Universal Remotes in 2026: One Remote for the Whole Living Room
Last verified: August 2026
Tired of juggling four remotes just to watch a movie? A good universal remote runs the whole room with one button. Here's the honest 2026 landscape now that the old favorite, Harmony, is gone.
About universal remotes
A universal remote replaces the pile of remotes with one, and the best ones offer ‘activities' — press ‘Watch TV' and it turns on the TV, the soundbar, and the cable box, and sets each to the right input, all at once.
The old king, Logitech Harmony, was discontinued back in 2021, so 2026's leaders are elsewhere. The SofaBaton U3 is the best simple all-in-one for most people (controls up to 30 devices). For a true Harmony replacement with one-touch activities, the SofaBaton X1S uses a hub and handles up to 60 devices — it's the remote former Harmony Elite owners reach for. If you'd rather control things from your phone, the BroadLink RM4 Pro turns a phone into a remote and works with Alexa and Google.
The right pick depends on how complex your setup is and whether you want a physical remote or a phone app. Either way, one-button ‘watch a movie' is a small luxury that everyone in the house appreciates.
When to skip the DIY and just call: Choosing the right remote for your gear · Programming your devices and inputs · Setting up one-button ‘activities' for the household.
Common Questions
1 Which universal remote should I get?
- For most living rooms, the SofaBaton U3 is the easy, capable all-in-one.
- For complex setups wanting one-touch activities (like the old Harmony), get the SofaBaton X1S with its hub.
- If you prefer controlling things from your phone, choose the BroadLink RM4 Pro.
- List your devices first (TV, soundbar, cable/streaming box) so you buy one that covers them all.
2 How do I set it up?
- Install the remote's app and add each device by brand and model.
- Let the app load the correct control codes, testing a few buttons to confirm.
- Tell it which input each device uses (for example, TV HDMI 2 for the streaming box).
- Save, then try the remote on each device before building activities.
3 What are ‘activities' and how do I make one?
- An activity is a one-button routine like ‘Watch a Movie' that powers on and sets everything at once.
- In the app, create an activity and pick the devices it should turn on.
- Set the correct inputs and default volume device for that activity.
- Test it a few times; small tweaks (a short delay here or there) make it flawless.
4 Will it control my streaming box and smart TV?
- Yes — most control Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and smart TVs via infrared or Bluetooth.
- Hub-based remotes (like the X1S) reach devices hidden in a cabinet.
- Some add voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant.
- Check your specific streaming device is supported before buying.
5 My old Harmony still works — should I switch?
- If your Harmony still works, you can keep using it — the remotes didn't stop working when sales ended.
- But support and new device codes are gone, so plan a successor for when it fails.
- The SofaBaton X1S is the closest replacement and can import a similar activity setup.
- No rush — just know your next remote won't be a Harmony.
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