Gamescom 2026: New Razer Prio Solves Mobile Gaming's Most Common Problem

Published Sep 2, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC. There's absolutely no doubt that mobile gaming has come a very long way from a software standpoint, to the point where it's easily the fastest growing of all of the industry's various facets. A big part of that has been the translation of huge multiplayer titles to portable formats, like League of Legends and PUBG, as well as increasingly complex and deep solo experiences. At the same time, the capabilities of the phones themselves have skyrocketed over the last five years or so, to the point where we now have the equivalent of a 2016 gaming laptop in our pockets. That makes it all the more frustrating that the peripherals available to players have really failed to reach the same heights in that time. Until now, perhaps, as Razer's latest effort finally seeks to solve one of the most persistent issues in mobile gaming, and it has all the ingredients needed to do it with aplomb. Razer Anybody that has given it a try in earnest will tell you that finding a controller system that works well on mobile is often the biggest obstacle between the player and a good time. This problem has been addressed in recent years by controllers that come in several forms, but while those alleviated the issue, they never flat-out solved it. For the most part, it's usually because they simply don't take into account how much players value the portability of the format. You want to game on your mobile because it's convenient and doesn't require additional hardware, but the ease of use is lost if you have to carry a full-size controller around with you if you're gaming on the go. As part of a preview at Gamescom 2026, we went hands-on with the Razer Prio, the company's latest mobile gaming controller that really isn't like anything else on the market today. They bill it as an ultraportable device, and while this is hyperbole in most use cases, it feels a bit like an understatement here. The controller weighs in at just 101g (compared to the Kishi V3's 192g and the Pro's 268g), and while it doesn't really feel like a direct replacement for either of those, it feels like there's significantly more appeal in the design of the Prio. In the first instance, it folds up to around the size of a credit card, and it releases into its full design via a simple sliding latch that separates the two halves. Those are joined by a rubber strap that holds enough tension to grip the controller on to your phone, which automatically connects via the USB-C port. That flexibility means it's also fully compatible with any device up to 7 inches, which covers both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung S26 Ultra, and it doesn't require a battery or separate charging. Razer Things are also very solid from a tech and component standpoint as well, with little being sacrificed in the name of convenience. The Capacitive Thumbsticks are designed to eliminate contact wear, which should prevent stick drift in the process, while the silent tactile face buttons lose the divisive click entirely. You are also losing very little on the Kishi V3 that you would miss on a moment-to-moment basis, and it's only with the jump to the V3 Pro where you'll get worthwhile additions, like Haptic feedback. That said, this really isn't designed to be a competitor to the latter, and it's about as impressive a controller as I can currently imagine that retains the level of convenience that the Prio does. If you're mobile gaming at the end of the day, from the comfort of your armchair, there are a ton of controller options to choose from, and the best choice there will usually come down to nothing more than personal preference. In the case of the Razer Prio, though, there really isn't anything that comes remotely close if you're looking for a controller to take on journeys, commutes, holidays, or anything in between. Priced at a very reasonable $99.99 to boot, the Razer Prio an easy recommendation for any mobile gaming aficionado, not to mention those who are sticking a toe in the veritable ocean that the ecosystem has become. Razer Kishi V2 Brand Razer Platform Android Battery No Battery Connectivity USB-C Headset Support No Programmable Yes