After the Kishi was introduced, the one-hit wonder firm pounced with the $99 Backbone One, an even more potent mobile controller for the iPhone. It had a more utilitarian design, a cosier feel, and a user interface that felt just short of a full-fledged console operating system. It gave mobile gaming a more developed experience, weakening and significantly decreasing the appeal of the Kishi’s value proposition. As a result, with the Kishi V2, Razer opted to forgo its original design in favour of something that is quite similar to the Backbone One.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Design and Features
At first glance, the Backbone One, the top phone controller accessory that is presently only made for iPhone handsets, and the Razer Kishi V2 have extremely similar designs. The Kishi V2 chooses a Backbone-type extended bridge design rather than its predecessor’s split-apart Joy-Con style controller. Though less portable than the foldable form of the original Kishi, this makes it considerably easier to insert a larger phone into the PC controller. However, most people find that giving up portability for more compatibility is a worthwhile trade-off; you’ll just probably want to invest in a travel case. The Kishi V2 weighs 123 grammes, making it lighter than both the Backbone One and the original Kishi. Having a lightweight device is advantageous since it allows you to extend your gameplay session without worrying about hand cramps, which is a common issue with portable gaming. It weighs 330 grammes when combined with my Google Pixel 6 (without a case), however your total weight may change based on the device you’re using. You can buy this Razer Kishi V2 from its official website.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Performance
The Razer Kishi V2’s performance is excellent since it lacks internal batteries and is a hard-wired controller that is charged by your phone’s USB-C port. The new micro switches make everything seem precise and tactile without any lag. So the Kishi V2 performs admirably in terms of performance. The main drawback is the size of the thumbsticks, which doesn’t seem to effect performance. With the smaller thumbsticks, there is significantly less room for stick movement than with the larger sticks in the V1. However, the dead zones for both seem comparable.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Gaming experience
Fantastic gaming controller that feels identical to other controllers is the Razer Kishi v2. On addition to Cyberpunk 2077 on Google Stadia, I’ve used it for a tonne of other games in emulators like Dolphin Emulator and AetherSX2. I get to play console and even PC games anytime I want, which is an amazing experience. Funny enough, two of the most popular Android apps, PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile, won’t benefit much from the Razer Kishi v2. This is because the developers of those two games decided blocking controller inputs would be unfair to gamers without additional devices. It should be possible to map controller inputs to touches on the display, but doing so would need a lot more effort.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Controls
When using analogue sticks on a slim handheld system, even the Switch and Switch Lite’s sticks perform worse than a full-sized controller. The Kishi v2’s sticks function admirably in light of this. They don’t have a significant deadzone in the middle, unlike some third-party controllers, are lightweight but feel strong, have the proper level of sensitivity for demanding action games without being unduly twitchy, and are not overly sensitive in the middle. I had no issue moving, aiming, and shooting whether I was playing first-person shooters like Destiny 2 or 2D action games like Dead Cells. The microswitch face buttons have a pleasing tactile response when you tap or hold down, despite their inherent small size. They don’t appear light, loose, or wobbly. Another plus: Razer even got the triggers perfect. Even though the top bumpers are small, they are easy to locate with your index fingers and react swiftly. However, the bottom triggers actually work as analogue devices. In games that allow you customization of acceleration or braking—mostly streaming racing games—you can do so successfully.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Software
The Razer Kishi V2 adds some software to sweeten the bargain, keeping things simpler than the original Kishi’s solid mobile controller experience. With the Kishi V2 and Nexus, a new app from Razer, you may enjoy a number of advantages. Nexus not only acts as a central location for all of your games, making it simple to select one and start playing, but it also serves as the primary interface for controlling the Kishi V2. Firmware updates and button remapping are available from Nexus. The app also allows you to set up live streaming broadcasts on Facebook or YouTube, but I did raise an eyebrow at the absence of Twitch.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Price and availability
Razer’s Kishi V2 for iPhone is virtually identical to the Android-compatible one from earlier this year, just as the Backbone One PS5 Edition controller is nearly identical to the normal device. The only difference in the Kishi V2 for iPhone’s connectors is that both the phone connection and the power passthrough connector are MFi-certified Lightning. Both the Backbone One and the Razer Kishi V2 cost $100 and feature comparable hardware but different software.
Razer Kishi V2 review: Final words
The Kishi V2 is a necessary companion whether you want to stream games with GeForce Now, Game Pass, or Steam Link or play local games on your phone. However, not all Android apps do; major exceptions like Genshin Impact do not support the Kishi V2. We spent numerous hours using the original Kishi, which I adored, but I believe the V2 is a vast upgrade. If you already own the Kishi V1, you might not need the V2, but if you want the best controller experience for your Android phone, this is it.
