The One For All Smart Control 8 resembles a stock remote you’d get with a TV but can do a lot more. Why it made the cut: The One for All URC7880 looks basic at a glance, but features customizable buttons and controls up to eight devices. Best simple: One for All Smart Control 8 (URC7880) It’s a convenient, affordable, no-compromise universal remote in a reasonably polished package. Though it isn’t as easy to program, and can’t control Wi-Fi-based devices like smart light bulbs, it gives the Harmony remotes a run for their money. The SofaBaton U1 does all this for $69.99, far less than the Harmony remotes cost before scarcity drove up the price. You can also assign buttons to perform specific actions and even create shortcuts to launch activities. It can control up to 15 devices at once using IR blasts and Bluetooth. Case in point, the SofaBaton U1 can connect to over 350,000 devices from 6,000 brands and features a companion iOS and Android app so you can configure the remote on the fly. Though we have a soft spot for the Harmony remote, there are still companies making great universal remotes. Battery life: N/A (requires two AA batteries).Why it made the cut: The SofaBaton U1 offers a similar experience to the Harmony Elite, including a small OLED display, in a more affordable package. Still, if you’re searching for the versatile, feature-rich universal remote, nothing touches the Harmony Elite. Even used models can cost nearly $400 or more. Now that there’s a limited supply, that price has only gone up. It was expensive from the start, retailing for $349. That said, getting a Harmony Elite for a reasonable price isn’t easy. Though Logitech no longer manufactures Harmony remotes, the company still updates them, so they are still a viable option. It features a small capacitive touchscreen that makes navigating a potentially dizzying array of devices easy to follow. It includes broad device support for over 270,000 entertainment and smart home devices, as well as customizable one-touch macros. Not in production, so may be difficult to find newĪlthough it was discontinued in 2021, the Logitech Harmony Elite remains the best universal remote we’ve tried.A capacitive touchscreen makes it easy to control your devices.Why it made the cut: With broad device support, a capacitive touchscreen, and support for one-touch actions, the Harmony Elite is tough to beat. Though the list of appealing options is dwindling, there are still a few great universal remotes out there. The best universal remotes: Reviews & Recommendationsįinding the right universal remote will let you consolidate your collection and bring some order to your living room. I checked peer reviews, user impressions, forums, and retailer comment sections to get a sense of what universal remotes are currently popular. To make our selections, I leaned on hands-on testing, as well as extensive research on the current third-party remote market. The coverage included reviews and reports on TVs and third-party A/V gear, including universal remotes. I have covered the consumer electronics industry for more than 10 years for TechnoBuffalo, Gear Patrol, CNN Underscored, and iMore. Best for Apple TV: Apple TV Siri Remote.Best simple: One for All Smart Control 8 (URC7880).Best premium: Logitech Harmony Companion. ![]() ![]() If your coffee table full of remotes needs taming, the best universal remotes can still swoop in and cut out some remote clutter. And some of the old devices, including the Harmony remotes, still work well if you’re willing to buy a used one. There are still a few companies that make universal remotes. You could argue they’ve been replaced by smartphones but switching between a hundred different clunky apps just isn’t as elegant as the defunct, yet still supported Logitech Harmony remote. Despite the fact that we have more devices than ever, universal remotes are a dying breed. Once upon a time, manufacturers made third-party universal remotes, which connected to many devices so you could navigate them all with one magic wand. Juggling multiple remotes for TV, cable box, soundbar, game consoles, and all the other devices in your living room can get extremely frustrating. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
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