Is it worth the upgrade?

If you’ve received a Hearth Tv device or you’re browsing for one, Amazon is keen to promote you the recently-launched Alexa Voice Remote Pro as an additional accent. I just lately experienced an chance to exam a single, evaluating it versus other Hearth Tv remote controls to decide irrespective of whether it truly helps make a distinction for the media streaming knowledge.

In short, the Voice Remote Professional is a $35 substitution for the conventional Alexa Voice Remote which is compatible with most media streamers and TVs based mostly on Amazon’s Hearth Television system. It is not offered as an in-pack — even the leading-of-the-line Hearth Tv Omni QLED will come bundled with the vanilla Voice Remote. It provides more buttons, backlighting, a Remote Finder aspect, moreover some minimal upgrades. We’ll dive into all of these soon.

You will want to test Amazon’s formal compatibility record in advance of obtaining a single, but there are somewhat number of products it won’t pair with. All those involve the 1st and 2nd gen Hearth Television, the 1st gen Hearth Tv set Stick, the Echo Display 15, and the Component Hearth Television set Version. Most conspicuously, you simply cannot pair it with the Hisense U6HF ULED, inspite of that Television set currently being introduced in May 2022. It also won’t do the job with Insignia High definition or FHD TVs, although it will function with that brand’s UHD and F20 sets.

I tested the Voice Distant Pro utilizing a Fire Tv set Adhere 4K Max, which is second only to the Fire Tv Dice in Amazon’s line-up of streaming boxes and sticks. Both the remote and the Max were supplied by Amazon. For the duration of the initial-time set up, I uncovered that you totally have to pair the Max’s bundled Voice Remote prior to you can increase the Voice Remote Pro — the stick refused to acknowledge the Professional in its set up wizard. This wasn’t a huge dilemma, since I just added the Pro later on using the Hearth TV’s Options menu. You can use both equally remotes at the same time and, in actuality, possessing a backup distant may well be handy for reasons we’ll demonstrate in a moment.

The Pro provides a selection of modest but substantial conveniences, the most obvious being more buttons. There’s a focused Settings selection, a channel selector, and a headphone button that jumps to the Bluetooth menu for quicker wireless audio pairing. The final one particular is form of niche, but it’s a thriller why a Options button is not on the conventional Voice Distant — Fire Television set buyers will need to open Settings on a semi-frequent foundation to verify notifications and power application updates, in no way thoughts other controls.

You will find a Settings button (and/or a channel selector) on some 3rd-celebration remote controls like the Insignia one particular earlier mentioned, so the most important deal below is the addition of two customizable shortcuts, labeled “1” and “2”. By pressing and keeping them, you can assign a wide range of actions, the major choices staying to start apps or run Alexa voice instructions. I assigned 1 to YouTube for occasion, and 2 to “Alexa, switch on the Residing Room lights.” You won’t listen to any vocal reply if you set off an Alexa command this way.

Customizable app shortcuts are exceptionally useful, because the shortcuts on other Fireplace Tv set remote controls are locked to providers you may not use. Indeed, you are probably streaming from the likes of Netflix, Disney Moreover, and/or Key Online video if you have a Fire Tv machine, but not everyone has all three subscriptions, and other companies may perhaps be extra significant for some viewers. The only catch with custom made shortcuts is that you have to remember what you’ve assigned to each individual of them, and share that info with other folks in your household.

Distant Finder

If you reduce the Professional, you can request an Alexa gadget (or the Alexa and Fire Television set applications) to “find my remote.” That triggers a loud ringer, earning the Professional effortless to monitor down, at minimum if it is within just earshot.

There are a pair of other caveats. The feature has a range of 30 ft (about 10m) close to your Television, and your Hearth Tv set machine has to be on, which might be a Catch-22 if it is the reason you are wanting for the distant in the initial position. This is why you must hold on to the conventional Voice Remote as backup.

Backlighting

If you like to dim your lights for environment, the buttons on the Professional illuminate each time you nudge it or select it up. It’s a good addition that tends to make it less complicated to explain to what you are urgent, although in a pitch-black place you may well nevertheless have to fumble a bit to find the remote, what with it getting nearly all black to start off with.

Greater building

The Pro is solidly designed. It is continue to built of plastic, but feels sturdier in the hand than several Fireplace Television set controllers, and its texture is considerably less slippery. It is also much easier to access the battery compartment, definitely vs . Amazon’s default Voice Remote. Whilst that just one necessitates odd hand and finger placement, and often also much drive, the Professional opens just by urgent down on the arrow marker and sliding — the way it ought to be.

Do you want the Pro? No, particularly if you are cozy working with Alexa. Extra buttons might preserve a few seconds right here and there, but you can attain most of what they do with voice commands. If you have a Hearth Tv set Dice, a Fire Tv Omni, or a joined Alexa speaker, you do not even require to have a remote in your hand. You can use voice to launch apps in advance of you sit down.

The story adjustments if you prefer bodily controls or dislike Alexa. When the standard Voice Remote is able ample, the Professional smooths prevalent actions in a way that helps make Fire Tv a much more nice encounter. If you reside in a residence where by individuals usually misplace factors, the Remote Finder characteristic alone could be worth it to prevent arguments and help you save your sanity.

If you are interested in the Pro and have the spare funds, then there is no purpose why you shouldn’t get one particular. The improve is helpful enough that, arguably, the product or service need to instantly be bundled with increased-conclude Fire Television set gadgets.