What is a universal remote?
How does it work?
With a smart, universal remote, you'll have full control over all your devices. You can program the device to use it for your television, decoder, Blu-ray player, amplifier, console, or even smart lighting. This way, you'll get rid of a whole stack of remotes. The pre-programmed events are extra useful. You can set up a 'film night' mode, for example. That way, you can activate the TV, Blu-ray player, and the sound systems at a push of a button.
Which one do I need?
That depends on the number of devices you want to control at the same time. With a straightforward, cheap remote, you can often already control 5 devices in one go. More expensive products can control more devices at the same time and have smart functions like a touch screen or a smartphone connection. Logitech Harmony is the most popular system and is known for its user-friendliness. It's not the cheapest option, though.