Backbone One Review: Turn your iPhone into a Nintendo Switch

It's often said that the best camera is the one you have on you, and I'd argue it's the same when it comes to gaming devices. A PlayStation at home is pretty useless when you're bored out of your mind on a bus in peak hour traffic. I know I've wasted countless hours playing Grindstone on my phone while killing time on public transport.

While phones aren't explicitly gaming devices, they inherently are, in the same way that phones are cameras. Massive titles like Genshin Impact launched on iPhone and Android at the same time it did on consoles and PC. Services like Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass with Cloud Streaming are changing the way we play games.

At the same time, a touchscreen isn't always the best way to play games. Sure, you can pair an Xbox or PlayStation controller to your iPhone, but It isn't always the most elegant solution - especially on the go.

Backbone One is a controller explicitly designed for iPhone that solves this. The Backbone One ostensibly turns your iPhone into a Nintendo Switch-like device, cradling the device between its two halves, supported, with, well, a backbone. You simply slide out the left side of the controller, which will then clamp around the top of your screen for a secure fit. The controller itself connects over Lightning, rather than Bluetooth.

The expandable design means the Backbone One will work with every iPhone from the 6s and up. Just note that the fit isn't quite right for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max due to their sizeable camera bumps, but Backbone has made an adapter that you can 3D print yourself or order for free (other than shipping) that fixes this issue. And honestly, that's just an excellent customer-first solution.

I tested the Backbone One with an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a standard iPhone 13, and in both cases, it felt secure and great to use. Just note you'll need to remove your phone case before plonking it in the grip. The controller itself is well built. I'd say the quality is better than what you'd get from a Switch Joy-Con, but a small step down from the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 gamepads. It is however lighter than either of those controllers, which makes the Backbone One ideal for just sliding into your backpack or a tote.

There are a few other useful quality of life features, including passthrough charging, a dedicated screenshot and video capture button, and an honest-to-goodness 3.5mm headphone jack.

The other nifty part of the Backbone One equation is a nifty little hub app that gives you a slick interface for accessing all your games (and providing recommendations). To add a game to the Backbone app, you just need to tap the Backbone button when you open it.

While the Backbone One is designed for iPhone, you can also use it with non-iPhone devices if you connect it via a Lightning-to-USB cable. This requires a Backbone+ subscription, which you'll get a free year with the controller. If you let the subscription lapse after your free trial, you'll still be able to use it as a controller with the last non-iPhone device you configured it for.

At $179.99, the Backbone One isn't exactly a cheap purchase, but it's nonetheless worth it if you want to up your iPhone gaming experience. It's a polished, well-thought-out controller for the mobile gaming world.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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