Fortunately, all those remotes that compose the coffee-table clutter we all know and loathe can easily be condensed into a single offering for controlling virtually any device in your media arsenal. There are plenty options available— whether you’re looking to control a Sony Blu-ray player, a Microsoft Xbox or an overpriced cable box and DVR bundle — thus making the tedious, ongoing shuffle that is finding the appropriate remote to change the channel a thing of the past.
Here are our picks for the best universal remotes currently in existence. Some boast 21st-century flair and extensive customization options, while others revel in sheer simplicity that lack in the complication department. Regardless, all of them will let you change the volume on a single device. Can we get a “oorah?”
Logitech Harmony 650 ($80)
Logitech has always had a way with universal remotes, but affordable solutions have been few and far between. Meet the Harmony 650, Logitech’s budget-based solution for all your button mashing needs. Like the former Harmony 700, the device sports functionality with more than 5,000 different brands — whether you’re utilizing the latest-and-greatest 4K television from Samsung or an aging VCR courtesy of Toshiba — and houses a compatibility database that is constantly expanding and updating to ensure the remote’s lifespan outlives of any devices you might need to pair with it.The simple design is ripped directly from the former 700, with comfortable button placement and a backlit panel for utilizing the remote more easily in the dark, and features a color LCD screen that serves as both a navigational menu and a useful help channel. However pleasing the button reaction and help channel might be though, the Harmony 650 remains plagued by a cumbersome online setup that proves both tedious and confusing. The bundled software wizard will walk you through the entire setup process, including setting up any custom macros and importing settings from another remote, but the questionnaire is a little too comprehensive for its own good.
However, the Harmony 650 performs excellently with up to five devices once set up properly. The ergonomics are strapping, as are the onboard commands and one-click activity buttons for launching different devices, and it’s easily the most comprehensive universal remote within the sub-$100 price range. Sure, we’d like to see the device cap brought up, but there are always more robust options if you need to control more than five devices at any given moment.
Logitech Harmony One Advanced ($340)
Speaking of robust options, the Harmony One takes them to an entirely new level. Capable of controlling up to 15 devices simultaneously and sporting a sleek, gloss-black design, the One offers all the technological comforts of the 650 and then some. It’s compatible with nearly any device you throw at it and, like the 650, the database is continually being updated to include new offers from manufacturers around the globe if your device doesn’t happen to be one of the 175,000 supported already. It’s comfortable as well, with large buttons divided up into five distinct zones separated by thin, silver lines that run horizontally along the top of the device.The most notable aspect of the One is undoubtedly the LCD touchscreen display located near the top of the remote. Although you may have to look down at it to ensure you tap the correct buttons, the screen is still gorgeous, sharp, and highly responsive, making it a pleasure to use and one of the best we’ve ever seen on a universal remote. In addition, two touch-sensitive buttons are housed on either side of the remote for perusing various pages, and the remote ships bundled with a docking station for securely recharging the included lithium battery. Setup can be a headache given the coupled software wizard and lengthy questionnaire, but assigning macros and multi-step commands is never easy.
The Harmony One touts a wealth of features, from an assortment of advanced settings to a multitude of compatibility options, but it also comes at a price that’s certainly not for everyone. Then again, it may be worth it if you’ve already pour thousands of dollars into the ultimate entertainment system and need the proper clicker to manage it all.
URC-R50 ($300)
A company that names itself Universal Remote Control, aka URC for short, sounds like it’s pigeonholing and restricting itself to one product. Luckily, URC makes a slew of remotes that reflect brilliantly on the company’s behalf and feature a wide array of welcoming options for both the tech-savvy individual and those possessing a little less experience when it comes to programming. Unlike the aforementioned Logitech Harmony universal remotes, the URC-R50 opts for an onscreen wizard for programming up to 18 individual devices without utilizing an Internet-connected TV, offering a wealth of built-in codes for various devices while learning additional codes from any other infrared devices you may possess.The overall design is solid, equipped with backlit textured buttons that provide an appropriate amount of feedback, and features a built-in, 2-inch LCD screen that is both bright and well-crafted for simple navigation. It doesn’t feature a rechargeable battery like some of the other remotes on our lineup — it instead runs on four AA batteries — but that’s one of the few notable drawbacks we can complain about. It offers all the basic functionality for adjusting volume, channels and similar controls, and even includes advanced macro tools for programming more than 800 macros with up to 255 steps each.
The URC-R50 may be a bit outdated, but universal remotes don’t typically progress by leaps and bounds particularly quickly. The sheer amount of devices it can control at once render it the most industrious of our lineup, while it’s onscreen programming provides options for those who have yet welcome the loving embrace of the Internet. Check out our old-school URC R50 review for our first-hand impressions.
