Excessive PlayStation 5 gaming hours are already a problem for you, and the introduction of a mobile controller has significantly worsened this issue.
The Backbone Pro and the PlayStation Portal are two controllers designed to enhance your gaming experience, each catering to different needs.
The Backbone Pro, a mobile phone controller, stands out with its user-friendly companion software and versatility. It has proven beneficial in games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Need for Speed Heat, and Baldur's Gate 3, and is compatible with a wide range of devices including iOS, Android, PC, Xbox, and Steam Link.
Priced at $169, the Backbone Pro is more expensive than its predecessor and some competitors. However, its features, such as Hall Effect triggers, remappable back buttons, and long battery life of about 40 hours, make it a formidable gamepad. The Backbone Pro's thumbsticks were highly responsive during gameplay over a steady WiFi connection, and its R1 and L1 triggers have very short travel distances for prompt command registration.
On the other hand, the PlayStation Portal is a dedicated remote play device designed specifically for streaming PS5 games. Integrating an 8-inch LCD screen between halves of a DualSense controller, it provides full DualSense features such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. However, it is focused solely on remote gameplay from the PS5 and cannot run games natively or be used as a standalone controller for other platforms.
The Backbone Pro offers several advantages over the PlayStation Portal. It boasts multi-platform compatibility beyond just PS5 Remote Play, supporting PC, Xbox, and mobile devices. It can also be used wirelessly as a standard Bluetooth LE controller, whereas the Portal is tethered to the PS5 connection. Additionally, the Backbone Pro offers longer battery life and is more affordable by about $30.
The PlayStation Portal, however, offers an integrated screen with DualSense adaptive triggers and haptic feedback for a true PS5 handheld streaming experience. Its larger controls resemble full-sized DualSense controllers, offering a more familiar grip and feel for PS5 players.
In conclusion, the Backbone Pro excels as a flexible, high-performance mobile controller for multiple gaming platforms, while the PlayStation Portal specializes in delivering authentic remote PS5 gameplay with its integrated screen and DualSense features. The choice between them depends on whether you want a multi-use controller or a dedicated handheld PS5 streaming device.
The Backbone Pro, due to its versatility and compatibility with various devices like smartphones, technology, and gaming platforms such as Xbox, PC, and iOS, offers a broader gaming experience compared to the PlayStation Portal. On the other hand, the PlayStation Portal, with its built-in 8-inch LCD screen, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers from the DualSense controller, provides a truly immersive handheld streaming experience for PS5 games, making it a unique choice for dedicated PS5 gamers.
