Read on to learn more about our collection of the best universal remotes. Options such as “one touch activity” allows for automatic power on and switching to the right devices with the right settings. Additionally, features such as closed cabinet control let the Harmony Hub assist in controlling devices that are stored behind closed doors in cabinets. The Harmony smartphone app (Android and iOS) doubles as a separate universal remote, which is convenient in case you are charging the Harmony Elite in its charging station. While the pricing might turn some potential buyers away, if you want the most feature-rich universal remote on the market, the Harmony Elite is the one to own. Battery: Charging dock | No. of Devices: 15 | Voice Control: Alexa / Google Home Gone are the days of irritating on-TV keyboards. Instead, voice control is handled directly from your smartphone or tablet and speech recognition will help find your content faster. Beyond voice control, the Harmony excels at working with devices that are hidden in closed cabinets through its IR (infrared) and Bluetooth connectivity. Our tester did point out, however, that while overall performance and software was good, it wasn’t always consistent. Battery: 1 CR2 Battery | No. of Devices: 15 | Voice Control: Alexa / Google Home When it comes to connecting directly to the television itself, the Inteset features a worldwide database of device codes for connecting to all the top television manufacturers by completely replacing their default remote controls. Our reviewer especially liked how easy it was to program different commands with one button. Inteset takes its unique feature set up another level with macro programming that allows you to program up to 32 commands to a single button, so you can turn on/off all devices, switch inputs, or change to a favorite channel. Battery: 2 AA Batteries | No. of Devices: 4 | Voice Control: No Battery: 1 CR2 Battery | No. of Devices: 8 | Voice Control: Alexa / Google Home Battery: 2 AAA Batteries | No. of Devices: 4 | Voice Control: No Another advantage to the screen: it includes step-by-step troubleshooting help. If you have a problem, you can follow instructions right on the Harmony 665 to resolve it. In terms of customizability and user-friendliness, this remote is hard to beat. Battery: 2 AA Batteries | No. of Devices: 10 | Voice Control: No Battery: 2 AA Batteries | No. of Devices: 8 | Voice Control: No 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. Before you buy this remote, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s specifications to make sure your devices are compatible. Battery: 2 AA Batteries | No. of Devices: 15 | Voice Control: No
About Our Trusted Experts
Yoona Wagener has written for Lifewire since 2019 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.com and has written extensively about the telecom industry. A former editor of Lifewire’s product round-ups, Emmeline Kaser has over four years of experience researching and writing about the best consumer products out there. She specializes in consumer tech. Do I need my old remote to program my universal remote?Not necessarily. it certainly helps to have the original remote on hand to quickly translate its functions to your new remote. 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. 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.
What to Look for When Buying a Universal Remote
Compatibility
Before purchasing any piece of technology, it’s essential to make sure that it’ll work with the gadgets you already have at home. Some remotes offer built-in controls for services such as Netflix, others only have a general control layout, and some won’t work at all. Be sure to check your remote’s compatibility before making a purchase.
Automation
The majority of universal remotes you find will merely allow you to switch between controlling different devices, but some solutions such as Logitech’s Harmony lineup offer automation. Just hit a single button to turn on your TV and receiver, switch to the correct input, and even dim the lights.
