PlayStation Portal vs. Switch vs. Logitech G Cloud vs. Backbone One: Comparison and Reviews 2024

The PlayStation Portal launches on November 15 for $199.99 / £199.99, roughly twice the cost of the Backbone One PlayStation Edition Mobile Gaming Controller iPhone that launched back in July of 2022. In the box, you get the handheld and a USB-C to USB-C charging cable.

It's worth pointing out here that there is no 'dock' for this accessory like the Nintendo Switch has, and it requires you already own a PS5 in order to use it. That fact alone means you're sinking both $199 into this device and around another $500 into the PS5 if you don't already own one.

The PlayStation Portal is available on Amazon.com ($199), Gamestop.com ($189.99; $180.49 for Pros), and Playstation.com ($199.99).

The Nintendo Switch has brought a resurgence to handheld gaming, even influencing new mobile gaming techniques. There are several differences between the three Nintendo Switch models when deciding on which one to purchase. The OLED, the original and the Lite can all support the same Switch games at a handheld level, but the differences between each version can dictate gameplay and the overall gaming experience. Click here to find the difference & comparison between the OLED, the Original and the Lite.

Version	Price
The Nintendo Switch	$299.99
The Nintendo Switch Lite	$199.99
The Nintendo Switch OLED	$349.99

The Nintendo Switch is available on Bestbuy.com, Amazon.com, Gamestop.com, Walmart.com, and Nintendo.com. There are also some refurbished versions available here.

The Logitech G Cloud initially launched in the US in October 2022 and is now available in Logitech’s official website for $299.99. You can also buy it on Bestbuy.com ($299.99), and Amazon.com ($269.99).

You can buy the Backbone One at Playbackbone.com, Amazon.com, and Bestbuy.com.

@Playbackbone.com	@Amazon.com	@Bestbuy.com
$99.99	$99.99	$99.99

2. Display

Display: 8-inch, touch-enabled, 60Hz IPS
Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Display: 6.2-inch
Resolution: 1280 × 720 IPS (237 ppi)

Display: 7" (diagonal), 60 Hz
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 FHD (16:9 ratio), IPS LCD, 450 nits

As the Backbone One has no display of its own the screen's size and resolution will depend on your phone. The Backbone One requires a compatible phone to use.

3. Designs

To create the Portal, Sony basically cut a Dualsense gamepad in half and put an eight-inch touch screen between the two parts. The grips and general layout are unmistakably those of the PS5’s controller. It has the same white-on-black look, transparent face buttons and direction pad, and black analog sticks. The Options and Share buttons are where you expect them to be, though the PlayStation and mic mute buttons are transplanted from the controller's center to the inside edges of the left and right halves, respectively.

The DualSense gamepad's many features are here, including motion controls, immersive haptic feedback, and triggers with adaptive resistance. There’s no clickable touchpad, but the touch screen serves the same purpose. The controls feels great, because the Portal basically repurposes the hardware from an already fantastic controller.

The Portal's top holds two speaker holes, along with thin, flat buttons for power, syncing, and volume up/down. The screen's bottom edge houses a microphone hole, while the back has a 3.5mm headset jack and a USB-C port for charging.

Source:playstation.com

With the Joy-Cons attached, the Switch measures 4 x 9.4 x 0.55 inches (10.1 x 23.8 x 1.3 centimeters) and weighs 0.88 pounds (around 400 grams), making it the smallest and lightest main console of this generation. The built-in display is a 720p LCD screen and is also a touch screen, with the processing handled by an Nvidia custom Tegra CPU.

Like most modern consoles, the Nintendo Switch has a fairly unremarkable design: rectangles mixed with a few softer curves, all rendered in matte plastics. You can choose the Neon color option, whose blue and red Joy-Con controllers give it a bit more personality, or the plainer all-gray version which gives a more cohesive look to the console. Either way, the centerpiece of the Switch is a gray rectangle with the display on it.

