Best Remotes Overall

The best universal remotes for serious home theaters

Reviewers consistently name Logitech Harmony remotes as the best overall; rarely have we seen a product line dominate the competition so completely in reviews. Experts say these universal remotes are simply the best available -- they are easier to use, more intuitive and simply work better than other remotes on the market. Owners back up these professional opinions, and Logitech Harmony remotes are consistently the highest-rated universal remotes on user-review sites. The high price is a serious downside, but experts say the price is justified if you have a large, multi-component home theater. If you only want to control a few devices, like a television and DVD player, a basic universal remote under $100 will probably suit you just fine.

The Logitech Harmony One (*Est. $200) has been on the market for over a year, but reviewers say it's still one of the best universal remotes available. "Logitech's Harmony One is one of the best -- if not the best -- universal remote we've ever tested," says CNET's David Carnoy. "Yes, it's expensive, but it's not outrageous when you consider you're getting the Porsche of universal remotes." Experts say the Harmony One is a big improvement over previous Harmony universal remotes, which also were said to be excellent. Its major addition is a color touch screen. Instead of hunting for the right button, you can simply glance at the screen and touch the icon for "watch TV," or change channels by touching the logos of your favorite networks. It's the top scorer in a test of 12 remotes at Good Housekeeping, and Clint DeBoer at Audioholics.com says the Logitech Harmony One "stands in a league of its own."

Critics note that the glossy black finish picks up every fingerprint and smudge. But the main criticism of the Harmony One is that it can be complicated to set up initially. It sounds easy -- you hook it up to your home computer via USB, and the Harmony One remote control starts asking you questions. The Harmony One takes this information and automatically sets up commands for you – such as "watch TV." However, several experts say the setup process doesn't always work. Some tinker with the commands themselves, and others call customer service and find it helpful. Critics also say that the Harmony One universal remote is probably overkill for a home-theater setup with only a few simple components, and note that since it is infrared (IR) only, the Harmony One can't control components in another room.

One of Logitech's newest (and most expensive) remotes, the Logitech Harmony 900 (*Est. $360), improves on the Harmony One by using both radio frequency (RF) and IR signals. That means you can control components through closed cabinet doors or walls by placing the included modules into your home-theater cabinet. The design is very similar to the Harmony One, although Logitech has bumped up the resolution of the touch screen and added a set of dedicated Blu-ray buttons to the Harmony 900. Like the Harmony One, the Logitech Harmony 900 uses a computer-based setup process with an included USB cable, and it can control up to 15 separate components.

The Logitech Harmony 900 universal remote was just released in August, but it has already accumulated a host of good reviews, including an Editors' Choice award from CNET. Even though David Carnoy at CNET had previously deemed the Logitech Harmony One the best remote he's ever tested, the new Logitech Harmony 900 is now the best in his book. He says the RF modules work well for controlling his seven-component system, and he finds the remote easy to set up. While he would appreciate more macro customization options, he concludes that the Logitech Harmony 900 is "hands down, the best universal remote we've ever tested." Shane McGlaun at I4U.com comes to a similar conclusion, saying the Logitech Harmony 900 is "easily the best of the Harmony line." McGlaun acknowledges that it's an expensive remote, but he thinks the price is worth it if you have a multi-component home theater. Peter Pachal at DVice.com also thinks the Harmony 900 is well worth its price tag; like the experts at CNET and I4U.com, Pachal says the 900 is "the best remote I've ever used." He sets up the remote quickly and finds that the process should not be too intimidating for non-techies. The Logitech Harmony 900 hasn't had enough time to attract as many user reviews as the Harmony One, but initial reviews at Amazon.com are highly positive. Owners say the remote works well, although they think the Harmony One is a better deal if you don't need RF technology.

