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Looking for the best RCA TV remotes: In this article, I provide a thorough review of the five best remotes for both RCA smart and traditional TVs.
So what are the best RCA TV remotes? Here are my five picks organized from most to least expensive:
- Best Overall: Logitech Harmony Elite
- Solid Runner-Up: Harmony Companion
- Best App: Logitech Harmony Hub
- Best OEM Replacement: RCA 4-Device
- Budget Pick: GE Backlit 8 Device
Three of these will let you control your smart devices as well as home theater equipment, one is an app you can use with your smartphone or tablet, and the last two are super affordable budget replacement options. My goal is to help you find the perfect remote for your needs and budget.
The Best RCA TV Remotes?
When I see the acronym RCA, it conjures up childhood memories of watching a “state of the art” 15-inch color TV in my family’s tiny den.Even though I’m pretty old, the RCA company and its history of TV making certainly pre-dates me. They have been around forever. They were founded in 1919 and began TV development in 1929 [source Wikipedia].
Today, most RCA TVs are sold by Walmart. And the RCA brand has become known for providing decent quality TVs often at ridiculously low prices. As of this writing, you can get *70* INCH 4K TV over at Walmart for less than $600. That’s pretty crazy.
Many of these TVs also offer Roku bundled in, so you also get a ton of streaming media apps (including Netflix) without having to buy a separate player.
Sadly though, the remotes that come with most RCA TVs these days are just plain yucky.
In this article, my aim is to introduce to some awesome universal remote replacements. If all you really want to do is replace an existing RCA remote, I’ll give you a couple of options for doing that too on the cheap.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”You can get a 70 inch RCA Smart TV with Roku over at Walmart for less than $600. That’s pretty crazy. #rcatv #walmarttv” quote=” You can get a 70 inch RCA Smart TV with Roku over at Walmart for less than $600. That’s pretty crazy.” theme=”style4″]📚 Related: 11 Best Universal Remotes This Year
RCA Remotes: Price Comparison Table
Here is a quick price comparison table that shows all five remotes side-by-side [they will appear stacked on mobile].
Tip: On a desktop computer you may need to expand your browser window to see all five products.
Last update on 04/02/2024 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Overall: Logitech Harmony Elite
Ah, the Logitech Harmony Elite. This is Logitech’s top of the line remote, and my most favorite remote ever. This is the remote that I use now. It allowed me to stuff the eight remotes cluttering up my coffee table into the recycle bin forever [it will support up to 15]. The best feature is the cool color LCD screen that you can use to control activities like “Watch TV” or “Netflix and Chill.” When you press a button for the activity all required components will startup. It’s not cheap, but it is worth every penny in my opinion.
Feature Highlights
Compatibility
You can check whether your RCA TV is compatible with this remote at Logitech’s Harmony website here.
Video Review
Matt Ferrell does a nice job in reviewing the Harmony Elite over at YouTube. Thanks for the great video, Matt.
My Full Review
You can read my full review of the Harmony Elite here. This gem is more than one of the best RCA TV remotes. It is the best remote you can buy period.
Where To Buy It
You can pick up the Harmony Elite over at Amazon. It is generally Prime-eligible.
Solid Runner-Up: Harmony Companion
You can think of the Harmony Companion as a Harmony Elite, minus the touchscreen. It won’t let you control as many devices (eight instead of 15), but that may be enough for some. It will let you control both smart devices and home theater equipment. You can also get the Hub and app as well as voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Device compatibility is also the same as the Elite. Hard buttons on the ergonomically designed remote are using for controlling it all, including activities. This is a fan favorite of many in the tech industry. I like the Elite better [because of the screen], but this is a more affordable universal remote option no doubt.
Feature Highlights
Compatibility
You can check whether your RCA TV is compatible at Logitech’s Harmony website here.
Full Review
You can read my full review of the Harmony Elite here.
Where To Buy It
You can buy the Harmony Companion at Amazon.
Best RCA TV Remote App: Logitech Harmony Hub
If you think of Harmony Companion like an Elite without a screen, you can think of the Harmony Hub like a Companion without a remote. No remote you say? No. Instead you control all of your devices using the Harmony Hub and your smartphone. So this is really one of the best RCA TV remotes that actually doesn’t come with a remote!
