Mobile gaming is so popular that we have long had not only specialized gaming smartphones such asNubia REDMAGIC 9 Probut also a variety of gadgets and devices. One of these popular solutions is the Razer Kishi V2 gamepad for smartphones. This current model turns phones into portable consoles. But is it worth your attention and money? How convenient is it and is it necessary at all? Let’s find out.
Content
| Device type | Gamepad for smartphones |
| Platform compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Connection | USB-C |
| Total number of buttons | 12 pcs |
| D-pad manipulator | Yes, 4-position |
| Stacks | 2 pcs |
| Bumpers (shields) | 4 pcs |
| Triggers (triggers) | 2 pcs |
| Mounting your smartphone | Waybill |
| Housing material | Plastic |
| Power supply | USB port |
| Weight | 123 grams |
The Razer Kishi V2 comes in a small rectangular box in the brand’s black and green colors.
Inside we see a soft foam base with cutouts for the device itself and its components. Among the latter are two pairs of interchangeable covers for different smartphones and the user manual. There are no cables or power supplies included because the device doesn’t actually need them.
The Razer Kishi V2 is a combination of the Joy-Con and the Xbox gamepad, where the latter was slightly reduced and divided into halves with a mount between them.
The connecting mechanism moves through springs inside. This allows the mount to be stretched wider to accommodate smartphones of different sizes.
The body of the gamepad for phones is made of matte plastic. On the back, there is a perforated surface for better grip of the palms with the device.
On the front of Razer Kishi V2 there are X, Y, A, B keys, LED indicator, sticks, D-pad, a button to launch the proprietary application and two more function buttons. As well as a button responsible for taking screenshots and recording video from the screen.
On the top we see standard ciphers and triggers (L1, L2, R1, R2) and two additional programmable buttons M1, M2.
On the bottom there is a through USB-C port. It allows you to charge your smartphone during the game because the main connector of the device is occupied by the Razer Kishi V2 itself.
On the inside of Razer Kishi V2 we can see a USB-C connector for connecting smartphones, as well as removable parts. The latter are needed to accurately connect the phone to the device.
The Razer Kishi V2 is comfortable in the hands, and its size is compact. At least for my hands. But the buttons are still smaller than those of gamepads, so if you’re used to them or the keyboard, you’ll have to adjust a bit. And for those who have played or have a Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or something like that, it will be easier because they are actually used to it.
The matte body quickly collects dust and fingerprints, but the latter are almost invisible and easy to clean. In general, if you play a lot on Xbox gamepads, then you will hardly have to get used to Razer Kishi V2. Your hands will find the right buttons in their places, but as I wrote above, their reduced size is confusing at first.
In our case, the Razer Kishi V2 is in the Android version, but there is also an iOS version with a different connector.
Razer Kishi V2 is equipped with more than just buttons. These are full-fledged switches with a distinctive click sound and quick response. It sounds and feels very similar to the switches on the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro gamepad.
The speed of button presses, shifts, and triggers is good. I don’t know the specific stroke to trigger, but it’s tiny, so everything is pressed easily. But the main thing is that there are no random phantom presses.
The controller probably has some kind of internal power supply, but it does not need to be charged separately. It draws power from the phone, but we don’t know how much. However, I don’t think it draws much.
I read that people don’t like the lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack in the device. They say that if it is on a smartphone, the Razer Kishi V2 covers it, and the new one does not. I don’t see a disadvantage here because there are fewer and fewer such models, although I admit that they are still left on gaming devices. However, even modern budget headphones have a game mode, which, although it degrades the sound quality, ensures that the sound is transmitted without lag.
The Razer Kishi V2 works with the proprietary Razer Nexus app. Of course, it’s not necessary to use it, but it brings the experience of using a gamepad and smartphone closer to a console-like experience.
There is a main screen with all the installed games and additional services such as Steam Link, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Remote Play, and Nvidia Geforce Now on the top. There are also various popular emulators such as RetroArch Plus and PPSSPP.
Below you can find various mobile, console, and other computer games by genre and category. Each project has its own page where you can see screenshots and a trailer, and then go to the Google Play Store to download it, if it is available.
In the Razer Nexus settings, you can stream games on YouTube or Facebook Live, customize controls, change the launcher background, and more.
Overall, the program is nice and useful. The design is a cross between PlayStation and Xbox interfaces. The functions and convenience are okay, but of course, you need to get used to it, see where the games are, what categories, genres, search, etc.
But I don’t have any competitors to compare, so I liked everything. Moreover, this is the first such application and device for me, so maybe there is something better, for example, from Backbone One, but now everything is fine.
The Razer Kishi V2 definitely evokes positive emotions during use. The gamepad for smartphones is comfortable, though a little too small, so people with large hands may not feel comfortable. At least in the first hours.
It’s very easy to press the buttons, and the stroke is almost imperceptible, but the depth of the triggers and shifts is sufficient and close to standard gamepads. In a few weeks of using the device, I played a couple of hours of various projects (Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Wreckfest, Mortal Kombat, Diablo Immortal, Wild Rift, etc.) Everything feels great and comfortable, and most importantly, it’s familiar, because I play everything with gamepads. Even on the PC.
It’s good that they made through charging of the smartphone, but it seems that there is no fast charging, so if your phone supports something very fast, it will charge normally through the controller. Keep this in mind.
The gamepad doesn’t get dirty very much, and it cleans up quickly. It’s easy to cling to the phone without any problems, the main thing is to choose the right stands from the kit. However, in my case, even in a thin case, the connection did not work. I had to remove the case and only then did the controller recognize the smartphone. Perhaps it will be different in your case.
The smartphone holds securely, but that’s in my case, when the cameras don’t stick out at all. If you have a phone with a sufficiently protruding camera platform, as is often the case nowadays, then it holds unevenly. Because the connecting part of the gamepad is relatively narrow, but still, the smartphone can partially rest against it with the cameras, and this can make it skewed, which means it is not securely fixed.
Again, this is not a disadvantage of the controller because it already has the most versatile design. These are just facts to consider whether this device is suitable for your smartphone.
I like the app, you get used to it quickly. However, if you have a gaming device, and it has its own gaming hub that you are used to, then it may be better to stay with it. Especially since these things allow you to adjust the power of the hardware, free up memory, and so on, and Razer Nexus can’t do that. But as a free program, it’s more than okay.
PlayStation users will find it a little harder to get used to the Razer Kishi V2 because it has a layout like an Xbox controller. This is especially true for the non-parallel layout of the sticks. For me, this is important in shooters, where such an arrangement is not convenient for me, but you get used to it in a day or two. And if you play on an Xbox controller, then everything will be familiar, only a little less so.
The price of Razer Kishi V2 starts from 3900 UAH. However, in most large networks, for example, in «Hello», the price of this gamepad is UAH 4999. In my opinion, this is adequate, but it will definitely be expensive for someone. However, I must note that the price tag of most competitors is similar, with only a few exceptions.
The main and popular competitor of Razer Kishi V2 — Backbone One. Also pay attention to Razer Kishi Ultra. There is also the most budget-friendly solution iPega PG-9167 and iPega PG-9156. However, in the latter case, it is a regular gamepad with a place for a smartphone. The latter is worth noting GameSir X2, which is very similar to the Nintendo Switch.
