I really wanted to like the BackBone One... | BackBone One PS Edition VS Xbox Controller Phone Clamp

After several weeks of testing both devices I've compiled my thoughts to help you decide which one you should choose- the slick new BackBone One PS Edition, or just a cheap Amazon phone clamp for the ol' reliable Xbox controller- which method do you like best?
Xbox Controller Clamp (it doesn't so much matter which specific one you get):
amzn.to/3gQwttL
Xbox Series Controller:
amzn.to/3NiqhXI
BackBone One PS Edition for iPhone:
amzn.to/3zv082a
Razor Kishi V2 if you have an Android phone:
amzn.to/3zs66Ra

[@ivanromero13]

This channel is so underrated bro!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks 🔥🙌

[@dylanmacintosh]

Haha much appreciated!!! Thanks for watching 🙌

[@kristenbeyer2506]

This was super helpful! Thanks :)

[@cheekyphuzz_thegod8558]

I found this to be the ultimate review for this product. The fact that you can't use your phone case with this is a hard pass for me, since I have an Otterbox case (which is a pain in the ass to remove). Thanks dude

[@dylanmacintosh]

Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for watching! I definitely can’t be taking my phone case on and off all the time 🤣 so Xbox phone clip for me is the better value, and I can use the Xbox controller with so many more devices. And it’s a better controller. A win-win-win!

[@MarkiBoiBlox]

I have a backbone, my first one started drifting and button spamming so I returned it and got a free one with my warranty. Then when I got the new one a few months later buttons stopped working and I tried fixing it with alcohol and it only fixed one of the buttons. I now only use my ps4 controller now, great review by the way!

[@dylanmacintosh]

Thanks!! Unfortunate about your BackBone, but a good lesson in repairability- PS4 and Xbox controller parts (and repair guides) are plentiful, while BackBone… not so much. Another point for the generic clamp + controller method! 🤘

[@therogueliker]

Nice video bro! so in depth! 👍 I was struggling with 2 options. Xbox controller + clip vs telescopic phone controllers. Good thing I already have an xbox controller because I also use that for my laptop. Now i just need to buy me one of those clips 😁 i hope someday you can also review and compare different type of phone clips because that is where I'm struggling now 😆

[@dylanmacintosh]

Hahaha I hear ya, I looked at a bunch of different ones but of course had to find a white one for the aesthetic, so that helped slim down the selection. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@tparty2123]

i’ve noticed you’ve been using the phone clip method a lot more since this video, do you have to connect your controller to your phone and to your apple tv and possibly your pc/console everytime you want to use one? i remember you mentioning a dual bluetooth function before but what about all three scenarios? i’ve been using a razer kishi but i might switch over to the clip method so i can just use my controller

[@dylanmacintosh]

Great eye! Yes I’ve been preferring the Xbox wireless controller because I can connect it to all my devices rather than the clip controller which is only really convenient for iPhone. If I’m carrying around my iPhone, iPad, and maybe laptop as well, it just makes sense to be able to connect the Xbox controller to any of them, so it works for me. To your question about pairing, yes the Xbox controller has dual Bluetooth connections, but too often I forget which one was connected to which device, and when you are traveling and switching between 3 devices, it just makes it more confusing that the two most recent devices are connected, but not the third, and I switch devices often enough that I end up just repairing the controller every time I switch devices. If I pick up on the same device, I don’t have to repair, but yeah basically if I switch to a different device I’ll be heading to the settings menu, forgetting the Xbox controller from the list, and repairing it. The flip side of that equation is I have multiple Xbox controllers around the house, so I typically always have enough controllers around that they could be connected to one device each… if that makes sense. So it’s really only when I’m traveling out and want to switch devices that I’m repairing. But yeah, if you just had one Xbox controller and 2 devices to switch between that would be the simplest. I’m not aware of any controllers that have more than 2 connections, most have just 1, but maybe it will be a thing someday to have 3 connections on a controller, that’d really help me out lol. I hope this helps!

