The SofaBaton X1S is a game-changer for anyone drowning in a sea of remotes. I replaced my cluttered coffee table setup with this sleek, all-in-one solution, and the difference is night and day. The motion-activated backlit buttons are a lifesaver during late-night movie sessions—no more fumbling in the dark!

Setting up the X1S was surprisingly smooth. The app guided me through pairing my TV, soundbar, and Apple TV in minutes. While the app’s design feels a bit dated (think early 2010s vibes), it gets the job done. Pro tip: Use voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant—it’s like having a personal AV butler.

The hub’s 360-degree IR blasting is legit magic. I hid it behind my TV cabinet, and it still controls everything flawlessly from across the room. But be warned: If you’re a cable box user, the lack of a number pad might frustrate you. Scrolling through menus for channel numbers isn’t ideal.

Macro functions are where this remote shines. My ‘Movie Night’ activity turns on the projector, dims the lights (via IFTTT), and cues up Netflix—all with one button press. That said, AppleTV users may need to double-tap ‘Home’ occasionally to reconnect.

At this price point, it’s hands-down the best Harmony alternative available today. Just don’t expect perfection—the tiny LCD screen fonts and occasional translation quirks remind you it’s still evolving. But for cutting remote clutter? 10/10 would recommend.