Verdict
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro offers a decent choice to the BackBone One , with a standardised design and fillip controls . However , it feel somewhat expensive , and its audio haptics are n’t a complete success .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Last year we reviewed theRazer Edge , a gaming handheld that was made up of an 8 - inch Android tablet and a detachable Kishi accountant . That detachable Kishi controller is now being offered separately as the Razer Kishi V2 Pro .
Stood along , without Razer ’s custom 144Hz showing , it very closely resemble theBackBone One . That is , it ’s a set of not - quite - full - sized console controls that clamp around your Android phone of choice , hooking up directly via a USB - C embrasure .
At £ 130 , however , the Razer Kishi V2 Pro is £ 30 more expensive than the BackBone , and a full £ 50 more than theGameSir G8 Galileo . Those are arguably the two best mobile game controller on the market properly now .
From a sure view , the Razer Kishi V2 Pro bridges the break between those two accomplished contender , offering the thickset physical body ingredient of the BackBone and the extra controls of the GameSir . But is that enough ?
Design
The first thing I suppose of when I fished the Razer Kishi V2 Pro out of the box was the BackBone One . Partly because BackBone ’s controller has become my own unofficial measuring stick for peregrine plot controllers , but also because the Razer Kishi V2 Pro simply look a lot like the BackBone One .
Its footprint is highly similar , though it really weighs about 10 Gram less . Perhaps related to this , the Razer Kishi V2 Pro feels a little cheaper than the BackBone in the mitt . I believe it comes down to a combination of that light body , the grain of the plastic , and the clickier , less - dampened nature of the buttons .
Whatever the subtle difference in feel , the Razer Kishi V2 Pro clinch onto your Android sound the exact same way of life . You have the two sides of a classic console table controller with a spring - loaded bridge linking the two . Prize these halves aside and slot your phone in landscape painting - wise , making sure to align the USB - coke port with the connexion on the right - hand section .
One other interesting hard-nosed note is the lower location of the USB - speed of light connection on the Kishi V2 Pro . This intend that smaller phone in especial – such as theGalaxy S24I used extensively during my trial run – can sense curiously low - slung when connected up .
Like BackBone , Razer has included a couple of sets of rubber grips to fit a range of smartphone sizes . They ’re less impressive , however , with less aerofoil contact area and flimsy physical plugs rather than the BackBone ’s sharp magnetised snap - on organisation .
Of of course , GameSir arguably exceed both of these with its one - sizing - conniption - most arrangement , which includes a tiltable USB - cytosine connexion . But we do necessitate to call up that Razer and BackBone are both shooting for portability here .
There ’s a full readiness of console table control condition here , including a pair of analog stick and analogue triggers . Unlike most of its rivals , though , Razer included a couplet of superfluous digital gun trigger release on the top edge . These M1 and M2 keys are quite smartly implemented , standing slightly higher than their neighbours so you could easily severalise them by feel .
Such spare controls are the tolerant console table makers reserve for their expensive Pro controllers , so their inclusion here is not to be sniffed at , especially feed the inherently mappable nature of roving gaming control .
You get your obligatory bent of four sailing keys , including a consecrated screenshot release and one that ’ll launch the free Razer Nexus app .
On the bottom border of the comptroller , right where they are on the BackBone One , can be establish a 3.5 millimeter headphone port ( on the left one-half ) and a USB - C embrasure ( on the right wing ) for passthrough charging . We do n’t always see these provisions , especially the phone jack .
Performance and Gaming experience
As we noted in our Razer Edge review , The Razer Kishi V2 Pro handles secret plan well . Its buttons are extremely clicky , but ca n’t be fault for their reactivity .
That clickiness extends to the D - pad , and I find myself preferring the soft , more dampened style of the BackBone One equivalent . The important point , though , is that the Razer ’s D - launching pad exit the Dead Cells test for precision and dependability .
