Universal remote control reviews

The following models scored the best results in our test 

All the Logitech models are easy to use, as long as you have a computer and internet connection for the initial set-up. The Harmony 525 is good value, if you’re not concerned about a lack of a base station and slightly smaller monochrome screen.

The One For All Kameleon 6 and Philips Prestigo can’t control as many devices as the Logitechs and are a little harder to use, but neither require a computer to set up. The Kameleon 6 doesn’t allow pauses in macros, which could be a problem with some devices. The Philips has to be placed head-to-head when learning, requiring one remote to be upside-down, complicating an already tedious process.

About the rest

All except the One For All Kameleon 4 URC 8204 required a lot of learning from the original remotes in our test device list. It is very similar to the One For All Kameleon 6 URC 8206, in our 'What to buy' list, except the Kameleon 4 can only control four devices and lacks the ability to have its code list updated via sound codes from a computer or phone.

Size, weight or awkward buttons are a problem with most of the other remotes in this test.

The Avico was the only one to fail our drop test (on the second drop). None of the rest suffered any major damage, although some had to be reset by removing and replacing the batteries.

All except the Avico and Marmitek Easytouch35 have to be placed head-to-head when learning.

The Avico, Kameleon 3 and Sunwaves have no dedicated macro buttons. Macros are located on a button belonging to a particular device and will overwrite an existing key’s function.

Ease of use

The Logitech Harmony 1000i is the only universal remote to get a very good ease-of-use score. It has a colour LCD touch screen and physical buttons for common functions such as volume, channel up/down, and menu navigation. It’s expensive and an unusual shape for a remote control (see Profiles - the best), but comes with a dock.

The Logitech Harmony 525, Logitech Harmony 785, One For All Kameleon 6 and Philips Prestigo SRU9600 all get good ease-of-use scores. The Logitech's scores were reduced because of their small buttons and labels, as well as their small screens.

Some remotes are uncomfortable to hold and operate due to their size or shape. The One For All Kameleon 6 and Philips Prestigo have a large screen which makes reading them easy, but both are very long. The One For All Kameleon 4 is also very long and the Avico ARC8850 and Sunwave SRC-3060 are very wide.

Logitech Harmony 1000i

Price: $699

Good points

• Comes with computer software for easy set-up and macro creation.
• Supplied with docking cradle and rechargeable battery.
• Requires almost no learning from original remotes.
• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Requires a computer and internet connection for set-up.
• Unusual tablet shape makes one-handed operation difficult.
• Glossy finish on the hard keys make the labels difficult to read.
• Some on-screen buttons near the edges are difficult to press.

Logitech Harmony 525

Price: $100

Good points

• Relatively light.
• Supplied with computer software for easy set-up and macro creation.
• Didn’t require much learning from original remotes.
• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Requires a computer and internet connection for set-up.
• Small screen.
• Has some very small keys and hard-to-read labels.

Logitech Harmony 785

Price: $300

Good points

• Relatively light.
• Supplied with computer software for easy set-up and macro creation.
• Supplied with docking cradle and rechargeable battery.
• Didn’t require much learning from original remotes.
• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Requires a computer and internet connection for set-up.
• Small screen.
• Has some very small keys and hard-to-read labels.

One For All Kameleon 6

Price: $200

Good points

• Can recharge batteries in remote if you purchase charger and batteries, available separately.
• 'Magnetic coupling' feature allows remote’s code list to be updated via computer speakers or telephone receiver.
• Didn’t require much learning from original remotes.

Bad points

• Very long with buttons near the extremities.
• Easy to hit one of the navigation buttons instead of OK.
• Programming requires you to press a 'magic hat' button and wait for a rabbit to appear, but your finger on the button obscures the rabbit.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head, so one remote is upside-down.
• The maximum backlight level is not very bright.

Philips Prestigo SRU9600

Price: $299

Good points

• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Relatively heavy.
• Very long.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head so one remote is upside-down.
• The maximum screen brightness is not very bright.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.

Philips SRU9400

Price: $249

Good points

• Nothing to mention.

Bad points

• Device indicators are very difficult to see unless the room is dark.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head so one remote is upside-down.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.

One For All Kameleon 4

Price: $150

Good points

• Can recharge batteries in remote if you purchase charger and batteries, available separately.

