BACKBONE One Mobile Gaming Controller, USB-C Phone Controller for Android & iPhone 15/16/17 Series, 2nd Gen, Play Xbox, PlayStation, Fortnite, Call of Duty & More

I rarely write reviews, but the performance of this product truly surprised me, so I wanted to share my thoughts. First, this controller completely meets my expectations. It works well for playing various games on a mobile phone, is lightweight, and provides a comfortable grip. However, the buttons require more force to press compared to a standard controller. This is particularly noticeable when using it with a PC, as I usually rest the controller on my lap while playing. Due to its slim design, pressing the buttons in this position can be slightly inconvenient. That said, this issue doesn’t occur when playing on a mobile phone, as the controller is supported by your hands, which provides better leverage. This controller is lightweight and portable, and I carried it with me every day during the first week after purchasing it to play during my free time. However, despite being lightweight, its relatively large size makes it less convenient to carry around without a bag. Even if you use a bag, you’ll need to be cautious to avoid damaging it. The biggest downside is the additional costs. Besides the nearly $100 price tag for the controller, you may need to pay an annual subscription fee of $40 to unlock extra features, such as connecting it to devices like an iPad or PC. Additionally, to play most PC games, you’ll need a GeForce Now subscription, which costs $20 per month. Altogether, this adds up to around $160 for the full experience. If you’re only planning to play mobile games, you can save the extra $60, but you’ll still face limitations. In comparison, traditional controllers cost between $60 and $150, offering better value and more functionality. Another drawback is the lack of vibration feedback, which diminishes the overall gaming experience. Overall, if there weren’t additional costs, I would be more inclined to recommend this controller. Therefore, before purchasing, make sure to clarify your needs. If your primary focus is on PC gaming, I recommend choosing a traditional controller. It’s more durable, doesn’t require additional subscriptions, and offers a better overall experience.

Good controller. Connects and does as it should. However, do not let the controller retract on its own. Carefully, with two hands, support the controller as it retracts to its default position. Otherwise, the controller will stop working due to a damaged ribbon flex cable. I had to repair mine already because of carelessness. Quite a few times I would let the controller retract forcefully and the last time it happened the left side stopped working completely.

Overall this is a high quality product and works well. Pros: -Responsive controls -Familiar x-box style layout Cons: -Not compatible with protective phone cases. I have a protective "armor" phone case by Spigen and it will NOT connect to the USB jack while the phone is in the case. The USB connector just Isn't long enough when cased. I bought an angled USB-C extension cable from Amazon which "works" fine, but then you have to have your phone barely in the top of the dock. It functionally "works" just fine, just not as secure as it should work. -Small handles. If you're used to playing with a standard x-box/PC/Playstation controller, the handles are pretty small for an adult and holding the controller is a little awkward. I suppose you could 3D print "palm swells" to work, but I believe you shouldn't have to. Overall impression: -The controller does the job. The build quality seems fine, it works well and allows easier gaming experience than relying on the standard phone touch screen controls. Zenless Zone Zero is playable just fine (the reason I bought the controller), but the small grips diminish the pleasure of use for extended gaming sessions. Is it worth the cost? If you can get it on sale, sure. Does it work? Yes.

