Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Fans of mobile gaming are in luck as the Backbone One has gone on sale across several online stores, in both its standard black and PlayStation editions.
Usually, the Backbone one will set you back around $99, but the current sale has the device costing $69 at Amazon, Target and Backbone's website, which is over $20 off of the normal price. While this isn't the biggest price drop we've seen for the device it is still a great deal, and it's certainly cheaper than the PlayStation Portal or ROG Ally.
The Backbone One allows users to turn their iPhone into a handheld gaming machine, sort of like the Nintendo Switch. The device dramatically improves the gaming experience on mobiles, letting the screen be a screen instead of forcing it to be part-controller. And Backbone couldn't be simpler to use — it only needs to be plugged into a phone's charging port to activate.
The Backbone One is compatible with Xbox and PlayStation game streaming services, as well as any app or game that offers controller support. You won't need to download any apps for the device to work, but the Backbone app is available for assisting with set-up, firmware updates and controller options.
The Backbone One also comes with a one-month trial for Backbone+, which lets the Backbone app organize your gaming content library and streaming services into one place with a gamepad-friendly UI.
If you're firmly a PlayStation gamer, the Backbone One PlayStation Edition comes with the full PS5 aesthetic, including button design and color. While the association is mostly skin-deep there are some other benefits. This version of the Backbone One will be recognized as a DualSense controller by your PS5, something other grips cannot do. The PlayStation edition also offers easy navigation to Playstation's own app through a simple button press.
There are some minor downsides to the Backbone One, like the fact that it costs you extra per month/year to get all the features that the Backbone app provides. Also, it's fairly expensive as phone gaming controllers go, but fortunately deals like this help eliminate that particular issue.
The only other thing to consider is stock levels. It's been hard at times to get the Backbone One due to the growing popularity of this and other game-streaming devices. So we recommend grabbing this deal while you can if you're interested!
