David Katzmaier Editorial Director — Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
- Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
Ty Pendlebury Editor
Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
- Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
Why You Can Trust CNET
Controlling every component of your home theater system with numerous remote controls can be a headache. A universal remote streamlines the whole process — connecting almost every device with a simple click. Having a universal remote also takes away the hassle of looking high and low for numerous missing controllers. Do you really want to look under the cushions and move from your comfy seat on the couch? We’ve brought together the best universal remotes to help simplify your entertainment routine.
When Logitech discontinued the Harmony remote line, it felt as if the category was done for — especially since Caavo (another one of our previous recommendations) was also pulled from the market. Thankfully, SofaBaton has injected new life into the universal remote world with its brand-new U2 universal remote. The model offers simplicity of setup, with a straightforward app and a Bluetooth connection, and even better ease of use. At half the price of the Harmony 650, the SofaBaton U2 is the best universal remote for most people.
So what’s left? Among remotes that we can recommend based on hands-on testing, not much. The outgoing Fire TV Cube is expensive and more of a hybrid Alexa speaker/streamer than a universal remote, although it will also control your devices. And the Roku and Fire TV clickers, while great for controlling those streaming devices, respectively, as well as most brands of TV, don’t really qualify as “universal” remotes in the classic sense. A number of cheap replacement clickers are available, but we can’t recommend them because we haven’t tested them yet.
Even with the emergence of SofaBaton, the universal remote category is still less popular than before. Many entertainment systems today don’t have as many separate devices as in the past, so you might not even need a universal remote. With a smart TV connected to a soundbar and a game console, for example, you can control streaming apps, audio and device switching from a single remote (the TV’s). If you have an AV receiver and multiple sources, however, it gets more complicated.
With those caveats in mind, here are our current picks for the best universal remote.
Read more: Best Nest and Google Assistant Devices for 2023
Best universal remotes of 2023
Show less
If you have a handful of remotes you regularly juggle, and you have a smartphone, then the SofaBaton U2 is the best way to tame them. The SofaBaton U2 picks up the mantle left by the Logitech Harmony remotes, pairing simple programming with excellent ease of use. While the more-expensive Logitech 665 offers more power — including the ability to program more sophisticated macros or “activities” — the SofaBaton is the best universal remote for most people. Also note that you can save a few bucks by activating the instant coupon on the product page.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
Logitech Harmony wrote the book on universal remote controls, and this remote is still very good despite being discontinued. The main appeal over cheaper universal remotes, including the SofaBaton U2, is activity-based control. Press “Watch TV,” “Play Game” or “Listen to Music” and the Logitech Harmony turns on all the relevant devices, switches to the right inputs and maps the keys to that activity (volume to the receiver and channel up-down to the cable box, for example).
As this is an end-of-life product, it’s only available in renewed or refurbished condition, and it can sell for some pretty crazy prices, but you shouldn’t be spending more than $100 or so for it.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
If you have a Roku streaming device and it lacks the ability to control your TV, the Voice Remote Pro may be worth the investment. This clicker isn’t universal — it only works with Roku streamers — but it will control volume, power and mute on pretty much any brand of TV, so you might not need the TV’s original clicker at all.
Note that you can also use this remote with Roku TVs, where it might make sense to upgrade the clicker that came with your set.
The coolest feature of the Voice Remote Pro is the voice-activated remote finder. Just say “Hey Roku, find my remote” and it will beep from among the couch cushions (or wherever you left it). The Pro also has a headphone jack for private listening and works with Roku’s voice system.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
Much like the Roku Voice Remote Pro, the Fire TV version is designed to work with Fire TV streaming devices, allowing control of connected TVs’ volume, power and mute functions. It’s not actually universal, aside from the fact that it controls most brands of TV. We didn’t like the Fire TV’s remote finder function as much — it requires a separate Alexa device to work — but otherwise the two are very similar.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
The wacky Cube is a mashup of universal remote controls, the Fire TV 4K streamer and Amazon Echo speaker, making it the king of your smart home. It comes with a device, but its buttons are sparse and rudimentary; real device control happens via your voice. The Cube has an IR emitter to control your gear and a mic sensitive enough to hear your commands over the blare of music. On the downside, you’ll need to keep your old remotes (even ones that aren’t smart) around for many functions.
The Fire TV Cube is often sold for as little as $50 or less, so definitely wait for a sale — or Prime Day — before buying it.
It’s worth noting that the 2019 Fire TV Cube has been replaced by a new Fire TV Cube. Look out for CNET’s full review shortly.
Show expert take Show less
