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Backbone One VS Razer Kishi V2 VS Xbox Gaming Controllers for iPhone

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For the last couple of years I’ve played a lot of Call of Duty Mobile on my iPad with an Xbox controller, and I wanted something more portable using an iPhone. I looked at three options: the Backbone One, the Razer Kishi V2, and an Xbox controller with the Moga Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 by PowerA.

Backbone One

An Xbox-style controller: you slide it apart, put the iPhone in, and you’re good to go. There are no batteries, since it draws a negligible amount of power from the iPhone. It includes an extra pad for the iPhone 13 and 14 because of their large camera bumps; older iPhones don’t need it. You spread it apart, insert the Lightning connector and press it together, and it’s secure.

  • No case. I haven’t been able to get any iPhone with a case to fit; it won’t fit around the Lightning connector.
  • Triggers feel good with the right tension. Shoulder buttons could be clickier, and the buttons and D-pad in general feel a little squishy to me.
  • Analog sticks are pretty good, reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch’s: not as large or good-feeling as an Xbox One or PS5 controller, but they get the job done for something this slim.
  • A pass-through Lightning port charges the iPhone while you play, and a headphone jack on the left takes 3.5 mm headphones.
  • The Backbone app can act as a game library to launch apps from Apple Arcade, Xbox streaming and others, but you need a subscription: $50 a year, with the first year free.

Razer Kishi V2

The newest of the three, and very similar: slide it apart, insert the Lightning connector, push it together. It has removable pads, so larger devices and some cases can fit, but not everything: the iPhone 14 Pro fits at the bottom by the Lightning port but won’t slide in near the top because of that huge camera bump. An iPhone 11 or XR with a thin case fits fine.

  • Customizable buttons next to the triggers can be assigned to other controls in the Razer app. I didn’t find them helpful: I kept hitting them by accident when going for the triggers.
  • The rest of the buttons are more tactile than the Backbone’s, and I felt more confident when jumping between the sticks and the buttons. I got a lot of missed taps on the Backbone, and none on the Kishi V2.
  • The sticks feel basically the same as the Backbone’s: pretty good.
  • A pass-through Lightning port charges only, and there’s no headphone jack.
  • The Razer Nexus app can also launch games, with no charge, unlike Backbone.

Xbox controller plus the Moga clip

I prefer an Xbox-style controller, and the difference is noticeable. On the Backbone and Kishi, the sticks are right above and below the buttons, so your thumb moves up or down, a lot more hand movement than the swipe left or right on an Xbox controller. I found it distracting and it puts more stress on my hand. You can get used to it, but it isn’t preferred. The Backbone has slightly more angle between sticks and buttons than the Kishi, so it’s slightly better.

The Moga Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 snaps onto the controller, and the phone connects over Bluetooth. It’s a universal mount: any phone size and any case fits, with knobs you loosen to place the iPhone where it’s most comfortable, usually hovering right above the controller without interfering with your thumbs. Xbox and PlayStation controllers just feel the best and are the most reliable; no third-party maker has come close to the feel, and a full-size controller makes a big difference over longer sessions.

Trade-offs

  • Xbox plus clip: bulkier and heavier, with batteries to worry about (a rechargeable pack or spares), but great buttons that can’t be beat, and any phone with any case fits.
  • Backbone and Kishi: no batteries (they draw power from the iPhone), much more portable for a bag, airplane or hotel room, but the layout takes getting used to, and in most cases you must remove your case. The rubber pads can also come off and get lost.

My pick

At home, the Xbox controller with the Moga clip. On the go, it’s a tough decision between the Backbone and the Kishi, but I think the Backbone wins: the Kishi’s extra customizable buttons were in the way of the triggers, and the Backbone’s triggers felt really good. The catch is removing your case.

GameVice just announced a new controller as well, and I’ve placed an order to test it later this month. Have you tried any of these, or is there a better one I need to try?

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

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