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New Siri Remote - Mini review and discussion

turbineseaplane

turbineseaplane

Contributor
Original poster
Mar 19, 2008
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53,660
We have 6 ATV4k's and I was all gung-ho on replacing all 6 remotes (really wanted mute function) and after just one day I think they are all going back (only opened one up to test).

I'm surprised people like the new remote so much.

My summary is:

- Buttons are clickier and feel somewhat "cheaper" (and make more noise)
- Siri button is awfully easy to accidentally invoke now
- Play/Pause got moved - awful decision
- Power button is just a shortcut for previous Sleep function - doesn't allow helping with IR only devices
- Due to the new combo design, the touch area is much smaller - just less enjoyable to use in that way now
- Back (Menu before) should have retained ring around it so your fingers could find it easier by touch
- Edges are too sharp - just not very comfy in hand - I think I'd end up getting a case eventually
- Our main usage is YouTubeTV and the 10sec skip thing is awful to use right now - who knows if it's Apple or Google who needs to fix or if/when

Ultimately, it's "different" than the old one, but not really a clear win or better in all areas (at all).

What are things people love about the new remote?

All of ours have been in silicone cases since day one and thus we never have any issues losing it or picking it up in the wrong orientation (I see those mentioned a lot)... Are there other big things I'm missing that the new remote is solving for everyone?

I hate being this negative about the new remote and I was SUPER excited about it -- I just can't believe how many niggles about it I don't care for. Very frustrated.
 
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Overall, I like the new remote outside of the scrub wheel not working as it should (it will move you back instead of moving forward consistently). I wish I could make use of the mute button and not have to have two remotes but, I have a Samsung sound bar attached to the tv and the Apple TV remote isn't able to adjust the volume on its own.
 
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I have to say - I really hate how noisy/clicky the new buttons are

(doing direct comparison here with old/new side by side)

The older remote buttons are nearly silent and can be very easily (almost stealthily) engaged. No matter how softly you interact with the new remote buttons, everything is an awfully loud "click"... just feels and sounds cheap to be honest.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I have to say - I really hate how noisy/clicky the new buttons are

(doing direct comparison here with old/new side by side)

The older remote buttons are nearly silent and can be very easily (almost stealthily) engaged. No matter how softly you interact with the new remote buttons, everything is an awfully loud "click"... just feels and sounds cheap to be honest.
Click to expand...
The click sound from a button depress is barely noticeable. It is very faint.
 
I have to say that I prefer the new form factor over the old one. The edges are sharp, but the back of the remote is rounded and I find it to be more ergonomic than the old one. But I prefer the old Siri remote click buttons, less noisy
 
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johnyslats said:
Got to agree with you. Some really good points there. Mine is getting returned due to many of the same gripes. Prefer the old style
Click to expand...

My conclusion is that one day I may be forced onto the new remote anyhow, but I’ll wait for another AppleTV revision for that and hope they’ve refined it yet again — vs spending $60 PER remote right now...on units I don’t even really like

love or hate these new remotes...good god are they overpriced.

This thing should be $29-$39 at the max. No glass trackpad anymore and they removed the gyro and accelerometer—

Apple really took highway robbery to a new level with this thing.
It’s a piece of aluminum with cheap feeling loud clicky buttons

Must be some insane margins
 
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On the sound part…. Click sounds are a hot button for people. Some people want remotes that do have a loud click because they want that verbal cue that the button was pressed. Others want silent. I’m more the latter but usually don’t hate clicks.

In a perfect world for me it’s be a haptic type cue that you could feel but not hear.

We’ll see how I feel in a few days after I get my new appletv.
 
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inkahauts said:
On the sound part…. Click sounds are a hot button for people. Some people want remotes that do have a loud click because they want that verbal cue that the button was pressed. Others want silent. I’m more the latter but usually don’t hate clicks.

In a perfect world for me it’s be a haptic type cue that you could feel but not hear.

We’ll see how I feel in a few days after I get my new appletv.
Click to expand...
Interesting…

I have to say I don’t recall any of the best or my favorite remotes over the years really ever having buttons that make actual noise. A lot of times the buttons were rubberized or something and always very silent if not totally silent.

Obviously we are all different but I can’t think of anything more annoying than the remote making audible clicking noises every time I just want to tweak the volume a little bit or am navigating menus
 
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turbineseaplane said:
We have 6 ATV4k's and I was all gung-ho on replacing all 6 remotes (really wanted mute function) and after just one day I think they are all going back (only opened one up to test).

I'm surprised people like the new remote so much.

My summary is:

- Buttons are clickier and feel somewhat "cheaper" (and make more noise)
- Siri button is awfully easy to accidentally invoke now
- Play/Pause got moved - awful decision
- Power button is just a shortcut for previous Sleep function - doesn't allow helping with IR only devices
- Due to the new combo design, the touch area is much smaller - just less enjoyable to use in that way now
- Back (Menu before) should have retained ring around it so your fingers could find it easier by touch
- Edges are too sharp - just not very comfy in hand - I think I'd end up getting a case eventually
- Our main usage is YouTubeTV and the 10sec skip thing is awful to use right now - who knows if it's Apple or Google who needs to fix or if/when

Ultimately, it's "different" than the old one, but not really a clear win or better in all areas (at all).

