SofaBaton X1S Review: The Closest Thing Left to a Harmony, Warts and All
A hub with IR blasters plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control, one-touch activities and a backlit LCD remote, aimed squarely at orphaned Logitech Harmony owners.
Since Logitech killed the Harmony line, the X1S is the most complete replacement on the market, and for people who get it configured it genuinely collapses a pile of remotes into one. The bundled hub means commands reach devices anywhere in the room without pointing, and because it speaks Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as well as infrared it can drive streaming sticks and network devices that pure IR remotes cannot. Custom activities power on a whole chain of gear with a single press. The catch is setup: the instructions are widely criticised, and owners split sharply between those who found programming straightforward and those who gave up in frustration, which is why the rating sits where it does.
- Replacing a Logitech Harmony
- Home theatre setups with many devices
- Fire TV and streaming stick control
- Consolidating several remotes into one
Pros
- Hub with IR blasters controls devices without line of sight
- Supports IR, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices, not just infrared
- One-touch activities that switch several devices at once
- Database covering over 6,000 brands and 500,000 models
- Backlit buttons and an LCD that wakes when you lift the remote
- Customizable keys, macro button and find-my-remote
- The most complete Logitech Harmony replacement currently sold
- Alexa and Google Assistant can trigger activities by voice
- Activities exposed as URLs for IFTTT or iOS Shortcuts
Cons
- Instructions are widely criticised and setup is not quick
- Owners report the remote losing connection to the hub
- Behaviour described as inconsistent between uses by some buyers
- Ergonomics rated worse than a Harmony by former owners
- Only a one-year warranty
- No Apple HomeKit, SmartThings or Matter support
Who is the SofaBaton X1S for?
It targets living rooms where the coffee table has collected four remotes. The X1S ships with a hub carrying IR blasters, so infrared commands reach devices tucked inside a cabinet or behind the TV without line of sight, and it adds Bluetooth and Wi-Fi so it can also control streaming sticks, consoles and network-connected gear. SofaBaton claims a database covering over 6,000 brands and 500,000 models. The point of the system is activities: one press can wake the TV, the cable box and the receiver together and set each to the right input. The handset itself has backlit buttons, an LCD that wakes when you pick it up, customizable keys, a macro button and a find-my-remote function, and it exposes an API for automation from other apps.
What buyers love
For owners who get through setup, it delivers exactly what they wanted. A long-time Harmony user who tried the cheaper SofaBaton first says this is the model to buy because it finally supports proper activities. Another describes programming their whole home theatre and going from juggling ten remotes to one. Fire TV owners are a notably happy group: several bought it specifically to regain power and volume control with older Fire Sticks that lack it, and one confirms the second-generation Fire TV remote slots neatly into the cradle. Button-by-button programming gets called a snap by owners who worked through it, and the backlit keys and wake-on-lift screen draw praise for evening use.
What to know before you buy
The negative reviews are consistent and worth taking seriously. Documentation is the core issue, with one owner abandoning the setup purely over poor instructions after resorting to an AI assistant to work out whether their device combination was even supported. Others report the remote behaving differently between uses and repeatedly losing its connection to the hub. Ergonomics also come up: an ex-Harmony owner criticises the shape and button layout as something you do not reach for naturally. The pattern across the feedback is that this is not a plug-and-play device, and the gap between a satisfied owner and a frustrated one is mostly how much patience the initial configuration gets. On integrations, Alexa and Google Assistant can trigger activities by voice and each activity can be exposed as a URL for IFTTT or iOS Shortcuts, but there is no Apple HomeKit, SmartThings or Matter support.
Is the SofaBaton X1S worth it?
If you are replacing a Harmony and you accept that an afternoon of configuration is part of the deal, it is the most capable option available and the hub-plus-multi-protocol design is what makes it work where cheap IR remotes fail. If you want something that configures itself in ten minutes, the reviews suggest you will be disappointed. Buy it somewhere returns are easy, budget real time for setup, and check that your specific combination of devices is supported before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SofaBaton X1S a good Logitech Harmony replacement?
It is the closest option available, and Harmony owners who persevered say so directly. It matches the key Harmony features, a hub, multi-device activities and a large device database, but the setup experience and handset ergonomics are rated below the original by several ex-Harmony users.
Does the SofaBaton X1S work with a Fire TV Stick?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people buy it. Because the X1S speaks Bluetooth as well as infrared, it can control Fire TV devices directly, and owners with older sticks use it to regain TV power and volume control.
Does the SofaBaton X1S need line of sight?
No. The included hub carries IR blasters and provides 360 degree coverage, so devices hidden inside a cabinet or behind the television still respond without aiming the remote at them.
How many devices can the SofaBaton X1S control?
SofaBaton lists support for more than 6,000 brands and 500,000 device models across infrared, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and activities let you combine several of them into a single button press.
Is the SofaBaton X1S easy to set up?
Opinion is genuinely split. Some owners describe programming each button as straightforward, while others gave up over unclear instructions. Plan for a proper setup session rather than a ten-minute job, and verify your device list is supported first.
Does the SofaBaton X1S work with Alexa or Google Home?
Yes for voice. Alexa and Google Assistant can trigger activities, so saying something like "Alexa, watch a movie" starts the projector, speakers and media players together. Each activity can also be exposed as a URL for IFTTT or iOS Shortcuts. There is no Apple HomeKit, SmartThings or Matter support.
