Latest news with #Backbone
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Played Cricket World Cup, Acted With Ranveer Singh. This Singer With ‘Bijli'-Like Aura Is...
Last Updated: Harrdy Sandhu played for the Punjab team as a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium paced bowler. His 'bijli' didn't just light up the music world, but it also shined on the cricket field. Yes, we are talking about Harrdy Sandhu. Most of us know him as the singing star behind popular tracks like Bijli, Naah Goriye, Soch, Backbone and many more. He has also appeared in films. But before all the fame in music and movies, Harrdy had a completely different dream – cricket. His early years were all about runs, wickets and the hope of wearing the Indian jersey one day. Cricket Journey Harrdy Sandhu's real name is Hardavinder Singh Sandhu. He began his career as a cricketer. He played for Punjab as a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. He was also selected for the India Under-19 team in 2004–05 and came close to joining the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup squad in 2006. In a podcast called Figuring Out With Raj Shamani, Harrdy shared his cricket journey. He said the Under-19 team held a training camp in Pune while preparing for the World Cup in Sri Lanka. This camp included 30 top young players from across the country. Each player had to play three matches based on which the final team would be selected. Harrdy performed well in his first match. He took the wickets of players like Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Pinal Shah and Yo Mahesh. He believed this performance would help him get selected. But things didn't go as expected. 'We were batting on the third day, and it was my turn to bat. I asked Rahul Sharma, a former India and Punjab spinner, for a bat. Rahul was often called 'Venky.' Coincidentally, Venkatesh Prasad, who was our coach, was sitting in front of me. I called out 'Venky' to Rahul but to my surprise, Venkatesh Prasad thought I was addressing him. Perhaps he took offense to this and it might have influenced his decision to stick with the same squad that had played in the last two U-19 tournaments," Sandhu said. At the time, the selectors were Pravin Amre, Dilip Vengsarkar and one more person. Harrdy wasn't picked for the final team. In 2007, he suffered an unrecoverable injury and had to give up playing cricket. Transition From Cricket To Music After cricket, Harrdy turned to music. He trained in folk and classical singing under Sh. Nirmal Singh. His first album was This Is Harrdy Sandhu which featured modern and upbeat songs. This was followed by Horn Blow. In 2014, his song Soch which brought him a lot of fame. The Hindi version of this track was sung by Arijit Singh for the film Airlift starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur. After that, Harrdy gave several hits including Kya Baat Ay, Naah, Joker and more. Acting Career Harrdy didn't just stick to music, he made his mark in films as well. He made his acting debut in 2014 with the Punjabi film Yaaran Da Katchup where he starred with Rana Ranbir, Anita Hassanandani, Jaswinder Bhalla and others. In Bollywood, Harrdy made his debut with 83 that brought his first love, cricket, back into his life in a whole new way. Released in 2021, the movie told the story of India's iconic 1983 Cricket World Cup win. Harrdy played the role of Madan Lal, one of the key fast bowlers in the team. Ranveer Singh played Kapil Dev, the legendary captain who led India to victory. The film featured a big ensemble cast including Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Jiiva, Saqib Saleem, Jatin Sarna, Chirag Patil, Dinker Sharma, Nishant Dahiya, Sahil Khattar, Ammy Virk, Adinath Kothare, Dhairya Karwa and R. Badree. Harrdy also starred in Code Name: Tiranga, a spy action film co-starring Parineeti Chopra. It was directed by Ribhu Dasgupta. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Harrdy Sandhu viral news Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 21, 2025, 13:41 IST
Stuff.tv
a day ago
- Stuff.tv
Reviewing the Backbone Pro controller has opened up gaming on even more of my gadgets
Stuff Verdict A truly does-it-all mobile controller that'll play nicely with tablets, laptops and other gaming gear. The Backbone Pro is expensive, though – and overkill if you just want to play on your phone. Pros Bluetooth massively expands your device options All the familiar Backbone features return The most comfortable Backbone to date Cons Hall effect sticks would've been nice at this price Speaking of, ouch this is expensive Got to go solo to play on a tablet, unlike some rivals Introduction Buying tech that's truly multi-talented can be a great way to save a buck or two. Why get a camera or music player when you've got a smartphone in your pocket? Now mobile-first gaming expert Backbone is trying something similar, adding Bluetooth to the mix so you don't