The SofabatonX1 universal remote has been specifically designed to provide an easy way for you to control all your home entertainment devices from a single controller. Anything on top is just not working as it should. We recommend the best displays, sources, and accessories for watching 4K HDR movies and TV shows at home. Just under the screen are a scroll wheel and D-Pad/select button. Plus, the remotes longer, slimmer form makes everything feel a bit cramped, and I had more trouble reaching all the buttons with my thumb without having to shift the remote around in my hand. Either use the app to ping your remote, or a single click of the pair button will activate the ping mode. Ive had no major issues with programming my other remotes to this and I was very happy to say goodbye to the 10 I used to need just to setup movie night to be able to control everything with this one single remote! When will it be available? The remote feels solidly made, and the fit and finish are superb. Any button press will wake the remote as well. The Sofabaon X1 promised a hub-based remote that supported IR, wi-fi, and Bluetooth, all a must in today's home theater. And it controlled their two devices perfectly. Many cheap universal remotes require that you press a certain combination of buttons and then input manufacturer codes for each AV device until you find one that works. If it cannot be connected, please restart the power of the HUB, open the APP and search for the X1 HUB again. Which you find here: So never forget to check our Bollyinside Blogs, for technology computer mobile guides and Tips, Top lists, best 10, and bussiness guides. Please connect the HUB to the router directly, don't use Mesh Repeater to connect. Please note I HAVE NO NEED for those servers since all I want is to teach my remote from OTHER single-device remotes; I have no use for those "proprietary IR code databases" of theirs. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I ordered it Saturday night. The X1 controls the Apple TV via Bluetooth, and works flawlessly. My family is accustomed to using a Wi-Fibased system, where you can point the remote anywhere in the room and the commands will still work, so the U1 took some getting used to. This has already been so much of a headache that even if I eventually get it to actually function correctly it will never actually make up for the time I have wasted trying to set it up. The hub is also where you can teach the system to learn commands for devices not currently in the database. Also here - not news since almost a year! This is so nice to have a single, easy to see, hold and use remote control and best of all, no batteries required!!! The hard truth is, with the death of the Harmony remote line, consumers have been left with a smattering of universal-remote options that all have notable flaws. But, unlike the Harmony, the Sofabaton X1 does not offer suggestions if the model number is not correct. If we (as users) hadnt worked with Harmony and stuck with them, they would have folded a long time ago. Works with alexa & google assistant to control your appliancessuch as,"Google turn on your TV","Google turn off TV".Or by just sayingAlexa,turn on TV",Alexa,turn off TV". With the sudden development of technology By IFTTT/IOS shortcut Sofabaton Remote is accessible to your smart home system to your smart home systems which is easy to satisfy your new upgrade smart living+ mode.Make your home entertainment e life unprecedented minimalist. Whether you want to shop by size, price, or purpose, we have recommendations. For my family, the most logical option was to program a Watch TV macro onto the power button for the Apple TV or the Google Chromecastlikewise with the Xbox for gaming. Perhaps most importantly, there are no dedicated activity buttons labeled Watch TV, Watch a Movie, and the like. However, learning commands is still not perfect, and it requires you to play with the remote positioning. It has some notable flaws, but this model can control a wider variety of home-entertainment devices, and it has a better physical design than its competitors. It took me three tries and some Google-Fu to get my Nvidia Shield paired with my Harmony. The remote itself has a larger, more customizable screen (with the ability to create activities) but fewer physical buttons. Ok, so the remote is still not perfect. Plus, its a real pain to have to wake up your phone or tablet and wait for the app to reconnect with the system whenever you want to change the channel or the volume. Less buttons than the U1. Then go to Set, then Fix, the scroll to your AVR, and then click the wheel until Off is highlighted. This system may include a TV (or projector), a DVD/Blu-ray player, a cable/satellite DVR, a surround-sound receiver, and probably a media streamer (such as a Roku or Apple TV). Since our last update in May 2021, several universal remotes that we previously tested have been discontinued, including the Caavo Control Center and the Sevenhugs Smart Remote U and Smart Remote X. Logitechs Harmony Companion, Harmony 665, and Harmony Elite were our former picks in this guide, but parent company Logitech discontinued the entire line. So far, I like it. SofaBaton centralizes command of all your devices by controlling them with IR, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless signals within 10 meters 390 inches no need to worry about the device disconnected. Sponsored. My family lives with each remote for a while to see how intuitive and reliable each is to use on a daily basis. I have a semi complex home theater(85" TV, 11 channel atmos, HD Bluray, XBoX, Apple 4k, Tivo etc.) Customer and warranty support will continue to be offered.. You can use the scroll wheel or any other button to wake it up. *Sofabaton is a hilarious name, but very apt imo. I tried it with my LG B9 and my Pioneer Elite CD player and could not get either to register a command with the Sofabaton. Do universal remotes work for everything? With my Harmony, I could never turn on the TV, so that tells me that at least in the IR department, the Sofabaton has the advantage. All that to say, as of Saturday, if you add it to your cart it should let you order it even though its says delivery is a month or so off. Our site uses cookies. I ordered two x1 today on the Kickstarter. Sofabaton X1 universal smart remote control works with all your entertainment and home devices, and it also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. All that said, I still probably wont hook up the IR blasters as the curtains are closed most of the time. You can press any key to stop the beeping. Figure if I download code it would know if you choose that device that off button is off. please turn off the HomeShield Pro function or authorize X1 access. Step3: Press and hold the button on the X-Hub for 3s to allow the Bluetooth connection. