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
- Textured grips offer extra comfort
- Solid battery life with smart power passthrough
- Smart idea for connecting to multiple devices
Cons
- Backbone still doesn’t feel perfect for my hands
- No Hall effect joysticks
- 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.
