The Backbone Pro Is the Game Controller to Rule Them All


As cellular gaming turns into more and more refined – and streaming console-quality video games to smartphones turns into the norm – devoted cellular controllers are now not a distinct segment accent. The unique Spine One earned widespread acclaim as probably the greatest within the discipline. Now, Spine is elevating the bar with the launch of the Spine Professional, a controller designed to ship a premium, console-like expertise throughout all of your gadgets.

At first look, the Spine Professional builds on the sturdy basis of the unique, but it surely brings a number of considerate enhancements. Ergonomically, it’s extra comfy to carry, with a refined design and a textured plastic end that feels extra elevated. Each component, from the clickier buttons with deeper journey to the upgraded full-size joysticks, has been reengineered for enhanced gameplay. Two new rear buttons, accessible by your ring fingers, add further customization and management.

A black handheld game controller with two joysticks and multiple buttons is shown against an orange gradient background.

A woman and a man stand facing each other, both looking down at their phones. They are dressed in black clothing against a plain white background.

Past the USB-C connection on your cellphone, it now consists of built-in Bluetooth, permitting you to make use of it with a laptop computer, pill, good TV, or different suitable gadgets. Wanting devoted consoles just like the PS5 or Xbox Sequence X, the Spine Professional is constructed to be your all-in-one controller.

The brand new performance works in tandem with the Spine app, which lets you handle the completely different connections comparatively simply.

Variety of electronic devices including monitors, a laptop, a tablet, a VR headset, and controllers, all displaying the same colorful game scene.

One other standout function – one Spine followers will recognize – is sustained assist for cellphone instances. Like its predecessor, the Spine Professional consists of swappable adapters to accommodate completely different cellphone sizes and case thicknesses. Which means you don’t must take away your case each time you wish to sport. In testing, it labored seamlessly with the iPhone 16 Professional (with a case), and will carry out simply as properly with bigger fashions just like the 16 Professional Max.

A person sits on a black leather chair holding a Backbone One gaming controller with a phone attached; battery status for controller and phone is displayed.

The Spine Professional is offered now for $169.99 at spine.com.

Images courtesy of Spine.

Christian de Looper is a shopper tech reporter primarily based in sunny Santa Cruz, California. Christian has reported on tech for over 10 years, with bylines in most of the largest tech publications, together with Digital Tendencies, Forbes, CNN Underscored, Tom’s Information, and PCMag. Christian has an obsession with how tech corporations stability nice design with nice performance, and lives at residence along with his spouse, daughter, and cat.