Bad points

• Very long with buttons near the extremities.
• Easy to hit one of the navigation buttons instead of OK.
• Programming requires you to press a 'magic hat' button and wait for a rabbit to appear, but your finger on the button obscures the rabbit.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head so one remote is upside-down.

Sunwave SRC-3200

Price: $269

Good points

• You can select a different backlight colour for each device.
• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Relatively heavy.
• Some keys are small.
• Long with buttons near the extremities.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head so that one remote is upside-down.
• Some of the manual is poorly translated and difficult to follow.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.
• No dedicated macro buttons. Macros are located on a button belonging to a particular device and will overwrite an existing key function.

Marmitek EasyTouch35

Price: $89

Good points

• Relatively light.
• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• The hard keys have a glossy finish that makes the labels difficult to read.
• Some buttons have small icons with no text.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.

Remotec iRemote 500

Price: $99

Good points

• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Most on-screen labels are small.
• Macro programming is difficult, even while following instructions in the manual — we found it to be hit-and-miss.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head so that one remote is upside-down.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.

Sunwave SRC-1600

Price: $89

Good points

• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.
• No dedicated macro buttons. Macros are located on a button belonging to a particular device and will overwrite an existing key function.

Sunwave SRC-3060

Price: $149

Good points

• Large screen.
• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• Relatively heavy.
• Relatively wide.
• Page buttons are too small — it’s too easy to accidentally select a different device when you want to go to another page.
• Some labels are tiny.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.
• No dedicated macro buttons. Macros are located on a button belonging to a particular device and will overwrite an existing key function.

One For All Kameleon 3

Price: $100

Good points

• Relatively light.

Bad points

• Hard keys have very poor labels that are difficult to read.
• The touchscreen needs a very firm touch.
• Programming requires you to press a 'magic hat' button and wait for a rabbit to appear, but your finger on the button obscures the rabbit.
• Learning requires the remotes to be placed head-to-head so that one remote is upside-down.
• The maximum backlight level is not very bright.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.

Sunwave SRC-3820

Price: $159

Good points

• Allows for pauses in macros.

Bad points

• The device buttons are small with small labels.
• Long with buttons near the extremities.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.
• No dedicated macro buttons. Macros are located on a button belonging to a particular device and will overwrite an existing key function.

Avico ARC8850

Price: $150

Good points

• Large screen.

Bad points

• Relatively heavy.
• Relatively wide.
• Screen is very sensitive to viewing angle.
• Some on-screen labels are difficult to read.
• Manual is poorly translated and difficult to follow.
• Required a lot of learning from original remotes.
• No dedicated macro buttons. Macros are located on a button belonging to a particular device and will overwrite an existing key function.
• Failed to work at all after our drop test.
  

Size and shape matter

Remote controls are important devices in our lives. So if you’ve reduced them to one, it had better be good, or you’ll end up very frustrated.

In our test, we look for buttons that are clearly labelled with meaningful terms or symbols. They should also be big enough to use without your finger or thumb touching other buttons — even if you have big hands. Buttons of different sizes or shapes can be very handy when you’re fumbling in the dark.

Logical grouping is also useful, so once you locate the right area on the remote for controlling the DVD, for example, all the relevant controls are close by. The remote should be big enough to manage all that, but not so big that it requires two hands. And it shouldn’t be too heavy or awkward in shape.

LCD or touch screens need to be clear and the text large enough to be read in low-light situations. Back-lighting can help, but it shouldn’t be intrusive and should turn off automatically once the remote is still for a short time, so it isn’t distracting.

Learning curve

Ideally, a universal remote shouldn’t need to be taught many commands directly from your existing remotes. Unfortunately, in the real world most will need to 'learn' at least a couple. This can be very tedious and time-consuming. It’s usually done by placing the universal remote opposite the one it needs to 'learn' from, putting it into 'learn' mode and pressing the relevant button on the original remote. Ideally, this should only be needed for special commands, which are rarely used under normal circumstances.

All the remotes in this test can 'learn' from an existing remote and we were pleased to find that all could control the major functions for most of our devices.

Controlling the TV and VCR player didn’t faze any of the universal remotes on test, but the PVR proved a challenge to all but the Logitechs. PVRs are relatively new products, so most of the other remotes had to 'learn' individual commands from the PVR’s remote.