Please do not buy this controller. It WILL break. Do some searching and you will find countless stories of the same problem - the ribbon cable that runs through the center will become crimped/fatigued and cause malfunction of buttons on the left side of the controller. I sent the message pasted below to support and received an AI response. I am going to attempt repair since I already own it, but I cannot recommend BACKBONE. My email: "I bought a BACKBONE One iOS USB-C controller on *** from Amazon. The Amazon order number is ***. The UPC is ***. The ASIN (whatever that is) is ***. I only ever used it for a single game last year for which it performed flawlessly. I set it down for about a year and just recently tried it again for a different game. It worked fine for a couple sessions, then the left buttons stopped working correctly. After searching this problem online, I am convinced the behavior perfectly matches what seems to be a common problem of the communication ribbon suffering fatigue/wear from repeated opening/closing. This is disappointing because I don't feel that I actually cycled it that many times. I understand that I am outside the Amazon return window and probably any warranty it may have come with. I found a good video on how to replace the broken cable and I am willing to attempt it. However, I wanted to hear back from BACKBONE support before I open the device and risk accidental further damage. The video I watched said the third party ribbon replacements tended to be slightly longer than the stock ribbons and tougher to fit in the shell, so even if you just had some guidance on the best replacement part, I would appreciate it. I have otherwise been very pleased with the quality of the controller. Just disappointed that a $100 device only lasted me through one game. Thank you for any help or guidance you can provide." I received an AI response asking me to troubleshoot by updating iOS, the BACKBONE app, cleaning the ports, etc. It also said they do not assist with replacement parts or repair procedures. I probably would not have been so bothered had I not paid a premium price for a premium product. I feel duped by the overwhelming number of positive reviews despite so many people having the same problem I did.

I purchased my backbone USB-C gen 2 back in January of 2025 and just last night the left side became glitchy and eventually stopped working. I loved the build and feel of the product, and even liked that the product company is based in my home state of Oregon, however after the about 9 months of use the left side was no longer functional. I never charged using the controller as charging while playing a game is never the best idea for a battery anyway. I attempted to blow dust out at first thinking it was just the joystick as they appear to be the same as the joysticks in the Joy-Cons. This worked briefly when the D-Pad began to not function or the left stick would act like it was being moved, despite being in the neutral position. When the Product was stretched out (like to put phone in) the issue would stop. It appears that there is a design flaw with the ribbon cable that connects the left and right sides and likely has become pinched or causing some short within the bridge itself. I was considering reaching out to support for a replacement, however after several reviews and reading on Reddit, it appears that this is a common trouble that is still needing addressed. I give 4 stars as I love the overall build and the functionality, however due to the product not lasting a full year. I was able to purchase some replacement cables https://a.co/d/5y1rYLa Which allowed me to repair mine for next to nothing

Works as advertised. This small enough that it travels wells . It fits the phone with no issues , however it will not fit without removing the phone from the case . Good value for the money .

It's a fairly solid controller, and it's WAY overpriced. Console controllers that function better and feel better cost much less. You're paying for the convenience of sticking your phone in it. That's all. For this price a case should come with it. It does not. Immediately upon inserting my controller into it I needed to download an app (which is fine, I expected this) and then once the app launched, I was asked to buy a monthly $30 service for... something? Despite constantly advertising it to me they never fully explained what this service entailed, what I would get out of it, how to access it or how it would generally improve my experience. It was annoying, but I would've been able to excuse it if it hadn't KEPT TRYING TO GET ME TO BUY IT. Seriously. Every couple minutes of using the app I would get this notification that REQUIRED me to click no to continue on with what I was doing. It slowed down my experience and negatively impacted my opinion of the entire thing. I finally decided to accept the free 30 day trial to get it to go away and even after doing this I saw no new menus, no promotions being offered to me, nothing. It's like it didn't exist at all. I went into my Google Play store and cancelled the subscription shortly after realizing this. Within 24 hours I receive an email from a customer service representative saying they "noticed I cancelled my subscription shortly after getting it" and wanted me to "fill out a survey" to help them understand why. The joysticks are not smooth. They have eight notches in them to indicate the sticks are tilted at a certain angle, why? I don't know. It annoyed me. The Y B A X buttons are spread too far apart and are a bit awkward to get used to, they also click fairly loudly when pressed. The triggers are not bad, but they feel a bit floaty. It's hard to explain. It also does not include a case. At $100 I expected a case. Competitors are half this price and include one. Between the issues with the face buttons, the anti-consumer advertisements for a recurring premium service that appears to do nothing and the price tag I am cautious about recommending this to anyone. Despite the issues with the hardware and the "premium" service, I found the actual performance for the games that support it quite good, which is the only reason why I'm giving it any stars at all.

