New Siri Remote - Mini review and discussion

[jasonefmonk]

I have a receiver on my main TV and everything turns off fine. I can't think of a reason for a multiple remote and the WAF wins as well.

I also have an AV receiver. Frequently I desire to switch between my Apple TV, UHD-BD player, or video game console(s) after using one or the other. I also desire to turn off the one that is not in use. CEC doesn't let you do that without extra down-time as everything is needlessly power cycled. I also like to listen to my home theatre for audio-only, and I can't imagine how I would use CEC to just turn on the AV receiver and playback device, while keeping the TV off.

I'm fine with the remote other than the wheel. Maybe it is me but I find it to fussy to use accurately.

I thought I would like the jog wheel but it doesn't work the way I expected. I was expecting it to allow me to scrub frame-by-frame with accuracy. As it is, it is just another way to scrub but slower than swiping across the timeline.

 

[golfnut1982]

Wow, glad I read this. Noisy and clicky sounds is quite surprising.

Well, I bought the new Apple TV 4K. I'm pleased with it for sure. Make sure you get a quality HDMI cord. As for the remote, its really nice. Yes, it has a somewhat louder "click" sound when compared to the old one, but its responsive and works well, no big deal.

 

[w5jck]

Personally I like the new remote. I can barely hear the clicking, and only if I hold the remote close to my ears. The controls are much better. I had no trouble connecting the Power, Volume, and Mute buttons to my TV which can then control my soundbase via HDMI-CEC. The only negative for me is the Siri button being put in a location that is easy to accidentally press it. The old remote was totally useless to me. The new one works well. To each their own though…

 

[Hoo Doo Dude]

Personally I like the new remote. I can barely hear the clicking, and only if I hold the remote close to my ears. The controls are much better. I had no trouble connecting the Power, Volume, and Mute buttons to my TV which can then control my soundbase via HDMI-CEC. The only negative for me is the Siri button being put in a location that is easy to accidentally press it. The old remote was totally useless to me. The new one works well. To each their own though…

I agree completely.

 

[Bear007]

So you are willing to give up on Siri/Volume/Power buttons because of a click sound and go to multiple remotes. Are you stress clicking?

Apparently, the person challenging this must sleep alone or must simply know exactly what they want to watch at all times.

Additionally, the need for a quiet remote does not mean one should have to give up the Apple TV remote. How about Apple simply seeing and understanding the need, and then re-designing the next gen to compete with the market standard… quiet / no click / smooth?!

The Apple remotes - while fantastic in functionality and ever improving with each version, have ALWAYS been loud clicking, since the beginning.

Try finding something to watch in bed (when your sleeping partner is actually trying to sleep).

Turn on your late night TV/Apple TV with the Apple TV remote and roam around a few apps, either checking the daily news or finding entertainment. If your sleeping partner sleeps lightly, they’ll be awakened by your clicks in about a minute. BTW… my late night TV includes the use of Apple AirPods for quiet listening.

The remote is great. The clicking is STUPID, and frankly a huge oversight by Apple developers.

Compare ANY Apple TV remote with ANY average TV remote. The one big difference? NONE of the market standard remotes CLICK. It’s a basic funtion that people in the consumer electronics market clearly UNDERSTAND.

Recent studies have shown that 50-70% of Americans have TVs in their bedrooms. My house has 5 bedrooms, and a total of 10 Apple TVs and remotes. As a consumer, I simply want a quiet (non-clicking) remote, and will likely shop for an alternative, UNTIL Apple fixes this issue. As a business person, I cannot understand how Apple’s development team (or even their execs watching their own Apple TVs have continually missed this. Even on an iPhone, the clicking sound is optional. On the remotes, the click is mechanical. The fix is simple since quiet button engineering has been in existence for decades.

This forum should be about clearly stating issues that a) might be corrected via tribal knowledge or b) might be viewed by APPLE as an improvement need. It should not be about emotionally attacking people who point out defects, and are looking for help.

 

[danny842003]

Apparently, the person challenging this must sleep alone or must simply know exactly what they want to watch at all times.

Additionally, the need for a quiet remote does not mean one should have to give up the Apple TV remote. How about Apple simply seeing and understanding the need, and then re-designing the next gen to compete with the market standard… quiet / no click / smooth?!

The Apple remotes - while fantastic in functionality and ever improving with each version, have ALWAYS been loud clicking, since the beginning.

Try finding something to watch in bed (when your sleeping partner is actually trying to sleep).

