Clever design, lack of Bluetooth make Razer’s new phone gamepad a winner

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  The Razer Kishi will attach via a wired connection to the phone of your choice, so long as it uses either a Lightning or USB Type-C port. [credit: Razer ]

What does it take for a phone-compatible gamepad to get our attention in 2020, in a world where pretty much every Bluetooth-compatible game controller can connect to your favorite iOS or Android phone? At this year's CES, Razer has the answer: a controller that may boost the cloud-streaming proposition of "triple-A gaming anytime, anywhere."

The Razer Kishi, announced Tuesday at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, arguably doesn't look special. It features the same array of joysticks, buttons, and triggers you'll find on most consumer-grade game controllers. Its trick of splitting in half and sandwiching a smartphone has been done before-with Razer already having its own Junglecat controller, which does just that.

But the Kishi adds a rare combination for this kind of gamepad: a flush fit to your smartphone of choice and a wired connection.

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