The Wirecutter’s editors answer reader questions all the time (much more than once a week). You can also control your Harmony Companion with your voice by integrating it with Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Unfortunately, a Harmony remote can quickly go from convenient to confusing for someone who is not particularly A/V savvy (or can’t easily see the small buttons). Dear Wirecutter: Can I Control My TV With Amazon’s Alexa? While there is a big price gap between the most sophisticated remotes and the simplest ones, options like the … The technical name for this bundling of commands is macros, but remote-control manufacturers usually call them activities or scenes. Easy to program and use, the Harmony 665 can control up to 10 AV components, and it has an LCD screen and a convenient help function—but it can control only IR devices and no … The TCL Roku offers a decent picture right out of the box, integrated Roku functions, and one more HDMI port than other small TVs. If you don’t want another handheld device but like the idea of universal remote control, you might consider an app-based control system. The Hub then emits the appropriate IR, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi signal to control the associated components. The remote itself has only a few buttons designated for smart lights and plugs, but you can manage more devices through the Harmony app. Logitech, which has a number of models, is by far the dominant player, with the Logitech Harmony Elite as the best universal remote overall. Send an email to notes@thewirecutter.com, or talk to us on Twitter and Facebook. Perhaps you'd consider including this scenario for your next update to the best universal remotes? Consider the Harmony Elite. We found Sevenhugs’s app-based setup process to be the most intuitive platform we’ve tried; it was very easy to add devices, set up Scenes, create fully customized pages for the remote's touchscreen, and fix problems on the fly. 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. The bigger RCA remotes even have programmable macros that let you power up several devices with one button press, but they aren’t capable of the kind of switching or complex control the Harmony remotes can accomplish. The 32-inch Roku TV from TCL usually costs less than $200 (bigger versions cost more) and is our current pick for the best small TV. We tested Sevenhugs’s Smart Remote U and Smart Remote X and added our thoughts to the Competition section. The raised buttons and intuitively organized layout make the remote easy to use by feel, as long as you know what each button is supposed to do. For most people, the very best universal remote is the Logitech Harmony Elite and, while it may be the most expensive, it’s well worth the price. At the moment, these include Philips Hue lighting, Nest Learning thermostats, Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, Honeywell’s Wi-Fi thermostats, Rheem EcoNet water heaters, and smart-home hubs from Lutron Caséta. The cable has a Type A connector, so if you’ve upgraded to a computer that only has USB-C ports, you’ll need an adapter. The control box supports 4K/HDR10 pass-through, and it adds an on-screen user interface to your system through which you can easily switch sources, voice-search content across platforms, unite your streaming apps from different devices, and set up favorites. Published questions are edited for space and clarity. Once you answer all the necessary questions, you’re done. Generally, the help function should be able to rectify the problem, but it’s still less than perfect. The more commands that are included in the activity, the more chances there are for this to happen. The universal remote market is about to get a bunch of new remotes, thanks to radio frequency technology.What does this mean for you? At the end of the day, it should make the operation of your home entertainment and other home facilities much, much easier and more stress-free. Finally, you could go a third route and get an all-in-one TV. One benefit of having the IR emitters in a separate hub is that it no longer matters where you point the handheld remote. The system works with IR, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth devices, including a variety of smart-home products, and the free iOS/Android control app provides a second method of managing everything. Also, the Smart Remote U is more expensive than the Harmony Companion, currently doesn’t include support for Alexa and Google Home, and natively supports fewer smart-home devices (you can add control via Webhooks, but that’s more complicated). The Harmony 665 is a one-piece system that does not include the Hub, so you can’t use the Harmony setup app on your mobile device to program it. The Sideclick is technically a separate remote, but it has a basic layout and attaches to an existing Roku remote, so it’s functionally the same as having a single remote. If you currently have one of those components, you won’t be able to use the Harmony 665 to control it—in other words, you’re stuck using two or more remote controls. The Elite also comes with a rechargeable battery and base station, so you do not need to replace batteries as you do with the lower-priced Harmony remotes. The Logitech Harmony 350 is our budget pick for the best universal remote. If for some reason your TV doesn’t turn on or the receiver doesn’t switch to the correct input after you select an activity, pressing the Help button causes the Harmony 665 to immediately emit an infrared command that, ideally, rectifies the situation. You have to connect the remote directly to your computer via the supplied USB cable and use the MyHarmony desktop software to add devices, set up activities, and customize the LCD screen. The 665 controlled all of our IR-based components reliably—though like the Harmony Companion and most other universal remotes we tested, it does not have a microphone button for voice search. By Wirecutter, 04.17.2020. If controlling eight devices at once … The Companion remote has a logical button layout and includes important functions such as Menu, Exit, and Guide, and color buttons. You can control your AV system with your voice by pressing the remote’s Alexa button and saying commands like “Turn on Fire TV,” “Open Netflix app,” or “Watch ESPN.” While we found this remote easy to set up and reliable in executing commands, its limited button options make performing more advanced tasks challenging, and this system is totally locked into the Alexa ecosystem. A newsletter a day keeps the FOMO at bay. The Logitech Harmony Companion can control up to eight AV components and features