actually need to plug in your phone to play anymore. The Backbone Pro will pair with your PC, tablet, and even your TV. If you're not a console convert, that could be enough to make it the last controller you'll ever buy. It also addresses a few of the Backbone One's shortcomings, gains some customisable buttons, and swaps to Xbox-grade inputs. Upgrades rarely come cheap, though. At $170 (it's coming to the UK and Europe later down the line) the Pro is almost double the price of the Backbone One. It's also more expensive than Razer's rival Kishi V3 Pro, which remains laser focused on mobile but has a few features you won't find here. Can this Backbone really do it all? How we test gaming hardware All games consoles and gaming hardware tested on Stuff are put through their paces with days' worth of play time. We use our years of testing experience to judge areas such as build quality, software experience, battery life and other features. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & build: same but different No, I've not been using a regular Backbone One by mistake – the Backbone Pro might look awfully familiar, but the firm has made quite a few little tweaks. A new, textured surface on the extendable centre piece is the biggest indicator, although keen eyes will also spot the thumbsticks are now the same size as the ones you'll get on an Xbox controller. This is still a telescopic controller first and foremost, its two halves connected by a spring-loaded spine that can swallow pretty much any modern USB-C smartphone. My Google Pixel 9 Pro XL even slotted home securely while still in its official case. Got an older iPhone? Sorry, you'll have to stick with the older Backbone One with a Lightning connector. Two sets of rubber attachments in the box help you find a firm fit. What this won't do is open wide enough to grasp a tablet. Even an iPad Mini is a no-go – but that doesn't matter as much when you can connect via Bluetooth instead. The grips are more rounded than before, so the whole thing is easier to hold. This has also made room for two re-mappable rear action buttons, almost putting this on par with console-grade Pro controllers for number of additional inputs. Backbone then elongated the triggers in the name of comfort, and quietened the clicky action of the face buttons. It's still not what I'd call silent, but meant I could finish a level before bedtime without waking up my sleeping wife. I'd avoid tossing the controller into a bag by itself, as that's unlikely to do those analogue sticks any favours. Backbone has an official case that'll keep it safe; the felt finish looks and feels suitably premium, while the sculpted interior will keep the Backbone Pro from rattling around. It'll set you back an extra $25t on top of the cost of the controller itself, though. Features & battery life: all the ways to play All of the Backbone One's features have been carried over to the Pro model, so you still get a USB-C passthrough port in the right grip to keep your handset topped up while you game, and a 3.5mm port in the left grip. That's particularly handy if you've got an older wired gaming headset, now that phones with headphone connectors are rarer than a snowball in the Sahara. This is also where you'll find the new pairing button. Wireless play is almost as easy as plug-and-play with your phone: press and hold the button and the Backbone Pro will show up in your machine's Bluetooth devices list. My Android tablet, gaming laptop and even my LG TV all recognised it as a controller right away, with all the standard inputs working as expected. To have one controller that can to all this, and also clamp around my phone when I want to play mobile games, is fantastic. You could use a Backbone One on your PC or Mac through a tethered USB connection, but the setup process was convoluted. This is seamless, and doesn't require any cables. I especially like how you can pair to multiple devices and then pick which one is active through the companion app, so you don't need to go through the pairing process every time you swap. The built-in battery is good for up to 40 hours of wireless play, which is multiple times more than I've ever managed in a single session. Because the passthrough USB-C port tops up the controller as well as any connected handset, I rarely needed ti plug it in specifically to charge – though you might find otherwise if you spend more time gaming on devices other than your smartphone. This Backbone largely earns its Pro monicker, although it's not rocking any sort of haptic motors. Unless your phone is delivering the vibration, you'll forego any kind of force feedback here. Software experience: it'll cost ya It has seen a bunch of updates since I last used it with the Backbone One PlayStation Edition, but the Backbone App feels largely familiar. It still launches automatically when you plop your phone between its two halves, and still acts as a launcher for all your App