Razer first released a dedicated smartphone controller developed in collaboration with Gamevice in 2020, dubbed the Razer Kishi, giving mobile gamers the ability to battle in virtual worlds more comfortably than ever before. Now the manufacturer has abandoned the folding design of the bridge in order to realize compatibility with today’s large smartphones, and the membrane buttons have been abandoned in favor of microswitches. The Razer Kishi V2 controller is clearly better in a lot of ways, and gamers probably won’t be put off by even the hefty $100 price tag.
Design
Externally, the Razer Kishi 2 is very similar to the Backbone One controller for iPhone – all thanks to a similar retractable bridge that allows the gadget to “stretch” to the required width to support even the largest smartphones. Whether inspired by Razer’s competitors or not, the end result is a very stylish design that really fits a huge range of smartphones. In addition, support for large devices was a weak point in Kishi V1, and the new retractable bridge solves this problem. Of course, this means that the Kishi V2 takes up much more space in your pocket than its counterpart, but, on the other hand, the owners of modern gadgets with a large diagonal are clearly ready to make this compromise.
The new device fits perfectly in the hand thanks to its slightly elongated shape, plus there is a small texture on the back of the case that improves the grip of the device. The potential buyer also gets the standard set of buttons you’d expect from any gaming controller with an Xbox layout, and each button on the body contains its own microswitch (the D-pad has four of them at once), while previously Razer used a membrane. Even the left and right triggers are equipped with switches, and analog triggers are ideal for racing games when you need to smoothly pick up speed. Moreover, to the right and left of the triggers, the user receives additional buttons that can be programmed for any action in the Razer Nexus proprietary software.
Naturally, Kishi V2 is connected via USB Type-C on the right side of the controller, like the original version, but now the manufacturer puts special rubber pads in the kit so that thick and thin smartphones are placed tightly enough in the controller, regardless of whether they are connected in a case or just have a huge camera bump. So Razer simply used the experience gained from the release of the original controller to improve its design and make it more convenient in everyday life.
Feelings of use
In general, I liked the feel of the Kishi V2 – the controller is incredibly light, which can confuse you at first, since the gadget does not immediately feel like a hundred dollar gamepad. But as soon as you insert a smartphone into the controller, the situation changes, as the weight of the entire structure increases, and the feel of the device is comparable to the Switch Lite. The overall feel in the hands is excellent – you can hold the controller in your hands for several hours without discomfort.
The button layout is also very good – I never felt like I couldn’t reach a button or react in time, and thanks to the diagonal arrangement of the analog sticks (like on the Xbox or Nintendo Switch), if you like this solution, you definitely won’t there will be problems.
But, of course, the main feature of the new Razer controller is the transition from a membrane design to microswitches on each of the buttons – they feel great. The switches, just like on mechanical PC gaming keyboards, provide a pleasant tactile feedback with an audible click. My only concern was how well the D-pad would work in this case and whether I could perform complex moves in the Samurai Shodown fighting game. It turned out that the microswitches do not interfere with the sweeping movements of special attacks – everything works fine.
Another important point is that analog joysticks have become smaller. If in V1 they were almost comparable to their counterparts on PlayStation or Xbox controllers, now they are closer to what the Nintendo Switch offers. This change directly affects the number of spins a user gets, but if you’re fine with the sticks on Switch, then you definitely shouldn’t worry. The new controller, in comparison with the original, has become much more convenient.
Performance
Since the Razer Kishi V2 controller does not provide an additional built-in battery, but operates purely as a wired gadget that is powered by your smartphone’s USB Type-C, its performance is simply excellent. There is no input lag, and thanks to the new switches, every movement is transmitted instantly and accurately. The only subtlety is the lower sticks – they give a little less room to maneuver, although the dead zones of both controllers seem identical. So in the end, the size of the sticks does not affect the possibilities in the game.
Software
Razer is well known for actively promoting its proprietary PC software along with its products. Unsurprisingly, this is exactly what the company did with the Kishi V2 – the controller comes with proprietary Razer Nexus software, which acts as a launcher for mobile video games. There is even a categorized library of supported video games that can be downloaded if the gamer likes something.
It is worth noting that the Razer Nexus application is still under development, but the software already supports streaming content to various streaming platforms, plus you can reassign the side buttons located next to the triggers in the program. And best of all, the Razer Nexus is free to use – even the button programming feature is available without a subscription.
Review
Yes, the $100 price tag isn’t easy to justify – it’s more expensive than next-generation Xbox or PlayStation controllers. But on the other hand, if you’re an avid gamer and Android is your main platform and you’re looking for something portable, with high build quality, low input lag, and a nice tactile experience, then the Razer Kishi V2 is a great choice for everyone. parameters. If you have the funds for a separate controller for your Android smartphone to play games on it with great comfort, then you will definitely be happy with what this device provides. The gadget fits perfectly in the hand, it has a durable and lightweight design, many functions thanks to proprietary software and the highest quality materials. The only real downside is the high price.
✅ Benefits
- Lightweight and compact gadget.
- Quality microswitches.
- Through charging.
- Removable pads for various devices.
❌ Disadvantages
- High price.
- The plastic case seems cheap.
- Less compact than previous model.
This is a translation of the Android Police review.
Source: Trash Box
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