Razer Kishi Ultra review: Should you buy it?

In terms of gaming, few corporations are as recognizable and distinct as Razer. Its minimalist aesthetic and obsession with RGB lighting have made it one of many few crossover gaming manufacturers that even non-gamers know and acknowledge. In terms of cellular gaming, although, Razer’s most well-known contributions have been two smartphones that did not even make a dent out there. Since these losses, the corporate has solely strayed into the world of cellular controllers, and the Razer Kishi Extremely — launched on April 18, 2024 — is now the most recent in its roster.

Razer beforehand launched a couple of different cellular controllers, together with the unique Kishi and the Kishi V2. The principle distinction between its earlier efforts and the Kishi Extremely is that these controllers have been designed for optimum portability, whereas the Extremely is designed for consolation. Gone are the stubby grips, shrunk buttons, and shallow analog sticks, and of their place are full-sized, premium parts, not too dissimilar from what you’d get from console controllers, akin to a Sony DualSense or an Xbox Sequence X controller.

This new design makes the Kishi Extremely probably the most comfy Spine-style cellular controller I’ve ever used. I don’t spend hours taking part in cellular video games, however I do spend hours taking part in console/PC video games, and I’m sure I might use a Kishi Extremely for simply so long as I do a “regular” controller with out extreme wrist pressure.

One of many drawbacks to this new give attention to consolation, although, is portability. Within the picture under, you may see the Kishi Extremely subsequent to one of many unique Nintendo Change consoles, and also you’ll discover it’s far bigger when you’ve snapped in a giant Android cellphone (just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, which I used all through this evaluation). Since there’s no option to take away or break down the controller’s retractable again plate, it takes up about twice as a lot room as a traditional console controller, making storage and journey a little bit trickier, too.

Nonetheless, this huge measurement additionally works to the controller’s benefit in terms of compatibility with a variety of gadgets. The Kishi Extremely can help just about any Android cellphone (even with a thick protecting case on it), all fashions within the iPhone 15 collection (and all future iPhones, since they’ll all have USB-C help), and even small USB-C tablets, like the latest iterations of the iPad Mini.

It’s vital to know that the Kishi Extremely has no wi-fi connectivity. It doesn’t help Bluetooth and can’t be powered on with out one thing hooked up to it. To attach a tool, all you do is slide it onto the Kishi Extremely’s built-in (and non-removable) USB-C adapter after which lock it in place with the opposite grip. Once you snap your cellphone onto the USB-C connector, it instantly begins powering the controller. There’s no battery contained in the controller, so it will likely be leeching energy from no matter you hook up with it. And, in fact, that’s going to make your gadget’s battery drain sooner. However it additionally powers the Chroma RGB lighting, which, let’s be sincere, seems fairly sick.

Fortunately, the Kishi Extremely does have a USB-C pass-through port on the backside of the right-hand grip, so you may plug in and cost when you’re gaming. You may as well use this port to attach the Kishi Extremely on to your PC to behave as a conventional wired controller. After all, you’ll look fairly foolish utilizing what seems like a traditional controller snapped in half with an 8-inch black bar connecting every grip. Moreover, the controller additionally has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the opposite grip, which is a pleasant contact.

When you’ve linked your gadget to the controller, you’re good to start out taking part in no matter you need. In my expertise, the Kishi Extremely “simply labored” throughout every part I threw at it. That included typical cellular video games like Fortnite, streamed PC video games via the Steam Hyperlink app, emulated video games via Retroarch, and even video games that don’t even have gamepad help due to a neat trick I’ll come again to later.

Despite the fact that the controller simply works by itself, Razer actually needs you to make use of the Razer Nexus app, which is on the market on each Android and iOS. That is what you employ to tweak every part in regards to the controller, together with the RGB lighting, remapping the buttons, and calibrating useless zones. It additionally acts as a recreation launcher, a option to simply file and share gameplay movies, and extra. Fortunately, this app is completely free — no subscription required.

The Nexus app additionally helps a Digital Controller Mode. This lets you use the bodily controller to govern a recreation’s digital controls — helpful if a cellular title doesn’t help bodily inputs natively. However watch out: some video games would possibly think about this dishonest, so if you wish to play competitively, it’s best to test to make sure that it isn’t in opposition to the foundations.

So the large query right here is whether or not or not the Razer Kishi Extremely is value shopping for. In a nutshell: sure, the Razer Kishi Extremely is an unbelievable, comfy, and versatile cellular controller. It’s the very best mannequin I’ve ever utilized in its class. However regardless of all this, it’s troublesome to suggest the Kishi Extremely to simply anybody as a result of it’s so, so costly and solely presents a couple of options you may’t get from different gadgets.

Mainly, the Razer Kishi Extremely suits into a selected area of interest, and it’s actually, actually good at delivering to that area of interest. However if you happen to aren’t particularly in search of a mobile-only controller that does every part at a value that’s twice as excessive as opponents, there are different choices on the market.

You would possibly love the Razer Kishi Extremely, however you additionally would possibly detest its exorbitant worth. In the event you fall into that class, listed below are some less expensive alternate options value testing:

Razer Kishi V2 with USB-C ($92 at Amazon): Razer’s earlier entry on this class will do just about every part the Kishi Extremely does however with much less compatibility throughout giant telephones/small tablets and fewer consolation as a result of much less ergonomic building. It additionally lacks Chroma RGB, a haptics motor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, however at a value of $99, you’re getting an entire lot of controller for an entire lot lower than the Kishi Extremely.
GameSir G8 Galileo ($79.99 at Amazon): This telescopic cellular gaming controller seems and performs very like the Kishi Extremely for round half the value. The sticks appear a little bit stubbier, and also you’re not going to get the flexibility of the Razer Nexus app, however if you happen to simply need to snap your cellphone in and play cellular video games, what extra do you want? Additionally, the SNES-inspired look is fairly sizzling.
Spine One ($99.99 at Amazon): It took some time for us to get an Android-compatible Spine One, nevertheless it was definitely worth the wait. It’s not fairly as versatile because the Extremely, however it’s $50 cheaper.
Sony DualSense ($69.99 at Amazon): If the telescopic side of the Kishi Extremely isn’t vital to you, why not simply purchase top-of-the-line commonplace controllers in the marketplace? This can work natively on Android, iOS, iPadOS, Home windows, macOS, and many others., presents top-of-the-line designs within the gaming world, and could be discovered for lower than half the value of the Kishi Extremely. Even if you happen to splurge on a elaborate cellphone mount for it, you’ll nonetheless be spending far lower than you’d a Kishi Extremely or perhaps a Kishi V2.