Game on!

We hands-on review the best clip-on iPhone game controller.

Leander Kahney
May 17, 2024

Although Steve Jobs might vehemently disagree, the iPhone isn’t a great platform for gaming.

The problem? The lack of physical controls.

Some games are cleverly designed to compensate for the iPhone’s lack of controls (Temple Run, Fruit Ninja, etc.). But a lot of great games need some kind of game controller to be played properly.

Enter clip-on controllers, like the Backbone One, which adds PlayStation/Xbox-style controls to your iPhone in a clever package.

The Backbone One is widely considered one of the best game controllers for iPhone. We hands-on review the latest version, which has been tweaked with a case-friendly design and USB-C, and find there’s a lot to like.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Apple’s ability to surprise and delight is still in full effect.
Heading to the boonies? Here’s how to download Apple Maps for offline use.
Hard-drive data density keeps getting pushed to absurd new heights.
Don’t forget about Belkin’s Memorial Day Sale, which features savings on a bunch of excellent Apple accessories, including one of the few multichargers that offers fast charging for Apple Watch.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Best clip-on game controller is ready for the latest iPhone [Review] ★★★★★

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^{A message from the}^{Cult of Mac Deals team}

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^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Bag bargains on Apple accessories in Belkin Memorial Day Sale

Don’t miss this opportunity to save on exceptional Apple accessories.

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HomePod Software 17.5 is out. Here’s how to make sure your Apple smart speaker has the latest software version.

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Today in Apple history: John Sculley brings 'Pepsi Generation' marketing to Apple

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KRK Rokit 5 speakers excel in music production [Setups]

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Tweetz o’ the day

This thing made Apple Vision Pro much more comfortable to wear 👏
Now there is no pressure on the face at all. I was able to use Apple Vision Pro for more than an hour without taking it off. If necessary it could have been even longer.
It can also be used without the light seal… x.com/i/web/status/1…
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin)
11:37 AM • May 17, 2024

Testing the M4 iPad Pro now. Surprised at how little difference there is between the 9-core 8GB RAM and 10-core 16GB RAM models!
— Vadim Yuryev (@VadimYuryev)
8:22 PM • May 15, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

My mother taught me to read before I went to school, so I was pretty bored in school, and I turned into a little terror. You should have seen us in third grade. We basically destroyed our teacher. We would let snakes loose in the classroom and explode bombs. Things changed in the fourth grade, though. One of the saints in my life is this woman named Imogene Hill, who was a fourth-grade teacher who taught this advanced class. She got hip to my whole situation in about a month and kindled a passion in me for learning things. I learned more that year than I think I learned in any year in school.

— Steve Jobs, 1985.

Today’s poll

Do you play games on your iPhone?

Results from yesterday’s poll: Do destructive gadget tests bug you?

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