This PlayStation Portal rival just smashed its Kickstarter goal - and I’m not surprised

ELO Vagabond graphic image with purple background and the controller holding a phone and showing a gaming library
(Image credit: ELO)

In the world of mobile gaming, a perfect controller can be hard to come by. Even with our personal favourite, the Backbone One, it can feel like you need to m♚ake compromises on comfort and accuracy, particularly if you have larger hands or want to take part in longer sessions. You can always connect a regular gamepad via Bluetooth, but if you don't have a good way to set your phone up as a display or there are connection issues, this isn't a perfect fit either. 

Luckily, if mobile controller problems are a frequent annoyance for you, a new product 🌠on Kickstarter might just alleviate some issues. 

The ELO Vagabond is currently seeking crowdfu𒉰nding support on Kickstarter, and it could end up being the very first mobile dedicated gaming controller that features full-sized Hall Sensor thumbsticks, as well as support for IOS and Android, and even proper grip handles. 

The Vagabond has already smashed its $32,000 CAD goal ($23,453 USD/£18,625), racking up support to the tune of $89,537 CAD ($65,568 USD / £51,883) from only 244 backers. That's quite an impressive feat - and shows you that there are plenty of folks who don't feel like even the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best mobile controllers fulfill their gaming needs. 

The🐼re are still 18 days to go on , which promises that the Vag𝓰abond will be ready to ship by January of 2024. 

ELO Vagabond prototype on a grey background

(Image credit: ELO)

In terms of price, it looks as though the controller will have a $149 USD price tag, which would put it in a higher bracket than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Backbone One or the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kishi V2, both of which sit at $99.99/£99.99. It also seems as though there will be worldwide shipping costs - ELO is a start-up after all. That will no doubt re🌳sult in an even higher price for buyers at the end of the༺ day, but then again, there aren't too many mobile controllers with the expansive feature list this has.

First of all, its layout is offset, or asymmetrical, and it has those aforementioned full-size, Hall Effect Sensor sticks that won't suffer from drift like even some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC controllers can. Moreover, it has Microswitch buttons that ELO quotes as being "quiet" - which would certainly be a welcome change from the Backbone One, since one of my few complaints about that controller is that its buttons are a tad loud during more intense play. These microswitches wilꦡl last a quoted 3 million cycles, too, so durability shouldn't be a worry, even though ELO promises a lifetime warranty and 24/7 customer support.

ELO Vagabond prototype on a grey background from the right hand side

(Image credit: ELO)

IOS and Android compatibility means it'll be available with both a Lightning Adapter Port and USB-C, and perhaps most notably, it has universal compatibility with allꦰ phone models and their cases. Again, one of the few shortcomings of the Backbone is that you need to take your phone out of its case in order for it to slot into the cradle. That is unless you buy one of the partner cases made by Peel that are designed to be thin enough that your phone case to fit - but this sets you back an ꦚextra £24 in the UK.

Thanks to some clever adapter brackets that will come with the Vagabond, and you can swap into the 🍬cradle, it should fit🌃 any phone and case combo without any bother.

Backbone One PlayStation Edition in a reviewer's hand

(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

Of course, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Backbone and Razer's Kishi V2 didn't just get to the top of the mobile controller market with hardware alone. Part of the appeal is that the two have proprietary apps that allow you to access storefronts and game libraries like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Remote Play, among others. ELO seems to have taken this in stride, and it's launching its own companion app too, which will support consoles, Steam, Apple Arcade, Nvidia Gforce Now, and Amazon's Luna.

News of a mobile controller with full-sized thumbsticks and lengthier grips may be somewhat of a worry for Sony's Project Q, which after GameScom we learned will be called the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PlayStation Portal. ✃Since that device is essentially a controller sawed in half and placed on either side of an 8-inch display, its design is actually very similar to ELO's Vagabond.

PlayStation Portal handheld with purple backdrop

(Image credit: Sony)

The difference is, that you💧 can't take the PlayStation Portal on the go unless you know you'll have Wi-Fi, 🏅whereas this will offer a lot more comfort, not to mention access to lots of different virtual gaming libraries, and it doesn't need to be tethered to a console. You'll also be able to connect to any wireless earbuds your phone can, unlike the new-gen PSP. I should also add that the Vagabond has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of its left grip, and a USB-C charging port on the right.

Not only are portable mobile controllers cropping up all over the place that can "turn your mobile into a games console", but there are plenty of viable handheld 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming PCs like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Steam Deck, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally. Not to mention, my fellow hardware editor Phil managed to get the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Cloud to act as a PlaﷺySta🎃tion Portal already.

Since Project Q will need a PS5 in standby mode for remote play to work, and the DualSense has already been hamstr𒅌ung by stick d♑rift issues, the new ELO Vagabond might just be a cheaper alternative for those who want a more viable handheld solution.