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a backup Harmony Elite when Best Buy had blowout prices. You can then fashion any cheap android touch screen device into a fully . You can hide away the cables and receivers and control everything from behind closed cabinets and doors, also you can point the remote anywhere. However, if I open my curtains while cleaning and try to turn on my LG B9 with the hub, it struggles to turn it on. Lots of potential, quite nice to use once you actually have it fully set up, but the setup process is not for anybody who is impatient! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Tutorial X1 User Guide and FAQ, Continuously Updated Back key cannot be configured on Samsung The Frame 2022, You can press the key to assign Return and Exit on X1,choose the device, click edit---assign key for the X1 remote, then assign the command you like to the physiccal key of the X1. So its more flexible than many of the lower-priced remotes on the market. Unplugged for now, maybe someday (post CableTV) Ill revive. If youve never programmed a universal remote before, or youre used to the Harmony setup software that figures out the main steps for you, the learning curve for a more complex AV system will be high. And that pesky bug where you had to press a button to wake the remote and a second time for the command? Although our senior testers wouldve liked the volume and channel buttons to be vertically aligned (instead of horizontally), they did like the remotes size and shape: The buttons were easy to read, and the remote was not too heavy, too big, or too small. To date, there have already been three firmware updates. So while I still dont feel as if I am an expert with the remote, I can give you all a good sense of if its worth your cash. Well keep our eyes peeled and post an announcement when it starts to sell. . Not yet. Anyone with experience using the Softbaton with an Xi6-T? and our But youll be draining your battery during the time youre watching a movie or show. That may not be good enough for those looking for a plug-and-play solutionyet. Step5: Send the WiFi password so that the Hub can access your home LAN. Add in its ability to control a total of 15 devices, and the U1 certainly can be set up to control multiple systems around the house. The inclusion of Activity buttons, like Watch TV or Play video games (as described. For example, when you need to learn a command, the Sofabaton will direct you to point the IR sensor of your devices remote at the circular icon on the top of the hub and press the button for 3-5 seconds. Step3: Follow the instructions in the app to learn from the original remort. Because the URC7880 is locked into eight device optionslabeled TV, STB, BLU, AUX, DVD, GAME, MEDIA, and S.BARyoure more limited in how you can configure the remote. If they're not in the lists, you can manually learning the remote functions to the system via the hub. Still, if you want a universal remote with a lot of features and a lot of ways to use it, nothing beats the Harmony Elite. In the initial review you said the Logitech required 2 IR blasters while the Sofabaton required none. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. They also have improved the IR remote learning function. While setting up the X1, the phone and hub must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. ), be prepared to spend time making it happen. With support for eight AV devices, the URC7880 can accommodate a pretty extensive home-theater system. Makes me wonder what the issue with the previous two versions is. But some universal remotes only work with the power, volume, and channel up/down buttons on your TV. This process is more labor-intensive than what SofaBaton offers through its setup app. Logitech discontinued Harmony universal remotes, the now-discontinued (and more expensive) Harmony Companion, Everything You Need to Watch 4K HDR Movies. But, like the Sofabaton U1, it lacks backlighting and a Help function. Setup is done using an Android or iOS app on your phone or tablet. Maybe an X2 will have real numbers. That is an excellent question. Even though we have more devices than ever, universal remotes are becoming less and less common. The Sofabaton X1 is NOT the heir apparent to the Harmony throne. I reported that my Sofabaton X1 could reach all of my devices without the IR blasters, which is mostly the case. Thanks for helping us do what we love. The buttons do not appear to be backlit, unless all your devices are sitting within IR view of the Hub it's useless. So far this not working out at all. I am the supervising editor of Wirecutters AV coverage, and I have worked as a writer and editor in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years. The drawbacks are that this remote doesnt work with Bluetooth devices, the programming options arent as flexible as those of the SofaBaton U1, and we didnt find the button layout and shape to be as intuitive. But you have to figure out the macro (or sequence of steps) and assign it to a random button. These cookies do not store any personal information. Long Live ThePrince? I had the U1 and I had to stand right in front of my TV to get it to