This Backbone controller is one of my favorites, and now it's $35 off for Black Friday

Deals
By published

Ergonomics go a long way when it comes to gaming controllers.

GameHub running on Magic V5 connected to Backbone Pro with Backbone One and Backbone Pro Xbox Edition in background
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

I'm an absolute sucker when it comes to controllers, regardless of if they're for gaming on my desktop, phone, or even a tablet. Needless to say, as soon as I saw the Backbone Pro, I knew I had to have it, and now it's on sale for $35 off thanks to Black Friday.

That might seem like a steep price to ask for a controller, but the Backbone Pro is equipped with a bunch of features that you won't find anywhere else. And if this one isn't your cup of tea, then you might be interested in the Backbone One, which is also on sale for $20 off.

Backbone Pro:$169.99$134.99 at Amazon
Save $35!

Backbone Pro: $169.99 $134.99 at Amazon

As someone who has more controllers than they care to admit, the Backbone Pro is one that I keep coming back to. Not only is extremely comfortable, but there are a bunch of extra features included that only add to the experience.

Price comparison: $134.99 - Best Buy | $134.99 - Target

View Deal

✅Recommended if: You want one of the most comfortable phone controllers that's ever been released, and one that has a bunch of extra features to enjoy.

❌Skip this deal if: You're on a budget, want a controller for larger tablets, or you're looking something that's a bit more portable and compact to toss in your bag when traveling.

What makes the Backbone Pro exciting for me is simply because of the ergonomics. I've always enjoyed the previous Backbone One controllers, but after gaming for just 15-20 minutes, my wrists feel like they're on fire. The Pro solved that problem, so now, the only time I experience discomfort is when I get lost playing Megabonk or Hades II for too long on my phone.

Ergonomics aren't the only reason why you should consider a Backbone controller, however. Namely, battery life is rated for up to 40 hours on a single charge, which is important if you're playing a game you just can't put down. Backbone also has a unique "TouchSync" feature built-in that makes its controllers compatible with practically all of the best Android games, even if they don't already have native controller support.

Backbone might not be as popular of a company as Razer when it comes to controllers, but it's actually been around for a few years. Since the release of the original Backbone One, we've seen a few iterations released for both iPhone and Android phones. In just 2025, Backbone has released the Backbone Pro, Backbone One Xbox Edition, an awesome Death Stranding 2 special edition controller, and the Backbone Pro Xbox Edition.

So while it might not have as many options to choose from compared to a company like GameSir, Backbone is definitely picking up a head of steam. And for good reason, as these are some of the most well-built controllers that I've ever used, to the point that I've never had any issues with any of my Backbone controllers over the years.

Andrew Myrick
Andrew Myrick
Senior Editor — Smartphones (North America), Chromebooks & Tablets

Andrew Myrick is a Senior Editor at Android Central. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is collecting different headphones, even if they all end up in the same drawer.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.