The dock, a rather dull rectangle of black plastic by default, is more interesting than its appearance would indicate. There's a space for the Switch to slide into, which contains a hidden USB Type-C connector, plus a port for the AC adapter to attach. The side and back of the dock contain a total of three USB ports for plugging in accessories and an HDMI output to connect to your monitor or TV, covered by a molded flap that aims to keep your cables tidy.

Mechanically, however, the Switch is very smart. With the Joy-Cons attached to its side rails, the console behaves like a large handheld. Alternatively, you can slide the Joy-Cons off and use them separately in tabletop mode. When you play this way, you can lay the Switch flat, or prop it up on its built-in stand. Finally, there's TV mode, where the console plugs into the included dock to play your games on a separate display. This is the only way you're able to play your games at their maximum 1080p resolution (in handheld mode, they default to 720p).

The console uses game cards for its physical media, which you insert into a covered port on the top of the system. You'll also find the power button, a 3.5-millimeter jack for attaching headphones or speakers and a volume button on the Switch's top edge.

On the bottom you'll find the USB Type-C charging port, which draws power into the console's 4,310 mAh internal battery, either directly from the included power adapter, or via the docking station, filling up in around 3 hours. If you lift up the kickstand on the back of the console, you'll also find the microSD card slot, which allows you to expand your downloadable game storage.

Source:nintendo.com

While the Logitech G Cloud serves a slightly different function than the Switch or the PlayStation Portal, it looks an awful lot like those two systems. A seven-inch, 1080p, 60Hz touchscreen dominates the device, encased within a white plastic chassis. On the left side, you’ll find an analog stick, a D-pad, an options button and a programmable Logitech G button. On the right, you’ll find the face buttons, another options button, the home button and another analog stick (at an offset angle).

On the bottom of the G Cloud, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-C charging port. On the top, there’s a power switch and a volume rocker, as well as two sets of bumpers and triggers, just like you’d find on a console controller.

While the G Cloud may not have the most creative design, it’s at least utilitarian, and comfortable to hold. The ergonomic grips on the back helped it fit into your hands easily, and at 16 ounces, it’s easy enough to hold for long periods of time.

Source:logitechg.com

The Backbone One is aptly named due to its dog bone-shape. It features two independent sides of the controller, each roughly the size of a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller, held together by an expandable middle section. With a sliding and rigid backplate, you place your iPhone in its center, slotting the charging port into the Backbone One’s Lightning connector, giving traditional dual-stick-and-face-button control on either side of your horizontally-mounted smartphone. By using the Lightning connector, there’s no need to pair nor charge the Backbone One – your phone will recognise the controller automatically, while the Backbone will draw power from the phone itself. Power draw is minimal too – less than you’d see if you were using a cabled pair of headphones similarly using that Lightning port.

If you’re an Xbox gamer, you’ll be familiar with the button and stick layout here. Analogue sticks (complete with clickable buttons) are positioned asymmetrically, with face buttons in an A, B, X,Y configuration. You’ll also find a D-Pad below the left analogue stick, shoulder and trigger buttons, and a selection of menu, options and screenshot buttons, as well as an orange ‘Backbone’ button that jumps back to the accompanying app’s interface.

Ergonomically, the Backbone is comfortable to hold – albeit better suited for smaller hands. It’s extremely lightweight, weighing just 138g. It has a slightly bulbous base on each side of the controller that evenly distributes the weight and doesn’t make the unit feel top-heavy while playing. It also features a matte black finish with a slight sheen to it that unfortunately picks up a lot of fingerprints.There are two offset analog sticks in total, one on each side of the controller. They are smaller and a bit stiff, and the closest comparison I can make in terms of how they feel are the analog sticks on Joy-Con controllers. There’s a surprisingly good D-pad just below the left analog stick taking the shape of a rounded plus sign. It’s not clicky like everything else on the controller, but instead almost silent with a satisfying press.

