Razer Kishi V3 Pro - USB-C Phone Controller with TMR Thumbsticks

Our analysis

Razer built the Kishi V3 Pro to run off the phone: its spec sheet lists USB-C as the only connection and «None» under battery. That puts it apart from the Backbone Pro and the GameSir G8 Plus, which both carry a battery, and it means there is nothing to charge before a session.

What stands out

• Full-size TMR thumbsticks. Razer sells them as anti-drift and puts two swappable caps in the box. Why the sensor under the stick matters is explained in our stick drift guide.
• Four extra buttons. Two back buttons and two claw-grip bumpers, remappable in Razer's app, so you can jump or reload without moving a thumb off the stick.
• Pass-through charging and a 3.5 mm jack. Per Razer, you can charge the phone and use wired headphones while you play.
• Room for small tablets and thick cases. Razer lists devices up to 8 inches, the iPad mini among them, and cases up to 16 mm thick.

Where it falls short

• No Bluetooth. It only works plugged into a USB-C device, so it cannot turn into a controller for the TV across the room.
• Haptics stay on Android and PC. Razer says its Sensa HD haptics are not supported on iOS for now.
• A specific phone list. Razer names the iPhone 15, 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, the 17 line and the Air with a compatible case, and asks for Android 14 or later and iOS 18. Lightning iPhones are not on it.

Look elsewhere if

You want one controller for the phone and for a tablet, PC or TV: the Backbone Pro adds a Bluetooth mode that Backbone rates at up to 40 hours. If your iPhone still has a Lightning port, the G8 Plus connects over Bluetooth instead.

We put the three side by side in our phone controller comparison, and every controller we track is in the controllers section of our catalog.