store or Play Store games, Cloud gaming services, and local streaming tools like Steamlink. Per-game profiles, button customisation and firmware updates are all handled here too, and it's where you'll head for instant device switching. It's also handy for game discovery, with a Netflix-style scrolling layout that can help uncover hidden gems you didn't know were part of your Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now memberships. There's a lot more here, but only if you're willing to break out the credit card. A Backbone+ subscription, which lets you capture 1080p60 video clips, voice chat with other members, and assign buttons to onscreen overlays for games that don't support controllers, runs to $40 per year. iPhone owners also get beta access to an in-app emulator for retro titles, but Android owners currently miss out. Sure, it's slicker than having to bounce between multiple apps, but that's a lot of money to pay for convenience – especially when rivals like Razer don't charge for a similar setup. Performance: size matters Gaming with the Backbone Pro was comfortable and problem-free for the most part. Those full-size analogue sticks made my directional movements feel more precise and purposeful than they did on the Backbone One, in part because the concave shape provided a place to comfortably rest my thumbs. The right analogue stick is perhaps a little too close to the face buttons – which themselves are still on the small side – so multiple simultaneous inputs could be a little tricky. But while the left and right bumpers are still a bit skinny, I had no trouble with missed inputs. The triggers are much improved, with more room to rest your index fingers and a good amount of pull resistance. I'm not always a fan of extra rear buttons, as if they're even a little bit of a stretch to reach I'll largely not bother with them. That wasn't an issue here; the M1 and M2 buttons fell naturally beneath my ring fingers. Does it sit quite as confidently in your hands as a console gamepad? Not quite – but it gets damn close. The perfectly balanced weight between the two halves really helps, though having an especially top-heavy smartphone negates that a little. It's also a shame Backbone didn't go with Hall Effect analogue sticks; the firm used the long life tech for the triggers, but stuck with potentiometers (which don't have the same shelf life) for the sticks. That's not to say I had any issues with stick drift during my testing, but equally they won't be immune from it years down the line. Backbone Pro verdict This the new gold standard for mobile controller connectivity. Adding Bluetooth has massively expanded the Backbone Pro's potential, which is great news if you game across multiple devices and want one gamepad to rule them all. The larger analogue sticks and triggers make this a lot more comfortable than the Backbone One, too. Without haptic vibration and Hall effect analogue sticks, the Backbone Pro isn't quite as 'pro' as it could've been, though. The part-paywalled software suite is hardly what I'd call good value, and the cost of entry is pretty steep. The Razer Kishi V3 Pro adds even more buttons for a little less cash if you only want a mobile controller – but if convenience across all your kit matters most, it's the Backbone you should check out first. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 A truly does-it-all mobile controller that'll play nicely with tablets, laptops and other gaming gear. The Backbone Pro is expensive, though – and overkill if you just want to play on your phone. Pros Bluetooth massively expands your device options All the familiar Backbone features return The most comfortable Backbone to date Cons Hall effect sticks would've been nice at this price Speaking of, ouch this is expensive Software features are paywalled, too Backbone Pro technical specifications Compatibility Wired: Android/iOS (USB-C) Wireless: Android/iOS/Windows/Mac/SteamOS/smart TV Connectivity USB-C, Bluetooth Battery Up to 40 hours Dimensions 181x50x101mm (contracted), 203g
Android Authority
25-05-2025
- Android Authority
The Backbone Pro is the best mobile controller that you absolutely don't need
Backbone Pro The Backbone Pro is the most versatile mobile gaming controller you can buy, with excellent ergonomics and full-size sticks for use as a telescopic controller with your phone, or a Bluetooth gamepad for your tablet, PC, or anything else. Just be prepared to pay for it. It's hard to believe that it's already been nearly five years since the Backbone One controller hit the market (or three for us Android users), but the company has finally launched an upgraded version with an upgraded price. I honestly didn't find too many faults when I reviewed the new Xbox edition of the Backbone One earlier this year, but the Pro version promises to be much, much more than just a mobile controller. But after spending some time with the device, I can't help but feel like