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When it comes to replicating the console experience on your smartphone, the conversation starts and ends with the Backbone One (2023). While there are other options that made their way into our round-up for the best mobile controllers, the latest Backbone still comes out on top.

The brilliance of the Backbone One is in just how easy it makes the transition to mobile gaming for those who are used to consoles. The controller itself feels great in the hand as the face buttons and joysticks offer instant and satisfying feedback, and one you plug it into your phone, you’re pretty much ready to go.

Whether you’re looking to play an on-device title like Call of Duty Mobile, stream Xbox hits via Game Pass or even use your PS5’s Remote Play feature, the Backbone One can do it all. There’s even a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack for those who prefer to have lossless wired audio whilst gaming, alongside a USB-C in port to keep your phone topped up during your sessions.

Previous iterations of the Backbone One have supported either Android or iPhone but this newer model supports all USB-C compatible phones including the iPhone 15 range, so if you have multiple people in your household who also enjoy a spot of mobile gaming, you can easily swap the controller from one phone to another.

As a final cherry on top, the orange ‘Backbone’ button on the pad takes you straight into the Backbone app which, much like a streaming UI like Fire TV, collates all of your compatible services into one place which is handy for getting straight back into the action.

As easy as it is to recommend the Backbone One, there’s no denying that for some budgets, the controller is priced a little too high. With an RRP of £99.99/$99.99, it’s no small investment, and with cheaper options available, the Backbone One is best saved for those who know they’ll get plenty of use out of it.

Reviewer: Jon Mundy
Full review: Backbone One (2023) review