[@tparty2123]

@@dylanmacintosh thank you for your feedback, i’ve definitely been learning a lot from your videos and it’s been making things a whole lot easier especially after moving into a new apartment 😅

[@dziggify]

Technically you can use short usb-c to usb-c cable and you can use xbox controller without battery

[@dylanmacintosh]

Yes, I can’t recall if that feature was available yet at the time of making this video, but yes, at the current moment that is most certainly a great option as well.

[@goodguyfab]

do you notice a difference in latency?

[@c.daubz.5386]

$75 for ps5/xbox controller & clamp way better gaming experience, $100 backbone not much smaller to carry around & not as ergonomic (not worth cost), 👍👍video

[@dylanmacintosh]

My thoughts exactly! Thank you for watching and commenting 🙌

[@GreaseCrease]

I know this is late, but if anyone is looking for a great game controller that you can use a case with, the GAMEVICE flex is what you want. Fantastic controller

[@dylanmacintosh]

Looks great!! I love that it collapses down further for more portability. I think we’ll see lots more of these smartphone controllers come to market as the mobile gaming / game streaming markets really take off into the main stream!

[@hondobeatz5481]

They have adjusters on the backbone for phone cases now. So you can use them with phone cases now

[@dylanmacintosh]

Yes! The new Backbone Gen 2 looks like a better fit for a lot of phones, even with cases on them, than the Gen 1 that I reviewed at the time of this video.

[@kanogomez5063]

U can connect a USB type C to ur controller from the phone if u don't want to pair the Xbox controller via Bluetooth...it works better for me...

[@Kryinggame]

I ordered the Backbone and although it's really sleek, I'm returning it. The small buttons makes serious gaming difficult. This is not the controller to use if you're in a battle on Elden Ring. I bought the OIVO PS5 Controller Phone Clip which goes over my DualSense controller and it takes gaming to another level. Like you said, I really wanted to like the Backbone One but I just can't. Sorry to hijack your thread.

[@dylanmacintosh]

Exactly why I felt the need to make this video! I wanted to like the backbone very badly but in the end a full size controller will always be better and actually not that much bulkier when you think about it. I say you made the right choice my friend, I love my Dualsense as well!

[@goalessio]

me too did exactly the same

[@gamingwithbabysmoke9179]

I dont use a phone case my 6s plus is so tough and Cant find a case for it anymore.

[@dylanmacintosh]

Old but Gold!!

[@composimple364]

Hey! Dylan, your personal website doesn’t work anymore, I remember it’s such a cute and cool website 😢

[@dylanmacintosh]

Hey! Thanks for letting me know- the website is still up but I actually ran into a weird issue about a month ago and had to switch the url so that it has the www included. Could I ask where you found the broken link? I thought I had fixed most of the broken links I’d posted but perhaps there are still some out there. Also, I plan on making a video about making my own website pretty soon, so thanks for the kind words. You can check out the website at www.dylanmacintosh.com going forward! Thanks again!

[@bigjaeroque]

I hate the adapter you have to used for iPhone 13 on up for the backbone. It’s off centered and tacky to me

[@dylanmacintosh]

Great point, I don’t have the larger phone so I forgot about that stupid adapter!! Another reason why the clamp is superior- totally adjustable to phones of bigger sizes!! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@homebrewGT2]

Wait for BackBone 2 with non drift sticks

[@dylanmacintosh]

That would be sweet!!

[@GolfAndAviation]

If you are going to put the price of the x box controller in then you need to put the price of the phone in as well

[@beatsbyjules.]

Both of them need the phone, so that’s already implied

[@dylanmacintosh]

Thank you both for watching and commenting! But yeah the phone is required by either device in this scenario, and it can be any phone really. So the price of the phone doesn’t really factor into this comparison.