the Backbone Pro is almost too much more. Sure, it's the best mobile controller I've ever used, but it's also a great Bluetooth controller for your PC or a dedicated cloud streaming controller. Is this too much for one controller to handle? The everything controller Nick Fernandez / Android Authority Starting with the basics, the Backbone Pro is a telescopic controller, just like the original Backbone One. It has a USB-C port to plug your phone into, plus another USB-C port on the bottom for passthrough charging. There are two sets of phone holder attachments in the box, and now they're big enough that you probably won't have to remove your case. Unlike some alternatives, it doesn't extend wide enough for tablets like the iPad Mini, but phones of all shapes and sizes will fit. The Backbone Pro is compatible with both wired and wireless connections via BLE. The biggest difference is that the Backbone Pro also has Bluetooth. As far as I know, this is the first telescopic controller with both USB-C and Bluetooth connections, which in theory widens the compatibility to… just about any device you have that can play games. The internal battery charges while plugged into your phone, and the BLE connection can last for 40 hours on a single charge, which is insane. For normal use, this means it can replace two controllers in my travel bag. Gone are the days of having a telescopic controller for my phone and a standard Bluetooth controller for my laptop and tablet. This controller can competently cover both roles. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority However, it also allows you to quickly switch between devices, which comes in handy for things like streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Using the same controller, I can seamlessly hop between playing Oblivion on my phone and my PC. The controller needs to be plugged into the phone to make the transition, but once you swap to your PC, you can unplug it and the Bluetooth connection will persist. One notable exception is PlayStation Remote Play. Only the PlayStation Edition of the Backbone One is compatible, and I suspect it has to do with the buttons' labeling. Blame that one on Sony, though you can unofficially get around this limitation if you get the premium version of the PXPlay app (which is absolutely worth it). For every other platform, using a telescopic controller as a standard Bluetooth controller isn't as uncomfortable as I thought it might be before getting my hands on the Backbone Pro, and a big part of that is the improved ergonomics and controls. The Backbone Pro has full-size sticks, which makes a huge difference compared to the smaller sticks on the Backbone One. There's a nice range of motion, similar to a standard Bluetooth controller. It's also more rounded on the back, breaking from the Joy-Con-like flatness of the Backbone One. The only thing that's really missing from the Bluetooth controller experience is any kind of haptic feedback as it lacks rumble. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority The Backbone Pro also takes queues from premium controllers like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 with programmable back buttons. These sit where my ring finger rests, and while most people will use them for first-person shooters, I found them very useful as hotkeys for my favorite emulators. They're much more difficult to hit by accident, but still conveniently placed so they don't interrupt gameplay. Controls are very comfortable, and the full-size sticks are game-changing. One thing that is easy to accidentally hit is the right joystick. It's placed just a little too close to the face buttons, so my thumb bumped it when hitting the X button. It's a minor annoyance in most games, but in some retro games like Super Mario 3, pressing the X and A buttons at the same time is required to jump while running. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority Apart from that, the sticks, D-pad, buttons, and triggers are all excellent. My only complaint is that I wish Backbone had used Hall-effect sticks for better longevity, especially at this price. These standard ALPS potentiometer sticks are certainly fine, but Hall-effect sticks would help extend the lifetime of the controller by avoiding drift over time. Considering the Backbone Pro will likely be thrown in your travel bag, it will be subject to wear and tear. There's a simple solution to this, which is to buy a case. The official Backbone case has a nice felt finish and a very protective design, but it will run you an additional $25 on top of an already expensive controller. If you're already spending the money on the Backbone Pro, buying the case is probably worth it. The everything app Nick Fernandez / Android Authority The thing that really facilitates the Backbone Pro's role as a controller for every device is the Backbone app. While the app was mostly optional for the Backbone One, it's required to