In the last few days I have been using two of the new gadgets that the North American firm focused on gaming, Razer has brought to Mexico; the Razer Kishi for Android and for iPhone.
The user experience has been gratifying, in fact, Razer has made several changes compared to the model known as Junglecat, in such a way that it has remained the best valued by users and has improved in a key aspect such as the latency between the response of control and play.
Design: a piece of engineering that fits perfectly with your phone
The first thing that stands out about the Razer Kishi is its design, where the people of Gamevice have worked for hand in hand with Razer to create this peripheral. When folded, the control fits perfectly in the palm of the hand, while to unfold it, simply press the lock on the back to “separate” the Kishi into 2 controls that are joined by an elastic band that can just be stretched to fit most phones on the market.
The end result is a kind of Nintendo Switch because on the left and right side are the joysticks along with the classic buttons that we find in any other video game controller, the D-pad, the upper triggers and the function buttons, home and the Battery indicator for when the device is charging.
Notably, the Razer Kishi won the ” Best of CES 2020 ” award for its design and functionality.
The version for Android and for iPhone are very similar, the only difference is that the Kishi for Apple phones comes with a Lightning port and not with USB-C, plus it is slightly more compact, but that does not end up being an advantage. or disadvantage when using one or the other device.
Once you start using the Kishi, you will probably have a strange feeling, especially if you have already played on a Nintendo Switch or traditional control, because the screen of Android phones is usually quite long, the separation between the hands it can be almost 30 centimeters. Either way, it won’t take long to get used to the use.
Zero-latency in local games
The great promise of this device is “zero latency”, although Razer clarifies that this is for local games, that is, those that we install directly on the phone and that do not need an Internet connection and servers to play them.
This is achieved thanks to the fact that the Kishi does not connect via Bluetooth like most controls for smartphones, but is plugged into the phone through the USB-C or Lightning port (as the case may be). When it comes to games like Fortnite or titles available through cloud gaming services like Project xCloud, Razer promises ultra-low latency that won’t affect the gaming experience as it can with Bluetooth-connected controls.
In my tests I have been satisfied with regard to latency, you can really see the difference between playing with a controller connected by Bluetooth versus a controller like the Kishi, which requires the OTG port. The most noticeable difference, in addition to latency, is the connection losses that are often experienced with Bluetooth controls.
Another important point to note is that not all games are compatible with this gadget; Razer has an application called Razer Kishi both in the Play Store and in the App Store where it allows you to see the catalog of games compatible with this controller, however, there are many more compatible titles than those that will appear in that list.
Basically, all games for the phone that have support or compatibility to be played with a controller can be enjoyed with the Kishi, for this reason, titles like Among Us are not compatible with this device.
What should improve for the next generation
In general, Razer has done an excellent job with the Kishi, and without a doubt, other peripheral manufacturers should copy this idea, because with the expansion of the game in the Cloud this type of gadgets are much lighter and more practical to carry in the backpack in compared to a Bluetooth controller.
However, there are two things that I think should be resolved for the next generation of Kishi. The first is that the USB-C port for charging should also be activated for connecting wired headphones. I know that using Bluetooth headphones is more comfortable and that even Razer has some options in the market that are already designed for services such as Project xCloud such as the Kaira Pro, however, many users still use wired headphones to play with greater comfort, and Once you connect the Kishi to the phone, it is impossible to use this type of headset.
The second thing that I would like to see differently is to have a bit more space between the height of the left joystick and the D-pad, as well as the control buttons and the right joystick, that is, I would like each part of the controller to be slightly wider so that the separation is similar to what we see in controls such as Xbox or PlayStation because as I mentioned earlier, it is very likely that the first time you use the Kishi you will have a strange feeling when playing.
For the rest, the Razer Kishi is one of the recommended gadgets for all users who want to play games with remote control on their cell phone, or who can already enjoy game services in the Cloud such as Project xCloud, even those who play Fornite or similar titles with controller support, this is a gadget that will enhance your experience.