SofaBaton X1S Universal Remote with Hub, Universal Remote Control with One Touch Activities, Customize SofaBaton APP, Compatible with 60 Devices, Compatible with Alexa Google Assistant, Raise to Wake

After spending way too long juggling four remotes (and occasionally losing my mind in the process), I finally bit the bullet and picked up the SofaBaton X1S Universal Remote with Hub. I use it with an Apple TV, a vSeeBox V3 Plus, a Sonos ARC soundbar, and a Samsung OLED TV. Now that it’s up and running, I can honestly say this thing has completely streamlined my home theater setup. It’s not perfect out of the box, but once configured, it delivers exactly what you’d hope for in a universal remote — and then some.Initial ImpressionsRight out of the box, the build quality was better than I expected. The remote itself feels solid, sleek, and surprisingly premium. The charging dock is minimal and clean. The included hub and IR blasters are low-profile and easy to tuck away. It’s also nice that the remote uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in addition to IR, which gives it the ability to control newer devices like the Apple TV and Sonos.Setup ExperienceHere’s where I hit a few bumps. Setting up the devices individually was straightforward. The SofaBaton app detected my Samsung OLED, Sonos ARC, Apple TV, and even the vSeeBox V3 Plus (which I was surprised by, since it’s more niche). However, configuring the Activities section took some trial and error. If you’re not familiar with how macros and power-on sequencing work, you might get frustrated at first like I did.For example, getting the “Watch TV” activity to correctly power on the Samsung OLED, switch the input, turn on the vSeeBox, and activate the Sonos ARC took a few tweaks. The initial setup didn’t always switch inputs correctly or would leave the soundbar off. But after some fiddling with device delays, input settings, and testing sequences, I got it working exactly the way I wanted. The good news is — once it’s dialed in, it just works.Daily UseNow that it’s set up properly, the SofaBaton X1S is a joy to use. I hit one button and everything powers up in sync. It switches inputs, sets audio correctly, and I never have to touch another remote. The remote layout is intuitive, and the scroll wheel at the top actually feels useful (not gimmicky). The backlit buttons are great for nighttime use, and the overall response time is quick. No lag when controlling devices — especially noticeable with the Apple TV and vSeeBox.The hub makes a big difference too. I can control devices even when the cabinet doors are closed, and the signal is reliable. Also, the app control feature is handy for times when the remote isn’t nearby — like when I’m on the couch and my phone’s in my hand already.Pros and ConsPros:• Controls Bluetooth, IR, and Wi-Fi devices all in one• Works seamlessly with Apple TV, Sonos ARC, Samsung OLED, and vSeeBox• Hub allows for closed-cabinet or line-of-sight-free setups• One-touch Activities work beautifully once configured• Remote has great build quality and responsive buttons• App-based customization and updates are solidCons:• Activity setup is a little finicky and has a learning curve• Some UI elements in the app could be more intuitive• Occasional trial-and-error required for niche devices (like vSeeBox)• No physical number pad if you prefer that for channel entryFinal ThoughtsIf you’re willing to spend a little time on setup, the SofaBaton X1S is easily one of the best universal remote solutions on the market right now — especially for those with a mix of newer smart devices and older equipment. It’s clean, modern, powerful, and customizable. I haven’t touched my Apple TV, Samsung, Sonos, or vSeeBox remotes since I finished configuring this thing, and that alone makes it worth every penny.Final Verdict: 9/10. Small learning curve, big payoff. This remote earned a permanent spot on my coffee table.

I purchased the X1S in September of 2024. This is the second Sofabaton X1 I've had; I bought the first X1 version a little more than a year ago, and I have been very, very pleased with both models. I use the X1S for our main sound and video system, and the original X1 with an auxiliary TV. The codes for operating several hundred thousands of devices from several thousand brands are easily download from Sofabaton's data base, or the codes from your original remote controls can be learned by the X1S. A relatively simple scripting language lets you control and operate multiple devices with one operation or "activity", so the multiple remote control devices that you would normally have to use with the various devices in your A-V setup can all be consolidated and run on one remote, the X1S, with the press of one button. The setup is relatively easy. The device is well made and feels solid in your hand. After the X1S was configured and programmed, it has operated flawlessly for the past seven months -- this has also been the case with my original X1. The X1S remote controls your various A-V devices by communicating with a "hub" using RF signals, so the remote does not have to be pointed at the device; it can be pointed anywhere, and it has an impressive range. I recently did a major equipment and carrier switch involving one of my A-V setups, replacing several Comcast cable boxes for internet, phone, and tv, with one Xfinity unit. I simply added the Xfinity box to the main "activity" I'd programmed into the X1S, which automatically included the new device into the existing program and continued to function normally with no further requirements. I am sincerely impressed with Sofabaton's products. I could ask for the moon, I suppose, but I really can't think of much more I would want in a remote control device. Having said that, I do have one suggestion that I think would make the X1S an even more flexible device, which is to add an If-Then construct to the scripting language. Here's an example of how such a construct might be used: you can easily switch input sources from within an Activity, for example, from cable tv, to Netflex, or Youtube, etc. However, depending on your equipment, the key bindings for doing things like navigating up, down, right, and left, for example, may use different codes for different devices -- the arrow keys used when watching cable TV may use one set of codes, whereas if you switch to watching Netflix within the same Activity, there is no way to also automatically switch the navigation key bindings from those used by cable TV, to those needed by Netflix. The workaround is to create separate Activities for live cable tv and streaming sources. This is a wish list item; it would be nice to have, but it doesn't impact my general satisfaction with this product.

It's the best thing I've found since Logitech cancelled the Harmony devices. Sofabaton have finally implemented (cloud) backup and restore of settings! The only difficulty is making many permutations of activities. This would be easily solved by a local text file version of backup and restore so you could make edits in a text editor, or even make your own tools for creating devices and activities. Related to that, a local API that doesn't need the cloud, would also be amazing. Those two things would make this perfect. 4/5 stars, will be easily and fully 5 stars if they implement local text file backup and restore and local APIs!