access all of the features of the Backbone Pro. As mentioned above, it's used to swap between devices instantly, although you can use the small button on the bottom of the controller to connect Bluetooth manually. The Backbone app tries to do far more than it needs to. You'll also need the Backbone app to install new firmware updates or create controller profiles for specific games. These are great features that are included for free, and if the app had stopped there, I would have been happy. Instead, it does even more. It can be a catalog of all of your games, as well as a recommendation engine for more games you should download. The Netflix-like layout features your installed games in the first line, then mix of news, popular games, free games, streaming services, highlight clips from other players, and more. There's even a built-in emulator for select retro consoles and a rotating library of free games. Nick Fernandez / Android Authority To be honest, it feels like overkill. I say this as someone who sets up an emulation frontend (ES DE) on every Android device that I own because I love having a console-like experience when I connect a controller. There are parts of the Backbone app that I think are useful, but for the most part, I missed the option to remove sections entirely. What's more, these extra features are all tied to a paid subscription. After a seven-day free trial, you're looking at spending $39.99 a year to turn the app into a hub for all of your games and services. You may be able to get a special offer that brings that down to $30 for the first year, but it's still a lot of money for a little convenience. Granted, you also get an extended warranty, one-button screenplay recording, social features, and discounts on accessories like the case mentioned above. Backbone Pro review verdict: The best telescopic controller… but at what cost? Nick Fernandez / Android Authority While I have a few minor nitpicks, the Backbone Pro is still the best telescopic controller I've ever used. It's exceptionally comfortable, and the option to use it as a Bluetooth controller makes it more versatile than competitors like the Razer Kishi Ultra ($149.99 at Amazon) or Kishi V2 ($92 at Amazon). Unfortunately, it's also far more expensive than any of its competitors. It's nearly twice as expensive as the already-excellent Backbone One ($99.99 at Amazon), and at $170, it's roughly the same price as buying both a Backbone One and a DualSense controller. This is positioned as a competitor to premium controllers like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, which was recently bumped up to $200. For this kind of price, no matter how good the Backbone Pro is at everything else, it's fair to expect luxury additions like Hall effect sticks, haptic feedback, tablet support, and more. If budget is no concern, the Backbone Pro will elevate your mobile gaming experience, for everyone else, just get the Backbone One. It's also worth pointing out that we're in the middle of a major shakeup in game pricing, with the Switch 2 slated to cost $450 when it comes out in a few weeks and similar price increases in PlayStation and Xbox consoles. It's hard to say how much of the Backbone Pro's pricing is tied to wider changes in the gaming market, tariffs, or just an inflated marketing budget. While the ticket price will price out most gamers, a $25 case and a $40 annual subscription are also key to getting the most out of the Backbone Pro. That brings the whole kit to the same price range as a full gaming console like the Nintendo Switch Lite ($197 at Amazon) or a capable emulation handheld like the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 ($229 at Manufacturer site). Still, if budget is no concern, the Backbone Pro will elevate your mobile gaming experience. The fact that it's compatible with just about any device you can play games on means it might be the last controller you'll ever need. How much that's worth is a question for you and your wallet. Backbone Pro Great ergonomics • Wired and wireless compatibility • Easy setup and device swapping MSRP: $169.99 A telescopic controller with full-size sticks and Bluetooth compatibility. Need a telescopic controller and a Bluetooth gamepad? The Backbone Pro has you covered. See price at Manufacturer site Positives Great ergonomics Great ergonomics Wired and wireless compatibility Wired and wireless compatibility Full-size sticks Full-size sticks Easy setup and device swapping Cons Expensive Expensive No Hall effect sticks No Hall effect sticks Not compatible with tablets Not compatible with tablets Pricey subscription (optional)
Gizmodo
08-05-2025
- Gizmodo
Backbone Pro Review: $170 Is Too Expensive for This Mobile Controller
