GoKawiilGuide details methods to control any smart TV using a smartphone
Smart TVs still rely on remote controls, and many now support using a smartphone as a substitute via built-in IR blasters or app-based connectivity. Certain Android phones have infrared hardware and pre-installed universal remote apps that let users pair with their TV brand and control power, volume, and navigation. Devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google lack this IR hardware, but alternative software-based remote options exist for those users.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
As physical remotes become easier to lose and harder to use for text input, smartphone-based control offers a practical alternative that leverages hardware most people already carry. The uneven availability of IR blasters across brands highlights a fragmented ecosystem where hardware capability, not just software, determines convenience.
- Some Android phones include IR blasters and preloaded remote apps for direct TV control.
- Setup involves selecting a TV brand and testing commands within the remote app.
- Apple, Samsung, and Google phones lack IR hardware, requiring alternative remote solutions.
Xiaomi Mi Remote-compatible IR Blaster — If your phone lacks a built-in IR blaster, a small plug-in IR blaster accessory lets you replicate the same universal remote experience described in the article. It's a handy way to control your smart TV, air conditioner, and other IR devices straight from your phone. Perfect for anyone who's misplaced their TV remote one too many times.
See Xiaomi Mi Remote-compatible IR Blaster on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Adnan Ahmed, 2026-09-20
Published there as: “How to use your phone as a remote for any smart TV”
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