I'm new to mobile gaming. Overall I like this controller. I would consider my hands to be large(ish) and it fits well. It's obviously small compared to a real controller, so it feels weird at first. I have two FYI to share. FYI #1: The first thing I noticed is regardless of black or white color the GEN 2 with USB-C are configured for Playstation. I give Amazon credit because the fine print states this, but the white controller shows the PS button layout and the black controller shows the X-Box layout. The X-box configuration will probably work if you are using their play pass, but games through the Android play store might be designed for the Playstation layout. You can't adjust this unless you have the iPhone version, which isn't USB-C for the GEN 2. The current game I'm playing through the Play Store is set up for X-box controlls. It gets confusing, but I'm familiar with controllers on both platforms so I can figure it out. FYI #2 This is basically regarding the capacity of this controller. I have a Galaxy S 23 Ulra. Without a case there is a little room to fit the controller. With a slim case I am pushing the limits; it takes a full extention of the controller to make it fit. Anything larger won't work for the GEN 2. You'll probably need the Pro. Overall, this is a sturdy little device and I like it. I recommend doing an online search to see what other people are saying based on the platform you intend to use it with. The black USB-C definitely isn't mapped for games that aren't designed specifically for X-box.

I use it to link to my xbox or pc and enjoy games even if my partner and daughter are using the TV

I recently purchased the Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller, and it has completely transformed my mobile gaming experience. The setup was straightforward—just plug in my iPhone, and I was ready to play. The controller feels very comfortable in the hand, and the tactile feedback from the analog sticks is excellent—responsive and satisfying to use, much like a traditional console controller. Pros: Seamless Integration: Works flawlessly with my iPhone, providing a console-like gaming experience. Ergonomic Design: Comfortable to hold during extended gaming sessions. Tactile Analog Sticks: Great feedback that enhances control and precision. Low Latency: Responsive controls with minimal input delay. Pass-Through Charging: Allows me to charge my phone while gaming, ensuring uninterrupted play. Backbone App Access: Provides a hub for all my games, game recommendations, and social features. Cons: Price Point: Slightly on the expensive side, but the quality justifies the cost. Final Thoughts: If you're a mobile gamer looking to elevate your gameplay, the Backbone One is an excellent investment. It offers a seamless and immersive gaming experience that enhances every game I play.

Ho provato il BACKBONE One Mobile Gaming Controller con il mio iPhone 15 Pro Max e sono rimasto colpito dalla qualità dell'esperienza di gioco. Con questo controller, il mio telefono si trasforma letteralmente in una console portatile, offrendo un'esperienza immersiva e molto simile a quella di una console dedicata. Il design ergonomico e la facilità di connessione rendono l'utilizzo del BACKBONE One un vero piacere, e la risposta dei comandi è precisa e reattiva. È perfetto per sessioni di gaming in movimento, sia che si tratti di giochi più casuali o titoli più impegnativi. Tuttavia, c'è una pecca che ho notato, soprattutto durante l'estate: il telefono tende a surriscaldarsi molto dopo un uso prolungato, rendendo difficile continuare a giocare. In inverno, invece, questo problema è molto meno evidente, e l'esperienza di gioco è molto più fluida e piacevole. Spero che in futuro il team di BACKBONE consideri l'integrazione di ventole o qualche altra soluzione per il raffreddamento, per permettere una migliore gestione della temperatura del dispositivo durante l'uso, soprattutto nei mesi più caldi. In sintesi, il BACKBONE One è un ottimo controller per chi cerca un'esperienza di gioco portatile di alta qualità, ma il problema del surriscaldamento è un aspetto da tenere in considerazione, specialmente per chi intende utilizzarlo durante l'estate.

2024年8月の購入から使用していましたが、2025年3月より左側が反応しなくなりました。 iPhoneのアップデート、再起動、backbornの設定のボタン動作など試しましたが改善しませんでした。 重宝していただけに残念です😢 公式のサポートに連絡中です。 ⭐︎1から変更 公式サポートから連絡後、やりとりして一週間程度で交換品が届きました。初期は英語での対応のため少々苦戦しましたが、かなりスムーズに対応いただきました。

This is great for playing Google play store games, emulators, and game streaming services. Works great for remote play on the PS5.