Are Universal Remotes Worth the Hype and the Money?

Universal remote controls are not something new, and they are definitely much better now than what they were before they were introduced on the market. Now you can find a universal remote control that can control almost any device in your home. But is it worth it to invest quite some money in one? Keep reading to find out.

What is a universal remote control?

A universal remote control can be used for much more than just controlling your TV. You can connect it to the other devices in your media center or almost any other smart tool at your home. Depending on how many devices you have in your media center, this can save you some trouble of having 4 or 5 individual remote controls.

Many people with a more complicated media center prefer to get a remote control, which is a valid reason. So, suppose you have a TV that is connected to different streaming devices like FireStick, a gaming console, external players, a music system, or even more devices. In that case, you will be saving yourself some trouble by being able to control all this with one remote. However, many people just believe that universal remote controls are, in general, better, which is not always the case.

There are some risks of getting a universal remote control, and the biggest one is that the pairing might not be perfect. This is why if you would like to get one just because, for example, your FireStick remote stopped working suddenly is not worth it. It is always better to try to fix your original device because it will be the one that is paired perfectly with your FireStick. And in the majority of cases fixing a remote might be the easier solution than finding a universal remote that is compatible with all your other devices.

Do you need a universal remote control?

There are a couple of main reasons people choose to get a universal remote control, and if one or a couple of them are applicable for you, you probably need one. Here are the reasons:

• Control different devices in your Smarthome — If you have a lot of Smart devices in your home, you probably have many remote controls lying around your place. Which is not very convenient, and you might easily misplace them and spend a lot of time looking for them. This is why a universal remote control can be a really good solution in this case. You will have one remote which you will use to control the majority or all of your devices.
• More manageable media center — If there are many devices connected with your TV, then having one remote that can control them all is the way to go. However, make sure that you are getting a universal remote control that will be compatible with the devices in your media center. 
• Automate TV processes — Universal remote control very often comes with quick access buttons to different streaming media devices or switching between different outputs. Also, you will be able to dedicate some buttons too, let’s say, macros that can facilitate some routines.
• Make non-Smart devices Smart — There are universal remotes that can control even devices that are not considered smart devices but have an IR sensor. It will take a bit of setting up, but after that will save some time and effort.

What are the cons of a universal remote?

The main con of universal remotes is that they are quite pricey. Especially if you want one with high quality and more options, they are really on the high end of the price range. Another con is the setup process that might be challenging, and it might not work correctly from the first try. It might take you a bit of time to get used to the new remote control as well, but then you might not even imagine living without one.

Conclusion

Universal remote controls are an excellent option for people with many devices to control. Indeed, they might be a bit expensive, but can we put a price on comfort? There are numerous great options out there, so you should just scope your needs and choose the perfect one for you.