Replacement remote for newest AppleTV for older people?

[PlainviewX]

Getting family members new Apple TV, their first AppleTV. They hate trackpad/touch navigation devices. What’s a good remote replacement for older people since the swiping is a disaster for people with less motor skills using the current AppleTV remote? Looking for one that replicates a generic, standard remote where one arrow press moves the selection one space, etc.

 

[Juicy Box]

You can use just about any IR remote with the ATV.

There is a feature called "Remote Learning" in the settings, the ATV will learn any IR remote you have.

You can do basic controls, such as up, down, left, right, menu, and select, or you can do an extended remote learning which is a lot more buttons that are not used as much, such as RW, FW, skip, etc.

If using the buttons do not interfere with the operation of the TV, I like to use the TV's IR remote, that way you only need one remote.

But, just about any other remote would work, as long as it is IR. I even tried using my Roomba's remote, and it worked.
[doublepost=1557715291][/doublepost]Oh yeah, a downside to using IR remotes is that you will not have a Siri, or a Home/tvApp button.

Also, you have to point it at the ATV to work (line of sight).

Other than these two things, I prefer using an IR remote, mostly for the D-pad, as I hate the touch pad and endless thumb swiping.

 

[HDFan]

Also, you have to point it at the ATV to work (line of sight).

I have used the Apple TV with Harmony remotes since version 1 with no problem. The Harmony Elite with hub allow you to control devices even when not in line of sight.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Either the white plastic (v1) or aluminum (v2) AppleTV remotes work well... the aluminum (v2) remote is $19 at Apple, BestBuy and other stores that sell the AppleTV.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Can they not in time learn how to use it? Remember a lot of older people are not keen on anything new BUT often fall in love with a thing. Remember the first time they heard of computers and said 'NO' but as they world changed, they tried to use one and many fell in love with the device. Same for iPads and iPhones
I'm sure that in time, they'll love it and never want to go back to a remote with 50+ buttons that are so tiny!

 

[Beelzbub]

Can they not in time learn how to use it? Remember a lot of older people are not keen on anything new BUT often fall in love with a thing. Remember the first time they heard of computers and said 'NO' but as they world changed, they tried to use one and many fell in love with the device. Same for iPads and iPhones
I'm sure that in time, they'll love it and never want to go back to a remote with 50+ buttons that are so tiny!

Not everyone has the motor skills for the Apple TV 4/4K remote. I have an older relative who has a hard time swiping the thing and gave up and went to a Roku instead because that remote works better. They embraced new technology by switching from traditional cable tv to YouTube TV, took a while because that is how they are, but they came around and love it, especially the savings. However when they tried to use an Apple TV, they simply could not adjust and I was losing them. Swapped out the Apple TV for a Roku and they took that almost instantly.

Personally, I do not like the Apple TV remote either, prefer the older one and that is the one I use in my bedroom with my Apple TV 4. In my family room I use the remote that came with my TV, which happens to be an Amazon Fire TV and controls my Apple TV 4K perfectly.

 

[oneMadRssn]

With CEC, usually the native TV remote works too. My standard Vizio remote works with the AppleTV, and I didn't have to program anything. Up, down, left, right, select, play/pause, and the back buttons all work as expected.

 

[PlainviewX]

Can they not in time learn how to use it? Remember a lot of older people are not keen on anything new BUT often fall in love with a thing. Remember the first time they heard of computers and said 'NO' but as they world changed, they tried to use one and many fell in love with the device. Same for iPads and iPhones
I'm sure that in time, they'll love it and never want to go back to a remote with 50+ buttons that are so tiny!

The current AppleTV remote is way to sensitive, no chance they’ll get used to it. When I use it it bounces around far more than I like.

 

[helveta]

The current AppleTV remote is way to sensitive, no chance they’ll get used to it. When I use it it bounces around far more than I like.

It also depends on the app. It usually works ok for the main apple tv app but in the Zwift app it can be very sensitive and take numerous tries to choose the correct option.

 

[PlainviewX]

It also depends on the app. It usually works ok for the main apple tv app but in the Zwift app it can be very sensitive and take numerous tries to choose the correct option.

In Hulu it's all over the place when trying to navigate. It shouldn't take thought to use a remote.

 

[HDFan]

The current AppleTV remote is way to sensitive, no chance they’ll get used to it. When I use it it bounces around far more than I like.

Touch Surface Tracking is configurable in Settings/Remotes and Devices. Ironically I found a fast rate gave me more control ...

 

[JeffPerrin]

The old Apple TV remote (v3 or under) works with ATV4.

I greatly prefer the feel of the old remote, but ultimately enjoy the scrolling features on the "new" one. (Not to mention the Bluetooth connectivity!)