BroadLink RM5 Plus Review: A Powerful IR Blaster Held Back by Painful Setup and No Local Control
The RM5 Plus has strong, long-range infrared and works beautifully once running, but poor instructions, WiFi pairing struggles, buggy learning, and a factory lock that blocks local Home Assistant/Homebridge control frustrate many buyers.
The BroadLink RM5 Plus is a compact WiFi infrared blaster that controls IR devices (TVs, air conditioners, mini-splits, audio) from your phone and via Alexa and Google Home. When it's set up, owners are genuinely impressed: the IR is strong and long-range (it reaches devices with no direct line of sight, and one owner controls a TV from around 50 feet away), it's tiny and easy to hide, and voice control plus scenes and routines work very well. But its low rating (a 3.2-star average) reflects real, recurring frustrations, most of them around getting it working. The single biggest complaint is setup: the printed instructions are tiny and unhelpful, the QR codes often don't work (they just point to the website), and because it's a newer model not always listed separately, buyers face a lot of trial and error. Many also hit WiFi pairing problems, the app failing to find the device or timing out at the router even when sitting right next to it, with support frequently not responding. There's app confusion too (owners advise using the main 'BroadLink' app, not 'Magic Home'), and the device learning is sometimes buggy (certain buttons, like volume, won't learn). Crucially for smart-home users, this unit ships locked from the factory and does not support local LAN control, so BroadLink's Home Assistant integration doesn't recognize it without manual code changes, and Homebridge/HOOBS projects can't control it locally, several owners recommend the older RM4 instead. It's IR only (no RF), 2.4GHz WiFi only, with no Apple HomeKit. Great once running; getting there is the hard part.
- Controlling IR devices (AC, TV, mini-split) by phone and voice
- Alexa/Google Home scenes and routines
- Users who want strong, long-range IR
- Buyers comfortable with fiddly setup
Pros
- Strong, long-range IR that reaches devices without direct line of sight
- Very compact and easy to hide
- Works well with Alexa and Google Home for scenes and routines once set up
- Large IR catalog with learning for unlisted devices; good value for controlling non-WiFi AC/TV
Cons
- Difficult setup: unhelpful instructions and non-working QR codes
- Frequent WiFi pairing failures and often unresponsive support
- Ships locked with no local LAN control (breaks local Home Assistant/Homebridge/HOOBS)
- Buggy learning for some buttons; IR only (no RF), 2.4GHz WiFi only, no Apple HomeKit
Who is the BroadLink RM5 Plus for?
This is a small WiFi infrared (IR) blaster that replaces the remotes for IR devices (TVs, air conditioners, mini-splits, fans, audio gear), controlling them from the app and via Alexa and Google Home. It's IR only (no RF), connects to 2.4GHz WiFi, and has no Apple HomeKit support. It suits someone who wants app and voice control of IR devices, values strong IR range, and can tolerate a fiddly first-time setup. It's a poor fit if you rely on local control: this unit ships locked and doesn't support LAN control, so local Home Assistant, Homebridge and HOOBS integrations don't work with it (owners who need that point to the older RM4).
What buyers love
Once it's configured, owners are happy with what it does. The IR is a standout, described as very strong with wide range, reaching devices that don't have a direct line of sight to the unit (one owner has it working from roughly 50 feet away, hidden on top of a cabinet). It's microscopically small and easy to tuck out of view, and it integrates well with Alexa and Google Home, letting owners build scenes and routines and control multiple devices by voice (for example, having Alexa pause or resume a TV that otherwise wouldn't allow it). The IR catalog is large, and when a device isn't listed you can teach it from the original remote. Owners controlling non-WiFi air conditioners, mini-splits and older TVs repeatedly call it excellent value for the job.
What to know before you buy
The dominant complaint is setup difficulty. The included instructions are a tiny, unhelpful leaflet, the QR codes often don't work (they just link to the website), and because it's a newer model that isn't always listed separately, buyers report a lot of trial and error. Many also struggle with WiFi pairing, the app can't find the device or times out connecting to the router, sometimes even right next to it, and support often doesn't reply. There's app confusion (use the main 'BroadLink' app, not 'Magic Home'), and the learning function can be buggy (some buttons, such as volume, refuse to learn). The most important limitation for tinkerers: the unit ships locked from the factory and does not support local LAN control, so BroadLink's Home Assistant integration doesn't recognize it without manual code changes, and Homebridge/HOOBS can't control it locally, several owners specifically recommend buying the older RM4 for local control. It's also IR only (no RF), 2.4GHz WiFi only, with no HomeKit, and there are scattered reports of dead units and specific incompatibilities (for example, certain Panasonic AC inverters and hybrid Bluetooth/IR remotes).
Is the BroadLink RM5 Plus worth it?
It depends heavily on your patience and use case. The hardware is good, strong, long-range IR in a tiny package, and once configured it works very well with Alexa and Google Home for controlling IR devices by phone and voice. But the 3.2-star average is earned honestly: setup is genuinely painful for many (poor instructions, WiFi pairing failures, unresponsive support), the learning function can be buggy, and, critically, the factory lock means no local LAN control for Home Assistant, Homebridge or HOOBS. If you just want cloud-based app and voice control of IR gear and can push through the setup, it can be worthwhile and good value. If you need reliable, easy setup or local automation, the older RM4 (or another blaster) is the safer choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the RM5 Plus work locally with Home Assistant or Homebridge?
Not reliably. The unit ships locked from the factory and does not support local LAN control, so BroadLink's Home Assistant integration doesn't recognize it without manual code changes, and Homebridge/HOOBS projects can't control it locally. Several owners who need local control specifically recommend the older RM4 instead.
Why do people say setup is hard?
The included instructions are a tiny, unhelpful leaflet, the QR codes often don't work (they just link to the website), and because it's a newer model it isn't always listed separately, causing trial and error. Many owners also had trouble getting the app to find the device on WiFi, with timeouts even next to the router, and support often didn't respond.
Which app should I use?
Use the main 'BroadLink' app (some owners note a 'BroadLink Universal TV remote' app), not 'Magic Home.' Multiple owners lost hours trying Magic Home before switching to the correct BroadLink app and getting it running quickly.
Does it support RF devices or Apple HomeKit?
No to both. The RM5 Plus controls infrared (IR) devices only, not RF, and it does not support Apple HomeKit. It connects to 2.4GHz WiFi only and works with Alexa, Google Home and (cloud-based) Home Assistant.
Does it work once it's finally set up?
Generally yes. Owners who get past setup report the IR is strong with wide range, reaching devices without a direct line of sight, and that voice control and routines work very well. The frustration is almost entirely about setup, connectivity and lack of local control, not the day-to-day IR performance.