In an effort to expand beyond smartphones, Backbone is now selling an everything controller. Just like the Backbone One, the new $170 Backbone Pro turns a phone into a quick and dirty gaming handheld, but with added Bluetooth connectivity, it also connects to a PC or smart TV. If you're the traveling kind, it promises to be the only quality (albeit expensive) controller you need to take with you. Or it would be a solid 2-in-1 gamepad if—unlike me—you apparently have enormous hands. There has to be something exemplary about a 'Pro' device, especially to justify the $170 price compared to the $100 you pay for the Backbone One. If you judge it merely by its on-paper feature set, there's not so much that stands out. The new mobile controller has a pair of back buttons on both the left and right grips. Not exciting enough? The Backbone Pro also houses a special pairing button for connecting to external devices—mainly PC, Mac, or TV—over Bluetooth. You can combine it with the Backbone+ app for button mapping and easy swapping between connected devices with the new 'FlowState' feature. Backbone Pro It feels good in hand, but there are missing features that make it less 'pro' than it could be. Pros Controls are clicky and responsive Controls are clicky and responsive Textured grips offer extra comfort Textured grips offer extra comfort Solid battery life with smart power passthrough Solid battery life with smart power passthrough Smart idea for connecting to multiple devices Cons Backbone still doesn't feel perfect for my hands Backbone still doesn't feel perfect for my hands No Hall effect joysticks No Hall effect joysticks Doesn't extend enough to support latest iPad mini Doesn't extend enough to support latest iPad mini Expensive That easy swapping is especially nice for gaming on multiple devices, but is it the controller you honestly want to use for both PC and mobile? Controllers live and die by how they feel in your hands. If you've ever held a Backbone One, you have a good idea of the general feel for the 'Pro' controller, even though there are subtle improvements. The high point of the Backbone One is the D-pad and face buttons, which aren't overly loud even though they have the sort of clicky feeling I enjoy most on low-profile controls. This pricier Backbone includes Hall effect triggers, but even if the new full-size thumbsticks are responsive, they are still the traditional ALPS-type sensor. These use potentiometers to calculate the orientation of the stick, and that can lead to wear and stick drift, 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 backpack 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 wasn't quite on par with high-end 'Pro' level devices from the likes of SCUF, Razer, or even an Xbox Elite wireless controller. These devices normally cost closer to $200 or more, so the Backbone Pro needs to be pitch-perfect. Using the controller, I found my hands were big enough that I needed to adjust my grip ever-so-slightly if I wanted to access the face buttons or D-pad while maintaining quick access to the thumbsticks. It's not a problem when playing some mobile titles or emulating retro titles. When playing a more modern game such as The Elder Scrolls V: Oblivion remake through Xbox Game Pass, I had to adjust my grip more than I was used to. A larger device like a Gamesir G8+ fits my hands better, but its controls don't feel nearly as polished as the Backbone Pro. There are other trade-offs to consider. Unlike the Backbone One, there is no version of the Pro that supports Apple's Lightning connection. The Razer Kishi Ultra at $150 extends far enough to fit a tiny tablet, but the Backbone Pro doesn't even stretch to allow for the most recent iPad mini's 8.3-inch screen. That's where Bluetooth could come in handy, if only I could cover or remove the USB-C dongle to fit my non-standard device inside. Combined with a foldable phone like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Backbone Pro became a kind of pseudo gaming handheld that was especially handy for playing games that fit its wonky 20:9 aspect ratio, specifically Diablo Immortal. Add on the ease of the Backbone+ app, and the Backbone Pro makes streaming games through Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass far more of a console-like experience. The app promotes its 'dual screen' experience when playing on PC or TV. However, it's only useful for checking the charge on both the controller and the phone. The battery life is perhaps the Backbone Pro's best feature. I could go for around three hours without seeing the device dipping into the 20% mark. The gamepad also includes smart passthrough charging that tops off both the phone and built-in battery at once. I can't knock the build quality on the Backbone Pro. It has controls I'd be happy to use on practically any other gaming device, though only if I didn't have any of my other preferred controls around. The Backbone Pro is the wireless controller I would slip into my backpack if that space already wasn't occupied with my Steam Deck. As for a mobile controller that would actually fit in my pocket, I'll just keep waiting for MCon to slip into my life.
