SofaBatonX1 Universal Remote Control with Hub, All in one Remote with Smart APP Setting, One-Touch Activities,Control 60+ Devices, Compatible Alexa & Google Assistant for Voice Control

I’m a more advanced user and this is an EARLY review. I got this for $70 “used” (probably returned previously). Lifelong Logitech and URC user. This is for my A/V rig only. My big complaint with Logitech over the years between my use and customers/friends use is buttons wearing out, mainly volume up/down on several remotes. I wanted to give this a try (despite negative reviews). If you understand advanced remotes I don’t think you’ll have major issues. This part is critical- the remote requires the base station as the remote does not itself emit IR commands. I did not place the base right by my gear and use the included IR repeater wires, instead leaving it on my end table near my chair for that to cast from there. It communicates perfectly from 12 feet away. I use it for activities that use my TV, preamp/processor, two Xbox’s, Nintendo Switch, and Blu Ray Player. The app works fine for me. I don’t know if they’ve worked out bugs or why so many people have trouble with it. If I had paid full price for this I would be disappointed in the display- this is a common issue people have. It is a tad better on the newer model but I’d say it’s still pretty minor. It’s not a touch screen. I want a quick, easy, intuitive interface (like everyone else). This remote achieves that goal. With the app you can VERY EASILY make adjustments on the fly- not having to use a PC to make adjustments and apply before checking function. Very nice to be able to make changes in real time essentially. If I had received this new (full price) I’d expect it to have a better display and last a very long time without issue. At $70 I’d give this 5 stars if I knew it would last many years, even with a subpar display. The 4 stars I gave it are because of it’s regular price and the longevity of the remote being unknown yet. I’m actually very high on this setup. Very pleased with my purchase. I hope this helps someone!

August 31, 2022: So much promise, so much disappointment. This should be the perfect remote: able to control multiple components via wifi, BT, RF and IR. Activity based and macro programmable so it can control any system. Elegant packaging with good hand feel and logical button layout. But in the end it just doesn't work.I spent about 20 hours trying to get it to work - I shouldn't have spent the time but I wanted it to work and I was confident I could get it to work. I was wrong. I have over 20 years experience working with universal remotes for both my customers and my own use: setting up macros, defining activities, teaching commands. I tried all of these things with the Sofa Baton and in the end had to admit defeat. I searched for help online and found none. During troubleshooting, the app would lose contact with the hub and I'd be left holding a brick while the app spun and spun, looking for a hub that was 3 feet away. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app; I restarted the remote and hub; I deleted all the programming and started over; I double checked (again) that the firmware had been updated. In the end I was able to get most of the individual commands to work for a while but inevitably their function was limited to occasional success only. And the activities (strings of specific commands to various components to start or stop certain functions) only worked maybe 20% of the time rendering the X1 essentially useless. Very disappointing.There is so much promise with the X1, I hope Sofa Baton gets their act together. I hope they set up a real support section on their website. (As of August 31, 2022, the website still says the X1 is coming March 2022 and there is no X1 support page.) I hope they upgrade their app so it is logical and usable with consistency from one window to the next. Is it too much to hope that they allow learned commands for all components, not just some? (See below.) If this was a $40 remote, I could forgive all these shortcomings but it is a $200 remote which makes these shortcomings fatal. I spent 3 weeks tinkering with the X1 and then returned it.I read some conflicting reviews prior to purchasing the X1 regarding control of Sonos speakers. My answer is yes, the X1 is capable of controlling a Sonos Soundbar (I didn't try it with other Sonos components). However, I had to create a workaround to make it happen. When I set up the X1 for the Sonos Soundbar, Sofa Baton provided 30 or 40 pre-programmed commands for the Soundbar which did not include MUTE, Vol UP or Vol DOWN - all of which, IMHO, are relatively important for controlling a sound source. When I navigated to the Sonos command list, editing the list was not allowed. So I went to the Samsung TV command list (which I was allowed to edit) and added these three commands via the learning function, then went to the Fire TV activity and designated these 3 commands as sound control using the TV component. This worked, except when it didn't because the X1 was busy looking for the hub.One other note. I was really surprised that included in a $200 remote control were 3 IR blasters that had OPAQUE 2-sided tape attached to them. This seems like such a no-brainer to me. You have a component (IR blaster) which needs to transmit light in order to work and one entire face of the blaster is covered with tape which blocks light! ALL of the other IR blasters I've used over the past 20 years have had clear 2-sided tape on them so you peel off the backing and stick the blaster right on to the IR receiver window, easy peasy. This is not an option for the Sofa Baton blasters. Such a small thing yet such a difference.Sofa Baton: I'm sorry for such a terrible review. Maybe I'll try the X1 in 6 months or so to see if you've cleared up some of these glitches. If so, I'll update this review.