activity buttons to simplify control of your whole home theater. And it controlled all of our devices correctly. The Elite is a pleasure to use, and it has the responsiveness and polish of a professionally installed control system, but it also costs a lot more than the Companion. The best universal remote control 04.17.20 View. Using the app to set up the Harmony Companion is simple enough, as long as everything works the way it’s supposed to. The Harmony Companion remote also lacks a customizable display, which means that less-used functions, such as changing your AV receiver’s surround mode or subwoofer level, aren’t accessible unless you reassign other buttons or use the app. Best High-End Universal Remote. Anytime you wish to add new devices or make changes to how the system works, you’ll need to reconnect the 665 to your computer. The remote lacks backlighting, and Logitech’s app-based setup can sometimes be frustrating, but this system still delivers the best combination of features, flexibility, and control that we’ve found for the price. Like the Companion, it also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. Although $100 may seem like a lot of money to spend on a universal remote (especially since you can get a good streaming media player for about half that price), keep this in mind: Because your remote control is the primary device you interact with when using your home theater system, getting a single good universal remote that does the job of eight mediocre remotes is a very satisfying upgrade to that system. Then, if she has a problem, she can call you, and you can fix it from wherever you are. You can still find some older DIY URC remotes online but at elevated prices. This is the remote to get if you have a lot of gear—it can control up to 15 devices (up from the Companion’s eight-device limit), so it potentially replaces up to 15 other remotes. This functionality used to be reserved for high-end, professionally programmed systems, but these days relatively inexpensive remotes can do the same complex job. Whereas the 665 is a bit of a throwback, the Harmony Elite represents the next generation of the universal remote. It also has an app that lets you troubleshoot issues from anywhere with an Internet connection. The best universal remote control. One remote that we think might work out well for you is the Sideclick. Instead of pressing hard buttons for Movie, TV, or Music, for instance, you scroll up and down on the screen for your activity and tap that. Many of today’s universal remotes also incorporate some degree of smart-home control so you can adjust your lighting, temperature, and security system, or even control multiroom music systems like Sonos. Setup is fairly straightforward using either the MyHarmony desktop software or the iOS/Android control app (though the desktop software is easier for more complicated systems). The most egregious design flaw in the Harmony Companion is that the buttons on the handheld remote are not backlit. The convenience and comfort of controlling the lighting and even being able to adjust the thermostat while you’re watching TV makes the Companion more than just an AV remote. How to Set Up a Remote Learning Space for Your Kids, The Best Mosquito Control Gear for Your Patio or Yard, Thermacell Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent Gen 2.0. This model also lacks the convenient Help button available on the Harmony 665. By far, the most useful feature of the Harmony 665—the one that will keep you from pulling your hair out if you have a problem with the way your system is working—is the help function, which you access from a button above the display. The best universal remote for ultimate home theater control: Logitech Harmony Elite. A universal remote is a singular device that uses the same frequencies as your other devices. We were looking for something more, and these are the criteria we applied: In years past, if you wanted a more advanced universal remote that you could program yourself, you had many choices from brands like Sony, Pronto, URC, and UEI. The best simple universal TV remote for your not-so-tech-savvy parent with a Roku is the Sideclick, which lets them keep using familiar controls. Advice, staff picks, mythbusting, and more. That’s why we're here to help. *At the time of publishing, the price was $270. *At the time of publishing, the price was $170. The Logitech Harmony 350 is our budget pick for the best universal remote. The Companion may offer more functionality than some people need, which makes it a bit more expensive than a basic universal remote. When it comes time to use the remote, just press the desired Activity button, and the Harmony turns everything on and switches each device to the correct settings. The remote is a sleek, stripped-down design with important buttons like home, microphone, volume, back, menu, and more (but no backlighting). The Tailwind iQ3 Smart WiFi Garage Door Opener is the most responsive and reliable smart garage-door controller we tested. Fortunately, both the Harmony Companion and the Harmony Elite come with a handheld remote and a smartphone app. Adrienne Maxwell is the editor of Wirecutter's audio/video team, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Universal Remote Control (the company) used to offer a variety of good DIY remotes, but the company now focuses on the professional-installation market. Also, the line-of-sight nature of this IR remote means that the status of the components in your system might get out of sync when you start or end an activity if you don’t keep the Harmony 665 pointed in the direction of all your equipment while it emits all of the remote control commands. The Harmony app does offer a Fix feature that allows you to directly access incorrect settings (power and input for components, for example), but we found it to be less intuitive than the Harmony 665’s help function. Looking for a universal remote? However, since it can’t communicate over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it isn’t compatible with smart devices and some AV equipment, and it needs line of sight with your gear. It’s easier to program than any non-Harmony remote. The best USB Wi-Fi adapters 04.12.20 View. By Adrienne Maxwell This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. 