SofaBaton U2 Universal Remote (with Backlight), All-in-One Smart Universal Remote Control with Customized APP for TV/Soundbar/DVD/Blu-ray/Projector and More, Macro Buttons & Extended Infrared Range

At last, my quest for a universal backlit remote that will work with my new Hisense 43" Fire TV is over! I picked up the new TV for my guest room during a Black Friday sale but with low light one needs a flashlight to see the remote buttons. I guess that's what you get for a cheap, no-frills TV, but I've had enough experience with third-party universal remotes to foolishly think, "no big deal - I can always pick up an inexpensive backlit multi-device remote to operate the TV, soundbar, and onn Android box." Boy, was I wrong! The first two remotes I tried, even though they said were compatible with Hisense TV, weren't, at least with my particular model. While it's not stated anywhere I could find, and I did spend a fair amount of time searching, apparently this particular TV, and possibly other Fire TVs as well, uses Bluetooth rather than IR or RF bands for the remote. I discovered this only after purchasing my SofaBaton U2 backlit remote and finding that like the previous models I'd tried, I could not set it up with IR, but switching over to the Bluetooth instructions where the remote actually communicates directly with the TV to get the proper device profile had me up and running with nearly all TV functions in a matter of minutes. From there, adding my older IR-based LG soundbar took another few minutes as the SofaBaton U2 already had a code set for that particular device, and reassigning the volume and mute buttons to use the soundbar functions regardless of source was pretty straightforward. Lastly, while it took a few tries, I was able to set up a macro to the very top button to turn on/off both TV and soundbar with one button. I now have a backlit remote that operates both the Hisense FIre TV and LG soundbar flawlessly. I have yet to add my onn Android TV box (much faster and more customizable than the Fire TV interface) but suspect that should be fairly easy now that I am more familiar with the U2 process. Everything is working together now and original remotes have now taken up residence in a nightstand drawer. The only thing I didn't like about programming the U2 in Bluetooth mode is that you need to keep switching the U2 back and forth between the Android phone app and the TV during the setup, which did cause some delays and confusion about which device the U2 was connected to at any given time. Also, apparently with Bluetooth one cannot use the learn function to copy a particular button from the original remote to the U2. I had wanted to add the TV button from the original remote to one of the colored buttons but was unable to do that because I could not locate that button in the original remote codes that were downloaded from the TV and could not learn it from the original remote. That said, there is a workaround to access the TV Guide from the Home screen, and from there select a specific channel, requiring additional button pushes and scrolling. Other than that, I found the U2 to be superior, in many ways to my two Harmony remotes which get little use since my home theater system runs mostly off the Samsung remote that came with the TV using HDMI eARC control. In short, the SofaBaton U2 offers both IR and Bluetooth control options, which make it more compatible, especially with newer devices, and once you figure out the connection, it's even faster setup than using a preset device profile since it gets all the commands directly from the device being controlled. I found the backlight buttons and LCD panel to be bright enough to see easily in a darkened room. I will be testing the onn Android box in a few days and update this review accordingly. Also contemplating adding a mini PC to the mix, which should be pretty simple and only requires changing the TV's HDMI input, but not sure at this point if I can directly choose a particular input or just have to rely on turning the PC on to switch the TV input as it does with the onn Android box. Overall I recommend the Sofa Baton U2 because of its enhanced compatibility over IR only remotes, relative ease of setup, customization options including macros, solid feel and good backlighting.

