5 Apple TV Remote Replacements Users Swear By

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The Apple TV is one of the most interesting products sold by Apple. While most smart TVs already offer an easy way to access their favorite TV shows, movies, and games, there’s something special about the Apple TV that makes its experience much better if you’re truly in Apple’s ecosystem. Whether you have a very old Apple TV or one of the latest set-top boxes, it’s possible that you’ve dropped your remote and completely destroyed it. If so, you’re looking at a $59 replacement. If you’re not willing to pay that price, there are several Apple TV remote options that users swear by that won’t cost you as much, including Function101, Loutoc, Nettech, and more.

Some Apple TV remotes look remarkably like the real deal, while others can be used with a wide range of devices, including your own smart TV. The options have different sizes and buttons, but none of them let you interact with Siri, requiring you to use the original remote, iPhone, or Apple Watch apps.

For those looking to avoid going over budget, all of these products are priced lower than Apple’s official Apple TV remote, although the features they offer sometimes differ. If you’re tired of using your iPhone as an Apple TV remote replacement for your set-top box, CNET has picked out some of the best alternatives available right now.

The Function101 Button Remote is easily one of the best replacements on the market. Reviewed by hundreds of users, they swear this rubberized device feels just like a classic Roku clicker. According to the manufacturer, the Function101 button remote does not need to unpair your Siri remote, but works in addition to it.

With Bluetooth Low Energy, users can rest assured that this remote will last a long time, as it is truly energy efficient. Although it doesn’t have Siri voice control, the remote has all the buttons needed to control the Apple TV experience, including adjusting the volume, turning the cable box on and off, muting, navigating apps, and more.

Unlike the Apple TV remote, this one uses two AAA batteries. The manufacturer also claims that this remote works with all major streaming apps and customers can even enjoy the remote with other devices as it is not limited to the Apple TV. Costing between $30 and $40, the company also offers bundles with more remotes at once, which can make the final price much cheaper. With this, if you need to change several remote controls at your home or give gifts to family members, you can get a better price.

A more economical option, Loutoc’s replacement remote is designed as a touchscreen alternative to the SIri remote and is compatible with Apple TV 4K and HD models. Featuring more reliable physical hardware than Apple’s glass trackpad, this remote features 11 responsive touch buttons. It works via infrared connectivity and the remote control incorporates universal power and volume programming to sync with the set-top box and all major TV brands. Like the other options on this list, this one runs on two standard AAA batteries, making it easy to replace them when the time comes instead of having to find a cable to charge the remote.

Buyers praise this remote for being a budget-friendly option and offering refreshing simplicity with its “plug-and-play” performance. After all, what might make some customers opt for the official Apple replacement over an alternative is the fear that the remote won’t work. However, customers say the pairing process is very simple, with the remote working right out of the box.

That said, this is an affordable solution for those who have lost or broken their expensive original remote. This remote is perfect for customers who think the Siri remote is too flimsy, with a poor touch interface and a high price. For $9.99, this remote feels like a combination of all iterations of the Apple TV remote, preserving the best of each revision.

Also similar to Apple’s current Siri Remote, Nettech’s replacement remote is another high-performance universal alternative that strikes a good balance between cost and functionality. Not only is this remote designed to work with all Apple TV models, but it also offers user-friendly ergonomics for the comfortable and intuitive navigation that customers are accustomed to with the Apple set-top box.

Unlike other models, this one can be charged with a USB cable, which is ideal for when you don’t feel like searching for batteries at home. Purchased and reviewed by thousands of customers, they claim that this remote works perfectly with the Apple TV and televisions in general. Some customers note that this device is slightly thicker than the Apple model, but it still gets the job done. Amazon customers suggest users to take a second to check out the manual as you will be able to better understand how this remote works and enjoy a hassle-free experience.

For $29.99, another great benefit of this remote is that the company offers a one-year warranty, ensuring that customers have plenty of time to get used to the remote, get it working properly, and get help if any issues arise. Nettech also offers a cheaper version of this remote, but customers often complain about how hard they have to press the buttons and that sometimes it doesn’t work as well as expected, so if you want to replace the Apple TV remote, you should get the more expensive version.

Another affordable option at $9.99, Yosun’s replacement remote lacks the sleekness of the Apple TV remote, but focuses on a simple experience for anyone who just wants to navigate Apple’s set-top box. This alternative comes with a one-year warranty and includes a classic, lightweight black clicker that replaces touch gestures with a touch-sensitive directional pad and physical buttons. It uses infrared to connect and users can enjoy this remote control up to 20 meters from the Apple set-top box. According to the manufacturer and customers, just place the two AAA batteries in the remote and it starts working immediately.

This remote includes dedicated power, volume and mute buttons that can be programmed to control not only the Apple TV, but also Samsung, LG and Sony TVs. However, since this remote uses IR, users will not benefit from any voice or Siri assistance. For this, they may have to use their iPhone instead.

In general, customer reviews say they were relieved by the simplicity of the experience, because they were frustrated with smartphone remote apps, and this cheap but simple setup was what they needed. As with other replacements, customers praise the fact that they don’t get accidental swipes or phantom clicks with this remote, whereas they sometimes happened with Apple’s TV remote.

Finally, another solid option reviewed by many customers is the Channel Master Simple Remote (CM-7000XRC). This remote is noticeably larger and sturdy than Apple’s original Siri Remote, making it harder to lose between couch cushions or break if it hits the floor. This infrared remote works with a solid 30 feet of visibility range and works right out of the box with Apple TV 4K and HD models. It mimics all native buttons, including the Home button, and offers a dedicated playback control cluster at the bottom. This remote can be easily programmed with a built-in code search to manage the power, volume and mute of your TV or soundbar.

Yet like other remotes, it doesn’t have Bluetooth or a microphone, so Siri voice commands aren’t available. Buyers love this remote for its predictability and ease of menu navigation. The biggest praise comes from people who were losing their minds over accidental swipes and phantom clicks on the official Apple TV remote.

This remote uses two AAA batteries and also has an LED indicator when the battery is low, which is great for alerting you when it may be time to replace the AAA batteries. For $29, the Channel Master Simple Remote is one of the best options available on Amazon, and you can replace Apple’s Siri remote without suffering too much.

I’m a long-time Apple TV user. Having owned the third-generation Apple TV, first-generation Apple TV 4K, and third-generation Apple TV 4K, I’ve also experienced several iterations of the Apple TV Remote, with its pros and cons. I remember when Apple introduced the iPod-style click wheel and how long it took for different streaming platforms to support the experience. That’s why so many customers complain about the unreliability of Apple’s remote when trying to move forward or backward through a song, movie, or TV show.

While I’d rather spend a little more money just to get the original experience, meaning I could use Siri and integrate the remote and even find it if it’s misplaced, these remotes have been reviewed by hundreds, if not thousands, of real customers who either accidentally broke their Apple TV remote or spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect replacement for Apple’s solution.

Plus, I’m a fan of good remote controls. I really don’t like TV remotes that have more buttons than I can handle, and if I have to look too much into a remote to find a button, then I know there’s something wrong. However, with these, customers have consistently praised how simple and straightforward the experience is. That’s why I think these are some of the best Apple TV remote replacements you can get today.