Razer Kishi Ultra Review – Almost Perfect, Best Mobile Game Controller Yet
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Appearance - 8/10
8/10
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Features - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Materials - 8/10
8/10
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Performance - 9/10
9/10
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Portability - 6/10
6/10
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User Experience - 9/10
9/10
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Value - 7/10
7/10
Summary
At this point in time, the Razer Kishi Ultra is the best mobile game controller you can get your hands on. Sure, it’s pricey but you certainly get what you pay for.
Overall
7.9/10Pros
+ Widest platform compatibility, complete with PC support
+ Fits a wide variety of devices even with cases on, can fit iPad Mini even
+ Razer Nexus app virtualization basically lets you use it in any mobile game
+ D-pad, analog sticks, and buttons are clicky, consistent, and responsive
+ Can perform well for competitive games on mobile and PC
+ Sensa HD Haptics work really well
+ Comfortable hand grips, works well with most hand sizes
Cons
– Not exactly travel-friendly
– More RGB lighting would be nice
– Pricey
Unboxing the Razer Kishi Ultra
Kicking off the Razer Kishi Ultra review with the unboxing, this peripheral comes in a new white and green packaging as opposed to the standard issue black and green one that many of us are used to from them. It certainly looks cleaner and more premium than before, as if it’s a beginning of a new era. You get some basic product descriptions listed around the box. There aren’t many things inside but this is what we found:
- Documentations
- Razer stickers
- 3 x rubber cushion sets
- The Razer Kishi Ultra itself
Specifications
Connectivity | USB Type C |
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Charging | Pass through charging |
Battery Life | None |
Clickable Thumbstick | Yes |
Thumbstick Sensitivity Adjustment | Yes (Razer Nexus) |
Multi-Function Buttons | 2 |
Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons | Yes |
Trigger Stops | None |
System Requirements |
*Haptics compatibility varies depending on game and Android system version. |
Supported Phone Dimensions |
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Dimensions |
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Weight | 266g |
Mobile App | Yes, Razer Nexus |
The Good
There are a number of good reasons to consider getting the Razer Kishi Ultra. For starters, this has the widest platform compatibility I’ve seen in any mobile game controller so far. Officially, it’s compatible with Android, iOS (iPhone 15 series as Lightning will not work), and Windows PC via cable but it also works just fine with the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro, meaning it should work with all recent HUAWEI phones just fine for as long as the USB-C connector is in working order. I’ve tried connecting it to my MacBook Air and that doesn’t work unfortunately for any games so far so fair warning there.
Furthermore, this thing can fit pretty much any smartphone complete with the case. In fact, it can even fit an iPad Mini on the holder, which is insane to think about. You might need to change out the rubber cushion sets in case the USB-C doesn’t fit well but Razer has already included multiple sets of varying shapes to accommodate a wide variety of devices so no problems there. To be able to use this on so many devices and still double up as a controller for PC means you can have just this one controller for everything except for console gaming, which is great.
Of course, not every mobile game can be played with the Razer Kishi Ultra, but that’s where the Razer Nexus app comes into play. It’s a game launcher app first and foremost but the most important about it is the Virtual Controller Mode. Essentially, the game will remap touchscreen controls to the physical buttons, D-pad and joysticks of the Razer Kishi Ultra, allowing you to use it for any games even if they haven’t included controller support yet. However, do keep in mind that certain competitive games may ban you for this as it could be considered cheating but if you’re just a casual gamer, go crazy and have fun with it.
Speaking of the buttons, I’m surprised Razer went all out with it as it’s damn near comparable to an Esports-grade controller. You get full-sized analog sticks, a clicky and responsive D-pad akin to the one on the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, and buttons that seemed to have been transported from the Raiju series. By that, I mean that it has a short travel distance with a clicky response. It’s so good, I actually started playing Tekken 8 with and have no issues crouch-dashing and wavcdashing, with better speeds and consistency compared to the Razer Kitsune even. If there was ever an Esports version of this controller, I do believe they can shorten the buttons’ travel distance just a little bit more for faster response.
One key feature that’s expected to get better over time is the Sensa HD Haptics. Essentially, you get specific vibrations with specific intensities based on what’s happening in games for a more immersive experience. It’s not quite up to par with the haptics on the PS5’s DualSense controller but it’s certainly a league above your standard vibrations. All you need to do is run games through the Razer Nexus app, enable audio haptics and you’re good to go. It’s a good practice to run games through this app anyway as it will tell you which games support it, which is lacking in numbers unfortunately, but I expect that to improve with time.
Lastly, and this is quite important to me, is that the hand grips are on the larger side, making it quite comfortable to use. The textured finish on the grip also makes it easier to hold. It also fits a nice middle ground where it’s comfortable for large hands but not too big that small hands will struggle with it. I would say that if you have no issues with the DualSense controller, this will be an easy fit but if the older DualShock 4 is too big, which wouldn’t be the case for a whole lot of people, then this might not be the one for you.
Looking to try your hands on a hitbox controller? Check out our Razer Kitsune review by clicking right here.
The Bad
As good as it is, the Razer Kishi Ultra does have its share of drawbacks. For starters, it’s the least compact mobile controller I’ve used so far. There is no folding mechanism or a way to collapse the support pillar to allow the left and right side of it to be literally side-by-side each other. This also makes it a bit awkward if you’re using it for PC gaming as it will feel noticeably wider than most controllers but you can get used to it pretty quickly. However, it’s not exactly travel-friendly unless you’re carrying a bag with a decent amount of space.
Next up, while it does have Razer Chroma RGB, its presence is minimal at best. Sure, it still looks good but I expected something a little flashier, like having lighting rings around the buttons, D-pad, and joysticks. Perhaps its done by design so as to not drain the attached device’s battery too much, given that it is a mobile game controller after all. However, they could still add what I mentioned and more but make the RGB lighting configurable via the Razer Nexus app, like disabling some lighting zones or all of it if need be.
Lastly, and this shouldn’t be a surprise, the Razer Kishi Ultra is rather pricey for a mobile game controller. It’s currently retailing for RM729 and if you’re lucky, you might be able to find a brand new one hovering around RM650 online. Considering that you have many options for half that price, it will be a tough sell. However, if you prefer this style of controllers and will make use of it for both mobile and PC gaming, then it makes more sense to buy this. After all, you can just get the standard Kishi for much cheaper if mobile gaming is all you care about. With that being said, it will be hard to find something that can perform as good as this controller at any price point for now, that much is for sure.
Razer Kishi Ultra Verdict
At this point in time, the Razer Kishi Ultra is the best mobile game controller you can get your hands on. Sure, it’s pricey but you certainly get what you pay for. Its versatility in supporting a wide variety of devices and capable of functioning as a full-fledged controller for PC gaming makes it a worthwhile investment if you’re taking gaming a bit seriously than the average folk. I just wished it had some sorta folding / collapsing mechanism to make it more travel-friendly.
At the end of our Razer Kishi Ultra review, I award this mobile game controller with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.
Big thanks to Razer Asia Pacific for sending us this arcade controller for the purpose of this review.