Ive been thinking about ditching my regular TV remote completely and just using my phone instead. The original remote still works, but it feels outdated and Im always misplacing it anyway. At the same time, Im not sure if a smartphone can fully replace it or if there are still small things that dont work as smoothly. For example, does turning the TV on/off or switching inputs work reliably? I dont want to depend on my phone and then run into random limitations. Anyone here using only their iPhone for this?

I actually stopped using my physical remote a while ago and just rely on my phone now. I am using the Free Universal Remote App for iPhone, and for everyday stuff like volume control, navigating menus, launching streaming apps, and switching inputs, its been solid. As long as your TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network, it connects pretty quickly. The only limitation I have noticed is that if your Wi-Fi is acting up or your phone battery is dead, you are kind of stuck. But in normal daily use, I honestly dont miss the physical remote at all.

Its kind of wild how many physical buttons weve replaced with touchscreens over the years. Half the devices in my living room dont even have proper controls anymore because everything assumes youll use an app. I guess the upside is less clutter on the coffee table, but it also means your phone becomes even more essential than it already is.