If you like Logitech's Harmony remotes but don't want to spend $200 or more, the new Logitech Harmony 700 (*Est. $135) may be worth a look. The Harmony 700, which just debuted in September, is designed to be an entry-level version of the pricier Harmony remotes. It uses infrared technology, so it can't communicate through walls or cabinets like the RF-enabled Harmony 900. The Logitech Harmony 700 also doesn't include some of the nifty features found on more expensive remotes -- there's no touch screen or charging cradle, for example -- but this universal remote is attracting very positive initial reviews, including an Editors' Choice award from PCMag.com. PJ Jacobowitz at PCMag.com says the Logitech Harmony 700 offers much of the same functionality as the top-rated Harmony One. Sure, you may lose some features, but you'll also save some money. Matt Burns at CrunchGear.com says the remote is the "perfect combination of form and function at the right price," but he recommends going with the Logitech Harmony One until the price drops on the new Logitech Harmony 700.

In October 2008, Logitech introduced a new entry-level model, the Harmony 510 (*Est. $90).

The Harmony 510 remote control offers USB connectivity, one-touch controls, backlit keys, a monochrome LCD display and remote-to-remote learning. When it was first introduced, the Logitech Harmony 510 received average ratings because there were similar Harmony remotes -- like the Logitech Harmony 550 or Logitech Harmony for Xbox -- that had more features at a similar price.

However, both of those remotes have now been discontinued and the Logitech Harmony 510 has dropped in price, so it might deserve another look. "As far as PC-programmable remotes go, the Logitech Harmony 510 would've been a compelling universal remote -- if not for the existence of two nearly identical doppelgangers," said John Falcone at CNET back in 2008. Now that the 510 is the only Logitech Harmony remote under $100, it may be a good choice for those on a budget. It gets an overall rating of four stars (out of five) on Amazon.com, where most owners say it's easy to use and set up. The biggest complaint is the small buttons, which are said to be too tiny to press correctly.

While reviewers prefer the Logitech Harmony line overall, the Universal Remote Control (URC) Digital R50 (*Est. $90) also gets good reviews at a budget price. Unlike Harmony remotes, the URC R50 doesn't utilize a computer-based setup; instead, users complete the setup process using a programming wizard displayed on the remote's color screen. The remote can control up to 18 devices, and it includes several important features like backlit buttons and advanced customization options, known as macros. John Falcone at CNET gives the URC R50 a very good rating, but he thinks it's a step behind the Logitech Harmony remotes. The editors of HomeTheaterReview.com say the URC R50 is sturdy and well designed, but they find the advanced options and macros can require a lengthy setup time.

The Universal Remote Control MX-450 (*Est. $250) also gets high marks. It can be viewed as a competitor to the Logitech Harmony 900, since the MX-450 can use both infrared and radio frequency signals. The design is very similar to the URC Digital R50, and like the R50, the MX-450 utilizes an on-screen setup instead of the computer-based setup popularized by Logitech. John Sciacca at Sound & Vision magazine has a lengthy overview of the URC MX-450, concluding that the computer-free operation will appeal to those who are intimidated by using a computer to program a remote control. Universal Remote Control recommends professional installation for the MX-450, but Sciacca believes the average person could set up this remote just fine.

Philips also makes several advanced universal remotes, including the Philips Prestigo SRU8015 (*Est. $115), which gets mixed reviews from reviewers. The Prestigo SRU8015 universal remote can control up to 15 devices, and it boasts a 2-inch color screen, rotary wheel for navigation and a backlit keypad. Some reviewers have great things to say about the Philips Prestigo SRU8105, including Benny Har-Evan at TrustedReviews.com, who recommends the remote overall.

Other reviewers aren't as impressed; Jeff Bakalar at CNET says the SRU8015 works reasonably well, although he calls it a "mediocre alternative" to Logitech Harmony remotes or the similarly priced URC Digital R50. Bakalar is especially unhappy with the rotary wheel, which he finds frustrating to use. Clint DeBoer at Audioholics.com is also not impressed, saying, "It seems like nobody at Philips actually test-drove this product before it came to market." User reviews are equally mixed, and the Philips Prestigo SRU8015 gets an overall rating of just 2.5 stars. Those who like it say the Prestigo is easy to use, but others report bugs and glitches. If you make a mistake while programming -- even a little mistake, like a typo when you're naming an activity -- you can't edit anything. You must start again from scratch, reviewers say. The Prestigo SRU8015 is listed on Philips' British website, but it's available from Amazon.com or Buy.com in the U.S.

