Top 6 Coolest Universal Remote Controls

From Neil Petty

Maybe we wouldn't lose the remote if it included some features (not to mention a price) that made us feel more “attached” to it. Either it's the look or the way the buttons feel to our fingers, but we all love the remote control no matter what our set-up is.

This list features some advanced remotes that carry a lot of features you might need now or grow to love later.

1. Logitech Harmony 880

• Full-color LCD display
• Web-Interface
• Rechargeable w/ docking station

Would you have ever guessed that a remote could have PC and Mac compatibility? The 880 can control up to 15 devices. The LCD display is changeable and it also uses Smart State technology - activity options like “listen to music” or “watch movie” that automatically turns on the necessary components to do the job.

2. Universal Aeros Remote Control MX-850

• Radio Frequency (RF) for “no pointing”
• Macro-Programming
• RF Routing

The MX-850 is for someone who has a variety of set-ups and rooms. The RF addressing feature lets you setup 15 different home theater configurations. However, you must have the MRF-250/300 base station connected to each theater location for that feature to work. Up to 20 components can be programmed. You can edit all the text on the display. You can program up to 50 channels.

3. Logitech Harmony 1000

• 3.5” color touch screen
• One-touch control center
• Sleek aluminum design

The Harmony 1000 has the looks. It has the 3.5” full-color touch screen surrounded by a smooth, aluminum color body. The controls give you the ability to program all your favorites to turn on with one-touch. This remote has most of the normal features of the Harmony series, including PC/Mac compatibility and the ability to control up to 15 components.

4. Harman Kardon TC-30

• PC-Programmable
• Color screen
• Rechargeable w/ docking station

The Harman Kardon TC-30 is a competitor to the Logitech series. This remote carries the popularized “one-touch” feature and is PC-ready using software installation. The color LCD compliments a mostly black design compared to Logitech’s silver-schemed design. The TC-30 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and can also be used on up to 15 devices.

6. Logitech Harmony 550

• LCD screen
• Large control database
• Customized media buttons

This one stands out mainly because you get the features of a high-end remote for a third of the price. You get all of the necessary features that the 880 and the 1000 have minus the full-color LCD. But, you get the Smart State technology, which helps control any configuration in one-touch. The control database is compatible for over 3,000 manufacturers and more than 100,000 infrared devices. The keypad is backlit.