X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert deal-hunting staff showcases the best price drops and discounts from reputable sellers daily. If you make a purchase using our links, CNET may earn a commission.

Backbone Controller, on Sale, Transforms Your Phone Into a Handheld Gaming Device

Target's Circle Week Sale is dropping Backbone One controllers as low as $56 for a limited time.

Oliver Haslam Writer
Oliver Haslam has been writing about phones, computers, games, and anything else that takes a battery or plugs in for more than he'd like to admit. With a focus on mobile and laptops, Oliver is never too far away from whatever social network is trending today and is never short of an opinion to share.
Expertise Apple, phones, laptops, smartwatches, mobile accessories, gaming, apps
See full bio
Stephanie Barnes Writer
Stephanie Barnes has been writing about technology for almost a decade. She fell in love with tech after building her first PC as a little girl. She later followed that passion to become a front-end/iOS engineer before switching to writing full-time. Stephanie's writing on technology, health and wellness, movies, television, and much more can be found all over the internet. When she isn't writing, Stephanie can be found reading a good book, baking, obsessing over creating the perfect desk setup, or literally anything that'll help her avoid going outside.
See full bio
Oliver Haslam
Stephanie Barnes
2 min read
Backbone One
Backbone/CNET

As wonderful as they are, carrying a Nintendo Switch or Valve Steam Deck everywhere you go can be a real pain. But you already have your phone with you, so why not play your games on that instead? Touchscreen gaming is fine, but you're going to need something like the Backbone One controller to get the most out of your portable gaming time. Backbone makes some of the best iPhone gaming controllers around, plus some options for Android owners, too.

These things are ideal for cloud gaming and more, and now you can pick one up from just $60 as part of the ongoing Target Circle Week festivities. That does mean that you need to be a member, but signing up is free and comes with plenty of perks. The deals end April 13.

See at Target

This deal is available on both the black and white variants of the controller, with options available for USB-C and Lightning-powered devices, so make sure to pick the one that fits your type of phone.

The options available currently include:

Select prices are also matched at Amazon. 

The Backbone One features responsive analog triggers and great, tactile buttons as well as clickable thumbsticks. All of this means the controller is perfect for cloud-based gaming and remotely play Xbox and PlayStation games. Just want to play the games installed on your phone instead? No problem -- this controller works great with those as well.

The controller comes with a port, so you can charge your phone while you're playing, and the free Backbone app makes quickly accessing your games and friends list super easy. You'll be enjoying the latest must-play games in no time.

Need to upgrade your phone to get the best gaming experience? Before you place your order anywhere else, be sure to check out our collection of the best phone deals.

More shopping deals from CNET

CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and check out our CNET Coupons page for current Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and more from hundreds of other online stores. Sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. Peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.