I bought this after finding that Logitech stopped making their stellar remote. I’ve only had it for a day and have found that it’s not as good as the Logitech, but it works if you mess with it enough. My video/audio setup is simple: Sony Bravia 3, Sony UBP-700 Bluray player, AppleTv 4k settop box. The remote is of good quality. Nice display and roll wheel lets you pick what device you want to control. The keys are backlit and light up when you grab the remote. It’s big enough not to get lost and feels good in hand. Getting the remote to see the individual parts is fairly easy; use the phone app to add devices to the remote. The app does the heavy lifting. Unfortunately, that’s when things get a bit tricky. My AppleTV is plugged into the earc hdmi port on the TV, the Bluray is on a standard hdmi port. I don’t have speakers set up yet. Turning on the tv defaults to whichever input you last used, so if you were watching Bluray and now want to watch something on AppleTV you have to jump through a few hoops. The easiest way is to turn on the tv, switch inputs, and either turn off or ignore the device you were using before. The Logitech remote would switch off the current device, switch on the one you want to now use, then switch the inputs to the tv. This remote is not so smart. My tv is not connected to wifi, neither is the Bluray Player (I recommend that you do the same if you value privacy), the only device connected for streaming in the AppleTV. AppleTV is a bit strange because it is still “on” even when it’s off. The hdmi port is still active and the box is in a kinda suspended state. Because of that the earc port on the tv senses it and wants to default to it if i want to switch to Bluray. So, I turn on the tv, switch inputs to bluray. The TV senses the active earc port and switches back to AppleTV. I switch back to bluray and ignore the AppleTV. Not elegant, but it works. Turning stuff off is a pain too. You can’t use the power button to turn off AppleTV, if you are watching AppleTV you quick-tap the remote power button and that turns the tv and AppleTV off. A long press (2. -3 seconds) brings up a tv reset dialogue. Weird! While in AppleTV, if you want to go to the AppleTV Home Screen a long press (2-3 seconds) on the back-arrow button does the trick. None of this is explained anywhere, and none of it is logical. The SofaBaton remote does allow programming so you can get it to do what you want. I haven’t gotten that far into it yet. The remote will also learn from the original remote. That process is easy. You can also easily program or reassign buttons to act however you want. I had to do that the get the Bluray player to open and close the drawer. In all, it’s a decent remote. Not stellar. Be prepared to mess with it. Update: I’ve had it for a few days now and have added the Ugreen 3 port HDMI switcher to the mix. I got the this switcher because it can be remotely controlled. My arrangement now is this: the AppleTV and the Sony UBP-700 Bluray player are on post 1 and 2 of the switcher. The output of the switcher goes to a standard HDMI port of the TV ( not the earc port). I add the IR sensor to the switcher too. And I’ve added the switcher to the remote. Now things work better. Turning on either the Bluray Player or AppleTV will turn on that device and the TV ( the HDMI port on the tv has CEC enabled which turns on or off the device connected to it). If I want to switch devices I simply scroll down to the switch on the remote, select the device ( I have buttons 1 and 2 reprogrammed to to ugreen switch 1and 2 buttons respectively), scroll to the device I’ve selected on the switch and power it on. I can then select the previous device and power it off. I can then turn off everything by powering off the tv. This is not elegant, but it achieves the goal of reducing the number of remotes you have to deal with. There’s macros you can set up too. I haven’t gotten that far into it yet and may leave it as is because it works.

This device is only for very simple switching applications the micros function on the U2 is horrible! And this is why I primarily purchased the Sofabaton U2. My Harmony 950 remote is unfortunately dead after years of use but when it worked it was awesome! I read on line that the entry level Sofabaton had micros that could function like an activity..A set of commands saved through the remote sent to video devices in a certain order so watch a blu ray or 4k movies, play CD's with a single button press like the harmony remote. "Well" that's not happening here! The main issue is that you don't have an activity setting like you do with the Harmony 950 I think the Sofabaton's X1 ($200.00 ) has it. This enables you to turn off devices when NOT IN USE! You'll find that not only does the remote software gets confused with just turning on and off certain devices you'll be pulling out your hair trying to figure how to fix this online! You cannot switch from one micros command to another without the TV turning off and there is NO REMEDY for this because as I stated earlier there is NO ending programmable activity on the U2. Needless to say I am returning this after spending 7 hours troubleshooting the device in my Home Theater I don't even know if I will try the X1 or S after this I think Ill just wait until some other manufacturer come out with something better.

