7 Best LG TV Remotes for 2026

In this blog post, I will share my recommendations for the best LG TV remotes worth buying right now.

Life’s Good — If Your LG Remote Works

Did you know LG (Life’s Good) is one of the largest Smart TV manufacturers in the world? Their OLED TVs and LG Signature panels show up everywhere, and so do their flaky stock remotes. If yours is dropping voice commands, lagging on the Magic pointer, or fighting you on input switches and set-top box pairing, you are in the right place.

I have reviewed nearly two hundred universal remote control options on this site, and I have personally tested every Sofabaton model on the market.

This list narrows the field for the best LG TV remotes I have tested across price and complexity: a flagship I use every day, a step-down premium option, a budget universal, an accessibility specialist, two LG-branded OEM options for older LG TVs, and a budget replacement for any new LG TV owner who just wants a working clicker. For broader market context, see the universal remote controls market analysis from Polaris Market Research.

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Best LG TV Remotes: Comparison Table

Here’s how the best LG TV remotes compare side by side.

Specs	A Smarter Touchscreen Hub Sofabaton X2	For Home Theater Tweakers Sofabaton X1S	Simple Universal Value Sofabaton U2	Big Buttons, Low Friction Flipper Big Button	Native LG Experience LG Magic Remote
Controls Home Theater Devices	Yes	Yes	Limited	Limited	Limited
Controls Smart Home Devices	Yes	Limited	No	No	No
Voice Assistants	Alexa, Google, Home Assistant	Alexa, Google	No	No	LG voice (model-dependent)
Display Type	2.4-inch HD touchscreen	Color LCD with scroll wheel	Small OLED	None	Pointer UI on TV
Devices Supported	Up to 50	Up to 60	Up to 15	TV plus one source	LG TV only
Battery	Rechargeable plus dock	Rechargeable	Two AA	Two AA	Two AA
Backlit Buttons	Yes	Yes	Limited	No	Model-dependent
Streaming Services	Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Shield	Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Shield	Limited	TV plus box	LG webOS apps
Best For	Whole-home control	Premium without touchscreen	Older LG TVs and bedrooms	Accessibility-first homes	LG-only households

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#1 – Sofabaton X2: Editor’s Choice

The Sofabaton X2 tops my list of the best LG TV remotes for a reason. Sofabaton sent me one to test as part of our partnership, and it earns its spot through seamless control of a real range of smart features. One-Touch Activities fire reliably, the touchscreen puts favorite TV shows and macros one tap away, and whole-home IR coverage reaches an LG TV in a cabinet.

For an LG OLED setup with a streamer, soundbar, set-top box, or blu-ray player, the X2 consolidates everything into one device with seamless control. Sofabaton’s database covers most major brands you would actually own, so pairing each device is closer to selecting a product specifications entry than typing in codes. Voice commands through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Home Assistant turn “Movie Night” into a single tap that powers the TV, switches the input, dims the lights, and starts streaming.

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#2 – Sofabaton X1S: Premium Pick

The X1S is the remote I tested for months before the X2 launched, and it remains a serious contender among the best LG TV remotes for shoppers focused on key features without a touchscreen. The LCD, scroll wheel, and 60-device cap deliver instant compatibility with most living-room stacks, and the activity flows hold up after the first setup pass.

For LG Smart TV owners who want premium control with ergonomic design, the X1S hits the sweet spot. Backlit buttons, Alexa and Google Assistant integration, and IR plus Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and RF coverage make it a strong fit for mixed-device living rooms with media players, soundbars, and streaming hardware.

Video Review

Here’s the X1S in action across a real living-room setup.

Video Credit: iVax

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#3 – Sofabaton U2: Budget Universal

I have owned the U2 since it launched and run it in a bedroom setup with an older LG TV and a single streamer. The latest backlit version fixed the U1’s biggest weakness and the redesigned battery cover finally stays put.

The U2 supports up to fifteen devices, intuitive ways to change channels, and a simple point-and-press flow that everyone in the house can use. It will not run a smart home, but it covers power, volume, and input switching without drama. For older LG TVs or for anyone who wants to retire a previous remote control without learning new software, the U2 lands among the best LG TV remotes in the budget tier.

Video Review

Here’s a real-world demo of the U2’s setup flow and button feel.

Video Credit: SOFABATON

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#4 – Flipper Big Button: Best for Accessibility

The Flipper is not trying to compete with the Sofabatons, and that is the point. Among third-party alternatives in this category, it is the one I keep recommending for older relatives. Oversized buttons, only the controls people actually use, and a layout nobody finds intimidating. Pair it with an LG TV in a single-source setup and the remote works the way the original LG clicker should have. Among the best LG TV remotes for accessibility-first homes, the Flipper has earned its spot through pure usability.

