Backbone’s versatile professional controller almost matches its best price yet

Mobile gaming has come a long way over the past decade or so, but we all know that smartphones simply can’t match the visceral, tactile feeling you get while playing with a dedicated controller. Fortunately, Backbone offers some excellent mobile options, including last year’s option Backbone Prowhich is for sale at Amazon, Best buyand goal Now for $139.99 ($30 off), which is the second best price yet.

In many ways, Backbone’s latest portable console is just an updated version of what came before. The handheld device consists of two rectangular halves with an extendable plastic strip in the middle, allowing you to use it with Android devices and iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series phones. It plugs into your phone’s USB-C port, and once connected, you can play with the full-size ALP joystick, responsive D-pad, and A, B, X, and Y buttons. It also features two programmable back buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack, better ergonomics than your phone, and an average battery life of up to 40 hours on a single charge.

However, hardware is only part of the equation. Backbone’s goal with the Pro is to serve as a more universal gamepad, and as such, the company’s software brings together games from Apple Arcade, Netflix, Google Play and other services into a single app, allowing you to discover and play games without much fuss. What’s more, you can use it to stream Xbox or PlayStation games – either from your console or the cloud – and connect it to a wide range of other devices via Bluetooth, including PC, Steam Deck, and Apple devices like iPad and Mac. Sure, the thick controller feels a little awkward when used without a phone, but that’s a small price to pay for its extra versatility.