This is a pleasant upgrade to the already excellent Sofabaton U1. I especially like the lighted buttons on the new model -- much more usable in a dark A/V setting. This device consolidates a basket of other controllers, as well as offering the ability to create custom controllers with macros that control several devices. Disclaimer: Sofabaton offered me a full rebate on my U2. That's important for a reader to know. Also important is that the reason they did so was probably that I was happy with the U1 that I purchased four years ago. The U2 is even better. I found the setup intuitive, especially for the power and flexibility offered. I had an easy time downloading the data for my TV, Blue-ray, digital radio, Sonos, Apple TV 4k (3rd generation), and old Nakamichi receiver. The hardest part of that was tracking down the exact model numbers of some of my components. I didn't always meet with immediate success. For example, there were two models that seemed close to the model of my LG TV, and the first one had the volume up and down backwards for my TV. So I tried the other profile, and all was well. You can test the buttons in the phone app, and it's easy to download a different profile or customize individual buttons. When I bought my U1 about 4 years ago, some of my components didn't have entries in the Sofabaton database. But their customer support folks were very responsive and helpful, and immediately added the devices I needed. My old Nakamichi TA-3A receiver was recognized, but the buttons didn't all work correctly. It was a simple matter to customize those buttons. You get a layout of the Sofabaton's buttons displayed in the Sofabaton phone app; press the button in the app, and then select an option to set its function. You can either look up the selection from the database, or select the option to learn from the existing remote. Then point the remote at the Sofabaton, and press the button on the remote. I did that to set buttons for the main four inputs on the receiver, the tuner track up and down, and tuner seek back and forward. Works like a charm. You can also simply customize a button's function from the database, which might have been easier. I did that for some of the other functions I added. With about 30 seconds of playing around, I figured out how to create a macro. So I downloaded a second profile for my Oppo Blue-ray player, but named it OppoNakCD. Then I set the power button to be a macro to which I added actions to: power on the Nakamichi receiver, select the "CD" input on the receiver, and power on the Oppo Blue-ray player. I made another button into a macro to reset the receiver's input to "Video", power off the receiver, and power off the Blue-ray player. I also set the volume up / down buttons to control the receiver's volume, and I set the "input" button on the control to be the Oppo's disk eject button. When you add multiple commands to your macro (just hit the "+" and select the device and then the command to add), there's a default pause added between the commands. Just tap on that pause, and you can change the interval to whatever you want. I did this between my receiver's power-on and input selection, because it takes a couple seconds before it's ready. Very cool. Now it's as if I had a simple, all-in-one CD player with dedicated remote control. I just discovered a Sofabaton video explaining a lot of this, but it turned out I didn't need it. I think I'll want to review it anyway, because it seems to include tips beyond what I've been exploring tonight. In case it helps someone else, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLT6MJQVDY