Source:playbackbone.com

4. Features

The PlayStation Portal, although sleekly designed, doesn't really come with much in the way of features — it's pretty barebones here. The only bright spot in terms of features is that the Portal does have a built-in microphone that can be used just like the microphone on a DualShock controller. In theory, this will let you voice chat with friends.

The most egregious error is the fact that the Portal can't access video content from streaming services because of DRM issues. Try to use Netflix on the Portal and you’ll be met with a message that says it can’t play content via Remote Play. If it came with its own version of the PlayStation platform, even a pared down one, it would at least allow you to watch content. Sadly, that isn't the case here.

Bluetooth support is another huge issue here as the PlayStation Portal will allow you to use some PS5 headphones like the forthcoming Pulse Elite Headset, but not your standard Bluetooth headphones. There is, however, a 3.5mm jack on the Portal that you can plug into directly with a standard pair of headphones. The PlayStation Portal is Remote Play all the time.

The Nintendo Switch is one-part handheld and one-part home console, and hopes to be the only device you'll ever need for gaming, wherever you are. The hybrid console is an undeniable success, offering up an exceptional level of handheld graphical quality, while seamlessly transitioning into a home console.

The Joy-Cons are fun to use in all configurations. You need spent time with them connected to the system, with them plugged into the Joy-Con grip, and with them held in each hand with nothing connecting them. All three methods are responsive and surprisingly comfortable. In particular, holding the Joy-Cons separately feels like a natural evolution of the Nintendo Wii; there is no physical tether between the Joy-Cons, and each has both an analog stick and face buttons, so the controls are much more functional than the fewer, markedly asymmetrical controls on the Wii remote and nunchuck. Motion detection feels very accurate, and you could easily aim your bow by tilting the right controller.

As for how the Logitech G Cloud works, that’s probably the most unusual part of the device. Essentially, the G Cloud is a 7-inch Android tablet with a permanent game controller attached. As such, you can access the Google Play Store and download Android games — although that’s not the primary purpose of the device. Instead, Logitech intends for users to download cloud gaming services, particularly Xbox Game Pass and GeForce Now, and stream their favorite console/PC games.

The problem, then, is that the device is limited to Wi-Fi networks. Unlike a smartphone with a controller mount, you can’t take advantage of 5G cloud gaming. Unlike a Switch or a Steam Deck, you can’t download console-quality games to take with you. As such, if you’re commuting or traveling, the G Cloud is essentially just a large screen on which to play Android games — and only offline Android games, at that.

The official Backbone app offers a slick, intuitive interface to genuinely make your smartphone feel like a console. Keeping all your Xbox (via Microsoft's streaming service), Google Stadia, and iOS titles next to each other streamlines your mobile gaming experience in a way that few other controllers replicate and all in gorgeous high quality. While game chat, groups, and screenshots aren't going to be the deciding factor for some, their smooth implementation is the cherry on top.

Backbone offers a reliable gaming hub and useful features like an in-app friend system that lets you add other Backbone users and set up voice chat rooms. The paid subscription service Backbone+ adds even more features, such as the option to connect an Android device using a Lightning-to-USB-C cable or capture gameplay at 1080p at 60FPS.

5. Game Library

Many gaming accessories serve specific purposes, catering to a user base by performing a single task extremely well. Racing wheels, fight sticks, and flight simulator rigs all have a clear reason for being. Sony gets that idea half-right with the $199.99 PlayStation Portal. It’s certainly a specific device—a handheld controller with a screen that lets you remotely play PlayStation 5 games from a powered-on console. But that's it. It isn’t a standalone gaming handheld, and it definitely isn’t a successor to the PlayStation Portable or PlayStation Vita. The PlayStation 5 Remote Play functionality works as intended, and the Dualsense-based controls feel great.

Games come either as physical game cards or as downloaded games from the Nintendo eShop. If you want to download games, the Switch has 32GB of internal storage, which is enough for a handful of games. But if you want a big library, you'll either need to take advantage of the microSDHC or microSDXC card slot, or rely on physical games, which take up less (but not zero) space on the Switch's HDD.

