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In this review, I am proud to present you with the best remotes for Philips TVs you can get right now. I will include universal remote options as well as OEM replacement options to replace your existing remote in the event you are in love with it.
Without further ado, here are my picks for the best universal remotes for Philips TVs:
- #1 – Best Overall: Sofabaton X1
- #2 – Best Value: Inteset Universal
- #3 – Most Versatile: Sofabaton U2
- #4 – Premium Pick: Harmony Elite
- #5 – Universal Remote App: Broadlink
- #6 – OEM Replacement 1: LouToc
- #7 – OEM Replacement 2: ZYK
- #8 – OEM Replacement 3: Philips
Let’s get you a nice remote!
Philips’ Remote Is OK, But It’s Not Universal
I am a big fan of Philips Hue bulbs. This is despite the fact that my fellow tech reviewers and YouTubers like Paul Hibbert say that the Philips company has thirst for “corporate greed.”That aside, the bulbs just work more consistently than other smart bulbs I have tried. I have written several blog posts about Philips Hue smart bulbs over at my smart home blog www.oneSmartcrib.com.
This got me thinking…..“I wonder if Philips’ line of TVs is as good as their bulbs.” And judging from numerous fans of these TVs, the answer seems to be a resounding yes!”
One thing, however, that many Philips TV customers seem to share in common is a disdain for the remote that may have come with your Philips TV. It looks like this:
I don’t hate it if I am being honest. The dedicated buttons for the Netflix and YouTube apps on the Philips TV are nice. Why they specifically chose Vudu and Google Play instead of more popular services probably has something to do with that “corporate greed” that Paul talks about.
But I digress.
The main problem with this remote is that it is limited to controlling your Philips TV and a few other devices, maybe.
📚 Related: 11 Best Universal Remotes This Year
Do Universal Remotes Work with Philips?
OK, if you have made it this far, you already know that the answer to this question is yes!
Well, friends, I am here to help you replace that remote with a bonafide universal remote that will let you control all of the equipment in your home theater.
Side note: If all you want to do is replace said remote above, it will make me sad. But I’ll show you where you can pick up one of those babies as well.
Full disclosure: I don’t own a Philips TV, but I have written enough about universal remotes (over 120 articles!) to feel very secure in these recommendations. Let’s kick things off with a side-by-side comparison of my top 3 picks.
Ok, let’s get into this.
📚 Related: GE Remote Codes for Philips TVs
Best Remotes for Philips TVs: Comparison Chart
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of key features of my top three picks for best remotes for Philips TVs of the universal variety. I will include a separate table near the end of this post with my OEM replacement remote picks for various popular TV models.
Last update on 12/09/2023 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Note: Prices are pulled in from the Amazon API and are current as of the date and time at the bottom of this table. Click the orange button to see the latest price and get more details at Amazon.
#1 – Best Overall – Sofabaton X1
My Sofabaton X1 Unboxed
With Logitech’s recent announcement that it will no longer be making Harmony remotes, I’ve been waiting for a worthy alternative to arrive on the scene for a little while. Thankfully, with the arrival of the Sofabaton X1, I can now officially say that my wait is over.
The X1 actually outshines even the higher-end Harmony remotes in some areas. For example, my Harmony Elite remote would allow me to control 15 home theater devices, whereas the x1 is virtually unlimited at 60 devices. Also, the battery life on the X1 is the best out of any remote I have ever tasted, with whopping 60 hours of run time on a single charge.
Yes, that’s right, the battery will go for two months without having to recharge it. That is just some magic right there. While the LCD displays only and not a touch screen like the Harmony Elite, I do like the way the smaller-sized X1 feels in my hand better.
Also, like Harmony’s hub-based remote line, the X1 also ships with a Hub, and it will allow you to create custom activities like “Watch Philips TV” that automatically fire up all the required components, including your TV, a soundbar, or surround sound setup, your receiver, favorite streaming player and just about anything else you want to throw in the mix.
My Sofabaton X1 Remote
The X1 also provides support for Alexa and Google Assistant out of the box and limited smart home control. Currently, smart device control is limited to Philips Hue lights and Sonos speakers, but with Sofabaton’s ever-growing database that already supports over 500,000 devices, I am confident additional smart devices will be added soon.
While it isn’t cheap, this universal remote is my top recommendation for controlling your Philips TV and just about everything else you own.
Sofabaton X1 will let you control up to 60 devices from top brands. It features backlit buttons, one-click actions for multiple devices, a long-lasting rechargeable battery, and a cool LCD screen. This is the best universal remote out there right now.
#2 – Best Value – Inteset 4-in-1
With Logitech’s recent announcement that they will no longer be manufacturing new remotes, I am confident about promoting this remote from Inteset as a solid Harmony alternative.
First, it’s affordable. Second, it works as advertised: you will need to enter remote codes, but once you do, ease of use is the order of the day. Third, it has all the features you would expect in a multi-device remote, including backlit buttons, which come in handy when using the remote in the dark.
In addition to Philips TVs, you can also use this remote control to control your DVD players, Blu-ray player, and sound system, as well as other televisions from major brands, including Samsung TVs.
The only drawback with this remote is that you are limited to control of just four devices. It does, however, perform well up against more premium remotes such as the Harmony Companion. Oh, and you can’t use it to control smart home devices or game consoles. Check out these Harmony remotes if you want to do that.
