Fantastic controller and works perfectly on my Pixel 8. I've had this for over a year now and it still works as great as the day I purchased it. This effectively turns any phone into a game console. Yes, the resulting unit is long, but it feels good in the hand.

EDIT: I've had the Kishi V2 for a while now and have talked some of my friends into getting it as well — it's a solid unit and one of the best on the market. I stand by my initial 5 stars, and have since been able to try out the touch emulation. Zero complaints. I've come to appreciate its subdued appearance, Razer products have a tendency to be really flashy and garish.

I know the GameCube came out 20 years ago at this point, but it continues to be quite surreal being able to play GameCube games on the go on a general-purpose device, with physical controls!

Original review follows, with some edits based on my experience:

I have a hackable Switch, but chose to try this out after being extremely disappointed with the Switch's performance as an emulation system — late N64 releases barely run, and don't even think about playing GameCube games.

The Kishi perfectly fits my Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G out of the box (a phone too big for the Kishi V1, which has hardware about twice as good as a Switch). Buttons feel good, not mushy, and the sticks are good. Triggers feel nice, and the analog support is always nice to have (Looking at you, Nintendo.). The four auxillary buttons are in kind of weird places, but it works.

Tightly grips the phone, and the slight curve to the grips is much more comfortable than holding the phone itself, or even Switch Joy-Con. Build quality feels solid; it flexes a little bit when fully extended, but that's not a position you'll ever have it in except when putting the phone in.

The Razer Nexus app is a little weird and not terribly useful, but it runs under microG and doesn't require an internet connection. The touch control emulation works great in the few apps I've tried it in, but it's necessarily a pretty subpar experience. I didn't keep playing games that required it, native controller support is the way to go. Verify that the games you want to play support controllers before purchasing!

Works perfectly in RetroArch, Lemuroid, and Dolphin — also works to navigate Android itself. Waiting (im)patiently for Yuzu controller support to report on that.

I got this on a Warehouse deal for ~$60. Its normal $100 asking price is a bit steep, but it's not too bad compared to its competitors and for what you get.

Quick Take

This controller is comfortable and responsive and works well for mobile gaming. The biggest downside is that it isn’t as compact as the Android version, making it a bit harder to carry around.

What I Like

✓ Ergonomic design that feels good in the hands

✓ Buttons and triggers are responsive and work well

✓ Pass-through charging is a great feature for longer gaming sessions

✓ Overall gameplay feels smooth and console-like

What Could Be Better

→ Occasionally kicks me out of the game to the iPhone home screen

→ Less compact than the Android version due to the rigid back design

Real Use / Final Thoughts

My kids and I have been using this controller for over a year and it has held up well. The controls are responsive and it definitely makes mobile gaming more enjoyable compared to touch controls. The main trade-off is portability since the back doesn’t collapse like the Android version, so it stays fairly wide when carrying it. Despite a few quirks here and there, it’s still a solid controller that does what it’s supposed to do and makes gaming on the phone a lot more fun.

I don't really do reviews, but wanted to address the concerns I had prior to purchase.

I've had the Razer Kishi for Android for 2-3 months now. It has no internal battery to worry about. Plugs straight into your phone via USB-C and has a USB-C port for passthrough charging while playing.

Will it fit with your case? I highly doubt it. I have a Galaxy S22+ with a Speck Presidio case. Pretty standard on thickness. The thing is, it fits into the controller if you change to the smaller rubber pieces. The problem is the USB-C on the controller isn't long enough to insert all the way. I mean it's not even close. I have to remove the case for it to work. I was prepared for this when I purchased. This is the one disappointment I have with the design. Razer should have had a longer USB-C plug with one more replaceable rubber fitting to accommodate most phone cases.

You download an app and open the game through the app. For games that have controller support, that's it. If the game doesn't have controller support, this app has a virtual controller you can set up unique to each and every game. This was a big reason why I picked this one. It works by emulating taps and swipes on your phone screen. It really is very adaptable and will greatly increase your gaming quality of life if you want to use a controller. Where the virtual controller fails is when buttons move on the screen. Think along the lines of battle controls vs town controls. This hasn't been an issue for me. It just means sometimes having to actually click a button on the screen.

I don't use a controller a lot, but this one makes it a whole lot more convenient than my old one. It's light, slim, I don't have to connect bluetooth, and there's no battery to worry about. It was $60 when I bought it and I have no regrets.

I have been using this controller for about a month and it definitely gets the job done. That said, there are a few downsides to the Kishi that make me wish I had purchased an alternative (such as the Backbone) instead. Here are the pros and cons of the controller from my perspective, starting with the cons...