To use the Logitech system you need a computer with access to the internet. Initially you connect the remote to your computer and go to the Logitech website, where you select the devices you wish to control and organise the macros you need. The software supplied then programs the remote. If you need to teach it specific commands, which aren’t automatically supplied, you need to connect the Logitech remote to the computer while going through the 'learning' process described above.

All the other remotes in the test rely on code lists and learning. Code lists are usually supplied on paper and speed the process because you enter the code corresponding to your devices’ brand and that’s it. Unfortunately, there may be a number of codes for each brand and code lists aren’t comprehensive, so even if you do get a match your model may not be included.

Search functions set the remote cycling through all its codes looking for a match. This can be very time consuming and there’s no guarantee of success.

Stepping through macros

Some manufacturers call them 'activities', but they’re also called 'macros' or 'programs'. Whatever they’re called, they control a number of devices in sequence. Turning individual devices on and putting them in the correct mode so you can watch TV, a DVD or listen to music in the press of one button. They’re probably the most complicated thing you can ask of a universal remote control.

In our tests we created a number of macros to turn on the necessary equipment to watch a VCR, PVR, pay TV, DVD or to turn everything off with one button. For example, this sequence is what is required to watch a DVD:

1. Turn on the TV.
2. Turn on DVD recorder.
3. Turn on surround-sound receiver.
4. Select DVD as TV input.
5. Select DVD as receiver input.
6. Mute TV (because we want sound to come from the surround-sound system).
7. Punch through the volume to the receiver (the volume button should control the receiver, not the TV).

The Logitechs, both Philips and the One For All Kameleon 6 completed this task. The rest failed at some point, which means you’d have to go through some part of the process using the universal remote in its TV, DVD or receiver mode.

Only the Logitechs managed all the other scenarios, albeit after our tester spent some time on the Logitech website modifying the TV settings then using the remote controls' trial-and-error process.

Ideally, the remote should have dedicated macro buttons rather than overwriting the existing function of device buttons. The Avico, One For All Kameleon 3 and the Sunwaves don’t. They require you to overwrite the function of an existing button to create a macro, which limits their functionality.

For macros to work, the remote control must remain pointed at the devices you’re using each time the macro is functioning. It may take a minute or so for the whole routine to be completed.

If you are thinking about buying a universal remote control, here are some features worth looking for.

LCD screen

This is useful for displaying information on what device is being controlled. Screens can be monochrome or colour and may also be touchscreens.

The Kameleon remote controls in this test have 'electro-luminescent LCD' (EL LCD) screens which display their touch-screen buttons only when the screen is on. When they are off, the units appear to have no buttons.

Backlight

In dark situations a backlit screen can be helpful.

Touchscreen

This allows some controls to be programmed and/or used by touching the screen rather than physical buttons. Other screens just show the labels for buttons adjacent to the screen (like an ATM machine).

Rename/reassign key

Ability to set a different function to one of the standard keys displayed on the screen for any particular device. For example, if you often use the 'change aspect ratio' function of your TV, you may want this to be included in the 'TV' layout of the remote control.

Macros

All universal remotes in this test have macros — which deliver a sequence of commands to a variety of devices from a single key on the remote. If you wish to perform complex functions, look for a remote with a large number of macro steps.

Pause

This feature allows a gap of a few seconds to be inserted between programmed commands (Macros) to help minimise errors where devices take some time to complete a command.

Volume punch through

This function allows the volume and mute keys to be assigned to a single device, for example a home theatre receiver. The advantage is that you can mute or change volume with a single key press, no matter what device the remote is currently set to control.

Programmable timer

The remote can be set to provide a sequence of instructions at a certain time. For for example, you could ask it to turn on the set-top box at 6.50pm, then start the hard-drive recorder at 7pm.

Learning

This feature allows the universal remote to 'learn' directly from other remotes, instead of using pre-installed codes. A learning sensor at the base is easier to use, as both the learning remote and the 'teaching' remote will be pointing the same way (rather than with their buttons reversed) during the learning process.

Batteries

Check whether rechargeable batteries are supplied. If not, you may need to factor in the cost a good set of rechargeable batteries for future use.

Base station

Some remote controls come with a base station that can be used to recharge the batteries and store the control.

Memory retention

The remote retains its memory of key functions even when the batteries are removed.

Motion detector

This feature wakes the remote from 'sleep' mode when it's picked up. This saves you looking for the on button in the dark and helps conserve battery power.