Razer Kishi Ultra controller review: Victory assured
With its premium build quality and exceptional tactile feedback, the Razer Kishi Ultra is my pick for the best mobile gaming controller in Australia right now.
When it comes to the other mobile gaming controllers I’ve reviewed so far here on BTTR, they all feel very much like accessories for your smartphone.
But the Razer Kishi Ultra? This is different. It feels like a proper console controller, that just happens to use your smartphone. And that makes all the difference.
With its solid build, integrated haptics, and satisfying button clicks, the Kishi Ultra aims to deliver a premium gaming experience on your smartphone or tablet. But does it live up to the hype? Let's have a proper look.
What is the Razer Kishi Ultra offering?
The Razer Kishi Ultra is designed to bridge the gap between mobile and console gaming. It's a USB-C connected controller that draws power directly from your device, meaning no pesky batteries to charge.
In my opinion, the foundation of the Kishi Ultra’s success is its build quality. It feels robust and comfortable in the hand, with buttons and triggers that offer a satisfying tactile response.
The triggers feel like the triggers on an Xbox controller, with a solid level of resistance, rather than just pieces of plastic attached to the back of the controller.
The Kishi Ultra also boasts integrated haptics, providing immersive feedback that enhances gameplay. There’s also two strips of RGB lighting in the palm rests, which adds Razer’s iconic flare to the controller – though I don’t feel it’s necessary.
Like the BackBone One, Razer has also included a dedicated game launcher button that launches the Razer Nexus app, giving you quick access to your favourite mobile games. Unlike BackBone though, there’s no subscription required to get the most out of the controller.
There’s also pass-through charging, which ensures you can keep your device juiced up while you play, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack if you want to use a pair of wired headphones during your gameplay. I used the Sennheiser HD 505 with the Kishi Ultra, and it was a really, really nice experience.
It is also worth noting that this controller will flex open wide enough to fit an iPad Mini, as long as it’s a newer model with a USB-C port.
What does the Razer Kishi Ultra do well?
The Kishi Ultra excels in delivering a premium gaming experience. The buttons and triggers are top-notch, offering a level of responsiveness that is a serious step up from the likes of the GameSir G8 Plus and BackBone One.
The click of the buttons, and the resistance of the triggers, were easily the most satisfying of all the mobile gaming controllers I have used.
It lacks any hardware customisation, like you get with the GameSir G8+, though you can adjust the performance in the Razer Nexus app.
I also appreciate the pure simplicity of the Kishi. Plug it into your Android or iOS device, and it just works. Even games that don't officially support controllers seem to work seamlessly, like Apple Arcade’s Final Fantasy IV release.
Razer has built the Kishi Ultra around its Razer Nexus app game launcher, and the interface is clean and easy to use. It offers some level of control over the RGB lighting and performance of the analogue sticks, but is best for its easy access to your games.
It offers support for Xbox cloud streaming, PlayStation Remote Play, as well as quick access to iOS games on the App Store, though sadly, it highlights pricing from the US store by default.
What could the Razer Kishi Ultra improve?
While the Kishi Ultra has a lot going for it, there are a few areas where it could be better.
One of the biggest letdowns is the lack of rear buttons. While Razer has opted for an additional pair of L4/R4 shoulder buttons, they're a bit too difficult to reach comfortably.
While most of the games I played had no need for the additional buttons, the convenience of the rear buttons on all the other controllers was much more noticeable compared to the stretch to reach Razer’s extra shoulders.
Fitting a phone with a case can also be a bit awkward. You do get a range of additional rubber attachments in the box to try to find an ideal fit for your phone, but it’s a bit hit-and-miss given the varying shapes and sizes on the market.
While it does support most phones, some thicker cases may cause issues. And if you want to switch between an iPhone and an iPad, for example, there’s no guarantee you won’t have to replace the rubber grips while switching devices, which is a pain.
Razer has included its Sensa HD Haptics in the Kishi Ultra, and using the controller with an iPhone means you get a satisfying bit of feedback when using it with the Nexus game launcher app.
However, from what I can tell, there are currently no iOS games that support it. I managed to make it work a little by setting the triggers to a “digital”, and it would react with each trigger pull in COD: Mobile. But it wasn’t the immersive experience I was expecting.
Verdict
The Razer Kishi Ultra is a premium mobile gaming controller that delivers a console-like experience. Its solid build, impressive performance, and satisfying button clicks make it a top contender for serious mobile gamers.
While the lack of rear buttons and the slight bulkiness are minor drawbacks, the overall performance and ease of use of the Kishi Ultra are difficult to fault.
If you're looking for the best of the best in mobile gaming controllers, the Razer Kishi Ultra is definitely my pick from all the models I’ve tested so far.
At $269.95 RRP, it's a premium product with a premium price tag, but it delivers on its promise of a premium gaming experience. If budget is a concern, then the GameSir G8+ is a solid option, but it just doesn’t deliver that same console-like gaming experience on your phone.
Buy the Razer Kishi Ultra online
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