8Bitdo Media Remote for Xbox One Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Short Edition Infrared Remote

Use: I had a remote that I used for my XBox One then my Series X. I really do not know how old it is, but it had started to give me problems. I purchased the 8Bitdo remote to replace my old one. So far, I'm happy with the results. It immediately connected to my XBox Series X, every function working as intended. Below are some pros/cons before I give a full summary. Pros: - Price: I paid right around $20USD for it. I think this is well worth the price if you need a multimedia remote instead of using your controllers. - Quality: The remote feels really well built. I've used other 8Bitdo products in the past and have had no issues. I believe this should be no different - Buttons: I really like the feel of the D-pad on this remote compared to the original. They are more like a true D-pad than a touchpad. I also like the backlit buttons. This makes using the remote in the dark much easier. And, for me, it makes it easy to find if I sit it on my bed. A little movement and it lights up. Cons: - Size: This is, as you can see in the picture, much smaller than the original remote. While I like the placement of the most commonly used buttons, some of the media buttons can be harder to hit if you have bigger hands. - Battery compartment: When I first put batteries in, the back was very difficult to remove. It took a few good hits on my hand to break it loose. It is still a bit hard to get off, which isn't a huge deal, but it is a little annoying. - XBox logo sticker: The XBox logo at the top of the remote is a sticker, so it does not light up. Not a huge deal unless you are fumbling with it in the dark. With the sticker on, it is easy to locate, but if it were to fall off, I could see this being a bit of a downside. Summary: Overall, I really do like this remote. It immediately connected to my XBox right after putting batteries into the remote. Everything functions as it should. I am still getting used to the difference in size compared to the old remote, but the primary buttons I use are comfortable to use and located very well. The backlit buttons are nice, I just wish the XBox logo had been backlit as well. The battery cover is hard to remove right out of the box and still is a bit hard to remove. This is good for drops, but It can be hard to remove with only one hand, unlike the older remote. If you are looking for a good media remote for your XBox, this is a good one to consider, especially at the $20 range. I'll most likely grab another one for the other room at some point so I can keep one in each room. This is one remote I highly recommend. Read more

Amazing remote. Works great. Best way to enjoy your Xbox capabilities as a Multimedia center. Read more

So, I read the other two reviews about volume not being able to be controlled and the other feedback about only working from a foot away. I had a different experience so wanted to capture my thoughts on the device. 1. For me, device worked from my sofa to my Xbox Series X. But, it requires direct line of sight because it’s an IR remote. The receiver on the Series X appears to be at the bottom the box and not at the top, which makes it kind of a nuisance to use until you train yourself to point at the bottom. It was snappy and responsive as well. 2. I could control the volume, but it required me to enable HDMI-CEC (which makes sense) on the Xbox in the settings. But, it didn’t pop up my normal volume slider on the screen like a normal remote would, so you just have to click it a couple times to make sure it’s changing the volume. With those two comments out of the way, here’s my general thoughts: - controller itself is lightweight. Think I want to find some kind of rubber sleeve to give it a bit more weight and to prevent scratches/dings from general use - the “X” symbol at the top middle is kinda rubbery which is strange? Rest of the buttons are smooth and are slightly raised which is nice. Tactility is good as well (you need slight force so you don’t press it accidentally) - if you slightly nudge the remote, the backlight turns on for a second or two, which is nice - setup was easy. I just turned on the Xbox and clicked the X at the top of the remote a couple times and it was already working. The instructions didn’t give guidance so wasn’t any help at all. - not sure about battery life because I’ve only had it for 2 days-ish In the end, I’m happy enough to replace it for my media controller for the Xbox instead of using my controller. The reason for the dock of a star is because of the line of sight. It has to be EXACTLY pointing at the bottom of the Xbox with nothing blocking. It’s a nuisance but as long as you keep that it mind, it’s a good remote. Read more