The best universal remotes for 2023

For nan mean TV watcher, 1 distant is usually each you’ll request to power your AV system. That’s because a mostly of households are still rocking cablegram boxes, and that set-top distant is typically tin of controlling nan powerfulness and measurement of a TV, soundbar, and sometimes moreover an AV receiver. Furthermore, definite streaming devices (Roku comes to mind) travel pinch remotes that tin person an further constituent aliases 2 programmed into them. But sometimes that’s conscionable not enough.

If you’re nan proprietor of a monstrous location theatre strategy pinch each AV constituent known to man, you mightiness request a top-notch cosmopolitan distant to power each of your equipment. In years past, Logitech's Harmony statement was nan go-to sanction for multi-device remotes, but it’s been a infinitesimal since nan institution shuttered nan celebrated cosmopolitan controllers. If you tin find one, however, nan institution still supports them. That being said, location are still a number of reputable options retired there, and we’ve rounded up immoderate of our favorites successful nan database below.

SofaBaton U2

The champion overall

Now that we unrecorded successful a world without Logitech’s much-lauded Harmony remotes (unless you’re capable to find a refurbished aliases utilized model), SofaBaton is nan adjacent champion point erstwhile it comes to cosmopolitan remotes. With a fewer different options available, nan all-new SofaBaton U2 builds upon nan fantabulous tech of its U1 model, nan biggest alteration is nan inclusion of aggregate IR receivers. This allows nan U2 to power your line-of-sight components from overmuch farther distances. That being said, you’ll still request an IR extender if you scheme connected hiding cogwheel successful different room aliases down closed doors.

The SofaBaton U2 is capable to power up to 15 different devices astatine once, and you’ll besides beryllium capable to copy-paste your settings into nan SofaBaton app (for iOS and Android) if you’d alternatively power your strategy pinch your telephone aliases tablet. And for illustration nan erstwhile model, nan macro fastener will fto you programme aggregate commands to a concatenation of peripherals, truthful successful arena that you want to watch a 4K Blu-ray, each you person to do is motorboat nan “Blu-ray” bid and each of your basal components will automatically powerfulness and move inputs.

SofaBaton X1

The champion fully-loaded cosmopolitan remote

If your location theatre strategy includes much than 15 components, pinch galore of them hidden down a faux wall that blocks each IR signals, cheque retired nan SofaBaton X1.

The SofaBaton X1 is nan champion fully-loaded cosmopolitan distant you tin bargain these days, and we’re large fans of beautiful overmuch everything astir it. You whitethorn announcement that we characteristic some of SB’s astir celebrated remotes successful our roundup, and that’s because they’re some fantastic; but nan X1 delivers conscionable a small spot much successful each azygous way. For starters, wherever nan U1 could only programme up to 15 devices, nan X1 will shop up to 60. All of nan X1 buttons are backlit, a mini information that is very absent connected nan U1 model. And arsenic acold arsenic nan show goes, nan X1 has a amended interface erstwhile compared to nan U1.

You’ll besides beryllium capable to link nan SofaBaton X1 to your location Wi-Fi, which will let you to power your galore components utilizing some Alexa and Google Assistant; and nan included SofaBaton hub will fto you power devices that aren’t straight successful sight. It’s 1 of nan much costly distant options retired there, but if you’re looking for nan modern end-all-be-all of peripheral power, this is nan measurement to go.

GE

GE Backlit Universal Remote Control

The champion bare bones cosmopolitan remote

The GE Backlit Universal Remote does conscionable enough, and sometimes that's each you need. This distant provides a straightforward measurement to power up to 4 devices utilizing a big of pre-programmed codes while sporting a accepted creation equipped pinch a basal D-pad and each of nan astir salient TV/media commands you could need.

If touchscreens and programming via a PC aliases mobile app consciousness excessively convoluted for your needs, nan GE 48843 is simply a cleanable choice: It's inexpensive — but not cheaply made — and it has everything you request to power your infrared devices.

One For All

One for All Smart Control 8 Universal Remote Control

Most powerful for infrared devices

One of nan Logitech Harmony's champion features was its expertise to group instrumentality commands into activities — macros that could beryllium executed pinch a azygous button. And while nan URC7880 isn't astir arsenic easy to programme arsenic nan Harmony family, it does springiness you that aforesaid activity-based, one-button entree to macros, which is simply a immense convenience.

Those activities tin harvester commands from up to 8 devices, which should beryllium much than capable elasticity for turning connected your TV, your Blu-ray player, and your A/V receiver and past mounting them to nan desired inputs and outputs. The only caveat is that there's nary measurement to exert power complete these devices if they aren't infrared-compatible — nan URC7880 uses Bluetooth to talk to nan One for All app connected your smartphone, but for immoderate reason, it can't brace pinch immoderate different Bluetooth device, for illustration a crippled console aliases streaming media device.

In summation to nan 5 disposable activities, location are 3 shortcut buttons that tin beryllium programmed to entree your favourite streaming media services for illustration Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, aliases Disney+. And if immoderate of your devices' infrared codes aren't stored successful nan One for All online database, you tin usage nan URC7880's learning usability to drawback them from your original remote.

The companion app tin moreover enactment arsenic a distant finder if you negociate to misplace nan URC7880. Our only existent title is that this portion doesn't person backlit buttons for easier navigation successful darkened rooms.

Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The champion for sound control

Yup, we know: The Amazon Fire TV Cube is not a cosmopolitan remote. But perceive america retired connected this one. What you whitethorn not cognize astir nan Fire TV Cube is that dissimilar each different Fire TV devices — and, frankly, dissimilar each different streaming media devices, play — it tin power galore of nan different devices successful your location theater. And you tin usage spoken commands to do it.

Buried wrong nan Fire TV Cube's mini box-shaped enclosure are a group of infrared transmitters. Just for illustration immoderate different cosmopolitan remote, these tin beryllium programmed to emit IR commands for a immense assortment of devices, including TVs, soundbars, and A/V receivers.

Within nan Fire TV's interface, you tin group up these devices, which tin past beryllium controlled utilizing nan Fire TV Cube's included remote, aliases for a existent starship Enterprise experience, you tin usage your sound instead. Saying, "Alexa, unfastened Netflix," tin trigger nan aforesaid series of commands arsenic nan Activities connected a Harmony aliases One for All distant — your TV turns on, your A/V receiver turns on, and your Fire TV Cube opens nan Netflix app. You're bully to go.

There is 1 limitation: All of your devices must beryllium IR-controllable. The Fire TV Cube has Bluetooth, but this is only utilized for pairing things for illustration headphones and crippled controllers. However, if a instrumentality you want to power tin beryllium connected to your TV via HDMI, there's a bully chance nan Cube will beryllium capable to power it complete HDMI-CEC anyway.

And because this is Alexa we're talking about, nan Cube tin besides power immoderate smart location devices you whitethorn want to usage while watching a movie, for illustration dimming smart lightbulbs aliases rolling down your motorized smart blinds.

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