If you want to reliably hit headshots and combos on your smartphone, there’s no substitute for a mobile gaming controller that includes proper physical controls. It is still for our favorite work The back one, and now through March 10, you can save 30 percent on the original Lightning version in black, which is down to $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Target, and Direct from Backbone. You can also pick up the PlayStation Edition, which comes in white and has button labels matching Sony’s controllers, for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Target, and Backbone.
The original Backbone One supports iPhone 14 and older, Lightning-based models. (If you have an iPhone 15 variant, you’ll need the Backbone One with USB-C, which isn’t on sale.) It gives your smartphone a stable cradle and gives it standard gaming controls. Combines with that makes mobile titles very easy. Play, and it includes a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can use wired headphones to enjoy game audio, as well as a microphone for chatting. The Backbone One’s buttons don’t have the same satisfying travel and feel as more substantial controllers, but it loses focus and takes your fingers half the screen as you poke around for software controls. It’s also compatible with Backbone’s software, which can help you manage mobile games and streaming services.
Given that Apple just announced a new, M3-based MacBook Air, it seems that it might not use its usual over-the-top pump for the upcoming iPad Air refresh. If you’re not interested in hearing the iPad Air rumors before hearing the official details, however, you can save a little by picking up. Fifth-gen iPad Air, which is getting a $150 discount on various storage configurations. The 64GB / Wi-Fi model is available for around $449 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, while the 256GB / Wi-Fi model starts at $599.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. Each corresponds to its corresponding low at all times.
Released in 2022, the fifth-gen Air was the first in line to use Apple’s M1 chips, powering it in competition with the 2021 iPad Pro. It also resembles the more substantial Pro models in terms of hardware design and borrows some of its features, including a 12-megapixel camera with center stage and a USB-C port. In fact, the Air’s 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display fits into a chassis with roughly the same dimensions as the 11-inch iPad Pro (both are compatible with the same Magic Keyboard).
Compared to the Pro models, the iPad Air lacks a rear camera and Face ID (it uses Touch ID for biometric unlocking). It’s also missing the Pro’s 120Hz ProMotion variable refresh rate display, along with the mini LED panel found on the 12.9-inch model. There are also fewer total speakers, with just two compared to the Pro’s four. Otherwise, though, it’s all you need to enjoy iPadOS in a comfortably usable form factor, including support for the second-gen Apple Pencil.