Latest news with #BackboneOne
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
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Google just dropped a whole diamond district in Roblox, and it's giving VIP energy
The tech gods have spoken—and they are wearing diamond-studded headphones. Google Play just launched its first-ever immersive Roblox experience, and yes, it is called the Diamond District. This glitter-filled virtual zone is serving real VIP energy and is exclusively available from now until July 2. Google drops a digital flex in Roblox Tied directly to Google's Play Points rewards programme, the Diamond District lets users link their Play Points accounts and unlock an entire world of perks. We are talking obstacle courses, shiny loot, wild mini-games, and a literal vault for Platinum, Gold and Diamond-tier users. Because why just play Roblox when you can play it in style? This Roblox takeover is more than just a pretty pixel. Google Play is clearly levelling up, blending its rewards system with one of the most popular digital playgrounds on Earth. According to Jackie Titus, Google Play's director of activations and engagement, the idea was to evolve their rewards programme into something bigger, more exciting, and globally interactive. Titus shared that after last year's success with Play Points, the team wanted to go even deeper. Roblox made perfect sense—it is where their users already are, and now it is where their loyalty gets rewarded. Digital drip and real-life rewards Inside the Diamond District, members can snag exclusive digital items, like gliders and headphones, all sparkling with that signature Play diamond flair. But wait—there is actual, physical merch too. We are talking a custom Google Play x Backbone One controller and a limited-edition gift box. And for those who love chaos and education? Duolingo's iconic green owl is crashing the party as a plushie giveaway. Titus explained that they wanted to bridge the gap between the digital and real worlds, offering tangible items to make the Roblox experience even more memorable. Built by the community, for the community Apparently, this Roblox realm was not just a plug-and-play project. Titus revealed the creative process began all the way back in January, with hands-on workshops, testing sessions, and custom builds. From the jump, the focus was on creating something that genuinely delighted Play Points users. If this is the future of loyalty programmes, sign us up, link the accounts, and hand us a glider.
Tom's Guide
07-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I tried the new Backbone Pro controller and the feature I've always wanted wasn't the most surprising
Unlike with the PS5 or Xbox, there's no such thing as a first-party controller from Apple or Google for the best phones. Instead, there's a wide variety of third-party ones that work across both iOS and Android and after the release of its first mobile game controller, Backbone quickly made a name for itself. While Backbone's original controller was just for iPhones, two years later, the company finally made one for the best Android phones which meant I finally got to try it out for myself. I really enjoyed using the Backbone One for remote play but for me, one thing was missing from the controller: remappable back buttons. With the launch of its new Backbone Pro controller, Backbone has finally fixed my biggest complaint with the original. The company also made its new mobile controller more comfortable to hold for extended play sessions and the switch from mini thumbsticks to full-sized ones is another welcome change too. You may like After spending the past few days trying out the Backbone Pro for myself, I can easily say that like its predecessor, it deserves a place among the best phone controllers. However, Backbone also incorporated another new feature into its new mobile controller. While I've been eagerly waiting for the release of a new Backbone model with remappable back buttons for years now, I didn't expect to like the other big new addition to the Backbone Pro as much as I have and wireless play is a game changer in more ways than one. A refined mobile game controller (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Initially, the Backbone Pro does look quite similar to the Backbone One. It has the same button layout as the original. Besides its larger thumbsticks, they now have anti-friction rings around them for smoother movement and to help reduce wear. Likewise, the controller's face buttons and D-pad now have glossy look and feel to them as opposed to the matte design used in Backbone's previous controllers. Along with the controller, you also get two extra rubber inserts that you can swap in for when you want to use the Backbone Pro when you have a case on your phone. In my experience, I was able to slip my Nothing Phone 2 into the controller easily with the original inserts installed without taking its case off. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Around back is where you see the first big upgrade with the Backbone Pro. On the inside of both handles, there are now two remappable M1 and M2 buttons. I found that they're in the perfect position to press them easily with my ring fingers but if you're the type that doesn't like back buttons, you can always leave them unassigned in the Backbone app. The Backbone Pro's handles are also thicker than those on the Backbone One and they have more of a rounded feel to them. This helps make the controller more comfortable to hold for extended periods and unlike with other mobile game controllers, my hands didn't cramp up while using them, even after playing for quite some time. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) On the bottom of the Backbone Pro's handles, you still have a USB-C port for passthrough charging on the right and a 3.5mm headphone jack for plugging in a pair of wired headphones on the left. However, Backbone has also added a pairing button next to it which you use for wireless play on PC, tablets, smart TVs and even the best VR headsets. Overall, I really like the look and feel of the Backbone Pro along with the other small but noticeable enhancements to Backbone's original mobile game controller design. Customizable on the fly (Image credit: Tom's Guide) After unboxing, I put the Backbone Pro through its paces with a few native Android games. From Dead Cells to Minecraft to Sonic Mania, all the games I played worked well with the new controller and it was nice to have those two remappable back buttons so that I could keep my thumbs planted firmly on its larger joysticks. I also spent a bit of time testing out remote play on both PC and on my Xbox Series X. Everything worked well on both devices. However, I did have to use the XBXPlay app for Xbox as Microsoft recently decided to move remote play from within the Xbox app to your browser. Oddly enough, I tried using the Backbone Pro with my PS5 and wasn't able to get it working even after trying it with both my phone and the Razer Edge gaming tablet. I'm sure I just need a firmware update or something like that as Backbone's site says that its new controller is compatible with PS5. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) One thing that I really liked was how easy it was to switch between profiles for various games. For instance, with my go-to game, the skateboarding sim Session, you press A to push when riding regular and X to push when riding goofy and I always have both of these mapped to the back buttons on whatever controller I'm using. In other games, I like to have the back button on the right mapped to A and the one on the left mapped to B, that way I can confirm with one and cancel with the other. While I would love to be able to remap the Backbone Pro's two back buttons right on the controller itself like you can with many of the best PC game controllers, Backbone's app-based approach makes more sense here as you're always going to use the device with a phone inserted. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The good thing is that you don't have to dive down into Backbone app's settings each time you want to switch profiles or modify one. Instead, you can just tap on the button in the top right corner of the screen with the clock, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and battery icons. It acts like a quick menu and pulling it up shows you all of your controller profiles on the right along with your phone and the Backbone Pro's current battery levels. Along with switching profiles, you can also use this menu for swapping between devices with Backbone Pro's new Wireless Mode feature. I didn't give it much thought at first as other mobile game controllers and even the CRKD Nitro Deck + for the Switch also let you use them on PC, albeit via a wired connection However, it quickly became my favorite feature of the Backbone Pro and it helps justify the controllers' higher $169.99 price. From your phone to your PC instantly (Image credit: Tom's Guide) After going through the initial Bluetooth pairing process in the Backbone app, it's incredibly easy to go from using the Backbone Pro with your phone to using it on your PC, tablet, smart TV or other devices. This is powered by the company's new FlowState technology and I have to admit, I was skeptical at first about being able to instantly switch between devices. In my testing, it worked flawlessly. Once I paired the Backbone Pro with the AtomMan G7 Ti mini gaming PC, a prompt popped up in the Backbone app asking if I wanted to use the controller wirelessly or on the device it was connected to. With just a simple tap, the controller paired almost immediately with my PC and I was able to use it in Steam's Big Picture Mode to navigate through menus and launch games. One neat touch was that the orange Backbone button on the controller worked like the home button on a PS5 or Xbox controller without the need to configure anything. Likewise, the Backbone Pro's screenshot button worked right from the get go too. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Ever since I tried the original Razer Kishi five years ago, I always imagined what it would be like using it to control my PC while I had full access to my phone. Well, with the Backbone Pro, this dream finally became a reality. I was able to watch YouTube videos, scroll through articles on Tom's Guide and do everything else you can do on a phone without interrupting my game session on PC. Unless you leave your phone on the charger while gaming, I bet you too have to constantly swap between having your controller or your phone in hand. With this setup though, I don't have to choose between one or the other. My phone is right there when I need to quickly look something up and the Backbone Pro doesn't drain its battery while in Wireless Mode. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) I was so impressed with Wireless Mode on the Backbone Pro that I wanted to see what else I could do while using it and of course, the natural evolution was to jump on a video call mid-game. My colleague Alex Wawro kindly volunteered and we proceeded to discuss the ins and outs of DLSS and frame generation on Nvidia's graphics cards while I finally played through the beginning of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. After going hands-on with the Switch 2 last month, this felt quite a lot like the PC version of Nintendo's new Game Chat feature. Sure, you can't see what the other person is playing unless you swap to your phone's back camera and you'll both need a Backbone Pro controller, but it was nice to be able to video chat with someone while playing a game. I'm sure I'll come up with some other creative ways to use the Backbone Pro's Wireless Mode but even if I don't, having my phone right there next to my controller is something I've always wanted to experience and now I'm finally able to. Traveling lighter (Image credit: Tom's Guide) When Backbone initially reached out to me about checking out the Backbone Pro, I thought it was going to be a more sophisticated — and premium — version of the Backbone One. In fact, I had been going back and forth with them for months about when we would eventually see a pro model with remappable back buttons. Well, Backbone delivered and then some with the company's new controller. Instead of an enhanced mobile game controller, the Backbone Pro is actually a dual mode device that works just as well with your phone as it does with your PC. When using it in Wireless Mode, it's also fairly wider than your average controller which is actually a lot better for you ergonomically. This way your shoulders are in a more natural position closer to having them at your sides and your hands aren't cramped together. I have a tendency to overpack and sometimes, it feels like my tech bag has more in it than my suitcase. In the past, I'd bring a mobile game controller like the Backbone One with me for playing on the plane and then a full-size controller for when I wanted to sneak in a few minutes of gameplay back at the hotel. With the Backbone Pro though, I can bring one controller and use it for both my phone and my PC. Now that Backbone has released a pro model controller with remappable back buttons and plenty of other upgrades, I have my fingers crossed that we'll get an XL version at some point to use with smaller tablets in Handheld Mode like the iPad mini or the Lenovo Legion Tab 3 I recently picked up. While I love the larger thumbsticks on the Backbone Pro, the controller still has smaller, Joy-Con-like face buttons. An extra large version with full-size everything would be a dream come true, especially for people with larger hands. Only time will tell though. As for me, I'm off to play a bit more Final Fantasy VII Rebirth while doom scrolling on my phone. More from Tom's Guide
Engadget
06-05-2025
- Engadget
Backbone Pro hands-on: A pricey controller for more than just your phone
Since arriving in 2020, the Backbone One has helped popularize dedicated mobile game controllers, the kind you might use for streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now, remote play apps, emulators or any smartphone game you'd rather play with buttons and joysticks instead of your fingers. While you can always clip your phone to a PlayStation or Xbox controller paired over Bluetooth, telescopic gamepads like the One tend to be more ergonomic, creating a Nintendo Switch-style shape by clamping around your device at both ends. Backbone is far from the only company making these things now, but the One is still among the most frequently recommended options on the market — Engadget's own Mat Smith gave it a favorable review back in 2022. After releasing several iterations of the One, Backbone is now unveiling its first real follow-up: the Backbone Pro. The new device comes with many of the design upgrades you might expect, from comfier grips and smoother joysticks to larger triggers and quieter face buttons. But it also supports Bluetooth, which means it can unhook from your phone entirely and work with PCs, iPads, smart TVs and the like. Backbone has built a few new features for its companion app as well, including one called 'FlowState' that lets you quickly connect to previously paired devices from one menu (provided they have Bluetooth active). '[The Pro] is meant to be a premium device for anyone who wants to play games on any screen,' Backbone CEO Maneet Khaira said during a briefing in New York City last month. 