All the best universal remote options have superior ergonomics, more intuitive buttons and a better feel than standard remotes.Many remote controls have app features to ensure they work with your Android phone, iPhone or other smartphone.A universal remote can also work with smart devices and voice systems such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa.My family and I have used many of the smart remotes on this list as control devices for my main home-theater system for months or years at a time.
![]() ![]() At various points, theyve controlled multiple devices including my TVs, AV receivers, game consoles, Blu-ray player, Roku streamers, and even a cable box DVR. My family uses the system as much as I do and my main criteria in a smart universal remote or universal remote app is making it simple enough for a kid to operate, even with all those buttons. Read more: The best Google Assistant and Google Home devices of 2020. 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 or Listen to Music buttons and the 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 updown to the box, for example). Universal Remote Control Programming Software To ProgramUnlike more-expensive Harmonys (below), which use a Harmony universal remote control app on your smartphone for setup and control, youll have to use Harmonys Mac- or PC-based software to program the remote (needless to say, a remote app is more convenient). The 650 and 665 also rely on IR (infrared) codes emitted from the front of the device -- if you want point-anywhere convenience, youll have to spend up for a system with a hub. The 665 is the only smart remote currently listed on Harmonys site but the 650 is identical (aside from color and number of devices each can control) and can often be found for less, especially refurbished. To get Caavos advanced features, youll need to shell out for the service fee. It costs 4 per month, 40 per year or 160 for the lifetime of the remote. Unlike Harmony, Caavo Control Center includes an HDMI switch in addition to the smart remote. 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 doesnt require line of sight (the switch acts as the hub) and the remote control will also work with voice commands from Alexa and Google Home speakers in homes with multiple devices. Instead, you control everything using the Harmony app for smartphones ( Android or iOS) -- or by talking to your Amazon Alexa or Google Home speaker. Universal Remote Control Programming Bluetooth And WiThe smart hub itself nestles deep in your AV cabinet, blasting out Infrared, Bluetooth and Wi Fi network signals to your equipment. This Harmony smart control is a great system if you prefer the Harmony app, but for most people, investing in a real smart device (maybe one with a smartphone app) is worth the extra few bucks. Since the Harmony Hub handles the actual command sending, you dont have to aim the smart device and risk one of your devices missing a command -- which leads to confusion and delay.
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