Wonderful for cloud gaming and emulation

Gaming on smartphones is tough, and there’s not a complete lot that you could actually do about it both. Most smartphones have developed to develop into computing powerhouses, however finicky contact controls make it in order that your cellphone might not essentially be probably the most comfy to play video games on. There are controllers you may get for telephones although that make it a bit simpler, and Razer’s Kishi v2 goals to make cloud gaming and emulation an easy expertise.

I’ve been utilizing the Razer Kishi v2 for gaming on my smartphone for the previous two weeks now, and it’s evening and day between contact controls and utilizing the precise controller. It’s comfy to make use of for lengthy intervals of time, and it matches all the telephones I’ve examined it in simply high-quality. I’ve given it a shot within the Google Pixel 6 Professional, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely, and the ZTE Axon 40 Extremely and have been in a position to play for an prolonged time period with none issues. It ought to match just about any of the very best Android telephones.

The Razer Kishi v2 connects by way of the USB-C port, and it’s geared toward being a common plug-and-play possibility for any Android smartphone with a USB-C port. There are pre-installed bumpers that purpose to carry your cellphone securely in place, however you possibly can take away them or swap them out for thinner ones if it’s essential to. It’s a reasonably nice controller all issues thought of, although there are some caveats. Should you emulate quite a lot of video games or wish to play the likes of Google Stadia, although, then this may simply be your subsequent controller.

Navigate this assessment:

---

Razer Kishi V2: Specs

About this assessment: Razer despatched me the Razer Kishi v2 on the ninth of June, 2022. The corporate had no enter into the contents of this assessment.

---

Razer Kishi v2: Feel and appear

The Razer Kishi v2 is manufactured from plastic and is fairly light-weight, and but it doesn’t really feel low cost. It’s designed that manner in order that it doesn’t get in the way in which of your gaming by including to the load of your cellphone. The buttons are clicky and tactile, and it feels pretty sturdy — sufficient to throw right into a bag and carry round.

If I had one main criticism concerning the type issue of the Razer Kishi v2, it’s that it doesn’t shut up totally. When there’s no system clasped in it, it’s nonetheless fairly huge open and it takes up quite a lot of room in my bag. On condition that there’s no provider case for it both, it’s a little bit bit inconvenient.

Turning the Razer Kishi v2 on its again, you’ll discover the clip that holds the whole factor collectively. Lengthen it outwards and the cellphone will be positioned on the within, aligning with the USB-C port on the right-hand aspect. The controller then clasps onto the cellphone from the highest and backside, with rubber at every finish to cease your cellphone’s again from scratching. These rubber items may cause some telephones to be misaligned, although, however you possibly can take away them to regulate issues round. Telephones with significantly giant digicam bumps, nonetheless beware.

As for the buttons and joysticks, they’ll be acquainted to anybody who has ever used the Nintendo Change Joycons earlier than. They’re comfy to make use of, and my unit doesn’t have any lifeless zones or drifting, both.

I examined the sensitivity of the joystick utilizing the Gamepad Tester app. (Word: I didn’t draw within the full circles of the X and Y axes).

On the underside of the right-side controller, there’s a USB-C port that can be utilized for charging your cellphone whereas enjoying. It doesn’t fast-charge telephones although even when utilizing a suitable charger (which means your battery will nonetheless doubtless drain in intensive video games), nor does it help USB-C to three.5mm jack adapters. Consequently, you possibly can’t use wired earphones or headphones when enjoying video games, even when your cellphone has a headphone jack or you might have an adapter. The Razer Kishi v2 is powered by your smartphone, so that you don’t have to cost it or maintain it plugged in.

The most important criticism I’ve is the shortage of entry to a headphone jack or USB-C port as a result of gaming with latency over earphones or audio system is irritating. The perfect expertise I’ve had with this controller is utilizing the audio system over my cellphone, because it’s the one manner I can play with out frustration from audio latency. It’s not often a problem for me to have the ability to play out loud in my house, but when it could be for you, then it is probably not price it.

