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The best universal remotes can make your coffee table less cluttered. Instead of using one remote to turn on your TV, another to turn on your soundbar, and yet another to turn on your streaming stick, you can use one universal remote to control everything. We look at how well it works with common devices, how easy it is to set up and use, and what it can do.
Our research shows that these devices can be used for many different things, and despite what the labels say, very few of them are truly universal. We can really help you out there. So, if you really want to get rid of that stack of remotes on your coffee table, keep reading to learn how to choose the best remote for your home.
Best Universal Remotes
Logitech Harmony Elite
Features
The Logitech Harmony Elite is still our favourite universal remote. It works with more than 270,000 entertainment and smart home devices and has one-touch macros that can be changed. It has a small capacitive touchscreen that makes it easy to use what could be a confusing number of devices.
Logitech doesn’t make Harmony remotes anymore, but the company still fixes them, so they are still a good choice. Still, it’s not easy to get a Harmony Elite for a fair price. Now that there aren’t as many of them, the price can only go up.
Pros
- Easy setup
- Intuitive interface
- Dedicated smart home buttons
- Works with huge number of devices
Cons
- Heavier than previous version
- Expensive
SofaBaton U1 Remote
Features
The SofaBaton U1 can connect to more than 350,000 devices from 6,000 brands and comes with an iOS and Android app that lets you set up the remote on the fly. It can use IR blasts and Bluetooth to control up to 15 things at once. You can also tell buttons to do certain things and make shortcuts to start activities.
All of this can be done with the SofaBaton U1 for $69.99, which is a lot less than what Harmony remotes used to cost before scarcity drove up the price. Even though it’s not as easy to programme and can’t control Wi-Fi devices like smart light bulbs, it can compete with the Harmony remotes.
Pros
- Small OLED display
- Can control up to 15 devices
- Supports over 350,000 devices
Cons
- No backlighting
- No activity-based buttons
SofaBaton X1 Remote
Features
The SofaBaton X1 is as close as you can get to a universal remote like the ones made by Harmony. The remote itself looks nice and is easy to use. It has just the right number of buttons, all of which are backlit. Just below its screen is a small scroll wheel that lets you switch between activities and devices.
The circular d-pad below lets you control your system. We liked that the X1’s edges were smooth and rounded, and that its buttons had just the right amount of resistance and feedback when pressed. We wish it had come with a small cradle for charging, which would have made things a little bit easier.
Pros
- Backlit keys
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant
Cons
- A little tricky to program
Amazon Fire TV Cube
Features
The Amazon Fire TV Cube comes with one of the best streaming devices and Alexa, so you can use Amazon’s assistant to find shows and programmes you want to watch, control your TV, cable box, switch HDMI inputs, and more. Plus, it has a great 4K HDR picture, fast response times, and more as a streaming device.
The interface of the Fire TV could use some work, but whose interface doesn’t? It gives you access to almost every streaming service you could want. It also has a physical remote, but you can’t do everything with it that you can do with your voice.
Pros
- Speedier performance
- Alexa’s cable box controls are great
- Great 4K HDR picture quality
Cons
- Alexa-only
One for All Smart Control 8 Remote
Features
The URC7880 uses Bluetooth to talk to the One for All app on your phone, but for some reason, it can’t pair with any other Bluetooth device, like a game console or streaming media device. Even though the URC7880 isn’t as easy to programme as the Harmony family, it can still be done.
These activities can combine commands from up to eight devices, which should be more than enough to turn on your TV, Blu-ray player, and A/V receiver and set them to the right inputs and outputs. Only catch is that you can’t control these devices if they don’t work with infrared.
Pros
- Controls up to eight devices
- Smartphone app-based setup
- User-programmable macros
Cons
- No Bluetooth control
GE Universal Remote
Features
If you like how traditional remote controls look, you might like the GE Universal Remote. Instead of a touch screen, it has a lot of buttons that you can use to control your devices. This remote can be fully programmed on a computer, so it can be used to control a wide range of devices.
The layout of the buttons on the GE Universal Remote makes a lot of sense, and GE makes it really easy to set up the remote with all your devices and programme all the right buttons. The buttons on the remote are backlit, and when you pick up the unit, the lights turn on.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Connects with up to four devices
- Master volume control
Cons
- Only controls four devices
- Can’t learn missing commands
Universal Remote Control MX-450
Features
This universal remote can control up to 18 different devices, making it the most flexible choice on our list. The colour screen on the device has three main pages, and each extra device can add up to eight pages. This remote can control your devices from up to 100 feet away.
You can also set up the remote to do more than one thing with the press of a single button. Just keep in mind that it might take some time to fully programme and set up this remote because it has a lot of custom commands and can connect to up to 18 devices.
Pros
- Rechargeable battery
- Harmony HUB included does RF
- Infrared with smartphone app
Cons
- Expensive
- Older design
FAQs
Are universal remotes worth it?
Most of the time, a universal remote should be able to control any TV. But it will depend on what kind of TV and remote you have. All TVs made in the last ten years or so should work with your universal remote. But before you buy one, it’s a good idea to find out what each one needs.
What is the easiest to use universal remote?
- SofaBaton X1
- SofaBaton U1
- Amazon Fire TV Cube
- Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV
- Logitech Harmony Elite
- Caavo Control Center
- Logitech Harmony 665
- Logitech Harmony Companion
Why are universal remotes dying?
Logitech said in April 2021 that it was getting rid of all of its universal remote controls, including the Harmony Hub. Officials from the company said they wanted to focus on their main business, which was making a lot of money during the COVID-19 pandemic because more people were working from home.
Can I use my phone as a universal TV remote?
If your phone has an IR blaster, you can download an app like AnyMote Smart IR Remote that lets you control your TV. It can control not only your TV, but also set-top boxes, DVD and Blu-ray players, stereo equipment, and even some air-conditioning systems that can receive an IR signal.