Razer Kishi Ultra Gaming Controller for Android, iPhone 15 & 16 Series, iPad Mini A17 Pro & 6 (USB C): Pro Controls - Ergonomic Grip - Stream PC, Xbox, PS5 Games on Mobile, Phone, Tablet - Chroma RGB

I cannot emphasize enough how little I write product reviews and this is by NO means an "incentive" situation. I'm just a dude that bought an expensive phone controller......and it is beautiful. 👌 Absolutely worth every penny. When I say this thing is the pinnacle of what a telescopic mobile controller should be, I reeeally mean it. I've never been much of a phone gamer before, but this thing has already changed that. I first tried the Backbone Pro when it released, but found the thumbsticks were just too small and the face buttons were so close to the right stick that it was very difficult to use. The Backbone app also locks many features behind a paywall for some reason... I also tried the recent cheaper Gamesir telescopic controller, because of how the face buttons were more offset from the stick. However, the stick was still in the way a bit and it was such a loose connection to my phone. Both USB-C parts were super loose and my phone just slides around in it even with the right pads applied. (Galaxy s25 Ultra)The Razer Kishi Ultra meets every requirement I had and more... Its the perfect fit for my large hands/short fingers, with a really nice texture on the back of the grips. The face buttons are perfectly offset and I have total freedom without the right stick getting in the way. The L4/R4 are gamechangers to me as this is the first time I've used them! It doesn't have any back buttons, but as someone that doesn't love back buttons, this was actually a selling point. The default position is very wide, so I don't have to open it far to set my phone in like the Backbone or Gamesir. There's multiple side pads included for device types (iPhone, iPad, Android devices), or you can just remove them if you have a phone case. I have a thin case on my s25 Ultra and I had to take the pads off, but it feels perfectly snug when its in place! Its kinda like the phone and controller become one unit. Its a bit heavy, but for whatever reason, holding it by the grips feels like there's no weight at all...? Hard to explain, but I just love that! The LED's are easy to customize through the app, setting brightness and truly any color you want. You can also turn it off entirely. The app is 100% free and its how you map buttons, launch games, set profiles, etc, etc. This app gives a "virtual controller" option that lets you manually place a "virtual" button over visible touch screen controls for games that don't have controller support. So when you set the button over the touch input, the button press on the controller will "touch" the controls for you. Just turn off the hud opacity to make the touch controls not visible and you've got a fullscreen game with controller support! And this app works so well with PS5 & Xbox remote play. It loads everything into one slick hub that feels like a modern console home menu.One more thing... So minor, but a huge deal for me! There are some smaller buttons on the middle sides. The right side has the "Options" button on top and the Razer Nexus home button on the bottom. The left side has a home menu button on top (acts as console home button in remote play), a screen capture/share button on bottom, and the lovely little "..." button in the middle. This extra "..." is my hero! I'm playing a game where the "Options" button doesn't input as "Options" and instead switches the game to mouse/keyboard mode. However, the "..." button just automatically works as "Options" in-game and no other controller I've tried has this extra feature. In PS5 remote play, I have it set as my touchpad controls. Clicking it is a touchpad click, then holding it while moving my right stick mimics touch controls in-game.Don't sleep on the "..." button!

The media could not be loaded. What can I say about the Razer Kishi Ultra? It feels phenomenal in hand, and the buttons feel clicky. It’s the best d-pad I’ve had in a controller, including DS and Series and Pro controllers. It fits my iPad Mini 6 perfectly and even with my Folio case on!I own 3 telescopic controllers, the Backbone, Galileo G8 and this. I’d rank them as 1) Kishi 2) Galileo G8 and 3) Backbone. Each serve their purpose. The backbone is great for small and quick gaming when you don’t have room. Middle tier is G8, works great and feels great. The top tier is the Kishi.My only complains is the programmable button next to the shoulder buttons. It would’ve been more logical to map them behind the grips! That’s a missed opportunity. Also the location of the home button and the select button, should be swapped. The Nexus app is kind of lacking for iOS/iPadOS. I don’t like that I have to manually add things to my favourites from within the app. Also game pass cloud beta could’ve been better. You should be able to add shortcuts to the Nexus app, since Microsoft doesn’t have a dedicated cloud iOS app, you have to rely on browser URL for it. These are minor complaints, I know but they do hold true.Last issue is the price, I can’t recommend if you’re on a budget. GameSir Galileo g8 does exactly what I needed sans one thing. It doesn’t fit the iPad Mini out of box. It’s half the price at 79.99, and well crafted, but the Razer has it beat for that aforementioned fact alone. Both of course lack portability of the backbone, which is normally 99.99, poorly priced for what you get. I will continue to use all three, for each specific use case.

The Kishi Ultra is easily the best-feeling mobile controller I’ve tried—it actually feels like a serious gaming device rather than a toy, unlike the Backbone or Kishi V2, which remind me of Switch Joy-Cons. That said, while the hardware is impressive, the software experience still has some frustrating gaps.Pros:✅ Premium, Pro-Level Feel – This is where the Kishi Ultra really shines. It feels sturdy, with solid ergonomics that make it much closer to a full-size controller. If you’ve found the Backbone or Kishi V2 too small or flimsy, this is a big upgrade.✅ Extensive Customization – The app offers plenty of customization options, something the Backbone severely lacks. From button remapping to sensitivity tweaks, there’s a lot to fine-tune.✅ Chroma RGB Looks Cool… Mostly – The RGB lighting adds a stylish, high-end touch. It’s visually impressive and makes the controller feel more premium.Cons:❌ Game Store Lacks Netflix Integration – Just like the Kishi V2, the game store doesn’t recognize Netflix Games at all. For example, Dead Cells only shows the paid App Store version, while Backbone correctly lists it as free through Netflix. This makes me wonder what other platforms might be better supported elsewhere.❌ Xbox-Centric UI – The app heavily prioritizes Xbox Cloud Gaming, with dedicated sections. I primarily play native iOS games (Apple Arcade, Netflix, and emulated retro games), so this focus isn’t useful for me. PlayStation Remote Play is supported but doesn’t get the same attention.❌ Clickiest Buttons Yet – If you found the Kishi V2’s buttons too loud, this is even worse. The buttons are extremely clicky—more than they need to be—which can get annoying, especially in quiet environments.❌ RGB Lighting Is Overkill – While the Chroma lighting looks great, its placement is a bit much. In darker environments, it shines too directly into your face. I’d prefer it to be positioned elsewhere, like for bias lighting instead of front-facing illumination.Final Thoughts:The Kishi Ultra delivers the best hardware experience of any mobile controller I’ve tried, with a premium build that feels great in hand. However, the software side still has some gaps, especially with game store integration and its Xbox-first focus. If Razer improves the app and tones down the excessive clickiness and RGB glare, this could easily be the best mobile controller on the market.