored memories
• How long Razer keeps prompts, recordings, screenshots, and logs

These gaps show missing disclosure, not evidence of a problem. If they matter to you, a privacy-first local AI companion is one option. Local processing can reduce cloud exposure, but the result still depends on the software’s telemetry, backups, and settings.

Which Razer AVA Avatars Can You Choose?

Razer’s current page lists three personalities:

• AVA: steady and dependable
• SUMI: caring and supportive
• NIKO: quick-witted and confident

Razer notes avatar selection and animations aren’t final.

At CES, the lineup included Kira, Zane, a Faker avatar based on the League of Legends pro, and SAO, based on model Saori Araki. Fan tracker sites describe Sumi and Niko as renamed, redesigned versions of Kira and Zane. Razer hasn’t said so, and hasn’t confirmed whether Faker or SAO will ship.

Razer also invites game developers to bring their own characters to AVA, so expect the roster to keep shifting.

Is Razer AVA Mini real?

No. Razer AVA Mini was Razer’s April Fools’ announcement for 2026. Razer billed it as an AI companion for your AI companion: a virtual pet that keeps AVA company.

Razer AVA Alternatives

AVA isn’t the only desk AI companion in development, and software companions are available today.

Everthine’s A1 debuted in Europe at IFA 2026, with software planned before the hardware. For phone and web options, the field of app-based AI companions covers everything from emotional support to roleplay.

A physical companion makes sense if you value presence on your desk. If you mainly want conversation or productivity help, software likely covers it without new hardware.

Should You Reserve Razer AVA Now?

Razer AVA is a real product in development, and its value remains unproven. The $20 deposit is refundable under Razer’s published terms. It doesn’t guarantee a price or a delivery date. Until Razer publishes price, subscription, and privacy details, reserving makes sense mainly for curious US Windows users.

FAQs

Q. Is the Razer AI Companion Real?

Yes, the Razer AI Companion (Razer AVA) is a real AI-powered desktop companion developed by Razer. It features animated 3D avatars, voice interaction, and PC screen awareness. Razer offers a limited Windows beta and refundable $20 reservations in the US. Early Access is expected in early 2027.

Q. How Much Does the Razer AI Companion Cost?

Razer has not announced the official Razer AVA price. The company currently accepts a refundable $20 reservation deposit, which is credited toward the purchase. Online estimates of $270–$299 remain unverified. Hardware pricing and potential subscription fees have not been confirmed.

Q. When Is the Razer AI Companion Release Date?

The Razer AI Companion will enter Early Access in early 2027, although Razer has not announced an exact release date. Razer previously expected the launch in the second half of 2026. Only eligible US residents aged 18 or older can currently reserve it.

Q. How Can I Join the Razer AVA Beta?

To join the Razer AVA beta, apply through Razer Cortex on a Windows PC. Razer selects participants for its limited testing program, and accepted users must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Applying does not guarantee access.

Q. Does the Razer AI Companion Require a Subscription?

Razer has not confirmed whether Razer AVA requires a paid subscription. The company has not disclosed recurring AI service fees or subscription plans. Buyers should verify the final hardware price and any ongoing charges before purchasing.

Q. Does Razer AVA Use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok?

Razer AVA used xAI’s Grok during its CES demonstrations, but Razer has not confirmed which AI models will power the final product. The company describes plans for multi-model support, including its own Razer AI technology. ChatGPT and Gemini integration remain unconfirmed.

Q. Can I Get a Refund on the $20 Razer AVA Deposit?

Yes. The $20 Razer AVA reservation deposit is fully refundable under Razer’s published reservation terms. Customers can request cancellation through Razer Customer Support. The deposit applies toward the final purchase price but does not guarantee a specific price or delivery date.

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