SofaBaton Remote Control Review: A Game-Changer for Home Entertainment If you're looking for a universal remote that combines sleek design, intuitive functionality, and unparalleled compatibility, look no further than the SofaBaton Remote Control. This remote is truly a game-changer in the world of home entertainment, making it easier than ever to control multiple devices with a single, streamlined solution. The moment you unbox the SofaBaton remote, you can tell it's a premium product. The modern, ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, and the build quality is top-notch. Unlike many clunky universal remotes, the SofaBaton is lightweight yet durable, making it feel substantial without being cumbersome. The buttons are well-placed, and the scrolling OLED display adds a touch of sophistication while enhancing usability. Setting up the SofaBaton remote is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly app. With Bluetooth connectivity, pairing it with multiple devices is straightforward, eliminating the frustration of traditional universal remotes that require tedious manual programming. The SofaBaton app walks users through each step, ensuring seamless integration with everything from TVs and sound systems to streaming devices and gaming consoles. One of the most impressive features of the SofaBaton remote is its extensive compatibility. Unlike other universal remotes that are limited to a handful of brands and models, the SofaBaton supports over 500,000 devices across 6,000+ brands. Whether you're controlling a Samsung Smart TV, a Bose soundbar, an Apple TV, or even an old DVD player, this remote has you covered. The cloud-based database is regularly updated, ensuring support for even the newest devices on the market. A standout feature of the SofaBaton remote is its scrolling wheel, which makes switching between devices incredibly smooth. Instead of dealing with dozens of confusing buttons, users can simply scroll and select the device they want to control. The OLED screen enhances usability by clearly displaying which device is currently active, reducing any guesswork. For those who want an extra level of convenience, the macro function is a dream come true. Users can program multiple actions into a single button press, allowing them to turn on their TV, sound system, and streaming device all at once. This level of automation eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple remotes and performing repetitive tasks. Unlike other universal remotes that can be laggy or unresponsive, the SofaBaton remote delivers lightning-fast response times. Every button press registers instantly, ensuring a smooth and frustration-free experience. The battery life is exceptional, lasting for weeks on a single charge. The SofaBaton Remote Control is hands down the best universal remotes available today. Its superior compatibility, intuitive design, and customizable features set it apart from the competition. It simplifies your entertainment experience, declutters your coffee table, and gives you complete control at your fingertips.

As a member of the consumer electronics industry for over four decades, someone who has installed and used dozens of programmable and universal-style remote systems over that time, I was really disappointed with this unit. I wanted it to run a simple video system - a 60" Samsung TV, a DirecTV Genie, and a preamplifier... Using the import function for DirecTV, too many functions were just not automatically installed. Using the teaching function to train the buttons was fraught with issues. Pushing the number buttons for direct access, for - say, channel 273, caused the tuner to try to choose 227733. It doubled each key entry. The same with the Guide button. Instead of stopping and displaying the Guide as a single button push should, it seems to double-press, and take you on to the Filter screen, never stopping at the Guide. This happened repeatedly as I tried to reprogram and reteach it several times. While it was reasonable to control the TV and the preamp, it just couldn't be used in any effective manner with the DirecTV Genie. I had to return it...sadly. I REALLY wanted to get rid of the many remotes I have beside my chair and unify everything into this one, but it just didn't work for me.

It is a solid unit and was very easy to program for all my devices. On the downside, the "double-click" issues reported by other reviewers is pervasive and irritating though. We will see if we can adapt to it.

This is a great programmable multi-device remote especially considering it's price. Over the years I have had several programable multi device remotes for $150 or more. This one outperforms all of them on ease of use, flexibility and price. It's great for just the causal user as well as the advanced experienced user with complex function needs. Easy for the beginner to program. Find your device in the extensive library, name it in the X2 remote and in 30 seconds or so it is installed and ready to use. Add all your devices and then the X2 becomes the one remote for all your devices. No scrambling to find that rarely use remote when needed. Just scroll to that device on the X2 and you quickly have its functions at your finger tips. There is practically no limit to the number of separate remotes you can include in the X2. For the advanced user wanting a more custom experience the X2 fits the bill. 1) If in the rare event the X2 library does not have a specific device or specific function for a downloaded device, you can "read it" in directly from another remote. 2) You can mix commands from different remotes onto a single X2 entry, e.g. you want to control volume from a different device than the video device. Instead of picking up another remote or even scrolling to another device, you can put them together. 3) You can create macros on a specific device and pull functions from multiple other remotes to perform any common but complex sequence of commands. 4) One available technique I use is to download all my remotes to X2, hide them on the X2 and then create a custom X2 device that pulls commands from any downloaded device. Instead of having to scroll to several devices, I can create task oriented commands or macros using any of my devices. Sweet! The X2 will satisfy the basic user and well as having the flexibility and functionality desired by the most advance uses. Of course, but rarely, the may be a command or device missing from the X2 library, but there customer service is responsive and very likely can soon add whatever missing to their library. The library is not set in stone but grows as device and their features expand.