Best universal remote of 2020
If you have a serious home theater system – or even a semi-serious one with three or more components – a universal remote control is an amazing device. The best universal remote control can combine all these different clickers – Soundbar, Surround speakers, Apple TV, Blu-ray player, etc. – in a single wand with buttons that can feel magical. All of the best universal remote control options offer superior ergonomics and a better feel than standard remote controls and more intuitive buttons. And some universal remote control has app features that make sure it works with your iPhone. Android Phone or other Smartphone. You can also work with smart devices and voice systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
My family and I have used many of the smart remotes on this list for months or years as controllers for my main home theater system. At various points, they controlled several devices, including my TV, AV receiver, Blu-ray player, game console, Roku streamer and even one device Cable box DVR. My family uses the system as often as I do and my main criteria in a Clever The universal remote control or the universal remote control app makes it easy enough for a child to operate even with all these buttons.
Here are my choices for the best universal remote control currently available, in ascending order of price.
Logitech Harmony
Logitech Harmony wrote the book on universal remote control devices, and these are the most basic clickers that I can recommend. The main attraction over a cheaper, non-Harmony based smart remote or the device that comes with your set-top boxes is activity-based control. Press the “Watch TV” or “Listen to Music” buttons, and the remote control switches on all relevant devices (e.g. smart TV, Blu-ray player and AV receiver), switches to the correct inputs and assigns the buttons to this activity (volume to the receiver and channel up / down to the box for example).
Unlike more expensive Harmonys (see below) that use a Harmony universal remote app on your smartphone for setup and control, you’ll need to use Harmony’s Mac or PC-based software to program the remote (obviously a remote) app is more convenient). The 650 and 665 are also based on IR (infrared) codes that are emitted from the front of the device. If you want comfort everywhere, you have to spend money on a hub system.
The 665 is the only one currently listed on the Harmony website, but the 650 is the same (apart from the color and number of devices everyone can control) and can often be found for less, especially renovated.
Read the Logitech Harmony 650 review.
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Sarah Tew / CNET
Caavos Control Center is one of two non-Harmony smart remotes and the second cheapest at $ 59, but there is a catch. In order to use the advanced features of Caavo, you have to pay the bank for the service fee. It costs $ 4 a month, $ 40 a year, or $ 130 for the life of the remote control.
In contrast to Harmony, the Caavo Control Center contains an HDMI switch in addition to the smart remote control. You plug your things into the switch and it does the rest, including automatically detecting your equipment during setup. Caavo has its own intelligent voice control system and on-screen display that allows you to find things to watch on your streaming devices. The device itself is simple and elegant, and the remote finder is worth its weight in gold. Like the hub-based Harmonys below, Caavo does not require line-of-sight (the switch acts as a hub) and also works with voice commands from Alexa and Google Home speakers in households with multiple devices.
Read the preview of the Caavo Control Center.
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The hub is the only device on this list that has no device or buttons. Instead, you control everything with the Harmony app for smartphones (Android or iOS) – or by speaking to your Amazon Alexa or Google Home speaker. The Smart Hub itself is located deep in your AV case and sends infrared, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi network signals to your devices. This Harmony Smart Control is a great system if you prefer the Harmony app, but for most people, investing in a real device (possibly one with a smartphone app) is worth the extra few dollars.
Sarah Tew
My choice for the best universal remote for the money is the Harmony Companion, a real remote that’s tied to a Harmony hub. Since the Harmony Hub does the actual sending of commands, you don’t have to aim at the smart device and risk that one of your devices is missing a command – which leads to confusion and delay. The Harmony Companion not only manages your entertainment devices, but can also communicate with some home automation devices such as Philips Hue lights. The smart device is sleek and easy to hold, and the battery lasts for months. In my years with the Harmony Companion at home, I mostly missed the backlighting behind the buttons and a remote control finder.
Read the Logitech Companion review.
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Sarah Tew / CNET
The crazy Cube is a mashup of universal remote controls, Fire TV 4K streamer and Amazon Echo speakers and thus the king of your smart home devices. It comes with a device, but the buttons are sparse and rudimentary: real device control is through your voice. The Cube has an IR transmitter to control your equipment and a microphone that’s sensitive enough to hear your commands over the roar of music. On the other hand, you have to keep your old remote controls (even those that are not intelligent) for many functions.
This controller is often sold for just $ 80 or less. So definitely wait for a sale – or Prime Day – before you buy it.
Read the Amazon Fire TV Cube test.
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Now we are entering an area with large expenses. The elite’s main attraction over the Harmony Companion is the screen, and for most users, it’s just not worth it. The touchscreen makes it more versatile than cheaper models with buttons, especially for calling up favorite channels or the Roku app, and the full backlight is great. Unfortunately, the touchscreen and backlight use a lot of battery power, so you (and your family) need to remember to park the smart remote in their dock on the cash register.
Read the Logitech Harmony Elite test.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Logitech’s latest all-in-one remote control is the most powerful yet. As with the Caavo, you can use voice commands to control things and watch your favorite channels by speaking into the intelligent controls. Unlike Caavo, however, the Express can speak back with Alexa’s voice. It’s like having a miniature Alexa speaker in your hand. My main problem is that after a few months as my family’s main remote, I want to have real buttons – you have to say “turn on TV” or “watch Netflix” or even “turn TV off” for something to happen.
Read the preview of Logitech Harmony Express.