As for the games available, Nintendo has some of the most famous franchises in gaming history as part of its lineup. One of the most notable initial releases was the epic The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo quickly followed this with the lighthearted platformer Super Mario Odyssey, fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and monster-hunting RPGs Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield and the upcoming Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remasters.

There are also more big-budget games from beyond the Nintendo brands, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Overwatch, Doom (2016), Crysis Remastered and recently Apex Legends. Additionally, the Switch is home to a thriving indie game collection, represented by games such as Untitled Goose Game and Celeste.

And if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, you also get access to classic NES and SNES titles, allowing you to make the most of Nintendo's high-quality back catalog of games. Alternatively, Nintendo is irregularly releasing boxed and digital remasters of its old games, such as the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. It's a fantastic way to enjoy the classics for a second time, or to try them out as a newcomer if you weren't around for the original release.

Equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 extreme processor, a smooth 7-inch 1080p 120Hz touchscreen with AMD FreeSync technology, and ROG intelligent cooling, the ROG Ally takes handheld gaming on to a whole different level.You can access any game that runs on Windows across all game platforms, including Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming services, Android apps and more. Play anywhere, anytime, using handheld mode or by connecting the Ally to a TV and linking multiple controllers to play with friends. The Ally even transforms into a gaming PC by connecting to ROG XG mobile eGPU and dock - supporting mouse, keyboard, monitor, and more of your favorite peripherals.

The Backbone One is the ultimate mobile controller to buy in 2024. Transform your phone into the ultimate gaming console. Snap in your phone and play any game or service that supports controllers, including Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, or even stream directly from your Xbox, PlayStation, PC. Hitting the bright orange button on the controller takes you to the Backbone app. The slick, well-polished app looks to be your gaming hub, allowing quick access to your favourite mobile titles without a dedicated Game folder on the home screen.

6. Battery Life

The Portal’s battery life lasted a solid 7-8 hours during non-continuous play. The PlayStation Portal is a fancy handheld streaming device like that one, albeit bound to Sony’s PlayStation ecosystem. Since stand-alone remote play and cloud gaming handhelds don’t need the processing power of a standalone gaming handheld that can run games natively like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, or Asus ROG Ally, their batteries last much longer.

For Nintendo Switch, model number: HAC-001(-01) [product serial number begins with "XKW"], the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours. For Nintendo Switch Lite, model number: HDH-001, the battery life is approximately 3 to 7 hours. For Nintendo Switch – OLED Model with a serial number that starts with “XT”, the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours. For Nintendo Switch consoles with a serial number that starts with “XK”, the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours.

Battery Life: 12+ hours (under normal playing conditions, battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions.)

Backbone One does not have a battery! Backbone One draws minimal amounts of power from the phone.

7. Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Large 8-inch screen	Requires a PS5
Triggers with haptic feedback	Doesn't do anything besides PS5 Remote Play
Enables Remote Play streaming from your PS5	Expensive for a single-use device when other Remote Play options are available
Dualsense controls feel great

Pros	Cons
Unique hybrid design	Joy-Con charge on console only
HD Rumble	Split D-pad
Two controllers included	Oddly placed right analogue stick
Bright, crisp, colorful screen	Short battery life
Attractive, innovative design
Excellent game library
Solid build quality
Joy-Cons feel comfortable to use in multiple configurations
Three play modes make it convenient to use wherever
Excellent variety of available games
Smartly designed controls

Pros	Cons
Great screen	Middling Android performance
Console quality controls	Streaming is inconsistent
Ergonomic form factor	Expensive for the modest processing power
Quality build	Cloud gaming feels laggy
Comfortable grip	Screen isn't very high contrast
Good emulation and local game streaming performance	Handheld mode disables gestures needed for most Android emulators
Less awkward than swapping controllers on your phone	Not much storage
Micro SD slot for adding storage