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#5 – LG Magic Remote: Best OEM Option

If you want the original LG experience, genuine Magic Remotes remain the right answer. They pair natively with compatible LG OLED and LG Signature panels, support voice commands through LG’s own assistant, and give you the cleanest navigation through LG Channels and the webOS app menu on a new LG TV.

The catch is model compatibility, which varies year by year. Always check the right LG TV pairing — your specific model and Magic Remote variant must match. A 2024 Magic Remote pairs cleanly with 2024-2026 LG OLED TVs but will not work on a 2018 set. If your setup is LG-only and the user experience of the original webOS interface matters more than universal flexibility, this remains one of the best LG TV remotes in the OEM tier.

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#6 – LG Factory Remote: Basic OEM Backup

The LG Factory Remote is the no-frills option for a guest room, secondary TV, or simple emergency replacement. It restores the basic TV control your previous remote control provided — power, volume, channel, and input — with no additional feature you do not need.

Among the best LG TV remotes for emergency duty, this one is the best replacement when all you need is exactly what the original provided.

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#7 – Gvirtue Universal: Bargain Backup

Among third-party alternatives, the Gvirtue is the cheapest LG universal pick I keep recommending. It will not impress a home theater enthusiast, but it covers the basics for under fifteen dollars and pairs without setup software.

If your LG OLED is in the bedroom and you mostly need to change channels, swap inputs for a streamer or set-top box, and bump the volume, the Gvirtue covers the ground. Confirm Amazon stock before checkout — this category cycles inventory faster than the premium tier, and the best LG TV remotes in the bargain bracket do not stay on the product page for long.

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FAQs

Here are the questions readers send me most about the best LG TV remotes.

1. Do universal remotes work well with LG OLED TVs?

Yes. The best LG TV remotes for OLED owners are universal models that handle multiple devices reliably across IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols. Sofabaton’s X2 and X1S lead the category for full home-theater integration. Magic Remote remains the cleanest OEM option but will not reach external streamers, soundbars, or media players.

2. Can a single remote replace both my LG Magic Remote and my soundbar clicker?

Yes. A premium universal remote consolidates an LG Magic Remote, a soundbar controller, a streamer remote, and any other IR or Bluetooth devices into one clicker. The Sofabaton X2 supports fifty devices simultaneously and ranks among the best LG TV remotes for whole-room consolidation; the X1S handles sixty.

3. Are LG Magic Remotes compatible with all LG Smart TV models?

No. Magic Remote compatibility is model-year specific. A 2024 Magic Remote pairs cleanly with 2024-2026 LG Smart TVs but will not work on a 2018 OLED. Before buying any of the best LG TV remotes from LG’s OEM lineup, confirm the TV’s model year and verify the Magic Remote variant against LG’s compatibility chart.

4. Do voice commands matter more than button layout on a universal remote?

Button layout matters more long-term. Voice commands help with search and quick app launches, but most daily actions reduce to repeatable physical controls. Among the best LG TV remotes tested, models with backlit buttons and intuitive layouts deliver more daily satisfaction than voice-first designs that demand precise wake-word phrasing.

5. What is the difference between the Sofabaton X2 and X1S for an LG setup?

The X2 adds a touchscreen, charging dock, Home Assistant integration, and fifty-device support. The X1S handles sixty devices through an LCD-and-scroll-wheel interface and skips the dock. For LG OLED owners running streamers and soundbars, the best LG TV remotes balance device count against display type. Both remain top-tier picks.

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Save This Guide for Later

I made a Pinterest pin so this list of the best LG TV remotes is easy to come back to. If you are on Pinterest, give it a save and the picks are one click away the next time you are shopping for an LG remote.

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Best LG TV Remotes: Verdict

The right remote replaces every clicker in the room and survives whatever LG cooks up next. Pick the one that matches the household, not just the spec sheet.

• Choose Sofabaton X2 if you want the touchscreen, charging dock, and full home-theater orchestration.
• Choose Sofabaton X1S if you want flagship control depth at a lower price point.
• Choose LG Magic Remote if your setup is LG-only and OEM polish matters more than universal flexibility.

Older LG TVs deserve a second look at the Sofabaton U2 before settling for a basic factory remote, and households with elderly users or accessibility needs should put the Flipper at the top of their list. For a deeper look at the Sofabaton flagship innovative features and how the two compare against similar products in the universal category, my Sofabaton X2 versus X1S breakdown covers the differences in detail and shows the best way to choose between them.