Razer Prio First Impressions: Pocketable Gaming With a Few Caveats

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Razer Prio First Impressions: Pocketable Gaming With a Few Caveats

https://retrohandhelds.gg/razer-prio-first-impressions/

### Small Controller, Big Questions

Razer is back at it again, attempting to shrink the gaming experience down to something you can actually fit in a pocket. Their new Prio telescopic controller aims to be the ultimate travel companion, but as the saying goes: you get what you pay for—and sometimes, you get what you lose.

At $100, this isn’t your budget grocery-store peripheral. It’s a sleek, wired-only device that uses some pretty wild tech—specifically a rubbery strap that handles data transfer to keep the footprint tiny. It’s incredibly portable, easily sliding into a backpack sleeve or a jacket pocket without needing a bulky case.

However, that extreme portability comes with some “small” problems:

  • The Ergonomics: If you have larger hands, prepare for a struggle. The buttons are tiny, and the thumbsticks are impressively miniature.
  • The Missing Essentials: There’s no USB-C passthrough (so no charging while you play) and no headphone jack.
  • The Software: Razer’s Cortex app remains a bit of a cluttered mess, which might frustrate those looking for a seamless experience.

The bottom line? If you prioritize ultra-portability above all else, the Prio is a fascinating piece of engineering. But if you prefer comfort and extra ports, you might want to keep your wallet closed for now.