The Razer Kishi controller is the best way to experience Project xCloud

Razer Kishi Wide Source: Windows Central

The Razer Kishi controller is a truly stunning device that defies years of poor-quality attempts to bring some real ergonomic control to mobile gaming.

While touch-based mobile gaming is truly massive, it'southward a hard spring to make for anyone that has played games using a real gamepad. The precision and, frankly, immersion is elevated with a gamepad since y'all're not hiding the screen past strumming your thumbs all over everything.

Therein lies my biggest gripe with Project xCloud, Microsoft's big upcoming game streaming service. As awesome as it is, playing games on phones with bear on just isn't fun for me. It's even less fun when you lot're playing games on phones that weren't designed for phones.

Related: Full Razer Kishi review

With Nintendo Switch selling out faster than Nintendo can manufacture them, the market for truly ergonomic handheld gaming has never been healthier. It's that experience that emphasizes Project xCloud'south biggest missing link — ergonomics. This is why the Razer Kishi is now the de-facto best fashion to experience Project xCloud, and probably mobile gaming in general.

Fixing mobile gaming

Razer Kishi Controller.jpg

Razer Kishi

Best for Projection xCloud

The Razer Kishi controller is the best fashion to experience streaming services similar Project xCloud, Stadia, and more, on your mobile device.

USB-C decimates Bluetooth

Category	DeviceNameTKTKTK
Buttons	Two triggers, two shoulder buttons, 8-direction d-pad, offset joysticks, ABXY buttons, start, select, and home buttons
Os requirements	Android 8.0 Oreo, 7.0 Nougat or college (iOS coming later)
Confirmed compatibility	Razer Phone 1 & ii Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+ / S9 / S9+ / S10 / S10+ / S20 / S20+ / Note 8 / Note 9 / Annotation x / Note ten+ Google Pixel two / 2 Forty / iii / 3XL / four / 4XL
Required phone dimensions	Superlative: 145.3 to 163.7mm Width: 68.2 to 78.1mm Depth: 7.0 to eight.8mm
Connections	USB-C
Cost	$79.99

Nosotros've previously looked at the Razer Junglecat, which is a pretty cool mobile controller in its own right, albeit with some notable downsides. The Junglecat is only compatible with a tiny range of devices, whereas the Kishi, with its spring-loaded design and rubber-edged clamps, can stretch to fit many USB-C phone sizes. The Junglecat has some advantages of its ain, though, with a carve up-controller pattern, letting you use them nunchuck-style which can exist useful in some situations. Additionally, it supports Bluetooth wireless, which is useful, to a signal.

Bluetooth is just a crappy wireless protocol. Information technology sucks. Permit's not kid ourselves or sugar-coat the reality of information technology. We put upwards with it because we don't take annihilation better right now, information technology is what it is.

Information technology's decent enough for music and other devices you might be using in passing, but for game controls, information technology'southward substandard at best.

Razer Kishi Controller Jez Source: Windows Central

Microsoft's wireless radio protocol straight-connection for Xbox One gamepads is far faster, and far more stable, less susceptible to interference. Every bit pertains to phones, Bluetooth is likewise a battery hog, and something I mostly prefer to keep turned off.

So, why the bluster virtually Bluetooth? It's because the Razer Kishi connects directly to your phone with USB-C. With streaming services like Projection xCloud, you're already introducing boosted latency into the mix. Bluetooth but adds another layer of unresponsiveness, which the Razer Kishi totally eliminates.

More responsive, more ergonomic

Razer Kishi Controller Jez Source: Windows Cardinal

The Razer Kishi has larger buttons, triggers, and more than rounded edges than similar devices like Razer's own Junglecat and the Nintendo Switch Joycons, making for a by and large superior ergonomic feel. I'm not a huge fan of the triggers, which feel a little besides resistive and less grippy than what I'm accustomed as well on Xbox, but it's a minor gripe.

The all-time thing is the Razer Kishi'due south responsiveness, though, past a mile.

Overall, it just feels smashing to use. In our total review, my colleague Russell Holly establish that the Kishi tin can struggle with smaller devices, but with my larger six.4-inch Milky way Note, both sides of the device fit extremely snugly, with minimal flex. If you're playing console-grade games on your phone, y'all're probably going to want a larger device anyway, simply Razer notes that, sadly, the Kishi isn't compatible with the hefty S20 Ultra, which comes in at vi.9-inches. This year'southward Galaxy Note will probably be as well large every bit well.

It'south a bit of a downside that the Kishi can't somehow extend to larger devices, but the fact Razer has managed to get the range of compatibility it has already is pretty admirable.

Razer Kishi Controller Jez Source: Windows Cardinal

The best thing is the responsiveness, though, by a mile. Playing games with a Bluetooth controller via Projection xCloud or Xbox Game Streaming oftentimes feels well-nigh truly native, eliminating that boosted Bluetooth latency with a direct USB-C connection. I was able to play games like Minecraft Dungeons on maximum difficulty, alongside rapid activity-packed shooters like Project Warlock, without whatsoever problems whatsoever.

I never really realized how much of an bear on Bluetooth can brand in terms of responsiveness, removing it from the equation gave me my all-time Project xCloud experience yet. Information technology'll be hard to go back to Bluetooth afterwards, for sure.

That Android life

Razer Kishi Controller Jez Source: Windows Primal

The downside of USB-C is Android's fragmentation. While the Kishi works flawlessly with the Galaxy Note 9, every Android OEM handles USB-C connections differently, which could potentially introduce compatibility issues with handsets that haven't been tested and canonical by Razer.

Therein lies Microsoft's biggest hurdle with xCloud, generally. The market for Android is truly gargantuan, only making an xCloud service, aslope capable accessories, that are compatible with the widest range of devices possible is a truly herculean chore. How practice you make a single gamepad clip accompaniment that is uniform with everything?

We've fabricated the case previously that Microsoft should make a handheld, with standardized hardware. The Surface Duo may become that device, but I suspect many just won't really desire to fork out for something that is likely to be very expensive, just for xCloud. I have to imagine that Razer and Microsoft could partner upwardly at some bespeak and brand a device whose sole purpose is to run Project xCloud, with ergonomic hardware that eliminates the need to give up your phone, or downgrade to Bluetooth.

The Kishi is the all-time xCloud device yet

For at present, though, the Razer Kishi is by far the best solution for streaming services like Project xCloud, Stadia, and PlayStation Now. Swell pattern, responsive controls, ergonomic feel, and that crucial USB-C connection (complete with pass-through for charging), really elevates the game for me.

Now we just need Project xCloud to like, y'all know, actually launch.

Total Razer Kishi review

Fixing mobile gaming

Razer Kishi Controller.jpg

Razer Kishi

All-time for Project xCloud

The Razer Kishi controller is the best fashion to experience streaming services similar Project xCloud, Stadia, and more, on your mobile device.

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