Everything was simple to set up, though I did find myself switching between the remote and my smartphone depending on what I was trying to control. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Unlike earlier Harmony remotes, which required you to plug them into your computer via USB to set them up, the Harmony Ultimate Home can be set up right from your phone. The hub can be hidden within a cabinet, so long as the two included IR transmitters can "see" the devices you want to control. The $350 Harmony Ultimate Home combines the company’s universal remote control and hub controller with two infrared blasters for beaming signals to home … Read helpful reviews from our customers. The very first harmony remotes come with the basic shape so that people get familiar with this easily. Once connected to Wi-Fi, the app can automatically scan the network for any connected devices it can control. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Without question, the slickest universal remote on the market is the Logitech Harmony Elite. The larger, rounded bottom and tapered top, and soft, grippy material coating the bottom makes for the most comfortable remote yet. The bottom third of the Harmony 665 is more bulbous than the top part (to accommodate the two AA batteries), but it balanced nicely in my hand. Took a chance on the Harmony Ultimate Home, and was rewarded. It automatically recognized a Samsung HDTV, an Apple TV ($69.00 at Groupon) box, a Roku Streaming Stick ($69.91 at Amazon) , Sonos Play:1 ($149.00 at Amazon) speakers, and Philips Hue ($180.00 at Amazon) lights. Supports voice control via Amazon's Alexa. The Harmony App allows you to control your home theater devices using your phone or tablet. Logitech's Harmony Companion extends the power of the standalone Harmony Hub, and is a good value for users with basic entertainment and smart-home needs. The Harmony App allows you to control your home theater devices using your phone or tablet. Harmony Hub Placed near your television, cable/satellite box, game console and other equipment, it uses Infrared (IR), Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi to control your various devices. The initial setup process also guides you through making a list of your favorite channels for quick access while watching TV. I found this setup to be much easier than previous Harmony remotes. Then it lets you add favorite channels, by entering your ZIP code, and selecting your cable or satellite provider. So is the Harmony Ultimate Home worth the $250 premium? While not as robust as other smart home hubs, the wide degree of integration already available with the Ultimate Home -- as well as the promise of more to come -- makes it useful not only for those with comprehensive entertainment systems, but those looking for a way to control everything in their house. For the amount of power and flexibility it puts at your fingertips, the Harmony Ultimate Home is an easy Editors' Choice for universal remotes. There's also a way to add any missing devices and teach the remote the proper commands, but I didn't have to do this. It would have been great, for example, to be able to use the arrow buttons to dim the lights, or press a single button to open and lower the shades. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. However, using the Harmony iOS app, I liked that I could control the colors of the Philips Hue lights, and not just their overall brightness. Pros: Extensive device compatibility. In addition to all of the usual suspects in my home theater setup (TV, cable box, etc. Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home The most intuitive Harmony remote for a more intuitive home Make movie night more epic, date night cozier or happy hour happier with the most powerful and intuitive Harmony remote yet. This universal remote control for my entertainment system can also act as a smart home hub like the Quirky Wink, and let me dim the lights, close the shades, lock the doors and even change the temperature, all from my couch. While not as expansive as a smart home hub such as the Quirky Wink, the Logitech Ultimate Home can control a number of smart home devices. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. New York, Harmony Ultimate Home is, in my opinion, a step sideways for the Harmony long line of excellent remotes. That's pretty handy, and lets you use the remote with other smart home devices, such as those from Belkin WeMo and Quirky Wink. Harmony Ultimate Home remote enables one-touch Activity based control of your home entertainment and home automation systems. Alex Colon is the managing editor of PCMag's consumer electronics team. The bottom third of the Harmony 665 is more bulbous than the top part (to accommodate the two AA batteries), but it balanced nicely in my hand. The problem is that it costs a whopping $129.99, which is a good deal more than many other hubs like Staples Connect and Wink, and more expensive than the buying the $99.99 Home Hub itself. We go hands-on with the Harmony Ultimate Home, a remote control system that controls all of the connected devices in your home — from Sonos to … The Ultimate Home will also work with SmartThings and PEQ smart home hubs. Logitech is good at making things and the Harmony Elite is a reminder as to why. Here is the complete list: The Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home