Universal remotes have changed a lot as smart homes have risen in prominence. Now, we want remotes that integrate with our smart home with simple interfaces instead of many buttons and a large device library. That’s where the SwitchBot Universal Remote comes in. It can control smart home devices in the SwitchBot ecosystem and other infrared (IR) devices. It also integrates with smart home ecosystems like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Is it the remote from you? Read this review and setup guide to find out.
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Table of Contents
SwitchBot Universal Remote specs
| Dimensions: | 7.48 x 1.97 x 1.06 inches |
| Weight: | 4.7 ounces |
| Battery: | 2000mAh rechargeable lithium polymer (included) |
| Charging port: | USB-C |
| LCD screen length: | 2.4 inches |
| Device control support: | Infrared, Bluetooth, Matter |
| Matter support: | Yes (requires the Hub 2 or Hub Mini |
| Voice assistant support: | Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri/HomeKit via Matter |
The SwitchBot Universal remote boasts compatibility with over 80,000 devices and notably supports Matter. You’ll need the SwitchBot Hub 2 or Hub Mini to get Matter support. Through Matter and Bluetooth it can control smart home devices in addition to infrared devices. Fire TV and Apple TV are currently supported, with Bluetooth support for Roku and Android TV coming soon.
If you have a SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2 you’ll be able to control most the devices in the SwitchBot ecosystem with ease. This includes their robot vacuums, blind controllers, curtain controllers, and more.
What’s in the box?
The remote comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging the remote. Note that there is no power brick included, but you probably already have plenty of them. There is also a reset tool similar to a SIM card release pin. A user manual rounds out the package contents.
Editor’s Note: You can also buy the SwitchBot Universal remote directly from SwitchBot. Use the coupon code 20HOMETECH for 20% off.
SwitchBot Universal Remote initial setup
Set up is straightforward. First, you’ll need to download the SwitchBot app and create an account if you don’t already have one. In the SwitchBot app, press the “+” button at the top right to add a device. You’ll see a screen like below:
Select universal remote and follow the instructions as indicated by the screenshots below. Note there will probably be a firmware upgrade requested and you should name the device appropriately
Adding devices
Adding devices to be controlled by the remote is straightforward. You have 3 options as you can see below:
You can add IR and SwitchBot devices that have already been add to your SwitchBot hub, you can add IR devices in their database, or you can add devices from supported third party platforms.
I was able to add my Samsung Smart TV through the device database, and that worked well. I was unable to find the right codes for my Denon A/V receiver. However, in this case, I can learn the necessary IR commands using my SwitchBot Hub, and then import them to the Universal remote.
Using the SwitchBot Universal Remote
The SwitchBot Universal Remote is easy to use. It feels comfortable in your hand. The long 2.4-inch LCD screen is easy to see and navigate using the touch wheel (it is not a touch screen). The buttons are large and spaced well, which makes them easy to operate without looking at the remote.
The IR emitter was plenty powerful to reliably control my devices from anywhere in the room.
Alternative universal remotes
I recently reviewed the SofaBaton X1S. It controls more devices at the time of this article’s publication. However, it isn’t as nice looking nor does it have Matter support, which could open up possibilities for the SwitchBot Universal Remote. Also, the SofaBaton X1S is significantly more expensive.
Final thoughts
This remote has a lot of value. Although in my case the device database didn’t cover all of my devices, I was able to learn commands using the SwitchBot Hub 2. Also, the device database is growing. The killer feature is that this device supports Matter, which opens up worlds of possibilities for smart home controls.
If you are already in the SwitchBot ecosystem, or into controlling your IR and smart home devices from a remote control, be sure to consider this SwitchBot Universal Remote.
