My phone controls the TV now, and it's the best decision I made for household peace

The remote control is the lifeline of any home entertainment setup. Personally, it's a scary thing to misplace. I've been forced to use third-party apps on the Google Play Store before.

Most require a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. So I couldn't use them if I didn't already pair the app with my TV before losing the remote, or if my TV didn't automatically connect to my home network on startup.

Thankfully, my new Android phone has an IR blaster that has returned control to my hands. It's saved me more than once and is the reason I can't use a phone without one ever again.

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Posts 15
By  Michael Bizzaco

I love devices that simply obey commands

Because all the 'smart' features just make them look dumb

An infrared blaster is a small transmitter inside a phone that releases light signals the same way traditional remote controls do.

It'll rapidly flash patterns that represent commands, and the receiving device has a sensor that responds accordingly. Although you can't see the signals, it matters more that they will trigger any device shipped with a physical controller.

Manufacturers include the feature in select devices, though it has become less common in flagships over the years.

My favorite part about it is the exclusion of a pairing or protocol handshake. The phone only needs a line of sight to the appliance.

I lost my Yaber T2 Plus projector remote last year, so I'm familiar with the inconvenience of pairing my devices. I had to connect my phone and the projector to my router.

Yaber doesn't operate officially in my region, so their support channels offer limited assistance.

Also, technicians here aren't helpful with lesser-known hardware. I once sorted through a heap of used remotes at a secondhand electronics stall to find a universal solution. I was unsuccessful and later decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

An original replacement from the company costs $50, and it would take two weeks to ship internationally. I ordered a cheaper model for $30 on Amazon hesitantly. While I wait, my phone remains my primary means of controlling the projector.

A few taps replaces several remotes

I prefer to have one universal option over 7 different units

IR Remote is an exclusive feature pre-installed on my Infinix GT 50 Pro. It lives in the Quick Settings panel by default. But I've also added it as a shortcut to my home screen to launch it quicker.

Long-pressing its icon in the panel takes me to its main menu. Then I tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner and choose Add Shortcut.

Tapping + reveals various device types, including TV, DVD, SLR camera, air conditioner, projector, stereo amplifier, and even motorized curtains. You'll select one to access a brand list ordered alphabetically.

It's broad enough that it covers popular names, regional manufacturers, and budget phone makers I've never heard of.

You'll point your phone at the appliance to test commands while the app cycles through different IR profiles to find the best match. The number of profiles per brand varies depending on how many remote variants that manufacturer has released.

There were 50 remote control types available for Yaber projectors, but I found the best match on the second try.

My LG TV, on the other hand, only offered 25 test types, and the first one worked. I saved each profile with my preferred title and now use them anytime.

I love that the app displays a remote's identification number in the info menu. You'll see it when you tap a saved device, then the information icon in the upper-right corner. The number is the reference code for the profile the device uses.

It'll be easier to buy a replacement or recreate the setup on another phone in the future.

Mobile IR blasters are an unnecessary lifesaver

I don't need them, but life sure is good with one

I'd never think about using my phone as my TV's control replacement on a normal day when it's present.

Yet, an IR-compatible device in a room is like the Infinity Gauntlet of gadgets. You can walk into a friend's house and operate their TV or reduce the volume in a loud waiting room.

While this amount of power is tempting, I stick to testing my newfound ability within my space.

Other than entertainment control, I use my phone remote to control the air conditioners and run diagnostics. If it triggers a device, but the physical remote doesn't, the fault is from the latter. If neither works, the problem is from the device's sensor.

So far, the IR blaster is a considerable compensation for being robbed of a headphone jack. My previous phone had one, but the Infinix GT 50 Pro doesn't.

I'm not sure that it's a sign blasters are making a comeback in mainstream Android. But it's something I want to see more of, especially now that smart home technology is annoyingly fragmented.

Normally, the word smart is one I struggle to associate with appliances. They depend heavily on the control systems manufacturers build around them.

Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings are top ecosystems you may know, with standards like Matter, Thread, Zigbee, and Z-Wave helping them communicate.

You might own a Level Bolt smart lock using Thread, a Philips Hue lighting rig using Zigbee or Bluetooth, and a Kasa smart plug using Matter over Wi-Fi.

All three work with Google Home and support routines. So, you can create one that switches on the hallway lights and powers a fan connected to the smart plug when the front door is unlocked or when you say "I'm home."

There's a chance it works. There's also a chance that one device misbehaves and ruins the automation flow.

Admittedly, an IR blaster is incomparably basic without the voice assistants, cloud connectivity, automations, and device-to-device routines that a complete smart home setup offers.

But it's because these extra layers disappear that there are fewer failure points. I decide when and how to interact with my devices. Plus, it reduces clutter where the average living room has separate remotes for everything.

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Posts By  Dhruv Bhutani

Take control of Android

It's interesting how much I've replaced my TV remote with my phone. It's faster to reach because it's always with me. I might only bring out an original remote when there are visitors around.

More interesting is how I learn more ways my phone replaces standalone gadgets and solves problems every day.

My camera alone has become a measuring tape, light meter, color picker, calorie tracker, plant identifier, workout coach, and accessibility tool.

These are a few examples of how seemingly minor phone features can have a bigger impact on daily life than many headline-grabbing upgrades.