---

Razer Kishi v2: Nexus app

Identical to with the unique Kishi, Razer has launched an app that you should use with the Razer Kishi v2. The Razer Nexus app is a portal to entry video games which might be suitable with the controller, and it allows built-in dwell streaming to Fb and YouTube. You can even use it to seize movies and screenshots of gameplay or to remap buttons on the controller.

It’s not a very helpful app for its searching capabilities. The primary row of apps seems to be apps which might be categorized as video games which might be already put in in your cellphone, no matter whether or not or not they’re suitable. After that, it simply acts as a option to discover video games that will likely be suitable with a controller. It’s not an incredible app and also you don’t actually need it if you happen to don’t wish to set up it. It may be used for firmware updates, however on the time of writing, I haven’t acquired an replace, and I’m unsure what sort of updates the corporate would even roll out.

---

Razer Kishi v2: Gaming expertise

The Razer Kishi v2 provides an incredible expertise in gaming and feels identical to some other controller. I’ve used it to play Cyberpunk 2077 on Google Stadia and for a ton of various titles in emulators reminiscent of Dolphin Emulator and AetherSX2. It’s a improbable expertise that permits me to play console and even PC titles wherever at any time.

Funnily sufficient, the Razer Kishi v2 gained’t be of a lot use in the most well-liked Android titles like Name of Obligation: Cellular and PUBG Cellular. That’s as a result of each of these video games have disabled controller inputs because the builders really feel they make the sport unfair for customers who don’t have further peripherals. Your greatest wager is to map the controller inputs to touches on the show, however that’s much more hassle than it’s price.

Nonetheless, the place I’ve discovered the Razer Kishi v2 works properly is within the likes of Google Stadia. It offers a console-like expertise on a handheld, and the controller is on no account a barrier between me and the video games that I play. The truth is, I’d wager you possibly can most likely get a greater expertise in Cyberpunk 2077 in your smartphone with the Razer Kishi v2 than you possibly can with a gaming PC full of older components. Who’s shopping for a graphics card these days anyway?

It’s fairly humorous to me that with the @Razer Kishi v2 and @GoogleStadia, you possibly can most likely have a greater expertise enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 in your cellphone than on most PCs lmao pic.twitter.com/40VwpqvDOj

— Adam Conway (@AdamConwayIE) June 9, 2022

Not each sport on PC helps controllers, so if you happen to’re utilizing Steam Hyperlink, you may have to do some humorous remapping to get issues working. I think about that’s the identical as with GeForce NOW. It’s the identical story as with Moonlight for sport streaming. Something that helps normal controller inputs will help the Kishi v2’s buttons, because it simply sends normal key occasions that may be learn by any app. When configuring it with AetherSX2, it’s essential to go to controller settings, “port 1”, and choose “automated mapping”. I didn’t have to make some other adjustments after that.

---

Do you have to purchase the Razer Kishi v2?

The Razer Kishi v2 is a improbable controller for very particular use instances, nevertheless it’s one that folks might have a problem with for various causes. For me, I’m comfortable to make use of it and get quite a lot of enjoyable out of it, however I can completely perceive why it won’t be your cup of tea for one purpose or one other. On high of that, the steep asking value of $99 could be an excessive amount of, particularly if you happen to’re not an excessive amount of of a gamer. A few of the controllers competing within the area are adopting cooling options as effectively, which the Razer Kishi v2 fully skips out on.

If, although, you prefer to emulate video games on the go particularly, then I like to recommend this controller so long as you don’t care about audio latency or can play over audio system. It’s so comfy to play video games with, and I’ve been correctly enjoying by way of video games like The Simpsons: Hit & Run and Sonic Heroes on my cellphone with ease. It’s not at the moment accessible for iPhones, however the firm intends on launching a controller with help for the lightning port quickly.

I’m glad that Razer is dedicated to bettering on its controllers, and I hope that for a 3rd iteration, the corporate improves on among the points that it has like the big type issue when not in use, and the horrible USB-C port.