Digital Trends
07-05-2025
- Digital Trends
Backbone Pro review: Mobile controller royalty charts a bold new course
BackBone Pro MSRP $169.99 Score Details 'Backbone Pro reaches the summit of what a mobile controller can accomplish, and then dives further into a the realm of a do-it-all device. It doesn't come cheap, but delivers beyond it's ballpark."' Pros Outstanding build quality Excellent triggers and thumbsticks Dual-mode connectivity A rewarding companion app Unified retro emulation cores Cons Relatively pricey for a mobile controller Features tied to annual subscription Table of Contents Table of Contents Thoughtful design, stunning build The best-grade inputs out there A versatile gaming experience A rewarding controller app Verdict Mobile gaming is having a moment, and with more fervor on Apple's ecosystem than Android. Finding the right controller, however, can be an arduous task. In 2020, Backbone landed on the scene and instantly became a hot favorite for gaming on phones. Recommended Videos Over the years, the company has released two iterations of its One controller, and even one for PlayStation fans. With its latest, the Backbone Pro, the company hopes you won't look for another controller. From mobile and cloud devices to PC and VR hardware, this is one controller to rule them all. Backbone went back to the engineering table and made a host of changes to ensure that the Pro can be used in USB-tethered mode, as well as a standalone mode. That mandated a bulk-up, but also introduced perks that gaming enthusiasts will love. The price is still at a premium, but the sum total of this $169.99 package is more than what you would get from an average controller. Thoughtful design, stunning build The Backbone Pro is bigger and bulkier than its One sibling, though it still tips the scales at under 200 grams. Maneet Khaira, the founding chief of Backbone, tells me that the flagship controller has been in development for over three years and entailed hundreds of 3D-printed prototypes. Over the course of testing, the team performed camera capture to finalize the most comfortable grip, button layout, and even the texture work. The updated thumbsticks required multiple micrometer-level adjustments to get them right. All the work that went into design and engineering reflects during usage. I've tried nearly half a dozen game controllers in the past few months, including those with a telescoping bar like the Pro. The Backbone controller stands out with its superb build quality and weight balance. A neat touch on the Pro model is the dotted texture on the handle. It's not rubberized, but it still offers a remarkable surface-level grip. Khaira tells me that the team experimented with multiple laser-etched textures to ensure that it's not too rough, and doesn't get the palm sweaty either. Jumping across different venues in Grid Legends in a sweltering 98 degrees Fahrenheit weather, the Backbone Pro did an admirable job at maintaining surface grip against my perspiring palms and prevented slipping. The handles are thicker this time around, and I quite like them. It's a personal perk because I've grown used to the official Xbox controller and felt right at home with the Backbone Pro. The added heft is also reassuring. In hindsight, it offers a more controlled experience if you are using gyro tilt in racing games. The Backbone Pro also throws a couple of customizable rear buttons into the mix. Positioned towards the inner side of the handle, these curved buttons offer a satisfying click feedback and really come in handy for games with crowded controls. The telescopic bar can fit any smartphone easily, including the big ones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Red Magic 10 Pro. It barely falls short of accommodating the iPad mini. Thankfully, the controller won't cause any trouble if you don't want to take the case off your phone. The best-grade inputs out there For all that increase in size and heft, the Backbone Pro added a serious functional perk. In addition to using it in tethered mode via the USB-C insert, this one can also act as a standalone wireless controller for all your devices, including TVs, tablets, and laptops. I spent most of my time using the controller in wireless mode, burning up hours in Warframe, Alien: Isolation, and the new Resident Evil titles. I didn't run into any issues with latency, and the pairing process was also fairly seamless across the screens I tried. This dexterity also ties into a continuity feature for gaming. For example, if you left playing a game at a certain point on a large screen, you can seamlessly carry it over on a phone via the official streaming client, such as Xbox Cloud. 