Universal remotes for gaming systems

Few universal remotes can control the Sony PlayStation 3 without an extra adapter, since the game system uses Bluetooth instead of infrared. All Logitech Harmony remotes can control the PS3 with the addition of the optional Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 (*Est. $55). The adapter gets very high marks on Amazon.com, where owners say it works nearly flawlessly with the PS3, although the setup may cause a few headaches.

Just this month, SMK-Link announced the first universal remote that incorporates Bluetooth and infrared, the Blu-Link Universal Remote Control for PlayStation 3 VP3700 (*Est. $50). The remote can control regular home-theater devices and the PS3 without an extra adapter. It has a basic design and can control up to six components. No professional reviewers have tested the Blu-Link yet, but it has received good ratings so far in about a dozen reviews on Amazon.com. Owners say the Blu-link remote works great with the Sony PlayStation3 and other home-theater components. Two owners have setup problems, but one was quickly rectified by customer-service technicians at SMK-Link. The Blu-Link remote needs time to accumulate more reviews, so we'll keep an eye on it for future reports.

It's not much easier to find a universal remote that works with the Microsoft Xbox 360. Logitech used to make a remote geared specifically to Xbox users, the Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360, but it has since been discontinued. The top-rated Logitech Harmony One is compatible with the Xbox 360.

Universal remotes with large, PDA-style touch screens

Tablet-style universal remotes have square, PDA-style cases and big color touch screens. They typically come with extra features like charging cradles, macro functionality and customizable commands, which makes them more expensive than most wand-style remotes. They are also bigger and heavier than the slimmer wand remotes.

Logitech has recently introduced the Logitech Harmony 1100 (*Est. $350) to replace its top-of-the-line Harmony 1000, which has now been discontinued. Overall, reviewers say the Logitech Harmony 1100 has fixed some bugs found on the Harmony 1000, which attracted mixed reviews from experts and users. The Logitech Harmony 1100 has a 3.5-inch color touch screen, one-touch activity controls and can control up to 15 devices. The lithium-ion battery is recharged with the included charging station. Like all Harmony remotes, the Logitech Harmony 1100 universal remote has a computer-based setup that requires the included USB cable. It uses infrared technology, but you can add radio frequency functionality with the optional Harmony RF Wireless Extender (*Est. $100).

The Logitech Harmony 1100 gets an excellent rating from CNET, and David Carnoy thinks Logitech has made some big improvements over the Harmony 1000, which had a slow response time and a tendency to freeze. Carnoy finds it relatively easy to set up and use, although you have to scroll through multiple screens to reach some functions. Danny Phillips at TrustedReviews.com also gives it high marks, saying it's the most user-friendly Harmony remote he's tested. Initial user reviews are highly positive, with most owners raving about the control it gives them over their home theater. The high price and inability to create custom macros are the biggest shortfalls. The Logitech Harmony 1100 allows you to program several preset macros, like "watch TV" or "play music," but you can't create your own customized activity sequence. The wide frame is said to be easy to grasp, but the glossy black coating attracts fingerprints and smudges. Some find the setup a little overwhelming, and some reviewers are annoyed that they can't transfer their settings from an older Logitech Harmony remote.

One Philips touch screen remote also receives good reviews, but it's a very expensive piece of equipment. According to Sound & Vision magazine's John Sciacca, the Philips Pronto Professional TSU9600 (*Est. $1,000) "would be a welcome addition to any system." While certainly expensive -- probably prohibitively so for all but the highest-end home-theater setups -- the Philips TSU9600 gives you complete control of AV equipment, lighting and music throughout your home.

"The Philips Pronto TSU9600 is a tremendous step forward in terms of functionality and design," writes Ofer LaOr at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. "It is a really cool product." However, LaOr says he hopes Philips improves its setup-wizard software to make its future remotes "simpler to learn and easier to use right out of the box." One user at RemoteCentral.com echoes that opinion, saying the programming is not for novices and may require a professional installer.

The Philips universal remote has a 3.7-inch full VGA color LCD touch screen, built-in Wi-Fi, control for Escient music managers and Lutron lighting, a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery and docking station. There are more hard buttons than on previous models. The TSU9600 is primarily sold through professional installers, though it can also be found at some retailers.