[@saysbadman]

Backbone one doesn't have the wireless input lag! The newest Xbox controller uses USB C which can plug directly into my phone, but then you're carrying a controller, adapter, and a wire. The Xbox controller definitely doesn't win convenience for the piece meal solution. Now I could see the Xbox controller being more comfortable since you don't have to reach over the left thumb stick to press buttons. I don't think I have ever liked the Xbox D pad, but the newer generations aren't bad. The backbone one should have the old school type d pad. If I were to go wireless I would probably get an 8bitdo pro 2 and a phone clip. I already have a cheap Xbox phone clip, and one issue with that is the phone will randomly flop forward :(

[@dylanmacintosh]

True! If you are concerned about wireless lag I would definitely recommend something like the Backbone One. I’m just really glad that we have so many options for mobile gaming controllers these days! I also own the 8bitdo Pro 2 and love using it, but at the time of making this video it actually didn’t connect natively to iPhone… it was some weird sort of “accessibility controller” workaround, but they’ve since updated it to work with regular x-input, so that’s good. So, If I were to remake this video today I would definitely include the 8bitdo Pro 2 with a phone clip as well. And of course thank you for watching!

[@xrptee1629]

I just screen share my iPhone to the tv with the backbone and it on the tv

[@dylanmacintosh]

Nice!! That’s a great idea!

[@Cristianolin]

I still prefer the backbone

[@dylanmacintosh]

It’s a great controller! I still bring it with me when traveling and use it around the house, just not as much as I would’ve thought. If it had more clearance to fit a phone case, and maybe just slightly bigger thumb sticks and/or triggers I would use it all the time. Maybe there is another phone-clamp style controller that will work better for me, but if you like the backbone it’s still a great iPhone controller option 👍 thanks for watching!!

[@christianaquino5230]

Call of duty mobile does not have "full" compatibility for Android "phones" when it comes to the Xbox controllers

[@dylanmacintosh]

Aww man!! That’s so lame. I hope the developers fix that, seems like for COD even on the phones full controller support would be high priority. I know there’s something similar going on with Genshin Impact, controllers work on iOS but not Android for whatever reason. So, I definitely feel you’re frustration 😔

[@kanogomez5063]

U just need a lil bag...Xbox controller takes the win for...i can play better just like I do in my Xbox series X...it feels almost the same

[@kinosoch]

Yeah my phone kept falling out of the clamp. Ill take the back bone.

[@dylanmacintosh]

Great choice! I love that there’s tons of options these days 🦾

[@curts7801]

@@dylanmacintosh How does the math change with the new gen2 Backbone costing $70 (Black Friday) and having room for the case? Granted it’s fighting against the Dual Sense for me.

[@dylanmacintosh]

@@curts7801 that’s a fantastic question! I saw an in person deal at Target for a BackBone One (old Android edition which is technically compatible with iPhone 15 via a firmware update) for $50 (50% off…) and I still passed it up… also when you considering the black or white color Xbox controllers are $40 for Black Friday this year, and a controller clip can be as cheap as $5, I still have to stand by my word that the full controller (whether it is Xbox or PlayStation) plus controller phone clip is the best for the money. As much as I want to love the clamp style controller (I just bought a GameSir and returned it within the week) I just can’t get behind it. It is very convenient, but not THAT much more convenient to lose out on the functionality of a full sized controller that is tried and true, tested in the hands of millions, with a simple phone clip that works with any phone whether it be Android or iPhone… there are just so many reasons to go with the full size controller with a phone clip. As kühl as clamp controllers are, unfortunately I just don’t think I’ll ever try another one. I hope my experience can be a shortcut for you- please just do a phone clip 😂

[@olevet75]

Not 33 but rather 24% better..

[@dylanmacintosh]

Excuse my goofy maths, but if you invert that fraction yeah! 33% more than 75 is adding 25, so 100, but yes, the flip side of that is 100 cutting 25% to 75… so… yes! 🙌

[@olevet75]

I'm sorry I'm took lazy to rewatch video, haven't you mention is to justify a cost it supposed to be better by 66 or 75%, i thought it was latter

[@olevet75]

I also, ever since I got into amazing novadays emulaton scene was torn whether to go with grips vs 🕹️ But it's very evident to me now 🕹️>grips . I'm old school everything PS boy so Dualshock 3. For me for all way

[@dylanmacintosh]

Yes, my closing thoughts were that the BackBone is not better, doesn’t justify the extra cost. Thanks for watching!

[@olevet75]

@@dylanmacintosh r2 l2 almost non existent throw is hard to adjust to👍

[@HytesGaming89]

Boy hell nah......