'We want to support every platform,' Khaira told me during a live demonstration of the Backbone Pro controller. So far, my own experience with playing games across various formats has been fairly smooth and hassle-free. In wireless mode, the built-in battery is touted to last 40 hours. I couldn't verify this number, and honestly, you shouldn't be concerned about it, either. That's because the controllers allow parallel charging via the USB-C port on the right handle. When plugged in, the port can top up the phone as well as the built-in battery. Technically, I never ran out of juice during my gaming sessions. Thankfully, the companion app conveniently shows the phone and the controller's battery levels, so you can keep an eye on the drain. A versatile gaming experience The buttons and sticks you get on the Backbone Pro are arguably the best you will find on a controller out there. Period. In retrospect, you shouldn't settle for anything less at this asking price. The round action buttons offer a nice clicky feedback with a satisfying level of vertical travel, perfect for mashing during your dungeon grinds. The D-Pad, in contrast, offers a quieter response, but they're really well put together. The slight elevation on the edges and a concave profile combine to offer a rewarding circular input for executing combos in fighting games. The Hall Effect triggers, unsurprisingly, perform just as well and keep concerns of drifting at bay. My favorite element of the controller is the full-sized ALPS joysticks. They have a nice texture around the periphery for extra grip. The pair offers precise movement control, especially in racing games where cornering and hand-brake combos require nimble fingers and subtle radial movements. You can calibrate the trigger depth and also configure the thumbstick dead zone. Button remapping is also part of the package, but I wish the app also offered an in-game launcher experience, the way labels like Red Magic have executed. I had a fantastic time gaming with the Backbone Pro and can report that the aspects such as depth sensitivity, response time, and keypress feedback are all top-notch. The only misstep was the occasional bugs in the app, which is to be expected while running a TestFlight build. In the stable version that I was running on the Red Magic 10 Pro and OnePlus 13, I didn't notice any lag or non-responsive buttons. Depending on the platform, you can also save custom key presets and set unique profiles, as well. A rewarding controller app The most enticing element of the Backbone Pro experience is actually the mobile app. The layout and feel will be second nature to Xbox mobile app users if you're on Team Green. The app has been beautifully designed, and the content organization is lovely. Games are neatly sorted across platforms, categories, and the cloud service providers. The app acts more like an aggregator, where you can seamlessly pick up games across Android, iOS, Apple Arcade, Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, and other libraries. And yes, you can launch the games directly, as well. The game cards are dynamic, which means even without tapping on them, you can get a short preview of the gameplay. When I launched the app, I got access to a bunch of freebies with the Backbone+ subscription, such as Discord Nitro and Apple Arcade for three months. The biggest surprise? A native emulation tool in the Backbone app. The team has built a unified system where emulation cores for multiple retro Nintendo consoles have been placed in a single container. For now, you can enjoy games for SNES, NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance platforms. The Backbone chief tells me that the emulation stack will go as far back as Nintendo 64. When I asked about bringing more legacy console platforms, Khaira said it's not about choosing a side (read: Sony or Nintendo), but technical capabilities. 'We want to support every platform,' he put it bluntly. Backbone is currently testing emulation cores for PlayStation 1, PSP, and Nintendo DS, in case you're wondering. When I asked him to dig further into the challenges at hand, the Backbone chief told me that the 'biggest constraint is memory on the phone.' Tying it all together is the Backbone+ subscription, which serves a bunch of exclusive tools and benefits. Priced at $39.99 per year, it offers $35 worth of in-game benefits, a 30% discount on Backbone products, the ability to record game videos at full-HD 60fps with cloud storage, in-app voice chats, and Twitch direct streaming. The best, however, is yet to come. Khaira tells me that the subscription bundle will bring more titles and content later this year. 'We are working on adding licensed games into the subscription bundle,' he tells me. In addition to new games, Backbone envisions offering free games as well as instantly playable games that can work offline with the premium bundle. 'We want to bring down the barrier of entry as much as possible,' Khaira explains, adding that Backbone hopes to evolve into a gaming platform of its own by working with multiple partners in the gaming industry. 'We are really trying to be an alternative way to play games.' – Maneet Khaira, founder and CEO of Backbone. Verdict The Backbone Pro is an unabashedly premium controller. But for its $169.99 ask, it inches close to the territory where you find first-party controllers from the console warlords. But where the Backbone option races ahead is the sheer flexibility. The buttons and joysticks are fantastic, and so is the flexibility of using it in docked as well as standalone mode across different platforms. From a hardware perspective, it is as good as it gets. If your preferred gaming platform is mobile devices, and the best experience is what you seek, the Backbone Pro will serve you just fine. It goes a step further by offering a fantastic catalog aggregator in the mobile app. For fans of emulation, the built-in emulator will be a huge draw. The Backbone One will remain on the shelf at its $99.99 ask, going against the Razer Kishi V2. And if you're looking for budget alternatives, the GameSir X5 Lite is a great option. But for folks willing to spend on the Backbone Pro, you are in for a premium gaming experience par excellence.
