Backboneâs versatile pro controller is nearly matching its best price to date
Mobile gaming has come a long way over the course of the last decade or so, but we all know that smartphones simply canât match the visceral, tactile feel you get while playing with a dedicated controller. Luckily, Backbone makes some excellent mobile options â including last yearâs Backbone Pro, which is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target right now for $139.99 ($30 off), its second-best price to date.
Backbone Pro mobile controller
The Backbone Pro is an excellent mobile controller that retains the same overall design and feel as the companyâs cheaper model, only with some comfort-boosting improvements. It features a built-in battery and Bluetooth support, so you can use it for gaming on the TV, computer, VR headset, or handheld PC.
Where to Buy:
$169.99 $139.99 at Amazon
$169.99 $139.99 at Best Buy
$169.99 $139.99 at Target
In many ways, Backboneâs latest mobile controller is merely an updated take on what came before. The handheld device consists of two oblong halves with an extendable strip of plastic in the middle, allowing you to use it with Android devices and iPhone 15, 16, and 17 series phones. It plugs into your phoneâs USB-C port and, once connected, you can game with two full-sized ALPs thumbsticks, a responsive D-pad, and A, B, X, and Y buttons. It also features two programmable back buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack, better ergonomics than your phone, and averages up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The hardware is only part of the equation, though. Backboneâs intent with the Pro is for it to function as a more universal gamepad, and as such, the companyâs software pulls together games from Apple Arcade, Netflix, Google Play, and other services into a singular app, allowing you to discover and launch games with little fuss. Whatâs more, you can use it to stream Xbox or PlayStation games â either from your console or the cloud âand connect it to a wealth of other devices via Bluetooth, including your PC, Steam Deck, and Apple devices like the iPad and Mac. Sure, the beefy controller looks a little awkward when youâre using it without a phone, but itâs a small price to pay for its added versatility.
More ways to save today
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If you missed your chance to play Hogwarts Legacy upon its debut in 2023, Amazon and Walmart are both offering the Nintendo Switch 2 version for $29.99 ($20 off), an all-time low. The Switch 2 version is a substantially better port than the original in terms of performance, and while I found the open-world RPG to be a little generic / dated at times, diehard Harry Potter fans will surely appreciate the ability to roam around Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and all the fan-favorite locales from the landmark book series.
Goveeâs quirky Outdoor Garden Lights are currently on sale at Amazon and Goveeâs online storefront for $99.99 ($70 off), matching the all-time low we last saw during Christmas. The stemmed, color-changing smart lights support 64 preset RGBIC scenes and carry a robust IP66 rating, meaning you shouldnât have to worry about using them outside year-round. Plus, they support the newer Matter standard, allowing you to control them with smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
The Vergeâ˘3/13/2026
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