The Razer Kishi V2 expands on the greatest features of the Kishi V1 while losing the portability of its predecessor. These improvements include enhanced ergonomics, better buttons and triggers, and a more accommodating fit. The Kishi V2 is a great method to turn your phone into a portable gaming device, but the poorly developed accompanying software and the lack of a headphone jack leave room for competition.

The original Razer Kishi soared on the wave of mobile gamepads that emerged, making the (valid) observation that tossing a phone into a grip linked to a console-size controller might not be the most graceful option to touchscreen-only gaming. Even though Razer had experience with the form factor before, their portable, split-pad design was the finest.

Since then, however, the “phone sandwich” design has developed, giving rise to clamp-based telescopic controllers, a class in which several potent competitors are vying for first place. Can Razer’s shift to this novel, yet eerily similar, aesthetic and a highly anticipated software package propel the Razer Kishi’s second generation to the forefront? Find out in the Razer Kishi V2 review by Android Authority.

What you need to know about the Razer Kishi V2

With the release of the Junglecat in 2019, Razer officially entered the mobile gamepad market. The Junglecat used two controllers that resembled Nintendo Joy-Cons and was housed in a custom enclosure. The sole issue? In North America, it was only compatible with three phones, one of which being the infamous Razer Phone 2.

With a similar concept and a more widely applicable implementation, the first-generation Razer Kishi made up for the shortcomings of the Junglecat. The Kishi, created in collaboration with Gamevice, used a USB-C connector, a flexible rubber band, and a backplate to clamp your phone into place. It may also be collapsed for simple storage.

What has changed with the Kishi V2? To start, it costs $20 more than the V1 while costing the same as the officially approved Xbox version of the earlier model. The rear bridge mechanism, which functions as an extended spine running next to the back of your phone and is subsequently fastened in place by little pressure, is the largest change, though. That is because it is virtually identical to the arrangement made popular by the Backbone One if it sounds familiar.

Over the original Kishi, Razer has improved the input possibilities by incorporating configurable mini-bumpers and a sharing button. Additionally, it made a few basic ergonomic improvements and replaced a number of the membrane buttons on the previous model with microswitches, a change that Razer claims was motivated by the Wolverine V2 controllers.