Cons:

- No Headphone Jack: This is a big downside for me. About 90% of the time I'm using the controller, I need headphones because I don't want to bother people around me. Yes, you can use Bluetooth headphones, but there's a ton of latency, so you'll hear the audio about a quarter of a second after the corresponding visuals on screen. Competing products like the Backbone solve the latency problem by including a built-in wired headphone jack. If the Kishi v2 had one of those, I'd be much happier.

- Smartphone Spacers: The controller comes with 2 sets of spacers, and this just wasn't enough options for me to get my phone fitting snugly. I had to experiment with buying different cases for the phone in order to get the fit just right. A few additional spacer sizes would have helped.

- Clicky Buttons: These buttons are LOUD. Unfortunately, I can't really use the controller in bed next to my spouse or when I'm sitting in the room with my sleeping 7 month old baby. It will wake them up. I have other controllers that are much quieter, so I'm not sure why the buttons on the Kishi have to click so loudly.

- Button Spacing: The ABXY buttons are just a little too close together. In one of my favorite games, you need to hold A and tap Y, and it's just not possible with this button layout. This isn't a problem with standalone controllers I've used.

Pros:

+ Compatibility: Worked with every game I cared about without having to do much setup. This controller is especially great for emulation.

+ Size: Just about the perfect size to make it portable. I purchased a 3rd party case to protect the joysticks when it's in my bag.

+ Ergonomics: The controller feels pretty good in my (large) hands. Slightly larger grips would have been nice, but in the end the design strikes a good balance between ergonomics and size.

Overall, I'm mostly happy with the purchase, but I do have a bit of buyer's remorse since it seems that the new Backbone for Android might have served my needs better, especially with the integrated headphone jack.

The Razer Kishi V2 Mobile Gaming Controller for Android is an outstanding device that brings console-quality controls to mobile gaming. Whether you’re streaming games from Xbox or PlayStation, or diving into Android touch screen games, this controller delivers a seamless and immersive experience that elevates gaming on the go.

The ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hands, even during long gaming sessions. The build quality is premium, with responsive buttons, smooth analog sticks, and customizable triggers that add a layer of personalization to gameplay. The universal fit makes it compatible with a wide range of Android devices, and it securely locks into place, giving you confidence while gaming.

The controller is easy to set up, connecting via USB-C for low-latency performance. This ensures precise input for competitive games where every millisecond counts. I’ve tested it with Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Remote Play, and several native Android games, and the performance has been flawless across all platforms.

Another impressive feature is the Razer Nexus app, which allows you to customize your controller settings and launch games quickly. The app adds convenience and enhances the overall user experience, making it simple to switch between games or platforms.

The controller is compact and lightweight, making it perfect for travel, yet sturdy enough to withstand frequent use. Delivery was fast, and the packaging ensured everything arrived in perfect condition.

If you’re serious about mobile gaming and want a controller that combines comfort, functionality, and console-level performance, the Razer Kishi V2 is the perfect choice. Highly recommended for both casual gamers and hardcore enthusiasts!

The first time I bought one of these I had to return it because the left analog stick wouldn't click and barely had any travel. It seemed fine other than that so I took a chance on a used one here, and it was fine UNTIL about 3 months later when it started to develop left stick drift. These came out mid 2022, so even though I got an Amazon Warehouse item, at the MOST this was only 8 months old. Not even a year. Being a controller player, drift is something you get used to, and I could deal with it until today when my character started to move unbearably slow.

Now the real issue. I knew this controller used joycon style modules, which are REALLY easy to change out. Two screws and a ribbon cable, done. EXCEPT.... just so happens Razer decided to SOLDER THE MODULE TO THE BOARD, and I don't mean just to hold it in place. Instead of a ribbon cable there is an entire series of pins soldered directly into the board. I also opened up the module since it was already a lost cause as soon as I saw the soldered pins. Yep, same wear that you see in a joycon. The wear on joycon modules goes back WAY before 2022. You'd think they'd leave the ribbon cable so these could be easily swapped out. I don't know if the intent was to make you "just buy a new one", but the result for me is "I will never buy another controller from Razer again".

There are a few pro's:

-comes in a nice box

-lightweight

-M buttons are in a nice spot

Cons

-terrible choice to solder known defective modules when they're already widely available as plug and play.

-HORRIBLE ergonomics. This was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever used. I went and got some joycon grips and figured out a way to attach them. (joycons also have terrible ergonomics, this is why other companies make grips)

Ok the following are a little outside of the item's purpose but worth noting.