What are things people love about the new remote?

All of ours have been in silicone cases since day one and thus we never have any issues losing it or picking it up in the wrong orientation (I see those mentioned a lot)... Are there other big things I'm missing that the new remote is solving for everyone?

I hate being this negative about the new remote and I was SUPER excited about it -- I just can't believe how many niggles about it I don't care for. Very frustrated.
Click to expand...
I agree if you dislike the new remotes definitely make sure you return all 6 to Apple ASAP.
 
two main annoyances - the pause / play button, and the mute button need to be switched positions. Can’t seem to use the remote to jump 10 seconds like the old one. Guess it’s broken and needs a software update to fix.

I really only bought the new remote for the mute fiction which could have easily been pushed to the old remote via a software update - perhaps a quick double press on the vol down button to mute
 
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Gsmaniac said:
I really only bought the new remote for the mute fiction which could have easily been pushed to the old remote via a software update - perhaps a quick double press on the vol down button to mute
Click to expand...

Absolutely -- drives me crazy that Apple, who normally is good with product support/longevity, refuses to find a way to make that happen. It absolutely could be done in software as you suggest.
 
Remote Rating: C-
Not as bad as last gen but this is barely an upgrade.

Pros:
- A little bigger
- Less easy to lose in couch

Cons:
- Surprisingly uncomfortable (sharp edges)
- The sound of its hideous clicks
- Play/Pause location (muscle memory swap for no reason)
- Phantom Trackpad swipes (Scrubbing seems less accurate)
- iPod Ring Trackpad doesnt work like iPod (Not universal/consistent)
- Non-programmable “power” button


Overall, its better than last gen but not by much. I‘m keeping mine since I needed a new box anyway, but I feel like this is one of those products where Apple is getting in its own way with focusing too much on how it looks rather than real world usage.
 
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KittyKatta said:
Remote Rating: C-
Not as bad as last gen but this is barely an upgrade.
Click to expand...
Tough room.

Actually came back to edit, that seemed harsh...its a remote not gonna save the world but does give me a little more control than last gen so I'm happy. First Mac was a IIsi (80 mgs HD, 5 mgs RAM, $2100) so in my mind they've come a long way (a remote for $59, who knew) but hey Buffett concert replay on now, so catch you on the flip side!
 
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I agree that the play/pause button should have been swapped with the mute button. Speaking of mute button, that's the one thing I can't get to work. I have a Sonos play bar, and the volume up and down buttons work perfectly to control the volume. But the mute button does not work nor do anything to the Sonos volume
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I have to say - I really hate how noisy/clicky the new buttons are

(doing direct comparison here with old/new side by side)

The older remote buttons are nearly silent and can be very easily (almost stealthily) engaged. No matter how softly you interact with the new remote buttons, everything is an awfully loud "click"... just feels and sounds cheap to be honest.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. This was my first impression of it.
 
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I love the new remote overall. The only issue I have is, like others have mentioned, the positioning of play/pause and mute which definitely should be reversed. I didn’t notice the loud clicking until reading this post, but it doesn’t bother me.


wayne905 said:
I agree that the play/pause button should have been swapped with the mute button. Speaking of mute button, that's the one thing I can't get to work. I have a Sonos play bar, and the volume up and down buttons work perfectly to control the volume. But the mute button does not work nor do anything to the Sonos volume
Click to expand...

Mine works with the Playbar fine including the mute button. It took me a bit of research to figure it out. Go to Settings > System > (Playbar room) > Remote Control Setup. Not sure if it makes a difference but my Apple TV is connected to HDMI Arc port. Volume and power buttons work perfectly.
 
For me the new remote is a thousand times better than the previous one. I had really grown to hate the touch input on the last one, too many apps where it was nigh on impossible to select what you want by swiping and sometimes you’d get right over what you want and you’d move so slightly as you click and it’d move. Directional buttons are so good. I also find the size and weight much better and whilst I agree that the buttons are maybe too loud the mechanical keyboard lover in me love the tactility. I do also think it was a bit strange for them to move the pause button, but after a day of use I’m already used to the new position.
I’ve got a Sonos Beam connected to the ARC port of my 2016 Samsung TV and the volume, mute and power controls all work perfectly over HDMI.

I couldn’t be happier with the 2 I purchased.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I have to say I don’t recall any of the best or my favorite remotes over the years really ever having buttons that make actual noise. A lot of times the buttons were rubberized or something and always very silent if not totally silent.
Click to expand...
The last remote may have had a lot of complaints but I’ve NEVER heard someone say “I wish it had a loud and obnoxious click”. I‘ll get used to the new button placement and the non-wheel touch wheel. But that button sound….
 
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