The KROM Kayros features analog sticks and vibrating buttons to feel every press. You can choose the level of vibration by pressing the Turbo button and the + and – buttons on the remote itself, and they can also be configured independently on its four main buttons. Likewise, the auto-fire function is configurable and can be selected between 5, 12 and 20 pulses per second, which can be very useful in shooting games.
Finally, it should be noted that KROM includes a support to be able to anchor the smartphone to the controller itself and thus have greater comfort when using these devices to play.
This is the KROM Kayros
The KROM Kayros comes packaged in a soft cardboard box with the usual black and orange colors used by this brand. On the front we can see a color image of the remote control accompanied by the brand, model and compatibility list, while on the back we have a sketch of the functions of the remote control.
On both sides of the box we find its main synthetic characteristics.
The box opens in the shape of a trunk, and inside we find the controller embedded in a plastic structure, as well as its support for smartphones.
Under this plastic we have an information brochure, the instruction manual in several languages and the charging and USB connection cable.
The smartphone holder is removable, and we can easily dock it to the controller. The smartphone holder is extendable to be able to place it in any position, and also to be able to adapt to different sizes.
Here we already have the KROM Kayros which, as you can see, has an asymmetrical design similar to that of the Xbox controller. The sides are rubberized to improve grip and both joystick covers are knurled for the same purpose. As you can see, in the center it has several additional buttons: the round button in the center with the KROM logo is the on and off button, while on the left and right it has selection and start buttons. Below, the plus and minus buttons and in the center the Turbo button.
The main buttons (YXAB) have a very particular typography which, aesthetically, we quite like. Plus, it’s recessed under the button cover to stand out more once the lights turn on.
In the lower area we find a 3.5mm minijack connector to be able to connect analog headphones.
In the upper area we have the usual triggers, as well as the USB-C power connector and the wireless synchronization button.
Below we have two additional configurable buttons, which we really wish were more levers than buttons, but oh well. The anchor for the smartphone holder is also here.
Anchoring the bracket is as simple as inserting it into the hole and pushing it down, thus being well fixed (in fact, it is quite difficult to remove it later).
Once this is done, we can now place our smartphone by opening the extendable support and placing it as we want thanks to the articulated “arm”.
Here we have to review a negative point, and that is that despite the fact that due to its size it fits perfectly, the support is not able to adequately support the weight of an iPhone 11 with its case, and it must be placed high enough so that it does not fall.
After seeing the command, it’s time to test it to see how it works.
Operation and performance
A curious thing is that the remote not only lights up when you press the center button, but also any of the main buttons. By doing so, the lighting will turn on automatically, which we can control by pressing button combinations; for example, to turn it on and off, you must press R1 + L1 for 5 seconds, or to change the intensity, you must press SET + D-Pad left or right.
The controller has two lighting areas: the decorative LED bar, which we can configure with SET and the plus and minus buttons, and the left area of the joystick, the Home button and the four main buttons, which are controlled with SET + D -Pad up and down.
This command does not have configuration software, so unfortunately we will have to configure everything using key combinations like the ones we told you about.
For example, to adjust vibration levels, you need to press and hold the Turbo button, then press the plus and minus buttons. To configure the macros of the rear buttons, it is necessary to press and hold these buttons for 5 seconds then press any sequence with the other buttons, to finish by pressing the button again and thus saving the macro in memory.
As for Turbo Mode and Auto Shot, they can also be set and enabled/disabled; for example, to activate Auto-Fire mode, you must press and hold the Turbo button while pressing any other button, such as ABXY or L1/R1.
By the way, the lighting of the KROM Kayros is really beautiful even in bright conditions, but it’s in the dark that it is spectacular.
In use, the controller is quite comfortable in the hands, even if you are a user with large hands like me. It’s a matter of personal taste, but I’ve always felt much more comfortable using the Xbox controller than the PlayStation, and since this Kayros has a similar design to the first one, it was very comfortable for me from the first moment.
Now I have to say that while the back buttons can be pressed with some comfort, it would have been more comfortable if they were levers like those on the Xbox Elite controller, for example, but you can’t have it all in a 40 euro controller, right?
The main buttons have a very good pressing feel and it doesn’t take much effort to press them repeatedly; also with the vibration feature you have tactile feedback when you press it, although I have to warn that this may not be to everyone’s taste (however it can be turned off so no problem). The joysticks move easily and gracefully and are very comfortable and precise when moving, denoting very good build quality from KROM. As for the D-Pad, I personally don’t use it much, but it works well for me, and I like that the actuation feels “dry” and not “spongy” like PS4 controllers do over time .
We tested the KROM Kayros both with a smartphone and on a PC (via cable in this case), as well as on a PlayStation 4 Pro which, although the manufacturer does not mention it, works perfectly via Bluetooth. The sensations while playing all kinds of games with this controller have been excellent, although we must also warn you that in the case of mobile games, they must be compatible with a Bluetooth controller or else the controls will be quite erratic.
Conclusion and judgment
We’ve been saying for some time that KROM has greatly improved the quality of their devices, and this Kaylos is proof of that, not just because of the quality of materials and construction, which is close to excellent, but also because of the performance of the device, which in our tests it was fast, solid and comfortable. In addition, thanks to its asymmetrical design, it seems to us to be a really comfortable hand to use for hours and hours without getting tired.
We only found two drawbacks to this command, and the first one is rather our perception: it can be a bit difficult to configure it to your liking, all with shortcuts and with the user manual in hand, but a once configured everything is saved and you will not have to do it again. The next downside is something that has to do with the manufacturer, and that is that the smartphone stand is a bit weak and can barely hold the weight of an iPhone 11, which isn’t exactly one of heaviest terminals.
All in all, we think this is a great controller to use on PC, consoles and smartphones, and we think it deserves our gold medal, as well as our value for money recommendation. .
