Let me tell you about this little lifesaver that replaced my lost Apple TV remote. The first thing I noticed? No complicated setup - just pop in two AAA batteries (though getting that battery cover off felt like solving a puzzle) and boom, it worked instantly with my Sony TV.

The larger size is actually a blessing compared to Apple's tiny original. My fingers don't fumble as much, and I appreciate not worrying about charging cables since it uses standard batteries. Nighttime use is tricky though - all the buttons feel identical in the dark.

Here's where it shines: basic functions work flawlessly. Power, volume, mute - all responsive for my TV controls. But fair warning, if you're used to Siri or touchpad features from the original remote, you won't find them here. This is strictly an IR line-of-sight situation.

I did hit one snag - when adjusting volume while using Apple TV, it occasionally glitches and needs a timeout before working again. Not a dealbreaker for casual use, but frequent channel surfers might get frustrated.

For under $20 though? It's saved me multiple times when remotes went missing (or got eaten by pets). Just temper expectations - this is a no-frills solution that gets the job done without any smart features.