URC-WR7 ($30)
Not every universal remote on the market is going to break the bank. THe URC-WR7 is the epitome of budget-based offerings, yet its compelling feature set and ability to simultaneously control a decent number of devices render it among the best, especially given the rock-bottom pricing. The design is not exactly riveting — it features the standard D-pad and various number keys in addition to other adjustment buttons — but it’s ergonomic enough to fit comfortably in one hand with little effort. Like most of the remotes on our list, the buttons are backlit for easy navigation in the dark and feature a “Couch Mode” that automatically turns off the lights after a short period of time. The device’s rigid design makes the buttons rather stiff though, requiring you to exert more force than you would normally think to apply.It lacks the native LCD display that dons most universal remotes on our list, but it can still handle up to seven different audio and video devices accessible via a database of thousands of pre-programmed codes compatible with cable boxes and iPod docks alike. It’s also equipped with 13 macro buttons that include up to 20 steps each, and additional learning capabilities and varying setup options for quickly programming the four favorite buttons with up to five distinct channels apiece. It even can control most IR lights for adjusting the brightness of a room without ever leaving your chair.
The URC-WR7 is not the most intricate or feature-drenched device, but you can’t go wrong for a mere $30. The customization options are limited, though admirable, and offer simple functionality that’s neither daunting or time consuming to set up. It’s the one-stop solution for those possessing a relatively simple setup without an overwhelming amount of gear.
Sony RM-VL6Z20 ($25)
Though Sony isn’t likely a preeminent threat to Logitech’s Harmony offerings, the company’s most basic remote is still something to consider if cost is of high priority. The RM-VL6Z20 has been around for awhile now, providing a relatively easy and convenient way to simultaneously pair up to eight devices using a host of pre-programmed codes compatible with most mainstream devices. Like the URC WR7, it sports a traditional design equipped with a basic D-pad and backlit, rubber buttons, as well as 12 programmable macro keys for carrying out a string of pre-programmed commands with a single click. The learning function, used to relay information from other remotes, also works as intended without the complicated fanfare and unnecessary steps sometimes associated with similarly-equipped devices.Programming the RM-VL6Z20 is pretty straightforward, you essentially just enter a series of three to five-digit codes corresponding to different devices, but users frequently recommend you hold on to the instruction manual to avoid any unnecessary confusion. There’s no intuitive LCD screen to provide quick touch navigation — that would likely more than double the price — so all functions rely on the large keys that live on the top of the remote. Still, it would be nice if the buttons were backlit or at least glowed in the dark like most remotes.
The Sony RM-VL6Z20 more than lives up to its rock-bottom pricing. It’s basic, yet includes a set of programmable macro commands, and offers enough device compatibility for both new and discontinued products that you should have little trouble syncing the sleek remote with any remotely-modern A/V device.
We may have lambasted universal remote apps in our introduction, but Logitech’s foray into the realm of smartphone apps is nothing short of ambitious. The Logitech Harmony Smart Control is a three-part package comprised of a standard remote control, the Harmony Hub and the Harmony iPhone or Android app. Once set up via the onscreen wizard, the mobile app allows you to simultaneously control up to eight devices, including gaming consoles like the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, along with more than 225,000 other recognized home theater devices and accessories. The app is downloadable on as many smartphones as you can muster and capitalizes on touchscreen navigation, allowing you to quickly swipe and tap to adjust the volume, change the channel or a host of other basic controls.
The app sports a design that’s easy on the eyes, with access to more than 50 channel icons and other Internet services, but it still requires a smartphone to utilize. Luckily, Logitech has thrown in a traditional remote for those times when you’re mobile phone is unavailable. The remote is by far the lightest of the company’s offerings, with a sleek-black finish and simplistic layout, and features six, macro-based navigational buttons for quickly swapping between some of your favorite activities (i.e. listening to music, watching TV). Although no longer a surprising novelty, the Harmony Hub even allows you to control all your media devices regardless of walls or cabinets, giving you free reign over your devices no matter where you’re located in your home.
The Logitech Harmony Smart Control has some caveats of its own, most notably the lack of tablet control and limited shortcut options, but the entire package is a steal for the price if you can properly manage the initial setup. It’s perfect for those who’d rather use their pocketed smartphone in lieu of yet another traditional remote.
What do you think of our top pics for the best universal remotes? Do you have any better suggestions for remotes or similarly-equipped apps? Let us know in the comments below.
By Brandon Widder
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