work. But if you set it up for someone, and then teach them about Activities, the Off button, and the Screen Back button, its impressive for a 1st gen. One thing not mentioned in your review: there is no Help button right on the face of the remote like there was on Harmony remotes. I hope your experience gets better, but from my unit and my experience, I stand by saying that its not perfect, but I expect it to get darn close. Theres always going to be a bit of a learning curve with any desktop or app-based software, but if you need a certificate in C++ to program your remote, thats too difficult. Shouldn't the Voices Only Come from My Center Speaker? And dont expect much help from the SofaBaton literature; the setup guide is poorly written and says nothing about macros. Only Activities can be controlled by a third-party smart voice assistant such as Alexa. Sounds promising. When learning, the original remote should be pointed toward the circular icon, at a distance of 3-5 inches and perpendicular to the hub surface. I refuse to feed scalpers anything, so I decided to start searching for a new solution just in case my beloved Harmony chose to kick the bucket or Harmony (doubtful) suddenly cut support for the database. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Good features and performance for the price, If you need to control only infrared devices, Our pick: SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control, Budget pick: One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8, A simple remote we like for those with eyesight, memory, or confusion issues. - Assumed reliance on the sofabaton cloud, implied by the use of the companion app - the WHOLE REASON I'm trying to move away from the Harmony 525 is that it cannot be programmed at all without accessing the Logitech servers, a situation upon which the X1 seems to completely fail to improve in any way. Eight pre-labeled devices are listed at the top, with one device button to scroll through them all (a button for each device would be faster). The instructions are the weakest piece here, and I am being generous. Its common for lower-priced universal remotes to work only with IR devices. But I manage to configure a new remote from scratch through command testing. With that said, I hope they succeed. The hub works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, which is a plus. So I can confirm that the finish on the remote is tough as nails. No hub, so you have to point directly at IR devices. The hub randomly locks up requiring power cycling by unplugging it frequently for many people on the forums (leading to Lost hub messages on the remote). I bought the X1 to replace a URC Mx-980 laptop programmable remote. If you are one of those people, be prepared to do a lot of Internet searches for guides and walk-throughs. If you look at the design accents on the U1 it very much looks like a Harmony Ultimate or Elite handset. The U1 has a clean, simple design, with almost all of the buttons youd need organized in an intuitive way thats actually quite similar to that of our former top pick, the now-discontinued (and more expensive) Harmony Companion. 2022.9.9, Major Update of Android APP ,HUB. I would love to have the remote turn on when you pick it up, it seems to work without having to press buttons twice. I havent gotten my hands on one of these yet to give any product specific suggestions, but I am talking to the higher-ups in my company about maybe getting one to test out. Easily install other applications that will help you manage your home. Step3: Use the original remote control to pair the device with Sofabaton X1 via Bluetooth. A clear and bright screen that wont consume a ton of battery power, so you should be able to go a long time between charges. For example, your AVR is Off when it should be On? The remote itself is a manageable size thats not too wide, long, or heavy; even with my small hands, I could reach all the controls with my thumb without having to shift the remote around in my hand. This remote requires line-of-sight to control any IR-based equipment, and you need to be deliberate in pointing the U1 at your gear rackand keeping it pointed there until any command sequences are done. The U1 lacks backlighting, which, combined with this remotes black-buttons-on-a-black-shell design, makes using it in a dark room somewhat more challenging. You could buy a remote made just for your TV from the company that made it, but this could be expensive and isnt really necessary. But todays sad truth is that fewer people are buying DIY universal remotes, and this category is nearly dead. Its rounded out by four programmable hotkeys that map to your chosen functions. I had been having trouble getting the older remote to consistently operate my TV and Apple TV. After that you need to click on the '+' icon. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. What the cable box is looking for is what is commonly referred to as a toggle code. The scroll wheel has two functions. Unfortunately, early Amazon reviews were very negative, and it has been unavailable for a whileso we have not tried to test it. The build quality of the Sofabaton X1 and hub is excellent. It took Logitech years to get them to the polished form we all remember. I had an issue with my Hue lights and updated them and they told me next week. Step2: Make sure your phone's Bluetooth is on and the phone is connected to your home Wi-Fi. the channel or volume buttons to operate while still holding the remote somehow, - The lack of any actual IR emitters on the remote itself - the IR comes from THE HUB, without which the remote is useless for IR purposes, - The enclosed rechargeable battery which doesn't seem to be replaceable. All of the buttons light up, making it easier to use in the dark, and the screen on the remote allows you to select tons of other options in comparison to standard ones. