Customer Ratings & Reviews

Awesome mobile gaming device/controller. Works with the new IPhone 14 Pro Max. Just need to use the 13 pro max adapter included with the controller! I would get the warranty Best Buy offers just in case of accidents. Quality over all, it feels solid. Let’s see how the bottoms and sticks hold up after 9 -12 months.

This gamepad is incredible and very responsive. Plus, it has the lightning port and headphone jack, you can play peacefully and charge your iPhone at the same time. However, it isn't case friendly and doesn't flush when you have a lens protector. It also has the adapter for iPhone 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max (hopefully the adapter works with iPhone 14, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, so that the gamepad can be flushed and fit perfectly with the phone. Overall, still a good gamepad for not only for PlayStation users, but also for Xbox Xcloud and remote play for current Xbox consoles, mobile users who plays COD Mobile, Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile and Steam Link (play Steam games via remote play). Highly recommending it!

It’s good works with any phone easy to use can take it anywhere

I love this controller. Now I can play all my PlayStation games from anywhere and you can play Xbox games too and I don’t even have an Xbox. It is way better then I expected I would definitely recommend I never leave home without it

PROS: - Easy to connect - Included adapter for iPhone 13 Pro Max - Small size, but very comfortable - Pass-through charging - Headphone jack - Free year of Backbone+ CONS: - Apple might switch iPhones to USB-C soon == SETUP == You will need to install the Backbone app on your iPhone. If you connect the Backbone One without it, you'll be prompted to go to the App Store to get it. You'll need to create an account if you don't already have one, but by buying the new PlayStation edition, you do get a free year of Backbone+ membership for free. I would connect your iPhone to the Lightning port first, then extend the other end of the Backbone to lock your phone in. If you have the new iPhone 13 Pro Max, there's an included adapter so your phone will fit. == USING THE BACKBONE APP == This is the easiest way to navigate through all your games and various game services when using the Backbone One. It automatically finds any games you already have on your phone, but will also include other game suggestions from every other game streaming service. The game search is really cool. You can either look for any game based on whatever genre you want, or you can just search for a specific game to see which service it's available on. You can get results for just about every popular service: Apple App Store, PlayStation Network, Xbox Game Pass, Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, Steam Link, and even Amazon Luna. You can also take in-game screenshots and video recordings from the app using the dedicated button under the left direction pad. All your saved images and video clips can be accessed and shared from within the Backbone app. == BUILD QUALITY == I have bigger hands and was initially worried about how long I could play before it became uncomfortable. Thankfully, the Backbone One found a nice sweet-spot of being small enough for portability, but not too small to become uncomfortable. The build quality feels amazing! It's very sturdy and doesn't bend or twist while your phone is connected. The buttons are very clicky, the triggers are nice and springy, and the thumb sticks (while small) feel really good. I don't know what the next couple years will bring, but hopefully I don't need to worry too much about stick drift. == PLAYSTATION EDITION == I've owned every PlayStation (except the PS5, thanks scalpers...) and even owned the original PSP. I missed out on the PS Vita, but was still bummed out to learn that Sony was giving up on handhelds. While we aren't going to see a new successor to the Vita, this version of the Backbone is as close as we're going to get! I love that with just a few minor adjustments to the original Backbone, we have this beauty. I love playing my PS games on my phone with this controller! Sure, you could always just use a PS4/5 controller with a phone clip, but this is a MUCH more elegant solution (and much less bulk). == BOTTOM LINE == I definitely find myself playing much more games on my phone now than before. It's very compact, no Bluetooth connection to worry about, you can charge your phone while playing, and the buttons feel great. If you (or someone you know) is a big PlayStation fan and enjoys mobile gaming, this is AWESOME!

