Sofabaton X1S Smart Remote with Hub Review

#sponsored #freeproduct Large device code database, commands can be added manually, able to combine multiple remotes and utilize voice commands.
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You’ll receive the X1S remote, IR hub, two 4 ft USB-A to USB-C cables: one for charging the remote and one for the hub’s power, single and double 6ft infrared transmitters, a wall adapter and a quick start menu and instruction guide.
I’d previously reviewed the Sofabaton X1 and this is the upgraded version. The primary changes are a brighter screen, new raise to wake function, a change in the font on the OLED screen, and software and hardware upgrades behind the scenes. This universal remote still works with over 500,000 devices using infrared, Bluetooth, and WiFi connections thanks to a vast cloud library of codes. The remote control measures 7.5” long, 1.75” wide and 0.5” thick. At the top is an OLED screen with bright easy to read text. This remote uses an internal battery that charges via USB-C.
The layout of the remote is the same as the previous version with an “off” button, back, and scroll wheel for the menus, and the remaining buttons are for your controlled devices, including a 5-way navigation wheel, back, home, and menu, channel and volume keys, mute, rewind, play/pause, and fast forward and four additional programmable keys. To wake up the X1S, simply pick it up and the display will light up as well as the backlit keys. The screen shows you the battery life and has three main functions: activities, devices, and set.
The X1S hub measures 3-7/8” square by ¾” thick. On the back is a setup button, USB-C power input, and 2 IR blaster outputs. On the bottom are rubber feet and mounting key holes for wall mounting. On the front is an LED status light. On top, you’ll point the remote at the dot when manually programming a device’s remote that isn’t already in the code library. The hub needs to be plugged in with a line of sight to the devices you want to control, since it sends out IR signals in 360 degrees. However, if some devices are on shelves or in cabinets, you can use the IR extenders to communicate with those devices.
To configure the remote, download and install the Sofabaton smart remote app and login or register an account. It’s easy to add your devices’ remotes to the X1S. In the code library I can search by brand then look for the model number. If the device isn't listed, you can program it in manually.
After adding all your devices, you can combine them using the activities feature. This is where the Sofabaton takes it to the next level. You can combine multiple devices for each activity, so I can have them all turn on at the same time. You can then divy up the keys on the X1S among the devices. For activities, each button can have up to two commands for either short and long presses, giving you more flexibility. You can customize every key on the X1S and even assign macros to them. If you find that a key needs to be pressed several times to trigger, and you can tell the remote to do this automatically. In repair keys, select command repeats and choose how many additional times to send the command. Since manual programming takes a bit of time and isn’t always perfect, you can also reach out to Sofabaton tech support to see if they can add the product code to their cloud library.
One quirk you should know about is that the ‘off’ button in the top left corner only works for Activities, and not individual devices. When I press off, the menu automatically switches to my activities, even though I had a specific device selected. To execute any command, even if it’s not assigned a button, choose the device in the menu and you will see a full list of programmed commands.
Another useful feature is the ability to use Amazon Alexa for voice control by creating a routine. The remote isn’t limited to entertainment devices, however, and I was even able to manually add the remote control for our fireplace to be controlled with the Sofabaton. The possibilities are endless.
Last but not least , if you can’t locate the remote, just go in the app and tap look for remote and a built-in speaker on the X1S will beep to help you find it. You can also short press the button at the back of the hub and it will perform the same action. Press any key on the remote once you’ve found it to stop the alert.
Overall, the Sofabaton X1S is a powerful universal remote with a broad selection of devices in its code library that is updated all the time, but can also be manually programmed in a pinch. It was easy to set up, can combine multiple devices into a single controller, and even execute multi-step macros. With voice commands, it’s even more convenient and all your remote controlled devices can be integrated seamlessly into your smart home routines.
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