It's far more convenient to have one remote that does everything than a small arsenal of remotes.
The main reason to buy a smart remote is convenience. If your smart remote comes with an integrated app, you can control your devices via your smartphone or tablet. While you can expect a bit of a learning curve when starting to use your new remote, it shouldn't feel like a chore. Look for a smart remote with user-friendly controls. If you feel like you need a degree in computer science just to switch between controlling your TV and your lighting system, you're making your life harder than it needs to be. It's important to consider how easy or hard to use your chosen smart remote is. WiFi or Bluetooth: Many smart remotes can also control devices via WiFi or Bluetooth, usually with the help of a hub or integrated smartphone app. Others use radio frequency (RF), which many consider superior because you don't have to be within the line of sight of a device to control it. IR or RF: Some smart remotes use IR to control basic entertainment devices such as TVs, Blu-ray or DVD players, and stereos. The best remotes feature a range of methods to easily operate a range of devices. Different smart remotes use different methods of control in order to communicate with and operate devices.
