This may take a bit of time. They have a looong way to go to catch up to Logitech! Step2: Enter the name of the key you want to learn. On top of the remote is an off and return button. Setting up Activities is also frustrating. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of any information. The remote itself looks nice and feels good to hold, and it has just the right number of backlit buttons. This could be true of other remotes as well. The SofaBaton X1 is as close as you can get to best universal remotes like the ones made by Harmony. The hub handles all the IR, wi-fi, and Bluetooth commands for your entire system. 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. If all of your devices can be controlled by infrared (IR), the One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8 is a simple, affordable remote that has all the important buttons, including activity control to group components together. The promised Google Home, and Philips Hue integration is either non-existent (Google) or very raw (Hue). They found it very easy to set up (it took about one minute), and they thought the instructions were easy to understand. 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. Step3: Verify that all devices are powered on. The pronounced scroll wheel is easy to find, so the lack of an accelerometer to activate the backlight is not a deal-breaker. We have no insider info on what the holdup is. Buy latest SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote Control with Hub & APP, Smart Remote with One-Touch Activities, Works with Alexa/Google Assistant for Voice Control, Control up to 50 Entertainment IR/Bluetooth Devices online at best prices at desertcart. As we mentioned, the URC7880 can only control IR-based equipment, so it needs to have line-of-sight with all your gear. 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. And, though archaic, the ability to program the remote manually may actually be welcomed by people who dont own a mobile device and therefore cant program their remote using an app. Maybe im doing something wrong. Say "GOODBYE" to the intricacies of remote control thoroughly. One For All says you can set up this remote using an app, but the app just lets you add devices. Step1: Search or select your device in the list. Sure, you can still find a ton of low-end replacement remotesmodels whose primary purpose is to replace the one the dog chewed up and do little else. If you have a better solution, please leave a message to help more users. 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. The Flipper is an IR-only remote intended for channel surfers who use traditional cable/satellite boxes or their TVs internal tuner. If you dont want another handheld device, you might consider an app-based control system, such as the (recently discontinued) Logitech Harmony Hub or MoesGo, which lets you use your mobile device as a remote control. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Sofabaton has promised a firmware update to fix that. When Logitech discontinued Harmony universal remotes, it killed the last of the big-name brandsas well as all of our former picks in this guideand left us pondering how to proceed. Updates are terribly delayed One was just published this week, but Sofabaton has been promising next week for most of June. You might still find these remotes in stock for a while, but no new models are being manufactured. Learn more. I would imagine hone devices would include lighting and blinds etc Incromulent 1 yr. ago That would be great. At that rate, I can just sell it on Ebay if I don't like it. 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. However, the instructions do not speak to the proper placement of the hub for correct use or how to connect and place IR blasters. And dont expect much help from the SofaBaton literature; the setup guide is poorly written and says nothing about macros. The opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. Fewer people need a universal remote control these days, which explains why the category is dying and great options are hard to find. Use the app to connect to your X-Hub with the following steps:Step1: Open the app and select X1 from the device list. So when youre trying to add a Bluetooth-based source, you have to unpair the remote from the setup app to test the device control, and then re-pair to the app to keep going with setup. Seems very time consuming vs harmony. 14 Best Universal Remote With Voice Control in 2023: Top Brands Review Your email address will not be published. It will be an absolute non-starter at the "$200 retail" they advertise; if they think they can rob everyone blind after the Harmony exit, I believe they're in for a surprise. Users have reported lots of issues with Roku and other streaming boxes. watch Apple TV) and do 'stuff'. sofabaton X1 Universal Smart Remote Control User Manual Ring Video Doorbell 3 - enhanced wifi, improved motion detection, easy It took Logitech years to get them to the polished form we all remember. Communication between the app and hub still does not work if you have 2.5ghz/5ghz networks with the same SSID. The Logitech Harmony Elite is still the best universal remote weve tried, even though it will no longer be made after 2021. Features: -Online access to cloud-based database of Infrared Device -Universal search by device brand or type -Automatic setup on