Backbone Pro Review: The Most Popular Phone Controller Has a New Trick, but Is It Worth $170?

In an endeavour to expandbeyond smartphones , Backbone is now selling an everything controller . Just like theBackbone One , the novel $ 170 Backbone Pro twist a speech sound into a ready and dirty gaming handheld , but with added Bluetooth connectivity , it also link to a PC or impudent boob tube . If you ’re the jaunt kind , it promises to be the only quality ( albeit expensive ) restrainer you need to take with you . Or it would be a unanimous 2 - in-1 gamepad if — unlike me — you do n’t have enormous hands .

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There has to be something model about a “ Pro ” twist , especially to vindicate the $ 170 price compared to the $ 100 you pay for the Backbone One . If you pronounce it merely by its on - newspaper feature set , there ’s not so much that stick out out . The new mobile controller has a pair of back button on both the leftover and correct grips . Not exciting enough ? The Backbone Pro also house a special mating button for connect to external devices — in the main PC , Mac , or TV — over Bluetooth . you may blend it with the Backbone+ app for button mapping and easy swapping between connected devices with the new “ FlowState ” feature .

The Backbone Pro makes a great device for playing on a foldable, but it’s still not big enough for an iPad mini.

The Backbone Pro makes a great device for playing on a foldable, but it’s still not big enough for an iPad mini.© Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

Backbone Pro

It feel good in hand , but there are missing feature article that make it less ' pro ' than it could be .

Pros

Backbone Pro controller review

© Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

Cons

That sluttish swapping is especially nice for gaming on multiple devices , but is it the controller you honestly need to utilise for both microcomputer and mobile ? Controllers experience and die by how they feel in your hand . If you ’ve ever held a Backbone One , you have a good idea of the ecumenical smell for the “ Pro ” accountant , even though there are elusive improvements . The high item of the Backbone One is the D - pad and facial expression buttons , which are n’t overly cheap even though they have the sort of clicky feeling I enjoy most on low - visibility control . This pricier Backbone includes Hall issue triggers , but even if the new full - size thumbsticks are antiphonal , they are still the traditional ALPS - character sensing element . These use potentiometers to calculate the orientation course of the reefer , and that can lead to wear and stick movement , whereas Hall effect sticks normally last longer . Hall effect sticks would be more welcome on a gamepad whose full - sized sticks could get knocked around in your back pack when traveling .

The Backbone Pro ’s satin - textured grips have the feel I normally only get from premium devices , but is it $ 170 premium ? If I had to judge , it was n’t quite on equivalence with gamey - end “ Pro ” level equipment from the likes of SCUF , Razer , or even anXbox Elite wireless controller . These devices usually be closer to $ 200 or more , so the Backbone Pro needs to be pitch - perfect . Using the controller , I found my hands were adult enough that I needed to adjust my grasp ever - so - slightly if I want to use the face buttons or cholecalciferol - domiciliation while sustain quick access to the thumbsticks . It ’s not a job when meet some nomadic games or emulating retro title . When play a more modernistic game such asThe Elder Scrolls five : Oblivionremake through Xbox Game Pass , I had to adjust my grip more than I was used to .

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© Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

A large twist like aGamesir G8+fits my deal well , but its control do n’t finger almost as polished as the Backbone Pro . There are other trade - offs to take . Unlike the Backbone One , there is no variant of the Pro that support Apple ’s Lightning connection . TheRazer Kishi Ultra at $ 150extends far enough to fit a tiny tablet , but the Backbone Pro does n’t even stretch to allow for the most recentiPad mini ’s 8.3 - inch screen door . That ’s where Bluetooth could total in ready to hand , if only I could cover or absent the USB - C dongle to jibe my non - received machine inside .

blend with a foldable phone like theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold , the Backbone Pro became a kind of pseudo gambling handheld that was especially ready to hand for playing games that fit its wonky 20:9 panorama ratio , specificallyDiablo Immortal . sum up on the easiness of the Backbone+ app , and the Backbone Pro wee-wee streaming games through Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass far more of a console - comparable experience . The app promote its “ twofold sieve ” experience when play on microcomputer or television . However , it ’s only useful for check the electric charge on both the comptroller and the earphone .

The battery life is perhaps the Backbone Pro ’s best feature . I could go for around three hr without hear the machine dipping into the 20 % mark . The gamepad also includes voguish passthrough charging that tops off both the sound and built - in stamp battery at once . I ca n’t tap the material body quality on the Backbone Pro . It has control I ’d be happy to use on practically any other gambling equipment , though only if I did n’t have any of my other favorite controls around .

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The Backbone Pro is the wireless controller I would slip into my backpack if that space already was n’t occupied with mySteam Deck . As for a fluid controller that would really meet in my scoop , I ’ll just keep waiting forMCon to slip into my spirit .

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