remote can control a universe of smart home devices as well as your TV. And while not perfect, the Harmony Ultimate Remote is the best universal remote on the market that is … The Harmony Ultimate Home is a natural extension of the progress Logitech has already made with its previous remote controls. Its $349.99 price tag still makes it hard to justify if you don't have a complex home theater setup or a ton of connected devices, and Z-Wave and ZigBee device compatibility will require you to buy an additional extender. Harmony Ultimate remote enables one-touch Activity based control of your home entertainment system. Follow Michael A. Prospero @mikeprospero and on Google+. This is the best remote control available today, especially considering the price versus more expensive models. You will receive a verification email shortly. This Harmony support page shows what products currently work with the Harmony Ultimate Home remote. It’s a must for any smart home and works with most home entertainment equipment. There's a covered micro USB port on the bottom, in between two metal contacts that let you charge the remote in an included cradle. He previously covered mobile technology for PCMag and Gigaom. For a full list of supported devices, you can check out Logitech's site, but you're getting a lot of added value for the money. You can easily dim lights, and turn them on or off using the remote. For television, for instance, it's hard to beat Logitech's comfortable remote. Toward the bottom of the remote is a number pad; above that are DVR controls such as pause/play and record, and above these is a four-way directional pad flanked by volume and channel rockers. So, to the Watch DishTV activity, I could also have the Philips Hue lights turn on to a preset brightness, the Nest thermostat change to a particular temperature, and the Lutron shades drop to a certain level. But for lighting it can be slightly less useful. Of course, this ability has been available on Harmony remotes for years. I plugged in the hub as well as the two IR blasters, then downloaded the free Harmony app to my iPhone 5s. Conclusions Since you can do so much from the Hub itself, it might seem excessive to spend $350 on the entire setup. This is a great option for when you don’t have the remote nearby or you’re in another room. The look and feel of Logitech's high-end remotes haven't changed much in the last few years, but that's not a bad thing. The devices that are eligible to install Harmony OS 2.0 developer beta include Huawei P40 and P40 Pro, Mate 30 series, and MatePad Pro lineup tablets. Like the Harmony Ultimate, the Elite can control up to 15 different home theater devices, compared to eight on the Home Control. On the contrary, the complaints are always about some high-end home automation system. Combined with a soft, grip-like material coating the bottom, I'll come out and say it: This remote feels really good in the hand. Although my review unit came in black, a white version is also available Like the previous generation, the Ultimate Home requires a hub to connect to the Internet and smart home devices, as well as the compo… After charging the remote and finding a place for the Hub, you must download the Harmony app to your Android or iOS device. For those who want to control everything from the comfort of their living room, there's no other remote like it. Harmony Home works with most iPhone and iPad models (including the iPhone 4S or later, the third-generation iPad or later, and the fifth-generation iPod touch or later) as well as devices running Android 4.0 and up. While it can't interact directly with the Wink hub yet, Logitech also released the API for the Harmony remote, so that it will be easier to integrate it with other smart home devices in the future. For more on the Home Hub ($89.99 at Logitech) , check out our full review. As a happy Logitech Harmony remote control user, I've managed to avoid that direction. By adding the ability to control smart home devices, this universal remote becomes even more universal. Logitech Harmony Elite review Though it's expensive, the Logitech Harmony Elite universal remote control is a big upgrade from the last version, and great for the highly connected home. It's a sharp-looking, intuitive way to connect just about every digital device you in your home. At the top of the remote are four macro buttons: Watch TV, Watch a Movie, L… Toward the bottom of the remote is a number pad; above that are DVR controls such as pause/play and record, and above these is a four-way directional pad flanked by volume and channel rockers. Of the half-dozen remotes on my coffee table, it's the most comfortable and w… Aside from the Philips Hue lights and Nest thermostat, the remote can also control Lutron Caseta lighting, Lutron Serena window shades, August smart locks and the Honeywell smart Wi-Fi thermostat. The Harmony Ultimate Home bundle includes the namesake remote, the Home Hub, a pair of IR blasters (for use with gear tucked behind doors), a … 1 of 5 Whereas the Harmony Ultimate offered support for gadgets like the Nest Learning Thermostat and Philips Hue, the Harmony Ultimate Home takes things further into full-on home automation territory. (You'll also need to create a free Harmony account). As well it should it be, too; it costs $350 at the time of this review. 