I’ve been into mobile controllers before there were even any games to play with them. I was a proud owner of the Moto X, a modular phone that could snap into a controller like a 2013 version of theNintendo Switch. I had every version of the Moga mobile controller. Remember Moga? Of course not, only maniacs like me used controllers to play Asphalt 6 on our Samsung S2s. In my defense, I worked in the cell phone department at Best Buy. Actually, never mind, I just heard how that sounded out loud.
The originalRazer Kishiwas the first mobile controller I ever used that felt like arealcontroller, and over the past three generations, Razer haskept improving the Kishito the point where it’s now one of my favorite controllers to use, mobile or otherwise. Since the Kishi Ultra, I’ve been satisfied, but I still had one dream left unfulfilled.
Ever sinceGoogle Stadia(another bizarre fascination I shouldn’t defend), I’ve always wanted a controller for my tablet. I have a gorgeous 12.4” Samsung Tab S7+ that I travel with all the time. I love watching movies and reading comics on it, but more than anything, I love streaming games on it. Bluetooth controllers are fine, but what I really want is a tablet-sized controller. With the fourth generation Kishi Pro, Razer has finally made my dreams come true.
Kishi V3 Is A Big Upgrade
I’m not taking credit for the Razer engineers’ work, but I’d like to think all of my whining about wanting a tablet controller got through to them. I remember picking up the Kishi Ultra at a preview event during GDC last year and immediately trying to jam my Samsung tablet into it, to no avail. Now, a year later, I’ve got the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL in my hands, Samsung S7+ firmly attached, streaming Doom: The Dark Ages on Game Pass Ultimate, in my lane, moisturized, etc.
If you’re a freak like me, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. The Kishi V3 Pro XL supports Apple and Android tablets up to 13 inches, which is practically any tablet on the market from the iPad Mini up to the newest Galaxy S10+ (but not the 14.6 inch S10 Ultra, sorry giant tablet lovers).
In the box is the controller itself, a pair of swappable thumb sticks, and four pairs of rubber adapters to ensure that no matter what tablet you have, you’ll get a snug fit (each one is labeled with the corresponding iPad it’s designed to fit). It’s a simple package, but that’s how it ought to be. Plug in your tablet and start playing games, it’s as simple as that.
The Kishi V3 Pro is definitely the most advanced version of this controller yet. Whether you have the XL tablet version or the standard phone-sized version, you’ll be getting the best mobile controller out there. The mouse click face buttons, the hybrid d-pad, and the Senda HD haptics are all best in class. With this version you’re also getting TMR thumbsticks, which Razer describes as being a step above industry-standard Hall Effect technology. This is the first controller on the market to feature TMR tech. I’ll need a few hundred more hours with it to compare it to Hall Effect, but so far, so good.
The V3 also has two programmable back buttons and a pair of extra shoulder buttons for claw-grip players. If it sounds like all these pro gamer features are overkill for a mobile controller, you haven’t been paying enough attention to the esports scene. These features are in high demand, especially in Asia, and while I may not get a lot of use out of them, you can’t call something a pro controller if it doesn’t have these features.
What I will get a lot of use out of is the passthrough USB-C charging port, which doubles as a connection point for PC (these wide mobile controllers are surprisingly ergonomic for regular PC gaming too). I also appreciate the inclusion of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, which will help keep me in the game on long flights where my Bluetooth earbuds always die. It’s as complete a controller as any, just tablet-sized.
It’s Like Playing Mobile Games In IMAX
Playing games on my tablet as if it were Nintendo Switch XXXXL in handheld mode is everything I had hoped it would be. Streaming games over Game Pass, Steam Link, GeForce Now, and Razer’s own PC Remote Play app, is incredible. Occasionally, it will reveal how low quality the stream is in a way that a smaller mobile phone screen wouldn’t (especially on Game Pass, get it together, Microsoft) but overall the experience has been exactly what I wanted. My tablet, with all of my reading, streaming, social networking, and gaming apps, is the closest thing I have to an all-in-one entertainment device, and the Kishi V3 Pro XL brings the whole thing together.
It’s also, unfortunately, as heavy as I expected it to be. The 575g S7+ is only 65 grams lighter than the Steam Deck, so when you add the 301g controller to that, and you’ve got the chonkiest mobile setup on the market. I’ve been thinking about working out, but maybe playing games on my tablet while lying in bed can count as arm day.
It’s doable. The controller’s grips give you a nice amount of surface area to wrap your hands around it and hold the weight with your palms and six non-gaming fingers (I call them the Useless Six), but I wouldn’t say it’s comfortable. Sitting up and playing on a plane, bus, or (let’s be honest) toilet is a lot better than trying to lay flat and hold it over your face. I’ve dropped my phone on my face before, dropping this sucker might cause permanent damage.
But there’s a price for glory, and in this case, that price is holding up about two pounds of plastic and glass. When I was a kid I used to play Mario Party 2 in the garage on a 13” Orion tube TV; now I can hold a 13” 1440p display in the palm of my hands. Not everything about the future sucks I guess. Thanks to Razer for making my extremely specific dream come true.
The Kishi V3, Kishi V3 Pro, and Kishi V3 Pro XL all launch today, June 12. V3 and V3 Pro customers can get three free months of Apple Arcade, while V3 Pro XL customers can get six free months.