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. We like that it hides the number pad behind a slide-down panel, to keep the main remote design as simple as possible. Thanks for your first-hand report. And the fact that the remotes programming mode times out after a few seconds means you must act quickly and deliberately. Step5: Fill in the Activity name This will complete the activity creation process. It also had a handheld remote with an OLED screen, backlight, and an iOS and Android app. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a1865bd728228e82e73921c5b53f0404");document.getElementById("afe6277d1c").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I expect Sofabaton will follow the same trajectory. The back has power/IR blaster inputs and a push-button to initiate the pairing of the remote. Details optimization 2. Update: I originally published my review of the Sofabaton X1 on April 12, 2022. But it lacks backlighting and activity buttons, and programming advanced tasks can be challenging. The URC7880 can control eight devices and has all the important buttons youll needincluding five activity controls that let you group devices together to watch a movie, play video games, and so forth. And as I said above, learning functions is nigh impossible. I'm trying to order 2 and I'm getting a msg "sorry, the project is not live". The frustration lies with the setup process. This is the best universal remotes. Copyright 1998-2023 AV Gadgets. Lets discuss! If your home-entertainment system is more complex than the basic TV-soundbar-streamer setup, youd benefit from a universal remote. You can search SofaBatons database for the models of your devices, and if theyre there, it only takes one tap to add them. Disclaimer have not tested all functions such as code learning and the voice stuff. For my TV with the Roku attached to it, I wanted a couple of extra buttons so I got the SofaBaton R2 Universal Remote, which is really just a simple Roku remote with a few extra learning buttons. If you need voice control for a device, you can set it up as a separate Activity. As the pioneer in smart universal remote is the market, have you analyzed the Sofabaton remotes. All that said, I think that the Sofabaton X1 will get there. 3. Plus, the inclusion of activity controls cuts down on how often youll need to switch between devices. The pronounced scroll wheel is easy to find, so the lack of an accelerometer to activate the backlight is not a deal-breaker. For example, I chose LG and then B9. I also review budget projectors, portable projectors, and other AV accessories for Wirecutter. Finally, the U1 remote can pair with only one Bluetooth device at a time. Sofabaton x1 comes with a wireless hub,ultra-universal remote control for all your entertainment and home devices. It often disconnects and cannot reconnect. Not having to specify what off is off. But do I recommend it right now? A remote that can juggle at least eight devices at once should cover the average audio/video enthusiasts system. Step 6: The device will a successful connection. If you want the best AV presentation of your favorite films, we recommend 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, and the Panasonic DP-UB420 is the best player weve tested. Users have reported lots of issues with Roku and other streaming boxes. So its been a whole month since I posted my review, and I have been using the Sofabaton X1 exclusively as my daily remote. We also plan to continue to update the platform and add devices to our Harmony database. The IR is better or it isnt? Theyre just designed to hold a lot of buttons to control your different devices (usually a total of four to six devices). But these days relatively inexpensive remotes can do the same complex job. And there are no dedicated activity buttons for grouping different devices together to perform tasks like Watch TV or Watch a Movie. You can still create activities and assign them to whatever buttons you choose, but you have to figure out all the programming yourselfand we fear the apps learning curve may be high for someone who has never programmed a universal remote. If you want to hide your gear away in a cabinet, youll need to pick up an IR repeater kit like this one. I have the U1 and lack of a backlight make it a non-starter, plus the thumb wheel frustrated my wife to the point it was put back on the shelf. You're seeing this ad based on the product's relevance to your search query. This will show up as follows: Step3: Confirm the device information and submit it so that you can download the code to the hub. If youre looking for advanced whole-house control, with lots of complex lighting scenes and independent control of different sources in different rooms, youre better off turning to a local specialty AV retailer that can create a more-personalized control system from a company like Crestron or Control4. Im in setup mode but not liking flow of setting up. I tried fixing the Activities, but nothing seemed to work. Not having to specify what off is off. All are the same price and there is no clear indication of what the difference between the three are. You cant program in specific manufacturer codes like you can with the Flipper, which was something we thought was easier and more reliable than doing a generic code search. Can I Put My Subwoofer On Top Of Furniture? But when I tried to use it, it was not at all intuitive! Plus, the EasyMote doesnt have a number pad to directly tune in a certain channel; this may be fine for over-the-air or basic-cable users, but it will be a pain if you have a large channel lineup. The Sofabaton App and X1-hub are connected via a local area Please ensure your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi as the hub when using the App. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote with hub and app, . I will agree that the updates are slow. With a universal remote control, television, music listening and video games can be handled better, as several remote controls are combined into one. Being able to see the actual model names is more intuitive than generic device buttons labeled TV, STB, or AUD.