The main appeal over a cheaper, non-Harmony-based smart remote controller, or the device that comes with your set-top boxes, is the activity-based control.
Press the "Watch TV" to use as a TV remote or "Listen to Music" buttons and the Logitech Harmony remote controller turns on all the relevant devices such as your smart TV , blu-ray player, and AV receiver , switches to the right inputs and maps the keys to that activity: Volume to the receiver and Channel up-down to the box, for example. Unlike more expensive Logitech Harmony options, which use a universal remote control app on your phone for setup and control, you'll have to use Harmony's Mac- or PC-based software to program the remote needless to say, a remote app is more convenient.
The and also rely on IR infrared codes emitted from the front of the device -- if you want point-anywhere convenience, you'll have to spend up for a system with a hub. The is the only smart remote currently listed on Harmony's site but the is identical aside from color and number of devices each can control and can often be found for less, especially refurbished.
Read our Logitech Harmony review. To get Caavo's advanced features, you'll need to shell out for the service fee. You plug your stuff into the switch and it handles the rest, including automatically recognizing your gear during setup. Caavo has its own smart voice control system and onscreen display to help you find stuff to watch on your streaming devices. The universal remote control device itself is simple and elegant and the remote finder is gold. Like the hub-based Harmonys below, Caavo doesn't require line of sight the switch acts as the hub and the remote control will also work with a voice command from Alexa and Google Home speakers in homes with multiple devices.
Read our Caavo Control Center preview. The Hub is the only remote control device on this list that doesn't actually include an actual physical remote device or buttons. The smart hub itself nestles deep in your AV cabinet, blasting out Infrared, Bluetooth and Wi Fi network signals to your equipment. The URC includes all the important buttons and can control eight AV components, and you can group devices together into activities.
But, like the Sofabaton U1, it lacks backlighting and a Help function. One For All says you can set up this remote using an app, but the app just lets you add devices. The majority of the programming takes place the old-fashioned way—by manually putting the remote in programming mode and punching a lot of buttons. For our latest update, we also tested a couple of simple, large-button remotes designed for people with vision, memory, or confusion issues, and we recommend the Flipper , which is an IR-only remote that can control a TV and set-top box.
You can read more about it here. During that time, she has reviewed numerous audio and video products, including virtually every major DIY universal-remote platform. She also reviews budget projectors , portable projectors , and other AV accessories for Wirecutter.
If, on the other hand, your home-entertainment system is built around an AV receiver and multiple source components, and sitting down to watch a movie or play a video game requires shuffling among several remotes to switch inputs and control multiple components simultaneously, a universal remote is exactly what you need.
A good universal remote not only eliminates coffee-table clutter and the remote shuffle but also reduces button pushes by combining multiple actions into one button press.
For instance, instead of having to push separate buttons to turn on your TV, switch HDMI inputs, power on your AV receiver, change inputs there, turn on your Blu-ray player, and—finally—get your movie started, a good universal remote can reduce all of that to one command Play Movie , which you can access at the touch of a single button.
The technical name for this bundling of commands is macros, but remote-control manufacturers usually call them activities or scenes. This functionality used to be reserved for high-end, professionally programmed systems. But these days relatively inexpensive remotes can do the same complex job. In years past, if you wanted an advanced universal remote that you could program yourself as opposed to models that are sold exclusively through dealers, like Crestron and Control4, that program them for you , you had many choices—from brands like Harmony, Sony, Pronto, URC, and UEI.
When Logitech recently discontinued Harmony universal remotes , it killed the last of the big-name brands—as well as all of our former picks in this guide—and left us pondering how to proceed. Sure, you can still find a ton of low-end replacement remotes—models whose primary purpose is to replace the one the dog chewed up and do little else.
The equipment consists of a mix of traditional IR devices, Bluetooth devices, and some Wi-Fi smart-home lighting and temperature items from Lutron and Honeywell. My family lives with each remote for a while to see how intuitive and reliable each is to use on a daily basis. You can program this remote using a convenient mobile app that makes adding, removing, and changing devices easy. And you can reassign buttons to perform different tasks, as well as learn IR codes from your existing remotes.
And the setup app requires you to figure out a lot of the advanced programming yourself, which may prove to be too challenging or frustrating for some people. The bottom half of the chassis is a bit thicker and heavier than the top, which keeps the remote feeling balanced. The U1 is powered by two AA batteries, which are included in the package. The screen automatically lights up when you pick up the remote. And since the U1 is not locked in to a set of pre-labeled device buttons, it can control multiple models of the same type—say, two media players, two TVs, and two audio systems.