75. Once you get the hang of it, though, it's not difficult to set up more complex activities (Watch a Movie, for instance, turns my television and Blu-ray player on and the lights off). https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/logitech-harmony-ultimate-home. For example, the Watch DishTV Activity had buttons that replicated functions on the actual Dish remote. It’s compatible with over 270,000 entertainment devices from … Read Full Review. I've been testing a lot of smart home gadgets in my abode, from the Nest thermostat to the Philips Hue lights to connected Crock-Pots. Also, the fact that the Logitech Hub lacks Zigbee and Z-Wave receivers (unlike, say, the Wink) means that devices that use those wireless standards will have to connect to another hub before you could control them with the Ultimate Home. PCMag Digital Group. Support for a wide range of digital home devices. It's a good arrangement that places the buttons you use most often closest to your hand. On the physical Harmony Home Control remote, there are only a few automation buttons, so you don't get all the control options and feedback that the more expensive Ultimate Home … Simple, but easier than my usual process of turning on the TV with one remote and the cable box with another. Logitech Harmony Ultimate review. Plus you'll still be able to flip through channels when you're using your smartphone for other things, like making a call. I have owned several predecessors of the Ultimate Home, including the 51, two 880s, 890, and now the Ultimate Home. The cradle for the Ultimate is the same one that comes with the Touch. So this review is more a long term review. Follow us @TomsGuide, on Facebook and on Google+. It takes the place of last year's Harmony Ultimate ($319.00 at Amazon) , and in many ways is a very similar controller. But in addition to a new white paint job (a classic black version is also available), the Harmony Ultimate Home has added support for a wide array of connected home devices, allowing you to control just about every digital device you own right from your smartphone or the remote itself. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home is the ultimate universal remote, able to control just about every digital device in your home. NY 10036. This is a great option for when you don’t have the remote nearby or you’re in another room. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks as well. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate looks like, well, a remote. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate is a very good universal remote with so many features including radio frequency, Wi-Fi, IR, Bluetooth, and a colorful 2.4 inches display that can recognize some of the gestures. It just feels right. It has the shape and feel of a standard remote control, albeit one with a 2.4-inch touch screen in the middle. However, the Harmony 665 works via infrared (IR) only, so you can’t hide any of your entertainment center’s components, and this remote can’t be used to control smart-home devices. The app will guide you through the setup process, in which you'll have to pair your phone and the Hub via Bluetooth, then provide the password for your Wi-Fi access point. Supports voice control via Amazon's Alexa. Then, I paired the app to the hub, and connected the hub to my Wi-Fi network. The remote itself feels more solid and clean. Design Aside from the option of a snazzy new white model, the Harmony Ultimate Home could easily be mistaken for the Harmony Ultimate. The Harmony Ultimate Home should really be considered the predecessor to the Harmony Elite rather than a lesser model. Harmony Home Hub Placed near your television, cable/satellite box, game console and other equipment, it uses Infrared (IR), … Though he does the majority of his reading and writing on various digital displays, Alex still loves to sit down with a good, old-fashioned, paper and ink book in his free time. The remote itself feels more solid and clean. Although my review unit came in black, a white version is also available. Logitech Harmony Elite review: The top of the line in universal remotes Extreme power and flexibility, but you’ll pay for the privilege. I like that a small power icon now appears next to the active activity. © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. Keep an eye on your inbox! This only takes about a minute or two. The Harmony Ultimate One lets you use the same simple swipe and type touchscreen motions to control your home theater system. The $350 Harmony Ultimate Home combines the company’s universal remote control and hub controller with two infrared blasters for beaming signals to home … Visit our corporate site. It measures 7.3 by 2.2 by 1.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.77 ounces, which feels substantial, but not heavy. Took a chance on the Harmony Ultimate Home, and was rewarded. On the contrary, the complaints are always about some high-end home automation system. Pressing the icon on the lower left of the screen lets you control the devices you have synced to the remote, and an icon on the lower right lets you change settings and troubleshoot the system. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate is no joke; in fact, it’s the Cadillac of universal remotes. Read helpful reviews from our customers. Unfortunately, you don't get support for popular connection protocols like Z-Wave and ZigBee out of the box. Hub needs an extender for Z-Wave and ZigBee compatibility. Logitech includes two IR blaster cables, which you can run to nearby components in order to control them even if they're behind a cabinet. With a flick of your finger you can quickly swipe and scroll to navigate to your entertainment choices. For example, I created an Activity called Watch DishTV, which turned on the TV, my satellite box and my stereo, and turned them all to the correct settings. © What makes the Ultimate Home different is the ability to incorporate smart home devices into these activities. This includes not only your TV and cable box, but Apple TV, Roku, Xbox 360, Xbox One and the PS3. ), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard Review, Sevenhugs Smart Remote Knows What You're Pointing at, Control Your Harmony Remote With Amazon Alexa, New Dish Remote Comes With Touchpad, Voice Control, Control Your House With Savant's Universal Remote, Logitech Adds Harmony Smart Keyboard to Universal Remote Mix, The Best Bluetooth Headphones for Running. Today's best Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home deals, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, 8 Biggest Tech Rip-Offs and How To Avoid Them, Chiefs vs Saints live stream: How to watch online right now, Bears vs Vikings live stream: How to watch NFL week 15 game online now, Where to buy PS5 — PS5 restock tracker for Best Buy, Walmart and more, Cyberpunk 2077 bugs: The very best of the worst, NFL live stream: How to watch every NFL week 15 game online, Controls a wide range of smart home devices, Can't control as many smart home devices as other hubs. Not only does this device have the remote AND the ability to use your mobile device, but it also restores the lost functionality of the earlier Harmony 1000 and 1100 to add additional programming steps as … This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Once everything has been added, you can set up a number of IFTTT-like activities (basically programming connected products to work together automatically with the push of a single button). The remote itself can display the proper channels and network logos if you enter your cable service provider or zip code, making it an excellent TV companion. Harmony Home Hub Placed near your television, cable/satellite box, game console and other equipment, it uses Infrared (IR), … For instance, I set up an activity called Watch TV, which turns on my television and cable box at the same time. (You can set it up using a PC connection, if you're so inclined.). While you can map the physical buttons on the remote to different functions for your entertainment system, you can't change the buttons to control smart home devices. It’s obvious from first glance, largely owing to the large touchscreen that dominates the … Harmony Ultimate Home remote enables one-touch Activity based control of your home entertainment and home automation systems. If the $349 price tag for the remote and hub is too high, Logitech also sells the hub alone for $99, which lets you control everything using your smartphone. I have owned several predecessors of the Ultimate Home, including the 51, two 880s, 890, and now the Ultimate Home. In this video, I give my review of the Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home remote and give some examples in how its used. For the most part, Logitech's newest remote is just as easy to use as previous models. Your subscription has been confirmed. Excellent home theater support. The Harmony Ultimate ($319.00 at Amazon) remote itself looks and feels almost identical to the Harmony Touch. It's still a conventionally shaped remote control centered around a … However, the Harmony 665 works via infrared (IR) only, so you can’t hide any of your entertainment center’s components, and this remote can’t be used to control smart-home devices. But if you want to change the color of your Philips Hue lights, you'll need to use the Harmony app, which gives you a more advanced set of controls. Support for a wide range of digital home devices. The on-screen controls for the Harmony Ultimate Home have been slightly refined; the background now fades from turquoise to blue. However, if the firmware on the remote needs to be updated, you'll still have to plug it into your laptop via USB. 1 of 5 There was a problem. Best Buy has honest and unbiased customer reviews for Logitech - Harmony Ultimate Home - White. SetupSetup is even easier this time around, as it all takes place right from your smartphone (though you can still set things up on your computer using Logitech's Harmony Web app if you choose to do so). Central to the Harmony Ultimate Home's interface are macros, called Activities, which let you control a number of devices with the push of one button. Excellent home theater support. I had the Harmony 650, but hated using another remote to control the PS3 and PS4. Like the previous generation, the Ultimate Home requires a hub to connect to the Internet and smart home devices, as well as the components of your entertainment system via IR. If you previously had a Harmony remote, the app will then copy the settings to your new remote. The Ultimate has the same contoured design as its predecessors, with a larger, rounded bottom and tapered top. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 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