I opened the controller shell, plugged its Lightning jack into my iPhone’s charging port, and was ready to start playing. Part of the Backbone One ’s appeal is that there’s no set-up process. The Backbone One Gets Up and Running in Seconds Beyond that small nitpick, using the Backbone One was smooth sailing. The controller does have a button that opens Backbone’s app to reveal your game library, but that’s as close as you’ll get. I don’t have many quibbles to bring up in this Backbone One Controller review, but I do wish it had a dedicated home button that exited out of the game I was playing once I was done. Don’t get me wrong, the Razer Kishi is a fine iPhone gaming controller, it’s just undeniable that the Backbone One has the better design. The Kishi, by contrast, requires you to unlock its two pieces by pulling on a pair of finicky tabs on the back. Both controllers require you to strap your iPhone inside their shell, but the One is made out of two pieces of thick plastic, which you can easily pull apart (as shown in the GIF above). This is a sharp contrast to Razer’s Kishi controller, which has a more squared-off design that requires me to curl my middle, ring, and pinky fingers behind the controller when playing. This controller felt so natural that I could’ve mistaken it for one made by Nintendo if I picked it up with my eyes closed. My fingers immediately fell into their natural place: thumbs on the left analog stick and face buttons, pointer fingers on the top triggers, middle fingers on the back of the controller for support, and ring and pinky fingers curled around the controller’s handles. It didn’t bend much when I tried to twist it, the buttons and triggers felt sufficiently clicky, and the analog sticks were positioned in the perfect place. The Backbone One ’s solid construction impressed me from the moment I took it out of the box. Backbone’s Design Chops Match Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo These design details may seem small, but they make the difference between ending your gaming session because of a hand cramp, or because you finished a difficult challenge. Its handles are sloped downward, which makes the controller a little taller, but far more comfortable to grip, and the textured, plastic Backbone keeps the controller from slipping if your hands get sweaty. This isn’t the first controller shell for the iPhone, but it feels a lot more secure than any other one I’ve tested as part of this Backbone One Controller review. The Backbone One has the same exact button layout as controllers from Nintendo and Microsoft, so it feels familiar to use immediately. The Backbone One solves this problem by allowing you to play games using a pair of analog sticks, four face buttons, and four trigger buttons - just like you would on a game console controller. Your fingers end up getting in the way of the action, and it’s easy to accidentally hit multiple buttons at the same time, or miss them entirely. If you’re playing in-depth Japanese role-playing games like “Fantasian,” or racing games like “Horizon Chase 2,” the iPhone’s touch screen isn’t ideal. Most people who play iPhone games use its touch screen, which makes sense for titles like “Angry Birds” and “Fruit Ninja,” which were designed specifically for that device. Compatibility: Any iPhone released after the 6S in 2015 Dimensions: 3.7 inches L x 6.94 inches W x 1.28 inches H Who Needs a Controller to Play iPhone Games? There’s a huge market for iPhone gaming controllers, but the Backbone One is the best one I’ve ever used. Controller shells, like Razer’s Kishi, GameSir’s X2, and the Backbone One are designed to fit around the sides of the iPhone to turn it into a more svelte handheld gaming device. However, using a Bluetooth controller with an iPhone requires you to keep your smartphone in a stand, or attach the two devices using a clip, which looks and feels awkward. You’ve already been able to sync Bluetooth controllers - including those designed for the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch - to an iPhone to play games for a few years. Read on for our full Backbone One Controller review. It fulfills the promise of turning the iPhone into a credible Nintendo Switch competitor, and distinguishes itself in a field crowded with alternatives from companies like Razer, GameSir, and even Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Let me be blunt: The Backbone One gaming controller is the iPhone accessory I've wanted since games started appearing on Apple's smartphone platform in 2008.
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