I don't think the Backbone One is worth $100, but I can recommend its early Black Friday price

The Backbone One has had a tough year. As if it wasn’t bad enough that seemingly every tech brand under the sun has launched a portable gaming PC, this popular mobile controller started a wave of rivals that have improved upon it. In truth, as someone who tests mobile controllers for a living, it’s been really tough to recommend the Backbone because although it once was the best device out there for portable play, it’s now just a pricey, fairly limited option.

And yet, for the first time this year, I’m about to recommend it to you, and that’s because Best Buy has started the Black Friday party early. Right now, you can get the Backbone One (Lightning version) for only $59.99 at Best Buy, which is a return to the cheapest price we’ve seen it at.

Now, I’ve done the hard part for you. Since I’m happier recommending the Backbone’s rivals, I’ve checked the prices of the best mobile controllers already to make sure this is a deal worth recommending. The GameSir G8 Galileo Plus is currently $79.99 at Amazon, which isn’t far away, but still more expensive for a change. The Scuf Nomad and GameSir X4 Aileron are both snoozing at their $99 MSRP, and the USB-C Razer Kishi Ultra is still above them all at $149.

For once, the Backbone One is actually the most affordable option, and that makes it worth buying.

Should you buy the Backbone One?

Backbone One Apple Arcade

(Image credit: Future)

You may think I’m being hard on the Backbone One, which arguably revolutionized mobile gaming. There’s a reason PlayStation officially licensed this brand to make a version for Remote Playing PS5 games, and it’s because its controller is practical, plays great, and provides such a huge improvement over touch screen controls. For those reasons alone, it’s everything the average player would ever need in a mobile controller.

That said, it isn’t the only option. It tends to be a popular recommendation from people because it’s the one everybody knows best, but in the last year, there have been so many viable options join the market. If you’ve got larger hands, the Backbone isn’t ideal. If you want more utility from the likes of back buttons, then the GameSir G8 Galileo is a better fit. Similarly, if you like symmetrical thumbsticks, then the Scuf Nomad is going to be better for you.

Of course, if you have a lightning-connecting iPhone, your options are a bit more limited. Thanks to the latest round of iPhones abandoning it in favor of USB-C, there aren’t any new controllers with this connection type coming out – which is maybe why Backbone’s stock is going cheap this early before Black Friday gaming deals begin.

If you have a USB-C device, I’d strongly recommend against buying a Backbone now. In a few weeks, when more and more Black Friday offers hit the shelves, there will be plenty of choice around this price range.

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