Backbone didn't have to make this device as it's pretty much just like the original Black Backbone BUT! I have much more to say as someone who owns both. What makes this one even better for someone like me is that this is a Sony Playsation 5 Edition. This means matching the black and white color scheme and buttons to match that of the Sony Playsation ecosystem. The buttons and D-pad are clear and on the back is a branded PS logo that covers the Apple logo (lol). I love it, I really am enriched by the design in a way...like a Playstation "Vita Phone" of some sort. Backbone has always been a great mobile controller from the start for iOS; as there is really none in the market that works as well. Backbone is lighter than the competition, offers more features than the competition, and is overall better than the "green" brand with this device. Also while yes you can use your PlayStation 5 controller on iOS let's be real with ourselves...Are you really going to lug that around with your phone as well? The backbone can easily fit into pockets and take with you. The controller is one of the best mobile controllers I've used and I love how it contours with your palm. Gripping it is great and feels like a real portable system. Notifications buzz can be felt through the Blackbone controller. I used an iPhone 12 Pro MAX and an iPhone 11 Pro MAX on the backbone giving me a huge screen when gaming. It doesn’t feel out of place making it feel too large to carry on Apple’s biggest phone. Outside of the standard buttons you already know from the PlayStation ecosystem like X, O, Square, and Triangle; there are a few buttons here unique to this controller. There is a button for the Backbone Menu (This launches the Backbone app which is useful as it's a quick press of a button to get into all your services. Completely eliminating unnecessary steps when connecting to a phone. The LED around the button lights up when it’s connected.), A screenshot button so you can share online screenshots and videos also works natively with iOS. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack that comes in the handle when you just want to use wired headphones and funny enough a good way to bypass iPhone not having one. Even listening to music was great on the device and use a gaming headset on the device with a mic. Backbone also has a lightning port where you can charge your phone as you game. You don’t need to charge the controller itself as it's just a bypass for your phone. L3 and R3 clickable analog sticks feel nice clicking them in. To fit the phone inside you must take it out of a case. The controversy over this controller is the placement of the analog sticks. They are not the placement they are on the PlayStation 5 controller. They mimic The analog stick placement of an Xbox controller. And while I understand that could be an issue for some people. I believe they did this to keep the theme of the original Backbone as well as most games on PC using the Xbox control scheme. I didn’t have any problems with playing any games on PS5; Even with the analog sticks placed where they are. Another problem some might have is that the analog sticks are not concaved like the PS5 controller. All of these issues didn’t impact my enjoying gaming mobile as every game I was playing wasn't that much different than using a controller on a PC. Maybe they will fix these issues with a “Pro” model of a Backbone but this one is more of a choice between the white and black colors of the existing backbone. While streaming from PlayStation remote play and Steam held up perfectly. Every button responded and gave a satisfying click. It’s simply amazing how far we’ve come to play great games without a hassle. If you have a USB-C; it can be used on any device like the iPad or PC so it poses as an extra controller to have around. It works on Xbox streaming and Apple Arcade as it’s just a normal backbone. To use the Backbone app you must sign up for a subscription service. It gives you one year free but doesn’t need the app to use the controller itself. Overall; Backbone gives you more options in the mobile market and it's nothing wrong with that. I personally like the color scheme it has with the PlayStation 5 over the original backbone. Once it’s all put together it looks great and is simply a stunning colorway. I truly enjoyed the ergonomics of this controller and it’s fully Sony branded in an odd way. This is a real premium iOS controller that I do know. If you want to enhance on mobile gaming experience or just want a better way to play Genshin Impact controller is the product to get! Highly recommend it to gamers.

It was a surprise birthday gift from my wife. I didn’t know what to do with it because I don’t usually play games that really require a controller on my phone. As soon a I plugged it in and got it set up, I was surprised how many games you can play with it that I didn’t even know you could play on a phone in the first place. I play a lot of CoD Mobile and have tested out a lot of other controller based games by browsing the Backbone game library. Super easy to get used to and to navigate the game menu. I would recommend to any gamer or anyone looking to get back into gaming. I love that it requires no charging and packs a lot of features. It is a quality piece of hardware. One thing I am concerned with is when I upgrade my iPhone, will there be a USB-C adapter piece for the already existing iPhone compatible backbone models. I would hate for this to become obsolete.

