SofaBatonX1S Universal Remote, All in One Universal Remote Control with Hub & APP, One-Touch Activities, Compatible with 60+Devices, IR/Bluetooth/WiFi/Alexa/Google Assistant, Raise to Wake

I purchased the X1S in September of 2024. This is the second Sofabaton X1 I've had; I bought the first X1 version a little more than a year ago, and I have been very, very pleased with both models. I use the X1S for our main sound and video system, and the original X1 with an auxiliary TV. The codes for operating several hundred thousands of devices from several thousand brands are easily download from Sofabaton's data base, or the codes from your original remote controls can be learned by the X1S. A relatively simple scripting language lets you control and operate multiple devices with one operation or "activity", so the multiple remote control devices that you would normally have to use with the various devices in your A-V setup can all be consolidated and run on one remote, the X1S, with the press of one button. The setup is relatively easy. The device is well made and feels solid in your hand. After the X1S was configured and programmed, it has operated flawlessly for the past seven months -- this has also been the case with my original X1. The X1S remote controls your various A-V devices by communicating with a "hub" using RF signals, so the remote does not have to be pointed at the device; it can be pointed anywhere, and it has an impressive range. I recently did a major equipment and carrier switch involving one of my A-V setups, replacing several Comcast cable boxes for internet, phone, and tv, with one Xfinity unit. I simply added the Xfinity box to the main "activity" I'd programmed into the X1S, which automatically included the new device into the existing program and continued to function normally with no further requirements. I am sincerely impressed with Sofabaton's products. I could ask for the moon, I suppose, but I really can't think of much more I would want in a remote control device. Having said that, I do have one suggestion that I think would make the X1S an even more flexible device, which is to add an If-Then construct to the scripting language. Here's an example of how such a construct might be used: you can easily switch input sources from within an Activity, for example, from cable tv, to Netflex, or Youtube, etc. However, depending on your equipment, the key bindings for doing things like navigating up, down, right, and left, for example, may use different codes for different devices -- the arrow keys used when watching cable TV may use one set of codes, whereas if you switch to watching Netflix within the same Activity, there is no way to also automatically switch the navigation key bindings from those used by cable TV, to those needed by Netflix. The workaround is to create separate Activities for live cable tv and streaming sources. This is a wish list item; it would be nice to have, but it doesn't impact my general satisfaction with this product.

The X1S does what it is designed to do. There is a learning curve, but if you are tech savvy, it is not too difficult to master.Pro’sBuild qualityCustomizationFlexibilityErgonomicsCon’sApp seems unfinishedNo PC version of the appMissing home automation integrationThe first thing you notice about the X1 is its ergonomic design. It fits comfortably in the hand, and the buttons are intuitively laid out, except for the “back” button which is not well placed. I do not find myself using the “back” button often, so it is not that big of a deal for me. The backlight when lifted is a nice feature and also the backlight can be triggered by touching the scroll wheel or any button. Overall, the build quality is very good.Setting up the X1 is a bit cumbersome until you learn how the app flows together. The app guides you through the process step by step, and you can have your devices connected in no time. The ability to customize the buttons and create macros for specific actions is a bonus, allowing you to tailor the remote to your specific needs.Here is a tip; when creating Activities, make sure to add every device that is on the device screen. You cannot add a device later and you will find that even if you end up not needing a device, it does not hurt performance in any way to have them available for macros within an activity. Second tip; if you add all your devices, you do not necessarily want them to power on. Change the power settings to “the remote does not have a power button” or “always on” for all the devices. You can control the power of the individual devices via the startup/shutdown settings when setting up the activity. I do not use the voice capabilities, so I only know what they claim on their website.The negative with the app is that you cannot backup and restore activities. This makes things more complicated than need be. Some suggestions for the app team. Add a backup/restore Activity function. Add a duplicate function for Activities, Macros, Key mapping. Allow for Macros and favorites to be arranged/sorted by the customer just like Activities can be. Please make a Windows/Mac App so that the X1S can be programmed on a PC. Working on a phone or tablet to make complex Activities/Macros is a real pain. It would be so much easier if Activities/Macros could be imported from an Excel spreadsheet.Overall, I am impressed by the X1S. It does what it claims and does it with a satisfying feel in the hand. I know there are some new competitors out there that have other features and maybe higher end hardware. For the price that Sofabaton is asking, it is hard to not to be impressed with what they have on offer. For less than $200 you have a great deal of value. Hard to compare it to the others that want $400-2000 for a customizable universal remote.