I found the backbone to skip Australian retail prices for my mobile gaming setup

Why I am obsessed with the Backbone One Gen 2 in 2026

As 2026 continues to be a massive year for AAA mobile gaming, I found myself reaching for my phone more than my console. When the Backbone One (Gen 2) was announced, I knew I needed it. It fits almost any phone with a case on, and the USB-C connectivity is a dream for latency-free play. We are seeing more console-quality titles on mobile than ever before, and playing them on a touch screen just doesn't cut it for me.

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I started looking at us trends to see how other gamers were kit-ing out their mobile rigs. It became clear that the Gen 2 model is the gold standard, offering better tactile buttons and a more ergonomic grip. However, when I looked at the prices in Australian stores, my heart sank. We are getting hit with a significant markup that just didn't sit right with my wallet.

My logic for buying from US retailers instead of local shops

I did some quick math and realized that the Backbone One (Gen 2) retails for significantly less in the US. Even with the exchange rate, the savings were around $40 AUD. That is essentially the price of a new game. I decided that I wasn't going to settle for the local markup. Instead, I looked for a way to shop us store deals directly from my home in Melbourne.

The logic is simple: US retailers often have much higher stock levels and more frequent sales. By choosing to source my controller from overseas, I managed to snag a deal that local retailers simply couldn't match. It is a strategy I have used for a lot of my tech gear recently, and it has saved me hundreds of dollars over the last year.

How I navigated the purchase with a tax-free US address

I realized that most US stores don't ship directly to Australia, or if they do, the costs are astronomical. I chose to use comGateway as my freight forwarder. They provided me with a tax-free us address in Oregon, which meant I didn't have to pay US sales tax on my purchase. This added even more to my total savings.

If you find that a US store doesn't accept your Australian credit card, I recommend checking out the BuyForMe service. It makes the process of proxy shopping incredibly easy. In my case, I was able to use my own card, but it is a great backup to have. Once the controller arrived at my US address, I used their international shipping service to get it sent straight to my door.

Shipping Estimates for the Backbone One Gen 2

Before I committed to the purchase, I made sure to check the international shipping rates. I wanted to ensure that the shipping cost wouldn't eat up all my savings. Here is the breakdown of what I found for this specific item:

I suggest using the shipping calculator to get a precise quote based on your specific Australian postcode. For me, the shipping was fast and surprisingly affordable given the small size of the box.

My experience with Australian import duties and GST

One thing I always keep in mind when shopping from the US is the potential for extra costs at the border. I spent some time reading about import duties to make sure I wasn't in for a surprise. In Australia, the GST of 10% usually applies to low-value imports. Since the Backbone One is well under the $1,000 AUD threshold, the process was very straightforward.

I found that being aware of these customs tax rules helped me feel more confident in my purchase. My package cleared customs without any delays, and I had the controller in my hands within a week of it leaving the US warehouse. If you are curious about other items, you might also like our guide on shipping larger electronics to Australia to see how the rules change for more expensive gear.