Rule #1: DO NOT... download...the Backbone app! The controller is fine, but the backbone app will absolutely destroy the experience. One you download it, it will infiltrate your gaming session, constantly prompting you to sign up for their paid subscription service which serves absolutely no useful purpose whatsoever. Also, don't let the PlayStation branding fool you, its a phone controller and is not of Sony quality. You can use it with PlayStation remote play, XBOX, Steam, iOS games, doesn't matter, so long as the game you're playing has controller support. I will say that the lightning connector went bad after 6 months of use, it would disconnect and reconnect constantly, further interrupting sessions. On a positive note though, Backbone quickly and efficiently replaced the unit on warranty without any resistance. It does not fit perfectly (even with adapter) on iPhone 14 plus, it's a bit off-parallel to the backing due to the camera protrusion. This is not a major issue though, you might not even notice if you're not particularly observant. Control sticks have the travel of a Nintendo Switch JoyCon, so takes getting used to. Overall I recommend this controller based on convivence factor and use.

It wont fit a iphone 14 without the adapter (comes free in the box. If not in the box they will mail one out to you for free.) It works great. Can play all compatible games easily. My only gripe is with its subscription based app. With a subscription you can access all your games and game recordings or screenshots in a single location instead of having to go through your phone. It also lets you screen record with a press of a single button and lets your stream onto your twitch as well. But without the pricy ($39.99/year) you cant do any of that.

I like everything about it but whag i like most is that i can play my ps5 games on my phone..id rather use this device than buy a portable ps5 handheld bc i can also play my xbox games and steam games off of the same device. Whoever thought of turning the phone into a handheld gaming system is a genius. I use my backbone on a daily basis

This controller for your phone is amazing! I oroginally had a Razer Kishi V1, and it felt weird. Something just didnt feel roght about it. This however is great! They’re both $100, but I would recommend this over that any day. They also make an “Xbox” version of this which is black and has traditional Xbox style buttons, but they both work with PS Remote Play and Game Pass flawlessly. There is a Backbone subscription service you have to subscribe too, but you can just cancel it immediately.

Love it so far. My only concern was the lag some people mentioned in their reviews. But i played GTA 5 online and couple of other games and did not experience lag so i was happily surprised. Just a hassle to take off iPhone case every time. i have iphone 14 pro max and had to use the adapter to make it fit (it comes in the box).

Hands down the greatest mobile controller! Very easy to setup. Works with whatever cloud streaming platforms you may be associated with. Works with a large variety of mobile games. A must for Vampire Survivors! =) Makes remote play a million times better! I fully recommend this product!

This Backbone is great. It works amazing for Playstation Remote Play and works for any controller-supported apps you have on your phone. Got this initially for the PS Remote Play but have found myself playing more games on my phone thanks to this handy controller. It's surpassed all expectations!

I loved the portability of it and thf fact that it can be used not only for play station games but also steam , xbox and mobile games. One thing to know for new users is that after you free trial month you have to subscribe yearly tho

Impressive! Works well with the PS5. My kids say it helps them playing fortnite and roblox on their phone. They even played Spider-Man 2 from their phone while I was on the TV

Works great for any games that use joysticks and buttons. Much better than using the on screen buttons. Trigger buttons are a bit small. I use it for remote play with PS5

I like the way this item works with my iphone 14 pro max and how its like having a ps5 remote with a screen in the middle. Now my kids can watch tv and I can play video games and listen to the game with my airpods. This is a must buy for gamers.

This really made my mobile gaming experience so much better. I look forward to finding a place with WiFi and free time so can just jump on the backbone and play some of my ps5 games while on the go. This thing is awesome. It fits well with my iPhone 13pro max.

Great Little Handheld on the Run!! It works perfectly for what it is. Giving your phone (or tablet) the ability to act as a Gaming Console with a fully functional controller. You can pay for access to use your controller on other devices or just plug and play with your PS4/5 or iPhone. It’s an extremely fast installation and recognition by the phone. The only thing to keep an eye out for is your phone must be updated to the latest firmware to use the Backbone One.