A wired connection is good for latency, but at this price, it'd be nice if the Kishi doubled as a Bluetooth PC controller. The Kishi doesn’t support cases though; even Razer’s own Arctech, which is a bit disappointing. The way I needed to hold the Kishi to get my thumbs and fingers correctly placed on the joysticks and triggers pushes the controller’s rounded corners into the palms of my hands, which left my hands feeling more than a bit sore after an extended play session. The Razer Kishi is absolutely the best and most comfortable mobile gaming controller around. We’d argue that the Gamevice was a better fit, though given the modern day phone screens take up the entire device, the Kishi has less space to work with. To stay up to date with the latest mobile gaming guides, news, and reviews, follow Pocket Tactics on Twitter and Steam News Hub. This nifty little snap-on, snap-off controller is perfectly poised to take advantage of the games streaming rage that’s almost certainly going to dominate this decade. As much as I love this controller and want to recommend it to everyone, $100 is a lot to ask. If you play games on your phone in landscape mode, and you don't own a Razer Kishi, you are making your hands sad. I was also disappointed that the Kishi lacked Bluetooth support. Your phone would connect directly with the device via a Lighting or USB port, which reduces latency, and the range was known for having a snug fit, which made the controllers really feel like they were attached to your phone all along. I did find the left and right trigger buttons to be a little springy and mushy compared to other console controllers though. There are plenty of other controllers out there to choose from, but the vast majority of them require you to mount your phone. For comparison, without the Kishi connected, my phone will only have lost 12-16% of its charge in the same time period. To get the controller mounted onto your phone, you actually start by nestling it into the USB-C port, then stretching the left-hand side up and over the top of your phone. Unfortunately, the form factor alone cannot justify such a high price tag. You can easily pick this up and feel right at home, with very little time spend re-learning the spaces between buttons and needing to learn muscle memory. There's even a USB-C port on the bottom of the controller itself so you can charge your phone while you play. By Justin Diaz. This layout makes it easier to view all of your buttons and feels much more natural to use while gaming in a variety of positions. You've got all the inputs you're used to in contemporary controllers: two clickable thumbsticks, four shoulder buttons, ABXY face buttons, a directional pad, start and select buttons, and a home button. This controller has clearly been designed with care, which is what you’d expect from Razer. The Razer Kishi can handle even the gargantuan Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. 9to5’s resident Fuchsia fanatic. Sign up now to get the latest news, deals & more from Windows Central! However, with the recent introduction of cloud gaming, one of those topics has resurfaced, but in a new way. If that sounds like what you're after, though, go for it. June 09, 2020. Enter Razer's newest controller: the Kishi attaches to phones of many different sizes to turn them into sleek portable consoles. Once you have your controller connected to your phone, Kishi elevates your gaming experience in a way nothing else available today can. Nothing wobbles, and it doesn't seem like it might all fall apart when you hold it by one side. It worked great on all of them, except for PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile, both of which restrict the controllers that can be used. Review Razer’s new Kishi controller dock for Android phones is exactly the device I wanted. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. If it's time to purchase a new phone, and UScellular is your carrier of choice, there's plenty to choose from. Destiny 2: Beyond Light is here, and that means a new Power level grind is here too. Unless you use a crazy-thin case like the the ones MNML makes, you'll have to strip your phone before sticking it in the Kishi. Worse, you absolutely need to remove the Kishi from your phone after every play session, as the controller will happily continue to draw power from your phone even when not “in use.” Luckily, the Razer Kishi can compact down to an easily stowed size, ready to toss into your bag. For more. It's 80 bucks, though, and that's tough to swallow, even if you are in the target demographic. When you're done using Kishi, it's super easy to stow away. What truly makes the Kishi standout from the crowd is its expandable design and hardwired connection. It features all the basic buttons, including a joystick on the left with a D-pad, and a joystick on the right with four main buttons. This is a revelation after so many other companies have tried something similar but not truly hit the mark. It is not possible to connect a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter or to even use a pair of USB-C headphones. If you’ve ever tried one of these before, you already know how awkward it can be to wield this top-heavy monstrosity. Even though some games and apps have dialogue boxes explicitly aimed at using a Bluetooth controller, Kishi just works. There’s a reason that many folks prefer to use the traditionally designed Switch Pro controller for more “serious” gaming sessions. As phones get more powerful, mobile games get more complex: Snake and Brick Breaker have given way to fully-featured PC and console ports, to say nothing of cloud gaming. Your phone will fit and you don't mind paying a premium for a sleek mobile gamepad. I am very excited never to need to clip my phone to the top of an Xbox controller every again, and I am positive you will feel the same way. The Razer Kishi couldn’t have picked a better time to make its arrival on the mobile games scene. Learn more. Without a doubt the Razer Kishi is the best and most comfortable mobile gaming controller around, though it doesn't quite live up to its premium price point. Super-premium, über-large devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and OnePlus 8 Pro are just a hair too tall to fit. The Razer Kishi controller successfully turns your smartphone into a makeshift Nintendo Switch, but watch out for limited game support. 9. I absolutely loved gaming while using the Razer Kishi, in my opinion, nothing beats this layout. Razer Kishi Controller for Android: Compatible with Most USB-C Android Phones - Cloud Gaming Ready - Type-C Passthrough Charging - Clickable Analog Thumbsticks. I personally tried it out with several different games, including Asphalt 9, Dead Cells, PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile, and various emulators. The only real issue we have with the Razer Kishi is its price, as we feel like that’s what will prevent it from being an item that everyone owns. For small phones like the Pixel 3, this is a simple setup, but if you prefer to game on something huge like the LG V60, the process of stretching the controller to its limits can be a bit nerve-wracking. As a result, it can be a bit more fiddly to get the Kishi set up than it is to slide your Joy-Cons into your Switch, but there’s little Razer could really do about that. Bottom: Razer Kishi on a OnePlus 7 Pro. Razer’s Kishi controller for Android removes a lot of the hassle that usually comes with using a DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller with your phone. It’s more Xbox controller than DualShock 4, though noticeably less premium-feeling than both. As a longtime console gamer, mobile games have never appealed to me much. Besides, it doesn’t really matter provided that the Kishi provides a comfortable controller experience, and it absolutely does. I would like to receive news and offers from other Future brands. Besides the main buttons, you’ll also find an Xbox button along with a share and menu button. That’s where the Razer Kishi (~$100 USD) comes into play. Beyond that, even with a few hours of adjustment time, I couldn’t seem to get the same aiming accuracy with the Kishi as I can manage with nearly any other controller. If you have an Android phone, this is what you want. The triggers, in particular, are a bit naff and feel quite sponge-y, though we had no trouble when actually using them. The right half has a USB-C connector to communicate with your phone and the left transmits inputs through the spring-loaded ribbon that holds the ends together — no Bluetooth here. For $60 you can get a PS4 or Xbox controller that works with Android 10 phones, not to mention the numerous other cheaper alternatives. As for the controls themselves, the Razer Kishi is a bit of a mixed bag. Let us help you find a new device! This cuts out all of the many potential issues with a Bluetooth connection, such as interference and increased input lag. The buttons all worked perfectly, and I was more than satisfied with the travel and lack of latency thanks to the hardwired connection. Razer nailed it with the Kishi, and it's going to make a lot of gamers very happy. Here's a detailed guide on everything you should know (and do) in order to properly jump in. Functionality is essential, but Kishi is also super comfortable. Subscribe to Android Police's weekly newsletter, with the biggest stories, latest deals, and insight on the week's news.