I’ve all the time admired the makes an attempt to make cellular gaming really feel corresponding to my expertise gaming on consoles with a controller in hand. I’ve the Riot PWR controller that mimics the Xbox gamepad, a few Backbones, and another random ones, however none have ever given me the impression I used to be doing something extra than simply making it work. I’m all the time left wanting one thing higher, one thing extra premium. With Razer’s newest controller, the Kishi V3 Professional, I lastly have the controller I’ve all the time needed when gaming on my iPhone.
Let’s get some caveats out of the best way earlier than I dive into what I really like in regards to the Kishi V3 Professional: It’s far and away the most costly cellular gaming controller on the market, nearer in worth to PlayStation’s DualSense Edge and extra pricey than PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo’s baseline controllers. It’s accessible worldwide at present for a whopping $149.99. It is usually solely accessible with a USB-C connection, that means you’ll want considered one of Apple’s newer iPhones (when you’ve got an Android cellphone, you’re doubtless set) or an iPad Mini to make use of it. There’s a non-Professional model missing among the higher options of the Professional for $99.99, and Professional XL model for $199.99, if you wish to use a full-sized iPad with it.
Whereas that worth is exorbitant for a cellular controller, when you chunk the bullet, you’ll not remorse it.
Instantly upon opening the field, you’re greeted with premium packaging with a blocky foam insert to make sure the controller stays safe. With the controller I obtained – the Professional – there was one other set of analog sticks to connect with the controller: rounded bump sticks and conventional concave sticks. I just like the latter on the left facet for motion and the previous on the proper facet for sooner aiming. Swapping these sticks is as simple as pulling them off with a bit of little bit of drive, but it surely doesn’t really feel terrifying to as if you’re breaking the machine. You’ll additionally discover a few gummy plastic inserts that present totally different bumper sizes to the highest of your cellphone, the left facet (or prime), which isn’t linked to the USB-C connection port. The field is so beautiful that I’ve been utilizing it because the controller’s “case” when not in use, and I admire Razer’s Apple-like presentation with the packaging. If persons are anticipated to pay $150, each facet, together with the field, must really feel value that price ticket.
Prompted to obtain the Razer Nexus app, I achieve this and am happyit’s free, as a result of it’s a very nice recreation launcher that teams collectively cellular video games, ones accessible within the App Retailer (which pairs properly with the free 3 months of Apple Arcade the controller consists of), and Xbox PC video games accessible for cloud streaming or distant play. In my briefing with the Razer crew earlier than really receiving a Kishi V3 Professional, it emphasised that Nexus is free and can stay free, ensuring to subtly shade “different” cellular controller apps that aren’t free, cough cough, Spine+, which prices $50 a 12 months after a free 12 months trial.
Even when Nexus didn’t exist, the Kishi V3 Professional remains to be a superb controller. Its design feels most just like an Xbox controller and has sufficient girth to really feel premium, versus one thing that feels prefer it’s doing its finest to imitate a typical controller however lacking the mark. Razer says the USB-C connection guarantees little to no latency, although admittedly, I’ve by no means had latency points on any of the cellular controllers I’ve used.
There’s a lot customization underneath the hood, too, even past the swappable thumbsticks and cellphone bumpers. The triggers will be switched to an Analog or Digital mode, permitting you to customise their really feel, how a lot it’s essential to press earlier than registering an enter, and extra. The 2 again “pedal” buttons are circles that your palms grip across the controller, and so they really feel just like clicking a mouse. I haven’t used them an excessive amount of, however I can think about the probabilities with shooters, technique video games, and different genres the place a mouse click on is commonly extra aggressive than triggers.
The Tunnel Magnetoresistance (or TMR) thumbsticks are apparently longer-lasting and extra exact than different sorts, together with Corridor Impact thumbsticks, in keeping with Razer, and whereas I’ll want extra time to place these to the take a look at, I can say they really feel unbelievable. The identical goes for the Corridor Impact triggers, 8-way d-pad, and face buttons. There are even two extra buttons up prime by the bumpers for extra customization. Your complete package deal is lifted by Razer’s Sensa HD Haptics, which do really feel fairly premium, particularly for a cellular controller. Although haptics have by no means been the gamechanger controller makers boast them to be, I’d evaluate the Sensa HD haptics with Nintendo’s Pleasure-Con and PlayStation’s DualSense haptics expertise.
In case you aren’t acquainted with the cellular gaming controller market, these are options you gained’t discover in different controllers. As a substitute of taking the extra informal strategy to designing a controller to be used with telephones, Razer has handled this machine like one thing for the market of players the DualSense Edge or Xbox Elite controllers appeals to – it’s for the players who need to tinker and toy with small customizable choices, the gamers who don’t need caveats simply because they’re utilizing their cellphone to recreation. The Riot PWR controller works, the Spine works, and so do all of my different random gadgets, however none really feel as intentional because the Kishi V3 Professional. It looks like a controller that may grow to be an integral piece of my gaming rotation fairly than one thing I solely use on planes or as a fast repair, which is what the Spine has been for me as of late. Admittedly, that is my first Kishi, so maybe this line of controllers has all the time been this fashion. Nonetheless, I think about that is the corporate’s finest swing but.
On the finish of the day, although, it’s nonetheless a cellular gaming controller. In case you play numerous cellular video games, there is no such thing as a higher controller than the Kishi V3 Professional, except you imagine faux gamer and likewise my boss, Kyle Hilliard. If the sensation of gaming by way of your cellular machine has all the time hampered your want to take action, this controller might change that, but when cellular gaming simply isn’t for you, this controller doubtless gained’t. Nonetheless, the Kishi V3 Professional blows each different cellular controller I’ve tried out of the water. It’s the finest controller for my iPhone I’ve ever used, and I sit up for taking extra of my video games (and this controller) with me on the go.
The Razer Kishi V3 Professional is out there beginning at present for $149.99.
