Apple’s TV Remote Still Sucks
But there are alternatives
Apple TV is one of the most popular streaming boxes currently available. While it clocks in more expensive than alternatives like Fire Stick or Roku, its excellent interface, video and sound quality, and integration with the Apple ecosystem make it the streamer of choice for many.
The biggest drawback to Apple TV remains the remote supplied with the unit. The original Siri remote (there were two other early remotes we’re not considering here) is a small, black, touch-enabled rectangle issued in 2015 and updated in 2017, that users found frustrating. Upon picking it up, you couldn’t tell which end was up without looking; regardless of orientation, it felt the same.
The second iteration, released in 2021 and updated in 2022 with a change from the lightning connector to USB-C, is much improved. This silver unit is larger, thicker, and still equipped with a touchpad in the middle of a four-way selector that makes navigation more accurate and easier to perform without having to constantly look down at the remote. Version 2, like so many Apple products, is constructed of slick, polished aluminum. It is slippery and easy to drop. Both Version 1 and 2 are easy to lose behind and under seat cushions.
For me, and I suspect many others, the touchpad function has been the biggest source of frustration. Yes, it allows you to scroll quickly from side to side and vertically, but overshooting your target is a persistent headache. Accidental selections because you inadvertently put pressure on the super‑sensitive touchpad means you are constantly backtracking to get back to the menu to finish navigating to your desired app or program. While improved in Version 2, it has lost none of the touchpad drawbacks and, unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer a setting to turn the touchpad off.
The solution, for me, has been a third-party remote with no touch functions. My remote of choice has been the Channel Master CM-7000XRC. The 7000 is thicker at the bottom to accommodate the battery compartment, which makes it simple to distinguish up from down by feel. It has all of the standard buttons found on most remotes, and handily solves the touchpad problem by eliminating it.
Here’s a quick list of pros and cons:
Pros
- No touchpad. Navigation is accomplished via a standard four-way selector with an OK button in the center;
- Channel Master advertises that it works out of the box and can be programmed to additionally operate your TV or soundbar. In my case, it was true; out of the box, it controlled the Apple TV as well as the volume on my soundbar without additional programming. Just pull the plastic tab from the bottom of the battery compartment and you’re in business;
- The rest of the remote consists of the standard buttons for sound mute, pause, fast forward and reverse, volume and channel controls, and a menu button programmed for the Apple TV menu function found on the original Apple remote.
Cons
- In addition to the Apple TV, you can program the remote to operate your TV or your soundbar, but not both;
- The remote operates via IR, so it is limited to line-of-sight with your Apple TV and soundbar/TV and a range of around 30 feet (this is also true of the Apple remote);
- It is longer and thicker than the Apple remote, which I rather think is a feature, not a bug;
- There is no Bluetooth function, so Siri and voice control are unavailable;
- The four-way control would be improved by raising the arrows to aid in placing your finger by feel.
The cons are minor for me. I rarely use Siri or voice navigation and a glance at the Channel Master to confirm finger placement is only needed the first few times you use it; afterward, you can locate the controls by feel.
The Apple remotes contain rechargeable batteries. Version 1 requires a lightning cable, while Version 2 uses the newer USB-C. The Channel Master requires two AA batteries. Channel Master also provides support in the form of a user manual and a video that explains all of the features of the remote and how to program it for your TV or soundbar.
There are many third-party Apple TV-compatible remotes available online from retailers like BestBuy and Amazon. I happened to pick the Channel Master CM-7000XRC because it offered the features I desired, cost half of the Apple remote Version 2, and got rid of the dratted touchpad. If you’re an inveterate Apple TV watcher looking for a less frustrating experience, the Channel Master or another third-party remote may bring you relief.