- Solid budget remote has been a fan favorite for years. It won't control your smart home, but it will control up to four home theater devices.
- Pre-programmed for Apple TV, Xbox One, Media Center, and Roku device codes, which are easily changed. Full LED Backlighting-All buttons.
📚 Related: Logitech Harmony Elite Vs Companion
Top Ten Reviews has a decent video reviewing the Inteset remote out on YouTube.
#3 – Budget Sofabaton: Sofabaton U2
Having put the Sofabaton U1 through its paces, I’ve now been hands-on with its upgrade, the Sofabaton U2. While I’m still partial to the advanced capabilities of the X1, I must admit the U2 brings significant improvements that make it a worthy upgrade from its predecessor.
This universal remote isn’t only adept at controlling your Philips Smart TV, but also capably manages a host of other devices like DVD players, Apple TV, Roku, Firestick, Kodi boxes, and more, underlining its adaptability.
The U2’s redesigned battery cover, larger buttons, extended IR range, and dimmer OLED display designed for improved battery life certainly elevates it above the U1. Furthermore, the remote feels more comfortable in my hand, thanks to the smoother edges.
Its ability to control up to 15 devices coupled with a more satisfying tactile feel makes the U2 an all-around player in the universal remote market. Just as with the U1, the U2 continues to support custom macro assignments, offering another level of personalization and convenience. However, it’s worth noting that it still lacks voice controls via Alexa or Google.
The improved Sofabaton U2 remote features a better design, more responsive buttons, enhanced infrared performance, and easier battery replacement, making it a worthy upgrade from its U1 predecessor.
📚 Related: Sofabaton Vs. Harmony: Solid Alternative?
Video Review
Video Credit: Hatoraid Cowboy Cinema#4 – Premium Pick: Harmony Elite
I own the Harmony Elite. I use it every day to control my Samsung TV and my smart home, and I love it. While setup can be a bit involved for the non-tech set depending on what you want to do, the Elite can be programmed to control just about anything out there. Your Philips TV, DVD player, set-top box, av receiver, audio surround sound setup, streaming media players, and many smart home devices can all be controlled using this remote.
While Logitech has announced it will no longer be making Harmony remotes, they are selling off remaining inventory over at Amazon, and the company has said it will continue to support the Harmony line indefinitely. Prices have gone up substantially since Logitech made the announcement.
It truly has all the functionality you could need. This includes voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, automatic detection of devices, control over most media player functions, Apple and Android TV control as well as Amazon Fire TV. Unlike its universal TV control rivals, it also has a color LCD touch screen and a nice navigation pad.
A separate smartphone application runs on iOS or Android, and the mobile app in effect, gives everyone in your house their own remote completely free.
Once the best luxury remote to own, the discontinued-but-still-supported Harmony Elite remains a premium option for home theater and smart home control—if you can get your hands on one.
Note: Smart home integration requires that you put the remote on the same wifi network as your other devices.
📚 Related: Harmony Elite: 10 Reasons This Remote Rocks
TeQreation has one of my favorite Harmony Elite reviews out on YouTube.
#5 – Hub and App: Broadlink
You might be wondering: can I just use my smartphone as a Philips TV remote? The answer is yes, thanks to Broadlink’s universal remote hub and app.
The best thing about this remote control is that you can control almost any device from almost anywhere with your smartphone as long as you have a data connection (e.g., via your home network). The only drawback compared to something like the Harmony Hub is that it won’t learn IR commands directly from your remote, so setup takes a little more effort to set up, and it won’t work for every device.
However, the virtual remote control application will run on iOS and Android, and it has a super intuitive interface with a ton of functions.
#6, 7, 8 – OEM Replacements: LouToc, ZYK & Philips
Last on my list of best remotes for Philips TVs is the budget OEM “replacement” option. These remotes essentially mimic the same remote that came with your TV.
I realize that some of you may just be looking to replace your existing Philips remote control. While your smart TV functions (for example, changing channels, adjusting the volume control, etc.) will be nearly identical to the standard remote control. You won’t be able to control other devices or your smart home though with this option.
The following table provides links to official Philips product OEM replacement remote controls:
Last update on 12/09/2023 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Can I Download a Virtual Remote Control for a Philips TV?
Yes, in addition to Broadlink, there are many other universal remote app options. These include Logitech Harmony Hub and many other remote control apps.
PhilRemote is another virtual remote control app that allows you to control a Philips television. The application works on any TV with an “intelligent screen display“ technology. The TV must also be connected to your Wi-Fi/ Ethernet network.
After you get the remote control app set up on your home network, the remote control interface has an intuitive design, and the most useful commands have been installed. You can adjust the volume and change channels using the app, of course, and the button navigation control is also well done.
Conclusion
While the remote that comes with Philips TVs isn’t all that bad, in my opinion, it is limiting in that it only lets you control your TV. This adds one more remote to the remotes already cluttering up your coffee table.
By choosing a universal remote, you can consolidate multiple remotes into just one and potentially even control your smart devices as well as a home theater. Three options here: the Sofabaton X1, Broadlink Hub, and Harmony Elite will also let you control your TV with your voice.
If you want a solid universal remote for your Philips TV at an affordable price, both Sofabaton and Inteset are good options.
I hope you found this article about the best remotes for Philips TVs helpful. Please leave me a comment below if you have any questions on anything here. Enjoy your Philips TV!
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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.
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