Razer Kishi Ultra – The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller
As mobile gaming continues to dominate and evolve into more console-like experiences (with many actual console games being ported to mobile devices recently), the need for a robust controller is more necessary than ever. For many years, gaming on your phone or tablet has been a messy experience; awkward phone clips, subpar controls, and latency have made it feel like an afterthought. However, Razer has seemingly cracked the code with its Kishi Ultra mobile gaming controller and it’s by far the most technically advanced phone controller I’ve ever used. If you’re looking for a true console experience for your phone or tablet, this is arguably the best option – if you don’t mind the size.
Razer Kishi Ultra – Design and Features
The Razer Kishi Ultra is essentially a modified Razer Wolverine V2 controller cut in half with an expandable middle section to slot in a phone or tablet. Its design reminds me a lot of the PlayStation Portal by effectively giving you a console-like experience in the palm of your hand, while retaining all the features you’d expect out of a modern controller.
Aside from featuring excellent controls, the Kishi Ultra’s standout feature is its integration with the Razer Nexus app – a home screen-like experience that includes all of your mobile games, cloud streaming services, and remote play options all in one place. This allows you to quickly bounce between different games and services, or return to the app when needed by pressing the dedicated Razer Nexus button on the front of the controller.
The Kishi Ultra has two offset analog sticks that feature a concave design and anti-friction rings to keep your thumbs in place while gaming. They feel incredibly snappy and responsive, and have a plastic ring near the base that allows for smooth 360-degree rotation. Both thumbsticks can also be clicked in as L3 and R3 buttons.
One of my favorite features of recent Razer controllers are the company’s Mecha-Tactile face buttons, which are found here too on the Kishi Ultra. These blend the feeling of a standard membrane button with the responsiveness of a mouse click. The result continues to be one of the best feeling buttons on any controller I’ve used. They have an extremely satisfying press and bounciness, with almost no wiggle in each slot.
On top of the controller you’ll find your standard L1 and R1 shoulder buttons. Each one contours slightly around the edge of the controller, and is easy to press anywhere along the button. Just behind the shoulder buttons are full-size dual analog triggers which are great for games that require variable trigger distance, such as racing games. Nestled in between the shoulder buttons and analog triggers are two small customizable L4 and R4 buttons that can function like any button on the controller, or be used for macros.
The D-pad features a circular 8-way design that works well for fighting games where you need to quickly slide your finger to different inputs to perform combos. The convex, circular shape makes it not ideal for sidescrolling platformers where you need a bit more precision, but it’s still serviceable. Similar to the face buttons, it’s extremely clicky and very responsive, with very little travel before inputs are recognized.
Additionally, there’s a home button, menu button, and options button on the face of the controller that can be used to navigate the Razer Nexus app, although some games can also utilize these buttons to pause the action or open up settings. There’s also a dedicated screenshot button that you can press to quickly capture photos or videos while playing.
It wouldn’t be a Razer product without some RGB. Similar to the company’s other recent controllers, there’s a thin curved LED that wraps around the edge of the controller to provide a subtle pop of color. The lighting effects and colors can be easily customized through button shortcuts, or within the Razer Nexus app.
The Kishi Ultra utilizes a USB-C connection and can be used with the most recent iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, as well as USB-C iPad mini devices. Additionally, it works with USB-C Android devices and tablets up to eight inches in screen size. It includes interchangeable rubber cushions depending on which device you’re slotting into the controller to accommodate different shapes and sizes, and also works with many phone cases. You can also plug the Kishi Ultra into a PC or iPad with a USB-C cable and use it as a detached controller if you want to play something on a larger screen.
One of the main benefits of the direct USB-C connection is that there’s no latency while playing, unlike Bluetooth-connected controllers that have to transmit inputs wirelessly. Additionally, since the Kishi Ultra is connected directly to your device, there’s also no battery to charge on the controller itself as it’s powered by your phone or tablet. Thankfully, the power draw is hardly noticeable, so don’t worry about the controller sapping all of your juice. If you do find your device’s battery is running low, though, there’s a fast 15W passthrough USB-C connection on the bottom of the right side of the controller that can be used to quickly recharge. There’s also a built-in 3.5mm auxiliary port if you want to utilize a set of wired headphones while playing; a nice addition as most modern phones don’t have this port anymore.