'Our idea was really, we want to make one device for all of gaming.' After using the Backbone Pro for the past few days, I can squint and see the future Khaira has in mind, and the controller itself clearly feels more premium than its predecessor (which will remain available). But at $170, the device will be prohibitively expensive for some. That's Xbox Elite territory for a controller still mainly aimed at smartphones. Plus, as with the One, some the gamepad's perks are locked behind a Backbone+ subscription, which tacks on another $40 per year. You really need to buy the Backbone Pro as a multi-device controller for it to make the most sense as a purchase. Used strictly with a phone, however, it's a definitive upgrade over the Backbone One. This is most obvious in the grips, which are considerably thicker and more grooved than before. They fill out and hug your palms much more naturally as a result, which keeps the design comfier to hold over time. They're also coated in a soft, lightly textured matte plastic that seems better at fending off sweat. The concave joysticks are significantly taller and have a grippier 'ring' around the top. They don't use magnetic Hall effect sensors to resist drift long-term, which is annoying at this price, but they're tight and tangibly smoother. Khaira says the Pro uses the same joystick component as Microsoft's Xbox Elite controller and Sony's DualSense Edge; indeed, the sticks don't feel all that different than the ones on a full-size gamepad. Like other 'pro' controllers, you can also remap buttons and fine-tune the joysticks' and triggers' dead zones in the Backbone app, then assign those tweaks to different profiles. The face buttons still aren't super quiet but feel distinctly less clicky and stiff, with a smoother finish and deeper sense of travel. Along those lines, the triggers are wider and fuller — my large-ish fingers can rest on them without hanging off, which wasn't the case with the One. The shoulder buttons are longer as well, while the menu buttons are less flush and easier to reach. The D-pad is similarly firm and precise but now has a glossier coating. There's also a pair of customizable back buttons, which rest right against your ring fingers but haven't caused any accidental presses in my testing. The fatter grips make the design taller than the One, but not much wider, and it's still about 80 grams lighter than a typical Xbox or PlayStation pad at 199g. As before, the Pro comes with adapters that hold different-sized phones steady in place, with or without a case. I've experienced no wobbling using an iPhone 15 Plus with Apple's Clear Case on. There's still a built-in headphone jack and pass-through charging port, though the actual connector is USB-C only, so the controller won't work with older Lightning-based iPhones. Since the Pro needs its own battery to play wirelessly, it sips a small amount of power to recharge whenever you top up a connected phone. Overall, Backbone says the Pro can last up to 40 hours; I haven't yet been able to perform a full rundown test but the battery hasn't given me reason to doubt that estimate in the few days I've spent with the device. You can quickly connect the Backbone Pro to new devices from this menu in Backbone's app. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget / Backbone) Pairing the Backbone Pro with other devices wirelessly is largely straightforward. There's a dedicated button at the bottom of the controller that puts it into pairing mode, and the app prompts you to connect to all your other gear upon setup. Once you connect to a new device for the first time, the Pro remembers it, and that information is relayed in the app. When you want to connect to one of those devices again, you simply tap a menu in the app, select the device you want and hit "connect." As long as that device has Bluetooth active, it'll immediately reconnect. You need to have your phone hooked into the Pro's USB-C port to swap devices via the app, but I've had few hiccups bouncing from screen to screen otherwise. You can see how the Pro lines up with the multi-screen vision brands like Xbox are pushing. I can launch a Game Pass stream of Clair Obscur on my phone while my wife has the TV, then move it to the Fire TV Stick when she's all set. I can start a Balatro session on my PC and carry it to my iPad through Steam Link. I don't have to change my controller at any point. I don't have to fiddle with any buttons to pair with the next thing I want to use — I just pop in my phone, select the device and go. I can even pick up right where I left off in a cloud stream, provided I swap devices within a few minutes. The Pro isn't the only controller that lets you game like this, of course, but its phone-friendly design and fast pairing tech make it especially inviting to this sort of 'play anywhere' approach. Top to bottom: an Xbox Series X/S controller, the Backbone Pro and the Backbone One. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget) There are a few issues once you look closer, though. One is simply that the Pro lacks the proprietary tech needed to pair with an Xbox, PS5 or Switch. That's not necessarily Backbone's fault, but when it pitches the Pro as a controller for 'all of gaming,' it has to ignore the main way tons of people actually play video games. Second, for as much as I like the Pro compared to other mobile gamepads, it still can't help but feel cramped next to more traditional alternatives. The right joystick constantly brushes up against the bottom of my thumb, for instance, because it has to sit right below the face buttons. The triggers may be deeper, but they don't have the same travel as a standard console pad. The Pro is still comfy, still capital-N Nice, and it's great if you use your phone for gaming often. But an Xbox or PlayStation controller just has more room to work with. Third, all of this can get expensive in a hurry. The Pro's price tag is already steep. To take full advantage of cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now, you have to pay a subscription fee. Same goes for Apple Arcade. You can't remote play without owning a console or gaming PC. And Backbone restricts some app features to its own membership program, most notably the ability to launch cloud-based games directly from the app. So there are questions of what the market for a device like this actually is: Just how much do hardcore gamers, the people who'd buy a $170 controller, play on their phone? How much do they need a multi-device controller when they likely own an Xbox or PS5 pad already? Who really wants a subscription for a video game controller? You can organize and start up games from the Backbone app, but the ability to launch games from cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now directly in the app (annoyingly) requires a subscription fee. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget / Backbone) That aside, the app still looks clean, and it still lets you organize your games or streaming apps in one central hub. The search function works well, allowing you to filter games by different platforms. When you select a game, it helpfully shows you which platforms you can play it through. Backbone is also adding a new built-in emulator with its next update. It can run NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 games today, though the company says it's testing PlayStation 1 and PlayStation Portable cores as well. Opening a ROM in the app is simple enough, and once you do, it'll appear in your hub alongside the rest of your library. That said, you need a Backbone+ subscription to use the emulator, and it's fairly barebones compared to an app like RetroArch, with no way to rewind, adjust resolution or manage multiple save states. I also experienced a few bugs with certain games, with one title not loading entirely. This is still a neat idea, but given that other more featured emulators are available for free, I can't say it's worth paying for today. In an ideal world, the Backbone Pro would be a next-gen version of One rather than a step-up model priced $70 higher. The hardware is better in meaningful ways, and being able to use it across devices is genuinely convenient. But it's certainly not cheap. There's a decent chance the price was influenced by the looming effects of President Trump's tariff policy, but that still leaves the device well above other capable mobile gamepads today. If you've got the cash and spend hours gaming across your phone and other screens, the Pro is still well worth a look. It's one of the best in its niche. It's just hard to call it a great value. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Tom's Guide
05-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Backbone unveils new Backbone Pro controller and now it's not just for your phone — play wirelessly on your PC, tablet and more
Building on the success of the Backbone One, Backbone is back with a pro version of one of the best phone controllers which features significant upgrades and even the option to play wirelessly over Bluetooth. While the new Backbone Pro shares a similar look and form factor to the Backbone One, it's been completely redesigned to enhance comfort and provide wider device compatibility. In addition to its new more rounded design that feels a lot more comfortable to hold for extended play sessions, Backbone has swapped out its smaller thumbsticks for full-sized ones in the Backbone Pro. Likewise, the controller now features two programmable back buttons which can be customized in the Backbone app. The Backbone Pro also includes a number of upgrades aimed at making the controller quieter while in use. For instance, both its D-pad and face buttons now sport a carbon-pill design to reduce click volume. Its bumpers and triggers are larger and the triggers now use magnetic Hall Effect sensors for better longevity and accuracy. On the bottom side of the Backbone Pro, you still have a USB-C charging port on the right for charging your phone while you play along with a headphone jack on the left so that you can connect a pair of wired headphones. However, next to the headphone jack, there's now a pairing button so that you can connect the Backbone Pro via Bluetooth. Just like with previous models, the Backbone Pro connects to your phone using a USB-C connector on the right side of the controller. Not only does this give you a basically latency-free connection, it also means that you don't have to worry about charging the device if you want to play on one of the best phones. Unlike the Backbone One though, the Backbone Pro does feature a battery which Backbone claims can get you up to 40 hours of wireless playtime. In wireless mode, the controller can pair with your phone, tablet, laptop, PC, smart TV and even VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Instead of having to go through the pairing process whenever you want to switch between devices, Backbone has created what it calls its FlowState technology. This lets you instantly switch between your tablet, PC, TV and other devices with just a tap in the Backbone app. The best part though, your profiles, connection settings and input preferences follow you from screen to screen. Due to the ongoing tariff decisions in the U.S., Backbone has yet to announce pricing for the Backbone Pro. However, as you might have guessed from the picture above, I actually have a Backbone Pro in for testing right now, so stay tuned to Tom's Guide for my hands-on experience with the new controller.
