Sofabaton U1 Universal Remote with Smart APP, Control up to 15 Entertainment Devices, Universal TV Remote for LG,Samsung, TCL, Philips, Roku, Sony TV Replacement

I have 3 things that needed to convert to this remote: LG TV, Pioneer Amp/Receiver, Fire TV.The remote first made me download the app, which is very user friendly. It walked me through pairing the remote with the app and was easy to get started. The search for device function is pretty slow and not very accurate. I put in my exact make "LG" and model number "UJ6300" and I got the spinning wheel for a long time. FIXED: Simply type in the make, NOT model of the unit. For example, I typed in "LG" only and it brought up 5 or 6 categories under "LG" or there was a list of "popular models." This is where you want to be. You can just scroll through all of that brand until you get to your model (in alphabetical order). So it helped a lot, because I was typing in UJ6300, but it was listed as 55UJ6300 (which still should have been found, but ok). Once I found the model, I let it program and BOOM!I was having an issue with the ARC function of either my TV or my Home Theater Receiver. The sound works fine, but the ARC function has faulted and I have to control the TV and Receiver with separate remotes. This solved that.I also have kids running around and one, in particular, loves to mess with the stereo buttons/inputs. Many times, the stereo gets bumped off of "TV" and onto something like "DVD." So I programmed one of the color buttons to be "TV INPUT" from the list. This way it doesn't matter what he changes it to, I can hit that button and bring it right back.TIP: Each time you program the remote to take over for an old remote, compare the two. Start testing buttons, etc. I found that the "back" button wasn't working. So, on the app, I used the diagram of the remote to choose the button that I assume is meant to be "back" and I found a list of all known commands. It was a quick fix: instead of "back" it needed to be "BACK." I know that's a little buggy...but anyone with common sense should be able to work it out.TIP: If there is a command that just isn't in the list and you can't figure it out, try "learn from original remote." On the app you choose the button in question from the diagram. Then choose the learn from original remote" option and follow the directions (basically just point the old and new remotes at each other and press/hold the button on the original remote while the sofabaton intercepts the signal and learns it).TIP: Use the 4 colored buttons as shortcuts (I programmed mine to Netflix, Prime Video, HDMI - Fire TV, and HDMI 3 (Game).TIP: If you use a separate audio system (Home Theater Amp/Receiver or Sound Bar), consider using macros for the volume and mute buttons. You can program the remote to know that even if you are on the "TV" mode, when you press one of these volume buttons, it automatically applies it to the sound system and not the TV. This is a nice shortcut to actually having to use the wheel to scroll down to the audio system and then change the volume. I programmed this macro for both my "TV" and "Fire TV" modes.TIP: Reprogram the very top "TV Power" button to be an "ALL POWER" button. Simply go through each mode and reprogram that "TV Power" button using a macro and select each mode's "power" setting with no input delays. This way, when you hit "TV Power" it will shut down all programmed devices. (You do need to be generous with pointing the remote towards all devices at once. I do have instances where one doesn't get the signal and gets left on. Just scroll the wheel to that device and hit the power button).My 4 year old was able to use this remote to find her shows within 30 seconds after I let her loose. It's not a complicated setup at all.100% RECOMMEND

So let's start with the bottom (rump) line... this is a great deal. Amazing. But it will annoy you a bit.Hey, most relationships are like that.I go WAAAAY back in universal remotes, all the way to the Core CL-9. I still have an original JVC RM-1. I must have eight different URC models. Of course, along the way, technologies changes, expectations changes, even the IR frequencies and encoding changed, so those ancient (30-ish year old) remotes don't work. No worries - the first remote I saw actually clicked. It used sound.So I'm a cranky curmudgeon who knows too much and expects too much.The SofaBaton U1 is an amazing mixed bag.Good: Oh, this is a NICE looking remote. You pull it out of the Apple-like box, it feels good.Bad: That battery compartment. Yeah, first thing you do it put batteries in. This door is only gonna survive that like four times, max. And it will take you a while to figure out.Good: Look at that display! Pretty.Bad: Can't do a dratted thing until you pair it to your phone. Which requires you CREATE AN ACCOUNT. WTF!!! I need to create an account to even SET UP a remote?Good: No password requirements for creating account. The password "AccountPassword" is accepted.Bad: 369 Amazon readers just tried to log into my account using the password "AccountPassword". Hah! The joke is on you. I reversed it! Ha ha ha!Good: Pairing the phone to the remote was very easy. It tells you what bizarre secret buttons to press, and they work.Bad: Bizarre secrets sets the tone for this remote.Good: The phone app walks you through adding devices.Bad: It doesn't actually get the concept of "usability." You specify a device by, I'm not kidding, typing in a pretty close to exact manufacturer name, SEARCHING, then typing in the model name, CUSSING, looking at Amazon or the back of the device, finding the 20-character cryptic SKU-model-name, typing that, and praying.Good: I did this on Sunday. Some of the prayers were answered. Not all, but some. Devices got recognized. (And, if they hadn't, I could have "learned" the device.)Bad: Wait, the buttons don't work.Good: Most of them actually do, they just aren't in logical places. For example, the Roku "back" button is the "Menu" button. Oh, intuitive!!!!Bad: No, really, some don't. When "remapping" (e.g. putting your receiver's volume onto Roku), you will discover that many remote keys are dramatically mislabelled, and many others simply missing. My Marantz 1608 Receiver has a bunch of inputs, about 25% of which are not represented on the labels at all, and another 25% of which are labelled wrong.Good: Ah screw it. Learn the dratted function. That works astonishingly well. I think the best I've ever seen in a universal remote.Bad: No source-like buttons available on the remote. So cannot map, e.g., "Switch to BluRay/Roku/Spotify."Good: Other than missing some obvious buttons (a real "Back", sources, passenger eject), the streamlining of the remote makes for pretty intuitive use.Bad: What the heck were these bozos thinking? Why don't the AV Receiver buttons auto-map, or at least have the option of mapping as a block, over Roku? Which brings us to:Stupid: Yes, stupid. There's no concept of a "main" device. You can map the controls, one-by-painful-one, onto any device, so you can GIVE the Roku your receiver or TV volume controls... but that takes a handful of mappings, and WHY? Just make it fast-and-obvious, like URC does!!!And, of course, if you use a Roku, you are accustomed to not pointing the remote. You have radio. The Roku understands IR, but that has to be pointed. Not really SofaBaton's fault, but this is not a strong IR blasting remote. It needs to be aimed.As a result of the "Bad", this remote will take you longer to set up than it should. Probably an hour longer, including learning process. But pick your most common device to watch... in my case, Roku... move it to the top in the app by dragging the thumbnail. Map volume and power onto it. (Power because Roku doesn't need power, but if you have HDMI-ARC, your TV can turn itself AND your receiver on with one command.) Map 1-4 or whatever to changing sources on your receiver (or TV, if you don't pass video through the receiver, but you really should.) And enjoy.---------------------------------------------Update: That battery door - the first flaw I mentioned in my initial review? It's really bad. Pops off all the time. Very frustrating.