-cannot map the app button (this ends up a wasted button since you can just open the app on your phone)

-cannot assign keyboard keys

-zero PC support (works on PC but you need to figure out yourself how to get it working, and don't bother, it's not worth your time for this thing)

Yes you can find some third party programs to assign different keys and presses, but these are things I'd expect to see natively on a Razer product. Any mobile/cloud games that would take issue with keyboard keys being assigned wouldn't have them as a valid input to begin with, so I don't see the point of these limitations.

It's almost like they just took all the worst things about a joycon, and made some of them even worse, and then put their name on it. in fact, if this were a debate, any for argument making a compromise, I would confidently respond with "but this is a Razer product".

I'm sorry I know I wrote a lot but this was just a VERY bad experience. We have 3 pc's in our home with quite a few Razer peripherals attached, so this was very disappointing. There was a lot I put up with using this controller and getting it to work, but the pin soldered modules is the last straw.

Maybe you feel the same, or maybe you now know some potential issues and these either don't apply to you, or you are willing to deal with them. Either way hope this helped, and best of luck to you all. But personally, I do not want to see or think about this controller ever again.

I like the controller. It works very well. The only issue I have is every time I use it, I have to take my phone case off for it to fit perfectly. But I use it a lot when I am just relaxing.

Compatible con redmagic 9pro.

Buena vibración del control. No traía el mes de game pass y podría pensar que era usado. Jajaja pero bno, con aduanas no se sabe pero le doy 5/5 porque funciona perfecto con mi redmagic 9pro

Si comment moi vous resté avec vos anciens portable, une des poque manettes compatibles Iphone. Mais sincerament je ne depenserais pas encore la meme ciffre. c'est pour ma collection, et le Razer Kishi sont cheres.

Este es el primer control que compro para mí teléfono, pero la verdad siento que está muy difícil superarlo además que yo lo conseguí nuevo y a mitad del precio original.

En lo que corresponde a portabilidad, es lo suficientemente compacto como para guardarlo en la chamarra o mochila, pero no es tan pequeño como para incomodar las manos al usarlo.

Los botones se sienten increíble, al probar los microswitches me pregunt o como es que no los usan más controles, son super suaves y con nulo recorrido, los gatillos se sienten super suaves y responsivos, pero obvio no tendrán tanto recorrido como un control normal, el Dpad pensaba que sería un poco incómodo por la posición, ya que en el xbox no me gusta usarlo, pero la verdad es que queda perfecta la posición y es de los mejores que he usado, muy comparable con los play station, el pero para muchos, las palancasson un gran pero, ya que son exactamente iguales a las del switch, pero en mi opinión, unar más grandes serían un poco incómodas para un formato portátil.

Yo lo he estado usando para xcloud, alguno que otro juego de android como dead cells, Minecraft Stardew valley, etc., y emulación y en todas es excelente, no te defrauda en nada. Lo único que le veo malo es la app, pero se puede pasar de largo ya que no es obligatoria.

La verdad, yo me la pensaría 2 veces comprarlo a precio completo, ya que si es bastante elevado, pero si lo encuentras de oferta, cómpralo, no te arrepentirás.

Great controller, feels natural in your hands and work with my S21 Ultra perfectly

Sadly, it didn't take one month before the right Joystick starts drifting badly

What a waste

Amazing controller. Uses micro switches for the buttons so everything feels snappy and responsive. Best dpad on a mobile controller short of an official Xbox series controller. Analogs aren't full size but feel more responsive than the switch ones for me with better gradual resistance. Ergonomics are good but the pads are small, which is great for portability, probably not great for really large hands. The whole build feels really nice and stable, good quality plastic. I would say overall it comes close to matching first party quality, way better than any other 3rd party controller. It's slightly smaller than a switch when connected to my Galaxy S20 FE. The telescoping back adds a bit more depth, but it's height is much smaller. The controller has no noticeable latency due to using a direct USB-C connection. It's the same as using a native device.

Which brings me to the only sticking point, that for the price you pay you're not getting blue tooth, which some games require to use a controller in the first place(call of duty, apex). But those games seem to be the only exception I've found, everything else especially emulators work without a hitch. This could be fixed in future updates.

Overall, this is the best mobile controller that snaps onto a phone, by far. I've tried a bunch of them from different companies and they all have faults. The Razer Kishi V2 is the summit, nothing comes close. There are really no issues to speak of. Hopefully the buttons, telescoping back and USB c connector hold up over time.

Well worth the money, especially if you can grab it on sale, then it's a no brainer.