STACK #249 July 2025

GAMING FEATURE

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The nitty gritty – taking control! When it comes to its control sticks, the Kishi V3 continues to take cues from the world of Xbox, with an asymmetrical layout – the left stick is higher than the right one. These analog thumbsticks – which are TMR (Tunnelling Magnetoresistance, an extra reliable system that’s similar to Hall effect) based - are joined by an eight-way D-pad at left, and classic ABXY buttons at right. As well as analog triggers and nicely clicky bumper buttons at top left and right, there are small, programmable extra bumper buttons either side of them that join the further aforementioned two on the unit’s rear. PLUG IN! Do you miss the days of 3.5mm headphone sockets on smartphones? Well, with any of Razer’s new Kishi V3 game controllers you get a passthrough for 3.5mm audio – so even if your phone doesn’t have such a port, you can now plug in. Brilliant!

RAZER’S KISHI V3 IS GO!

Razer brought the controller experience to mobile and tablet gaming with their nifty Kishi USB game controllers, and now they’re upping the ante with a trio of new models. Words Amy Flower

On the face there are further handy buttons, including one for quick and easy screenshotting, and one that brings up the Razer Nexus app in-game. Razer Nexus

According to legend, the kishi is an Angolan demon with a human man’s face on the front, and a hyena’s face on the back. DYK?

The power of three Whether you’re after a smartphone experience, or the ability to also play with mini tablets, or maxi tablets, there’s a new Razer Kishi V3 to suit.

The big one – literally – is the Kishi V3 Pro XL. If you’ve ever wanted the controller experience with your full-sized tablet, then this will be your new best friend, designed to handle both fully grown – up to 13-inch - iPads and Android tablets. It includes all the Kishi V3 Pro features, too! Playing with the Pro V3

This is Razer’s very handy proprietary gaming support app that, as well as allowing housekeeping such as firmware

updates and control customisation such as button remapping, also functions as a gaming hub for your mobile device. As well as listing all of your installed games, it has a hub-type layout to allow you to find what could be your next favourite game. But that’s not all, it also acts as a conduit for Xbox and other cloud game streaming, meaning you have as much controller power in your hands on the go as you have at home on your traditional console or PC gaming setup. Bonus! While the Kishi Ultra is a brilliant solution for gaming on the go, tethered via a USB-C cable it can perform as a top-notch controller for PC gaming.

We’ve had hands-on with the Kishi V3 Pro, and Razer have managed to make a great controller even greater. Holding it in your hands, the established solid without being unwieldy feel remains. It isn’t hefty enough to be a drag to hold for extended gameplay sessions, and it truly feels like you’re grasping a full-size classic game controller. That is, of course, because it basically is a full-sized controller, just with a handy, spring loaded expandable space in the middle in which to pop your device. In the case of the Kishi V3 Pro that means any device from a smartphone up to a tablet that’s iPad Mini sized that connects via USB-C.

The standard Kishi V3 will fit your average Android smartphone or iPhone, and it delivers the basics that a good console controller provides, with added niceties such as programmable back buttons. The Kishi V3 Pro goes further, adding swappable cap thumbsticks – two types are included - to the mix, as well as claw grip buttons and haptic feedback (supported by Android 12 (and above) and Windows 11).

Even if you’re cleverly protecting your smartphone or tablet with a case, the Kishi V3 allows for it, with a selection of rubber spacers included so that you can get your device fitting just right. Speaking of USB-C connectivity, there’s a very handy USB-C

passthrough so you can still charge your device while playing away.

• The Razer Kishi Ultra V3 is out now

46 JULY 2025

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