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The archetypal Backbone One controller launched successful 2020 and ushered successful a caller epoch for mobile gaming controllers, providing a console-like acquisition from your phone. With the much caller merchandise of the Backbone Pro, players present person a premium enactment to consider. Below, we'll interruption down the main differences betwixt the Backbone One and Backbone Pro, including price, features, and more.
Specs and Features
Both the Backbone One and Backbone Pro stock a akin signifier factor: 2 autarkic controller grips that bookend an expanding cardinal country designed to acceptable astir iPhone and Android devices. It's a plan that resembles the Nintendo Switch a bit, and 1 that has go the modular for astir mobile telephone controllers these days.
While the layout of the offset thumbsticks and look buttons is the aforesaid crossed some devices, the Backbone Pro features larger, full-size Alps thumbsticks and customizable rear buttons that are large for competitory games oregon games with galore inputs. The Pro besides has upgraded triggers with Hall Effect sensors for accrued responsiveness and durability.
Backbone Pro
The Backbone Pro's larger, much ergonomic grips are much comfy for longer sessions, but marque the instrumentality importantly bulkier than the Backbone One, which makes it a spot little portable. Part of what makes the Backbone One specified a large instrumentality for casual play is its tiny size, casual to flip successful a container oregon store successful your pouch until you're acceptable to go.
Both devices link to mobile phones via the attached USB-C connector, which provides zero lag acknowledgment to its nonstop connection. There is besides a Lightning-enabled variation of the Backbone One designed for iPhone 14 and earlier that usage the Apple Lightning connector.
Backbone One - USB-C
Expandable, flexible dock for your telephone with the main gaming controls, including 2 analog sticks, a D-pad, and responsive, somewhat mushy buttons.
The Backbone Pro added built-in Bluetooth connectivity that allows it to link to much than conscionable your phone. You tin usage the Backbone Pro arsenic a standalone controller for a assortment of devices including PCs, tablets, Meta Quest headsets, and adjacent prime astute TVs that enactment crippled streaming. This added functionality makes it a much compelling enactment if you play much than conscionable mobile games.
Because of the autochthonal Bluetooth transportation and its wireless capabilities, the Backbone Pro features a built-in rechargeable battery. While its 40 hours of artillery beingness should beryllium much than capable for a fistful of mobile gaming sessions, you volition person to retrieve to support it charged, thing that you don't person to interest astir with the Backbone One controller.
Price Comparison
As expected, the modular Backbone One is the little costly controller. It retails for $99, but tin occasionally beryllium recovered connected merchantability during large events similar Amazon Prime Day for arsenic debased arsenic $69. This includes some the peculiar PlayStation Edition and Xbox Edition models with unsocial colors and buttons to lucifer the respective console.
The newer Backbone Pro is priced a spot higher than the basal exemplary astatine $169, but includes further features, buttons, and redesigned ergonomics to enactment the premium price.
Which One Should You Buy?
These are 2 of the champion telephone controllers available, truthful you can't truly spell incorrect with either one. The determination mostly comes down with what benignant of mobile games you play and where.
Because the Backbone One is aimed much astatine casual mobile crippled players, it's astir apt the champion enactment for astir radical arsenic it includes a elemental plug-and-play solution that works with the immense bulk of mobile games.
However, if you're into competitory mobile shooters oregon games that necessitate speedy reflexes, the Backbone Pro is possibly the amended acceptable arsenic its remappable backmost buttons, larger thumbsticks, and amended grips are amended suited for those benignant of games.
If you play games crossed aggregate devices and privation to simplify your controller setup, past the Backbone Pro is the evident choice. It tin relation arsenic a telephone controller arsenic good arsenic a Bluetooth controller that tin link to a assortment of devices for gaming connected the TV oregon computer.
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering each things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You tin travel him connected the tract formerly known arsenic Twitter @MatthewAdler and ticker him watercourse connected Twitch.
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