With mobile gaming becoming almost as advanced as console and PC offerings, not to mention the rise of cloud gaming, it's no surprise that we've seen plenty of peripherals designed to make our phones feel more like gaming rigs. .
However, most of these options take advantage of clips that awkwardly connect existing controllers to our devices or gamepads that connect via Bluetooth.
The Backbone One foregoes these flawed designs and offers a polished, expertly crafted option that essentially turns your iPhone into a handheld gaming console.
Compatible with iPhone models starting with the 6s, the Backbone is further enhanced with a proprietary app that works seamlessly with the controller to essentially form your own gaming ecosystem.
More than just another throwaway companion app, the software truly complements the hardware, making the full Backbone experience an unbeatable option for those looking to enhance their mobile sessions.
The who, what and how
Who It's For:
At $99.99, the Backbone One probably isn't for the casual gamer who occasionally plays Clash Royale on their commute.
But if you regularly play titles like 'Call of Duty: Mobile' or 'Genshin Impact', or use your iPhone to enjoy console and PC games via remote playback and cloud streaming services, Backbone is a great bet.
There's no Android version yet, but Backbone says it has one on the way.
What you need to know:
The Backbone is designed specifically for iPhones, from 6s to the latest models.
If you're using an iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max, you'll need an adapter to ensure a perfect fit, but Backbone provides this accessory for free if you ask.
Once joined via the Lightning connector, the iPhone and Backbone become a unified gaming platform, much like the Nintendo Switch.
How it compares:
Backbone's closest competitor is the Razer Kishi, a similarly designed (and priced) dedicated controller for the iPhone.
While Kishi offers console-quality controls (and comes in an Android variation), Backbone's design is more ergonomic, and its app is more robust and better integrated.
Console quality checks
While many peripherals let you play mobile games with console-like controls, the Backbone feels much less like an accessory that slightly enhances the experience and more like a device designed to transform your iPhone into a portable gaming rig.
This is evident right out of the box, as the Backbone immediately feels as sturdy and solid as a console gamepad.
In fact, you'll spend only a few minutes with it and it's easy to forget that you're not playing on something more like a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck.
Of course, its premium inputs and ergonomic design further sell this feeling once you put it in place.
A cross between Nintendo Joy-Cons and an Xbox gamepad, the Backbone features all the expected buttons, joysticks, and triggers, as well as a D-pad.
The button designations are the same as the Xbox controller's A, B, X, Y layout, while its scroll buttons similarly mimic the Microsoft peripheral.
All your games in one place
Beyond the expected tactile inclusions, the Backbone has a headphone jack and a Lightning port for pass-through charging.
The device also houses an orange button adorned with the Backbone logo.
This entry provides the gateway to one of the controller's best and most amazing features: the Backbone+ app.
Pressing it opens the device's interface, allowing you to access your games and services, connect with friends, and generally feel like you're navigating through a carefully designed hub, similar to those that appear when you turn on a PlayStation 5. or Xbox Series X or Series S.
Streamlined and intuitive, the app immediately impresses as you switch between your favorite games and supported services and features, from PlayStation Remote Play and Steam Link to Stadia, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, Apple Arcade and many more.
Streamers and socialites will also appreciate its seamless integration with Twitch, voice chat and lobbies, as well as screen and video capturing, editing and sharing, all nicely supported by dedicated buttons located under the D-pad. .
More than supporting a ton of content and services, it's the app's ability to present it all in one easily accessible place that makes it shine.
As an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 owner, it's pretty mind-blowing to see these console competitors sitting side by side on the same interface.
Using both platforms' remote playback features within Backbone+ means I can switch between Sony and Microsoft exclusives like Horizon Forbidden West and Halo Infinite, respectively, from a shared menu in under 30 seconds.
Downloading titles from the App Store without having to switch between Backbone+ and the Apple Store is equally impressive.
It's pretty wild how unified it all feels.
Getting to this point of wonderful cohesion requires some behind-the-scenes setup and legwork, like logging into your various accounts, setting up remote play options on your consoles, and adding favorite games by hitting the Backbone button.
But once you've spent 15 minutes or so laying the groundwork, you'll find that Backbone+ features the kind of home screen experience typically reserved for consoles.
conclusion
As someone struggling to embrace touch controls for mobile gaming and yet to find a peripheral that makes remote play feel as good as playing on a console, I found the Backbone One quite transformative.
Its solid, ergonomic design, responsive controls, and fantastic app integration have, for all intents and purposes, turned my iPhone into a new gaming platform I didn't know I needed.
For better or worse, I'm messing around with the Backbone more than ever, compressing sessions where I normally wouldn't.
My biggest gripe with the device is also a compliment: Because I use it a lot, removing my cumbersome two-piece protective case to plug it in has become a chore.
Seriously, I need a new case that's easier to take on and off or a second phone to provide a permanent home for the Backbone.
It's also worth noting that Backbone isn't yet compatible with Android devices, so Google smartphone owners looking to game on the go may want to check out the Razer Kishi.
Another potential problem is one that cannot be properly evaluated for another 12 months, the time that Backbone+ is provided free of charge.
New Backbone users get the app for a year (as well as a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate), but then they'll be charged $49 a year.
Right now I can't imagine using Backbone without their app, but it remains to be seen how the software will evolve and what features, if any, will be available to those who cringe at the thought of signing up for another subscription.
All that said, while Backbone+ certainly improves the overall experience, especially when you're not paying for it, the hardware itself is still an easy recommendation for anyone who wants to play mobile games with console-rivaling controls or enjoy the benefits. of remote play and cloud streaming.
