Backbone Pro controller review - "Comfortable grip, fantastic fit, and two controller modes for the price of...two controllers"

• The Backbone Pro is a telescopic controller with Bluetooth connection
• Full-sized sticks and a stable grip make for a comfortable experience
• Hefty price tag might put off more budget-conscious players

While I wish I could carry a handbag that's light as a feather yet somehow able to hold all my essentials (Hermione's Undetectable Extension Charm would be a nice touch), that's just not possible (yet!) - which is why one-stop-shop gaming peripherals are always a plus in my book. 

The new Backbone Pro seems like a proper solution to my all-important problem, but is it worth shelling out a hefty price in exchange for its not-hefty weight?

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Table of contents:

• Backbone Pro controller design
• Connectivity and performance
• What's the verdict?

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Backbone Pro controller design

And no, I'm not just talking about "lightweight" in terms of actual heaviness. What makes the Backbone Pro stand out from other mobile controllers is that it can double as both a telescopic controller and a Bluetooth controller, too, eliminating the need to carry two peripherals in my bag whenever I'm not in the mood for the touchscreen. That's certainly a first, in my experience, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

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When it comes to its look and feel, it's what you'd expect from a telescopic controller in that you can extend its "backbone", so to speak, to nestle your phone onto it nicely using the zero-latency USB-C connector. Unlike the GameSir G8 Galileo, however, the connector doesn't wiggle at a movable angle, so it always takes me a while to snap my phone on properly (or it could just be my clumsy fingers at work).

Also, unlike the G8, the Backbone Pro can fit my Android phone nice and snug with the case on, which is an absolute godsend - it's always such a hassle to have to take my case off each time I need to do some wanton button-mashing.

There's a handy 3.5mm jack for audio and USB-C pass-through charging, along with remappable back buttons and adapters you can switch out in case the default ones don't fit for you. I couldn't, for the life of me, pry out the attached ones no matter how hard I tried, so thank goodness the default adapters were good enough for my phone, anyway.

Connectivity And Performance

One specific, unassuming button to take note of is the Backbone button, which opens up the app for all your gaming needs in one go. It offers a Netflix-esque interface for you to access your games and the ones you might be interested in downloading, with a feature that lets you map controls for touch-only games should you so wish. 

It's a fancy addition to your average controller app that usually just lets you customise buttons and stuff, but what really stands out to me in terms of performance is how comfortable the controller itself feels. Given it's small and telescopic, I wasn't really expecting much in the comfort department, figuring I'd have to deal with squished fingers, cramped hands, and a wobbly grip after a long gaming session.

But lo and behold - none of those happened while I was testing, which blew my mind, especially since I have a bilateral arm injury that just won't go away. 

That's probably because Backbone tried their best to fit full-sized sticks in there while keeping it light and portable for on-the-go mobile players, which also means you can effectively use the Backbone Pro as your go-to Bluetooth controller for console, tablet, and PC gaming too, whatever strikes your fancy. It offers portability without compromising comfort, both in the overall grip and during actual gameplay.

What's The Verdict?

That said, I did keep brushing my thumb against the R3 joystick when hitting the A button a little too enthusiastically, which I suppose is a trade-off since there's still very limited real estate across the whole controller. 

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But my biggest gripe by far is that it's got no Hall Effect sticks, which honestly feels like a standard in mobile controllers these days. And for the Backbone Pro's price, you'd imagine that would be a given.

Still, I had no issues going through my usual roster, from Streets of Rage 4 to Sonic Mania Plus. It can even fit my foldable too (Dadish is best played on a bigger screen, after all), and when you top that off with superb ergonomics, you can't go wrong here - if you're willing to spend an extra pound or two, that is.