Spine One Xbox Version overview

I personal a PC, a PS5, and an Xbox Sequence X, but it surely’s will be exhausting to search out half-hour or an hour to put aside for sitting on my sofa and enjoying video games. Fortunately, all three units let me stream video games to my telephone, which is why I picked up a Spine One a couple of years in the past. The attachable cell controller is among the many most snug, sturdy, and interesting available on the market, and now there’s an Xbox Version to match the PlayStation Version.

We’re huge followers of the Spine One, as you possibly can learn in our review of the PlayStation Edition, so we wished to see what the Xbox-themed mannequin needed to provide. However is it price forking out for the Xbox Version, regardless of its elevated value?

Spine One Xbox Version design

The primary-generation Spine One debuted in 2020 for iOS and Android units with 4 face buttons, a D-pad, two management sticks, L1 and R1 bumpers, L2 and R2 triggers, and extra buttons for capturing stay gameplay, opening menus, and beginning the Spine app. There was additionally a Lightning or USB-C port on the underside together with a 3.5mm jack.

In 2023, Spine launched the second-generation controller with magnetic adapters to make telephones safer and a extra responsive D-pad. The Spine One Xbox Version is among the second-gen controllers, which implies it comes with these upgrades.

That mentioned, its design is in any other case equivalent to the unbranded second-gen Spine One and the PlayStation Version. There are two key variations: the colour scheme and the Xbox buttons. The Xbox Version is a enjoyable, translucent inexperienced, harking back to the unique Xbox, permitting customers to see beneath the floor to see the controller’s innards. Then there are the acquainted View and Xbox buttons, which have appeared on each Xbox controller for the reason that Xbox One.

Enjoying on the Spine One Xbox Version

I truly personal one of many first-gen fashions, so I used to be curious to see how a lot of a distinction the design adjustments would make. Probably the most notable improve is the match of the telephone. I’ve to take the case off my iPhone 14 Professional to make use of the previous Spine One, however this one held my girlfriend’s iPhone 16 Plus in its case with none points.

Aside from that, I didn’t discover a lot of a distinction utilizing the Xbox Version. It does carry a bit of additional aptitude to streaming video games with the Xbox cell app, because it feels extra pure to press buttons that match these of the console you’re enjoying on. That mentioned, I’m simply pretty much as good as killing Rathalos in Monster Hunter Wilds on this mannequin as I used to be on the previous Spine One.

You may learn extra about our ideas on the software program in our earlier review, however Spine’s app is simply as snazzy because it was two years in the past. It’s a fantastic portal to get you to the video games rapidly when you connect the Spine One to your telephone.

Conclusions

Spine at present sells three cell controllers on its web site: The second-generation Spine One, the PlayStation Version, and the Xbox Version. Save for the colour schemes and the look of the buttons, all three controllers are nearly equivalent.

For my cash, there’s actually not a greater cell controller available on the market — particularly one this compact that truly attaches on to your telephone. The one concern is that you’ll pay a slight premium for the Xbox Version, because it prices $10 greater than the opposite two controllers. That could be a value you’re prepared to pay, particularly when you plan to spend most of your time with the controller streaming Xbox video games. In any other case, save a couple of dollars and snag one of many others.

The Spine One Xbox Version is on the market now on Backbone.com for $109.99.