the Sofabaton remote using Bluetooth technology -Support both IR and Bluetooth remote protocol -Requires a Bluetooth Smart capable phone more What's New Version History Version 3.2.8 1. So which is it? I am assuming it is something to do with the glare from the sun on my glossy speakers and TV. All signals are sent from the HUB, and the remote control communicates with the HUB via RF. Hell $499 - The alternative Control 4 or Crestron will be many times more and require some half trained A/V kid to come to your home for "programming". Get fast shipping and top-rated customer service. If you have a deep custom requirement, you can contact our customer services for an API file after receiving the product. This functionality used to be reserved for high-end, professionally programmed systems. The app uses Bluetooth signal to communicate with the Sofabaton remote control, giving access to the full database of IR code for home entertainment devices, such as TV's, SoundBar's, DVD's, etc. They also have improved the IR remote learning function. I'm definitely waiting. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote Control with Hub - All in One Smart Our only complaint about the button layout is that fast-forward/reverse and chapter skip share the same buttons by default, but you can reassign those functions to other buttons if you want. Does X1 support local API to integrate the remote control into a home automation system without going through the cloud? If you are trying to turn the volume up or down or quickly pause a scene, youll have to press the button once to wake up the remote and a second time for the command. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This one is really meant to control a single system, which is fair given its low asking price. Sofabaton is one of the few commercial universal remotes that will let you control a generous number of home theater devices, including your TV, DVD player/recorder, Blu-ray player, and more. I do hope that Sofabaton will eventually give us options for this so we can dial it into our preference. On the plus side, the URC7880 does have an activity button that can scroll through five activities (TV, movie, music, game, and custom). Enough was going right that I will keep it, and I will probably use it as my daily driver. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for sofabaton u1 universal remote Harmony replacement (infrared, bluetooth) at the best online prices at eBay! This new X1 does not appear to offer the ability to accept separate IR flashers making the thing next to useless. But it does not have a Help button to deal with commands that arent executed properly, and it could not control my Bluetooth-based Google Chromecast. What does this mean for you? Weve been checking Amazon as well (where they say it will be sold). Connects up to 40 devices in your home including TV, DVD, Blu-Ray, TV & cable boxes, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Roku and more. I am confident that Sofabaton sees the potential of this remote and will eventually solve the problems. Lets discuss. Thanks for the review Andrew. So this tells me that if you have the Sofabaton in a bright room, you might have the same issues. While I agree, that there are bigger issues. 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. Less buttons than the U1. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control Good features and performance for the price The U1 can control up to 15 AV devices and supports Bluetooth control. Their marketing is questionable in that they have 3 versions (apparently all 2021 revisions) of one another) rather than simply updating the firmware? Customer and warranty support will continue to be offered.. If they do that with the X1, its just going to get your Activities all out of sync. There was definitely some trial and error involved as I tried to build macros for Watch TV and Play Video Games. But eventually I got the remote programmed to do everything I wantedexcept control my Chromecast, of course. The good news is that all of the programming and customization has to happen only once (unless you tend to upgrade your AV gear a lot). Step2: Confirm the device information and submit it so that you can download the code to the hub. Even though we have more devices than ever, universal remotes are becoming less and less common. 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. When you press it again, it sends a different code. Top Sellers. Step3: Press and hold the button on the X-Hub for 3s to allow the Bluetooth connection. For proper functioning, the system needs to obtain the following source information for the output device (TV, power amplifier, projector, etc.). Step2: Source information: source switching mode of the output device. Logitech doesnt make Harmony remotes anymore, but the company still fixes them, so they are still a good choice. Is Sofabaton X1 is the Best Alternative To Logitech Harmony? All that said, I still probably wont hook up the IR blasters as the curtains are closed most of the time. Email Sofabaton and tell them the model you want added, and they will do it. It can control up to 15 devices, including both infrared- and Bluetooth-based AV devices. Like the Harmony, you enter your brand and model number. My current Harmony 525 would have become unusable five times over by now if it had a non-replaceable battery.