2. Why you should buy this: If it can be controlled by a remote, this will let you control it. If all of your devices can be controlled by standard infrared technology (as opposed to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) and you don’t need smart-home control, the Logitech Harmony 665 is a great choice. The software asks you to enter the manufacturer and model number of each component; it then searches for that component’s remote control codes in Logitech’s massive database and immediately adds the found codes to your list of devices. DALI Katch One soundbar review: Great sound—under the right circumstances This soundbar must be placed up against a wall to sound its best, and it requires more space beneath a TV than most. The two-piece Logitech Harmony Companion system, which consists of a hub and a handheld remote, can control up to eight AV components, and it works with IR, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth devices, which gives it more flexibility than is available with most budget remotes. On Dell. We had to look away from the TV often to make sure we carefully pressed the right button, and still we often launched the wrong command. Wirecutter's Best Deals of the Week. Sevenhugs’s more expensive Smart Remote X is essentially the same remote, but it adds a point mode that automatically adjusts its interface based on what device you’re pointing it at. A game console or two might also be included. The remote itself is very comfortable to hold, with the most frequently used buttons—volume up/down, channel up/down, play/pause, and a cursor control pad for navigating on-screen menus and channel guides—all located within easy reach of your thumb. Adrienne Maxwell is the lead editor of Wirecutter’s AV team and has worked as a writer and editor in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years. Most AV devices still rely on IR (infrared) control, where you must point the remote’s IR transmitter directly at the device’s IR receiver. Setup is easy, and the system reliably controlled our gear without any major problems. As a matter of fact, the Companion remote doesn’t even need to be in the same room as the Hub, so long as you place the Hub where the IR signals it emits can reach your AV components. Like the Harmony Companion, the Elite allows you to hide your home theater equipment in a cabinet or gear closet. Wirecutter's Best Deals of the Week. A universal remote control has to be, well, universal. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Learn more. 9 months ago. An activity-based design, as described above, is strongly preferred. First, the remote has no physical buttons, and both the touchscreen and the virtual buttons on it are very small. The best universal remotes can control more than just the TV obviously. Depending on the types of components you have—perhaps a TV, a Blu-ray player, a receiver, and a cable box—Harmony suggests a number of possible Activities, such as “Watch TV” or “Listen to Music” (you can also create your own custom Activities). This slim universal remote clips onto the side of a Roku remote and can control TVs and most cable boxes. Like the Harmony Companion, this remote can control IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi components (including some smart-home devices), but it doesn’t need a separate hub to do so, which is a nice perk. The best simple universal TV remote for your not-so-tech-savvy parent with a Roku is the, which lets them keep using familiar controls. It’s common for lower-priced universal remotes to only work with IR devices. You can assign your newly created activity to one of the three Activity buttons located along the top of the remote. The Harmony 650 we recommend as our top pick is much cheaper than the Companion and Elite, but it doesn’t have the app, so we recommend skipping it for this particular situation. Learn more. Darryl Wilkinson and Grant Clauser said, "It misses out on the 650's great Help feature and display, but … Our electronics experts bought and tested the top 10 universal remotes available today and put them through a rigorous side-by-side comparison to find the very best. The Harmony 665 does have some drawbacks. The Logitech Harmony Express features built-in Alexa voice control and has a much simpler design than the Harmony Companion or Elite, with just 10 action buttons and a navigation wheel. If, on the other hand, your home entertainment system is built around an AV receiver and multiple sources, and sitting down to watch a movie requires shuffling between several remotes to switch inputs and power/control multiple components at the same time, a universal remote is exactly what you need. This $10 Insignia cable from Best Buy worked with the MacBook Pro laptop we used. In this era of smart TVs, streaming media players, and soundbars, we enjoy more functionality from fewer devices. Like most of the universal remotes we’ve tested, the Companion remote lacks a built-in microphone to access the voice-search function in a streaming media device. Q: I came to this page looking for the "ultra simple" use case. If you just want a simple, great-sounding pair of wired earbuds, we recommend the Final E4000. The best universal remotes are the perfect answer in both cases, and almost every universal remote uses infrared (or IR): the same signal protocol used by remote manufacturers as well. The more a remote costs, the more flexibility it should have to control different kinds of devices. Our AV equipment consists of a mix of traditional IR devices, Bluetooth devices like the Apple TV and Nvidia Shield TV, and some Wi-Fi smart-home products. Support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is a huge plus because it allows the Companion to control popular non-IR devices—such as the Sony PlayStation 4 and some media players from Nvidia and Amazon—that a basic IR remote can’t. I brought this remote for the bed room to control the sony blu ray,comcast,samsung tv,apple tv and ilive sound bar. If you’re not able to control your television the old-fashioned way, it’s entirely possible to use voice controls instead. The Harmony Companion provides a way of unifying control of your AV system and a basic home-automation system in a seamless, albeit limited, way. Using this process, you should be able to map the volume and input buttons from the TV remote and the channel-changing buttons from most cable-box remotes. And if the cable box’s existing remote has all the requisite navigational arrow buttons, you can program it to control the Roku TV, leaving you with just one remote! Many cheap “universal” remotes require that you press a certain combination of buttons and then input manufacturer codes for each AV device until you find one that works. You can purchase the Harmony Hub as a standalone unit (without a remote) and just use your mobile device with the free Harmony iOS/Android app as your remote control. The Hub connects with all those devices via your home Wi-Fi network.