The phone sends signals to the Hub and then in turn those signals are related to control your devices (up to eight). Controlling all of your stuff without a physical remote does take some getting used to though. However, if you like the idea of shelving your RCA remote and up to seven others in favor of an app, this may be worth a look.
Feature Highlights
Compatibility
You can check whether your RCA TV is compatible on Logitech’s Harmony website here.
Full Review
You can read my full review of the Harmony Elite here.
Where To Buy It
The Harmony Hub is also available at Amazon. You can often get it for 10% or more off list price.
Best OEM Replacement: RCA 4-Device
For the money, this really is a decent “old school” remote similar to the ones you have bought in the past. The buttons are backlit and you can also use it to control your Cable, DVD, VCR, and some streaming devices as well as your RCA TV. Full disclosure: the reviews about the “ease of installation” of this remote are mixed. You program the device using RCA’s Remote-Control Finder website, which will give you the remote codes for the devices you own. Some customers like it, some find it clunky and confusing. This is in stark contrast to Harmony’s automated PC-based setup.
Feature Highlights
Thankfully, we have Rudy from Take a Bath Productions to help guide us through the setup process.
Compatibility
You can check whether your RCA TV and devices are compatible on the RCA Remote Code Finder website.
Video Review
Thankfully, we have Rudy from Take a Bath Productions to help guide us through the setup process.
Where To Buy It
You can order up your very own RCA 4-Device remote over at Amazon here.
Budget Pick: GE Backlit 8 Device
Like the RCA OEM remote, the GE Backlist 8-Device remote is one of the best RCA TV remotes that also gets tons of solid customer reviews. This won’t let you control your smart home, or use Alexa, or create custom routines like Harmony. What it will let you do is consolidate remotes for up to eight components down to one. These include many RCA TVs, Blu-ray/DVD players, cable and satellite boxes, some Roku players and other streaming media players. It will work with Roku sticks or Fire TV Stick, however. I strongly recommend Harmony remotes for those players.
Feature Highlights
Compatibility
You can check this list of codes over DirecTutor.com to see if your device brands are compatible.
Where To Buy It
You can pick up the GE Backlit 8-Device remote over at Amazon. This one is usually Prime-eligible to boot.
Best RCA TV Remotes and App: Conclusion
In the final analysis of the best RCA TV remotes, I am going to stick to my guns and that you get the Logitech Harmony Elite to control your RCA TV.
It just gives you so much more than any remote on the market, and you get to control everything using that color LCD screen.
The two dozen remotes I have bought or been given for testing purposes are sitting in my coffee table drawer.
Xxx does a nice job in this video overview of the Harmony Elite.
However, I do get that it is expensive and will cost you about as much or more than some home theater components.
The next best remote on my list of best RCA remotes and app is the Harmony Companion. Like the Elite, it will let you control both entertainment and smart things. Plus, you get the smartphone app, and Alexa and Google integration. However, you don’t get the LCD screen.
I don’t really love the last two remotes, but if you want to consolidate your RCA remote with a few other home theater components, they will do the job just fine.
Please Like and Share
I hope you enjoyed this review of the best RCA TV remotes [and app].
If you were able to get some value from this article, would you mind giving it a quick share on social media?
Thanks, it really helps the blog out a lot, and the “social currency” gives us a little boost in Google’s rankings too!
You Might Also Like
If you enjoyed this article about the best RCA TV remotes, you might also like some of these posts:
Harmony Elite vs Companion [Side-By-Side Comparison]
Logitech Harmony Comparison Chart: Big Update!
What are the Best Universal Remotes for Roku 1 2 3 4, Express, Stick, and Plus?
7 Best Universal Remotes for Netflix
Tim Brennan is a technology blogger and hosts the @TecTimmy YouTube channel. He writes about smart homes at oneSmartcrib, home theaters at UniversalRemoteReviews, and AI in writing at Writeinteractive. A graduate of Northeastern University School of Journalism, he has written about technology for 30 years. Tim lives on the ocean in Nahant, Massachusetts.
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for a fun take on all things tech.
