That's because some phones will also function as universal remotes, although perhaps not the models you may think. Because you might be holding the answer to your home entertainment solution in your hand right now. Not convinced you need a universal remote? Why not save yourself a bit of cash and use a device you already own. The Honor 9 is one of the few new phones to have an IR blaster Those after something even less pocket-draining for their universal remote should check out the Harmony 650, which has a display but no Harmony Hub support, and the Harmony 350, a basic £35/$38 remote that's a classic universal remote but can still combine the functions of eight remotes. The uptick in price is fully worth it for the number of devices that can be controlled with the one remote – 15 – compared to cheaper models that only support one. Despite the occasional hitch, it's a powerful universal remote that can wrangle your audio/visual madness, plus it looks and feels pretty good doing so. If your setup is complex and you're seeking some automation in your routine, or you just can't stand the sight of a handful of differently-shaped remotes laying on your couch, then the Logitech Harmony Elite might be a luxury worth splashing out for. But for anyone who wants one remote to control just about everything, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything that is both this functional and relatively easy to use out of the box. Best high-end universal remotesĪt $250 (£99, AU$449), the Logitech Harmony Elite obviously no small investment – and if you're not absolutely serious about the form and function of your home entertainment setup, then you needn't bother. Another popular option is to turn all of your equipment off with a single press of a button, but it's really up to you how you configure your remote. One remote activity, which you might call Watch TV, could turn on your cable box, audio receiver and TV, change the receiver to the right channel and switch your TV to the right HDMI input, for example. These remotes will also be able to support a larger number of devices with the one remote, as well as set up custom activities that action several commands at once. Take a step up in price, and many mid-tier universal remotes boast companion apps and large databases that let you just select the TV or receiver you have on your mobile device: it's quicker, easier and less of a hassle to add new devices, in case your AV setup ever changes. The best universal remotes are the perfect answer in both cases, and almost every universal remote uses infrared (or IR): the same signal protocol used by remote manufacturers as well. If you're wondering why you should buy one, there are two key scenarios where they're ideal: either you've lost your original remote and are looking at a pricey replacement, or you're wanting to have fewer remote controls because your AV experience needs streamlining. The difference is that these devices are able to imitate the signals sent by your TV's original remote, AV receiver or other device. Simply put, universal remotes are more advanced remote controls – exactly like the ones that come with your TV. Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. That’s likely why one of the biggest makers of universal remotes, Logitech has recently said it will no longer be manufacturing its series of Harmony universal remotes – although support for them is still available. With the rise of voice-activated smart speakers, like the Amazon Echo with Amazon Alexa and Google Home with Google Assistant, the humble universal remote may have less of a role to play in the present day living room than it had in its heyday a few years ago. To help you avoid overspending on one of the best universal remotes, we've put together a complete guide to everything you need to know about these futuristic clickers, including how they work, how much you should realistically spend on one for your home, and which models we'd recommend above all else. But how do you go about finding the ideal universal remote? There's lots of options available, meaning it can be tricky to figure out if the cheaper remotes out there will be good enough, or if you need to splash out on a $300 / £300 / AU$500 clicker that might not be worth it in the long-run.
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