Add in its ability to control a total of 15 devices, and the U1 certainly can be set up to control multiple systems around the house. The remote communicates with the app via Bluetooth, so the first step in the setup process is to pair the two.
And then you can start adding your devices; this is a straightforward process in which you can choose from a list of preloaded devices including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Nvidia, DirecTV, and Xfinity or enter the manufacturer and device name. SofaBaton claims its code database includes ,plus devices and 6, brands.
The software automatically and wirelessly updates the remote with the proper control codes after each new device is added. I loaded all of my gear from both of my AV systems into the remote in just a few minutes, since all of my devices were in the SofaBaton database. Shawn Lifer. Apr 20, 32, 52 JackBurton Lifer. Jul 18, 15, 14 Dec 21, 11, 0 The combination of a high quality product and large market share allows them to dictate pricing to a certain extent -- even so, they are certainly not the most expensive options out there.
Most Harmony remotes are well worth the money. Jul 19, 38, 2 Having used a Harmony for the past 3 years, I will never use a normal remote again. Aug 22, 6, 7 I agree with everything on here.
I also don't want to have to hit several buttons on a few different remotes just to switch between inputs. Oct 9, 5, 2 0. I have the and hate it only because its touch screen. Have the too and would rather use that. Might sell the on ebay and get the One.
Feb 14, 46, 3, Totally worth it. My family doesn't have to memorize anything to use the media center or watch TV. It's expensive from a consumer standpoint, but like others have said once you start looking at other remotes like the Pronto it's actually among the cheapest! Jan 13, 11, 3 Originally posted by: erwos Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler i love my , but the recharging cradle could be better.
Mar 30, 9, 1 The batteries in my Harmony died today. The 23 programmable channel icons for selecting your favorite stations makes it simple to rapidly find your favorite channels. All totaled, the Harmony works with more than , devices from 5, plus brands and more are always being added. The Sofabaton U1 is our pick for best setup because it actually streamlines this process.
Instead of entering a bunch of device codes and struggling to pair your remote, you simply download the Sofabaton companion app and connect your devices from there in a matter of minutes. This remote is compatible with hundreds of thousands of devices and that list continues to grow. The Sofabaton U1 is a cheaper alternative to a lot of the expensive remotes on this list. But it does make some compromises. For example, it only works with infrared and Bluetooth devices.
This includes most TVs, sound systems, and gaming systems, but does not include Wi-Fi connected devices like the Roku streaming stick and the PlayStation 4. If you're someone with tons of smart home devices, TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances at home, the Logitech Harmony Elite view at Amazon will best suit your lifestyle.
It offers compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands can work with up to 15 connected devices and works with devices outside of line of sight. If you want the same features for a lower price and with support for a smartphone app, the Logitech Harmony view at Amazon is a good choice. It can support up to 8 devices, is slim and lightweight, and can work with the Harmony app and Hub. Our expert reviewers and editors evaluate remotes based on design, range, sensitivity, and features.
We test their real-life performance in actual use cases and how easy they are to program and how accurate they are and at what distance. Our testers also consider each unit as a value proposition—whether or not a product justifies its price tag, and how it compares to competitive products. All of the models we reviewed were purchased by Lifewire; none of the review units were furnished by the manufacturer or retailer. Yoona Wagener has written for Lifewire since and has a background in tech.
She's reviewed many of the devices on this list and she liked the Logitech Harmony Elite for its broad compatibility and the ability to work outside of line of sight. David Beren has more than ten years of experience in the tech industry. He's previously been published on TmoNews. She specializes in consumer tech. Do I need my old remote to program my universal remote? Not necessarily. However, some universal remotes are capable of mirroring the functions of your original remote simply by being on the same network as your smart TV.
Can I use a universal remote to navigate Apps? Fortunately, most modern universal remotes are compatible with streaming apps, allowing you to seamlessly browse your backlog on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. I can't find the original remote code for my device? The code for your remote is usually found inside the battery housing, but if you can't find it there or in your manual, thankfully universal remotes typically have an auto code search function.
This mode cycles through a list of available IR codes until it receives a response from your original remote or TV. This option is the easiest method, but can sometimes take a while. Just hit a single button to turn on your TV and receiver, switch to the correct input, and even dim the lights.
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