SofaBaton X1S Universal Remote with Hub and App, All in One Smart Universal Remote Control with Customize Activities, Control Up to 60 IR/Bluetooth/WiFi Devices

I purchased this as an upgrade to the original x1 remote. The refinement during setup was evident. Buttons have a satisfying click but not tool loud, the back lighting at night is bright but not too bright. The remote over all fits nicely in the hand. Battery life seems to be much improved. The matte finish on the plastic casing is much more grippy than the original making this easier to hold on to. Using this remote on a logitech z550 surround sound system connected to a Roku ultra, Sony Blu-ray player, and a Samsung tv. Compatibility for all 4 devices is there and easy to configure in the app to my surprise. I also have my sofabaton account linked with google assistant and my "watch roku" activity has everything turned on and ready to go by the time I sit in my seat. I have the hub in a wooden cabinet with glass front and the IR blasters are barely noticeable. With a couch that likes to eat everything and having 3 children, the remote finder is frequently used and does its job well. So far this seems to be a great value for money and setup was less than 30 minutes for me.

My background: I have been in various IT fields for about 25 years, many of those either working in or supervising a Help Desk or Service Desk. Generally speaking, it is my department's job to help users with technology, explain it to them, and help them use it to accomplish what they need to accomplish. I help users understand tech.I am replacing a 16+ year old Logitech Harmony remote. It was a great remote, but over the years it has really showed its age. I have 4 kids, and the Harmony has been dropped enough that I started to wonder when, not if, it was gonna die.This Sofabaton X1S system is legit amazing for a couple reasons.1. I can program everything I need on my phone. No more rummaging around for the random mini-USB cables for my Harmony. No more holding on to a laptop because it's the only device that still has the version of the software that works with my remote. Smartphone app, and you can program the Sofabaton to control all your activities, even setting delays, changing startup order and everything. I can't believe how easy this was to set up. Even the software worked well...I didn't feel like I needed to trick the software into doing what I want. It seems well designed, and well thought out, and I wish that wasn't so rare.UPDATE: Over the last few days, I have noticed that my TV has 2 kinds of "off". There's the state right when you turn it off, and then there's the state after it's been off awhile. That last state takes a bit to turn on from before it's ready to accept input. I have had to program a delay in my activities, and fine tuning that to be correct has been SUPER easy to iterate through testing without needing a laptop and special cable. Love it!2. It's not THAT complicated to set things up. I pulled this setup out of the box, and had it set up and programmed with a TV, DVD player, HDMI switch, and a sound bar in under an hour. You need to understand how a remote like this things. You set up devices, and teach the remote how to use each of your devices. How does the soundbar turn on and off? How does the TV switch inputs? Then you set up your activities. This would be "Watch a Blu-Ray" or something like that. Then, when you hit the activity, you tell the remote how to turn on all your devices and set them to the correct input, and in what order. Here is where you can program delays (like my TV needs a 1-second delay after turning on before it will accept an input change command). Even this is not terribly difficult.3. The remote does not need line of sight to ANY of your devices to operate them. The hub controls everything, and the remote just tells the hub what to control and when. My kids had an amazing knack for knowing exactly when I was trying to turn on my TV, set it to the right input, and then turn on the DVD player, and they'd walk in front of me so that one of the devices wouldn't be set right, and it was annoying to unravel.4. If the hub can't control one of your devices because it's in a weird spot on your cabinet, there are 2-3 IR blasters included with the hub that you can route around your cabinet a bit, and stick to the underside of a shelf or whatever you need in order to control that device. For example, my HDMI switch is tucked into the corner of my cabinet, and I like where it is. So I had to route a small cable around the outside and stick the IR blaster to the backside of the fascia piece to my entertainment center. Now it's flawless when controlling my HDMI switch!5. Rechargeable remote, with USB-C connector. I love USB-C. I love that my laptop, my phone, my Nintendo Switch controller, my Steam controller, and now my remote uses USB-C to charge. I happen to have a USB-C cable on my side table for just this kind of thing, and I love that I didn't need to install some sort of proprietary dock to charge it.6. It's responsive! My old remote had a bit of a delay on certain devices and I could never make that any better. My son noticed right away how much more quickly I could scroll through menus on my TCL Roku TV. So much nicer when you have to navigate an on-screen keyboard to search for a video or something.Overall, the thing just seems well-designed and well-thought out. I can't yet comment on longevity or durability, but the SofaBaton folks really thought about what would make your experience with this device better/easier...and they succeeded. I thought for a long time about whether this X1S system was worth the money. It depends on your budget, but if you're in the market for a premium device, this guy fits the bill quite well.Rest assured, I will come back and update this review if I have any problems, but even my son was pleased with how well the SofaBaton X1S worked. I am so pleased with this purchase, and look forward to the family getting the opportunity to use it.

The Sofabaton X1S is a solid universal remote that's easy to use. Its sleek design feels comfortable to hold and intuitive to use. I like the fact that it lights up and turns on when picked up. The setup process is relatively simple due to its compatibility with a wide range of devices.The app integration allows for easy customization and the ability to add devices quickly, making it a convenient choice for those looking to combine their remotes.However, while it performs well overall, there are a few areas where it could be improved. After pressing an activity, it sometimes takes time for it to start. While the remote is generally reliable, I did have some power on and off issues, but not too bad. My setup only had 2 pieces of equipment, so my activities weren't too complicated.Overall, the Sofabaton X1S is a good option for those looking to consolodate their home entertainment setup, offering a balance of functionality, design, and ease of use at a reasonable price.