Turn on your late night TV/Apple TV with the Apple TV remote and roam around a few apps, either checking the daily news or finding entertainment. If your sleeping partner sleeps lightly, they’ll be awakened by your clicks in about a minute. BTW… my late night TV includes the use of Apple AirPods for quiet listening.

The remote is great. The clicking is STUPID, and frankly a huge oversight by Apple developers.

Compare ANY Apple TV remote with ANY average TV remote. The one big difference? NONE of the market standard remotes CLICK. It’s a basic funtion that people in the consumer electronics market clearly UNDERSTAND.

Recent studies have shown that 50-70% of Americans have TVs in their bedrooms. My house has 5 bedrooms, and a total of 10 Apple TVs and remotes. As a consumer, I simply want a quiet (non-clicking) remote, and will likely shop for an alternative, UNTIL Apple fixes this issue. As a business person, I cannot understand how Apple’s development team (or even their execs watching their own Apple TVs have continually missed this. Even on an iPhone, the clicking sound is optional. On the remotes, the click is mechanical. The fix is simple since quiet button engineering has been in existence for decades.

This forum should be about clearly stating issues that a) might be corrected via tribal knowledge or b) might be viewed by APPLE as an improvement need. It should not be about emotionally attacking people who point out defects, and are looking for help.

I can’t imagine a clicking remote is anywhere near as annoying as the person holding it putting the tv on whilst you’re trying to sleep. Like seriously who would do that?

 

[jasonefmonk]

I can’t imagine a clicking remote is anywhere near as annoying as the person holding it putting the tv on whilst you’re trying to sleep. Like seriously who would do that?

Did you quote that entire post and that’s all you took from it?

Some people watch TV in bed, get over it dude.

 

[melapple]

For all those complaining about the clicking noise of the latest generation Siri remote,
go to accessibility and enable option “tap to navigate”.
Option won’t show if you are using the previous generation Siri remote

 

[svenmany]

I can’t imagine a clicking remote is anywhere near as annoying as the person holding it putting the tv on whilst you’re trying to sleep. Like seriously who would do that?

My wife sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and puts the TV on; it helps her get back to sleep. It's never bothered me.

 

[danny842003]

Did you quote that entire post and that’s all you took from it?

Some people watch TV in bed, get over it dude.

I am over it 🤷‍♂️

 

[George Dawes]

It’s better than the last one but it’s still far from perfect , why on earth they moved the pause and mute buttons is beyond me , they’re now illogical.

A backlight would be helpful too and built in AirTags, maybe they’ll come in rev 2 ?

The scroll wheel works and then doesn’t , it’s weirdly inaccurate, but not as bad as the last one

 

[jwolf6589]

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.

You are not correct so perhaps you have a defective remote. I love the new remote and it’s much easier to use!

 

[jwolf6589]

It’s better than the last one but it’s still far from perfect , why on earth they moved the pause and mute buttons is beyond me , they’re now illogical.

A backlight would be helpful too and built in AirTags, maybe they’ll come in rev 2 ?

The scroll wheel works and then doesn’t , it’s weirdly inaccurate, but not as bad as the last one

Works perfect for me.

 

[jwolf6589]

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.

Hogwash! I have only one issue with the new remote and that is sometimes there is a lag with the volume up/down button. This drops the remote score to A-.

 

[jwolf6589]

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.

I have zero issues with it. The only issue I have is the volume up and down buttons as there is a lag sometimes,

 

[svenmany]

The remote is too small for me; it's as simple as that.

I often hit the Siri button when picking it up; all I have to do is accidentally grab it by the top rather than the bottom (assuming it's lying flat on a surface). It's also easy to lose in blankets or cushions since it's so small. Finally, when it's lying flat on a hard surface, the available area to grab is tiny - just the thin sides and away from the Siri button.

 

[M-310]

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.

agreed. the click is far too loud. cheap electronics hollow clickity-clack. did a year of use make them quieter? i wonder if my older apple tv remote works with my new box.

 

[turbineseaplane]

did a year of use make them quieter?

I ended up returning them way back when

I do have a friends house I go to a fair bit and his newer style remote is still pretty loud (despite being old and used quite a bit now).

I just don't care for whatever hardware switch "switch" they made there

All of our units still have older Siri Remotes (with glass trackpad). I just love how stealth they are on the sound front. I can operate them basically silently, which is nice at all hours, but especially at night.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Being new to the Apple TV I am quite impressed with using Siri to change channels and find stations without me needing to scroll through the menus. It was a tad frustrating at first though as I'd press the Siri button and say " Alexa..." 🤔