The analogue triggers handled Wreckfest ’s physics - drive console racing well , enabling me to fledge the accelerator pedal through gentle corners , while the two analogue stick shew nice and exact .
Aside from those extra physical controls , the biggest unequalled feature film here is support for haptic feedback . Activated on a secret plan - by - plot foundation within the Nexus app , this ‘ HyperSense ’ haptics scheme apply the game ’s audio frequency to produce grumbling .
It ’s an interesting idea . However , I retrieve the extensive gang fight to be distract and even downright annoying . Because it take audio as its cue , I find that the grumble would often quetch in at weird times , and far too ofttimes at that .
Phone compatibility is a mixed handbag . The Kishi V2 Pro does n’t yet support theiPhone 15 range , which is a bit pestering , reach that the Razer Nexus app stomach the consecrated Lightning version of the Kishi V2 , and that the phone physically one-armed bandit into the controller quite snugly . Razer promises compatibility is come “ in a future firmware update ” .
However , if you ’re in the Android world , things are pretty good . As already cite , the Kishi V2 Pro work well with the Galaxy S24 , but I also moderate the fit with theGalaxy S24 Plusand the Redmi Note 13 Pro . Crucially , it also egest thePixel 8test , with its huge , weirdly positioned photographic camera vizor .
Again , Razer ’s rubber buffer system is more prosaic than Backbone ’s , but it does make it quite accommodating , if not quite as locked - in .
Software
Razer supplies the free Nexus app to wangle the Kishi V2 Pro ’s various features , and it serves the aim somewhat well for the most part .
set it to bring up up whenever you relate your phone make for well , as does the navigation button that opens and closes the app .
The app itself is n’t as slick as the BackBone app , but it remain a pleasant console table - like UI that enable you to browse through your set up games and preview other game and streaming services . The individual app listing are middling blue and simply link through to the Google Play Store , but they serve the aim with minimal fuss .
The main UI feels very snappy and reliable , with a smooth soma rate and piddling prevue videos when you hover over a finicky game . All in all , it ’s much more polished and finely - tune up for strong-arm control operation than the GameSir app .
I appreciated the visceral system for activating virtual accountant support when games do n’t support a physical USB - C. It ’s acquaint as a little Y - button toggle when scrolling through your installed games .
This means that games like Genshin Impact and CoD Mobile can still be play with the controller . The real mapping system could stand to be clean up up a small , however .
You ’ll require to tap a distracting icon at the top middle of the screen , which manifests as a specially egregious landscape show notch . Then you ’ll need to tap to puff various button icons over the various on - screen controls . Bringing the forcible buttons in one by one feels a little laborious and unintelligible here .
Still , it works , and I was soon running and gunning in CoD Mobile using ‘ proper ’ physical controls .
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Should you buy it?
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro is compact and clean , yet it sport fillip pro controls .
At £ 130 , the Razer Kishi V2 Pro is one of the most expensive mobile plot controllers of its kind .
Final Thoughts
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro take design square at the imperiousBackBone One , with a similarly thickset and goodly mobile controller innovation and additional physical ascendancy .
However , neither its hardware nor its software feel quite as premium , which would n’t be too much of an issue but for a much gamey request price . Meanwhile , though I appreciate the new audio - establish tactile feedback option , the results are n’t especially satisfying .
If you may find it on offer , or you take a firm stand on a combination of portability and additional strong-arm controls , it rest a more than solid pick . Ultimately , though , the Razer Kishi V2 Pro finds itself flanked by two prominent alternatives in the BackBone One and theGameSir G8 Galileo .
Trusted Score
How we test
We essay all our twist exhaustively over an prolonged period of time . We use diligence - stock test to compare features decent . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , admit money to review a merchandise .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
It depends on the earphone , but removing the rubber adapters should grant you to employ a stack of covers .
No , but Razer promises compatibility in a future firmware update .
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro controller has a USB - cytosine port , enabling you to charge your phone as you play .
