Gadget Review: Zmart Remote

When I was a child I still had to get up from the couch to change the channel on the TV, but just a few short decades later and a product like the Zmart Remote comes along and turns my phone into a remote control, not just for the TV, but for all types of devices. Saying I wouldn’t have believed it as a kid would be putting it lightly.

The Zmart Remote plugs into the headphone jack of your iPhone or Android device. After downloading the app, you run through the incredibly simple setup and start picking what remote controls you want to replace. Once you choose the device, a digital representation of your remote shows up on your phone and you’re off and running.

According to the manufacturer, the Zmart Remote can control over 200,000 devices, but I will honestly say I did not test every single one of them. I did get it to work on my Samsung TV, which was a pretty nifty feature. I was surprised not to find an Apple TV remote in their offerings, but with products like this the backend choices can be updated at any time. So even by the time you’re reading this it might be in the list.

The Zmart can also be programmed by choosing the generic remote option and telling it what to do with each button. You just hold down on the desired button and point the remote you are replacing directly at the Zmart while holding down the appropriate button you’re trying to program. It takes a little bit of time to go through all the options on a single remote, but the process is simple and only needs to be done once.

In combination with the Zmart Switch you can also use this to control any switch in the room. So who needs to leave the chair to turn on the lights, close those electric drapes, or even run the garbage disposal (although that last one could be kind of dangerous if you have other people in your household who like to hunt in the kitchen sink.)

The Zmart Remote is a fun toy for the geek in your circle, but for you normal folks you can think of it as a super-handy backup for when you inevitably lose the remote control…AGAIN!