Ryan is a tech/science writer, skeptic, lover of all things electronic, and Android fan. In his spare time he reads golden-age sci-fi and sleeps, but rarely at the same time. His wife tolerates him as ...

While conventional televisions are controlled using a physical remote, a feature on smartphones known as IR blaster has made this hardware somewhat obsolete, thanks to the best universal tv remote app ...

Clunky, limited support for third-party devices makes this “universal” remote appropriate only for smart home dwellers who are deep in the SwitchBot ecosystem, while Matter support depends on Apple ...

Covering home audio and video, Matthew Moskovciak helps CNET readers find the best sights and sounds for their home theaters. The Logitech Harmony Smart Control combines RF functionality and ...

For a long time, I had a Logitech Harmony Hub and its accompanying Companion remote. The Harmony Hub could communicate with devices using infrared (IR), Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. This meant that it could ...

While more and more consumer products are rushing to include WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, the simplicity and reliability of infrared has kept it in the game in the game far longer than many might ...

Remember the days before smartphones, when television remotes were bulky devices that burned through batteries with a vengeance? Universal remotes were a lifesaver — though huge, they worked with ...

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. If you're looking for an easy-to-use universal remote to control up to eight ...

Buy one of these 10 best smartphones with infrared blaster and remote control functionality and you will never have to look for your remote controller again. If you didn’t own a mobile phone 10 years ...

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full ...