Overview

The QFX REM-115 Universal Remote Control has been a quiet fixture in budget living rooms since 2010, built around one simple premise: fewer remotes on the coffee table. What separates this jumbo remote from the typical universal clicker is sheer size — at nearly 11 inches tall, it's physically larger than most remotes you'll find, designed specifically for people who find small buttons frustrating to press accurately. A 2024 feature refresh added dedicated streaming shortcuts to the existing lineup, though the underlying remote architecture is essentially unchanged. Think of it as a no-frills consolidator rather than a smart device — it uses code-based programming and rewards buyers who go in with realistic expectations.

Features & Benefits

The REM-115 covers a lot of ground for a single clicker. It can be configured to operate up to eight devices — TVs, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, soundbars, and even older VCRs — which makes it genuinely useful in cluttered entertainment setups. The buttons are coated to glow in the dark, a small detail that makes a real difference when you're watching a movie in a pitch-black room. Brand compatibility is broad, spanning dozens of manufacturers including Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic. One of its more recent additions is a row of streaming shortcut buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, and Disney+, though these only function on Smart TVs with an active internet connection — not on standard TVs.

Best For

This jumbo remote is a particularly strong choice for older adults or anyone who has ever jabbed the wrong button on a remote that was simply too small to navigate comfortably. The oversized button layout makes it far more accessible than slimline alternatives, and the setup process is no different from any other code-based universal remote. It also fits well in households where the entertainment system has quietly grown into a tangle of components — multiple TVs, streaming sticks, soundbars — and someone finally wants a single controller to handle it all. For someone replacing a broken or lost original remote on a budget, this universal clicker gets the job done without much fuss.

User Feedback

Buyers who come in expecting a polished, fully automated experience often leave disappointed — but those with realistic expectations tend to rate this universal clicker quite well. The large buttons and the nighttime glow get consistent praise, and plenty of reviewers report that pairing the remote with common TV brands like Samsung or LG goes smoothly. The friction starts with less popular or older devices, where the code library doesn't always have a match, and scanning through codes manually can wear on your patience. A smaller number of buyers note that button labels show wear after extended use. Overall, it's a capable but imperfect tool — most useful when your expectations match what it's actually designed to do.

Pros

  • Oversized buttons make it noticeably easier to press accurately, especially for users with reduced dexterity.
  • Handles up to eight devices, significantly cutting down the pile of remotes on your coffee table.
  • Glow-in-the-dark buttons are genuinely useful for navigating controls in a completely dark room.
  • Broad brand compatibility spans Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, and many other mainstream manufacturers.
  • Dedicated one-tap shortcuts for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, and Disney+ work well on compatible Smart TVs.
  • The code-based setup is familiar and approachable for anyone who has configured a universal remote before.
  • The REM-115 is one of the more cost-effective replacement options for a lost or broken original remote.
  • Its large physical size makes it far less likely to disappear between sofa cushions than a slim remote.
  • Works across a solid range of device types, including HDTVs, soundbars, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, and VCRs.

Cons

  • Streaming shortcut buttons only activate on internet-connected Smart TVs and are completely non-functional on standard televisions.
  • Code-based pairing can turn into a slow trial-and-error process, particularly for less common or older device brands.
  • Offers no support for popular streaming hardware like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV.
  • Button labels have been reported by some long-term owners to fade or wear down with heavy daily use.
  • The bulky dimensions may feel awkward or tiring to hold for users with smaller hands.
  • There is no automatic device detection — every pairing requires manually looking up and entering a code.
  • Niche, discontinued, or lesser-known equipment brands often have no matching code in the library at all.
  • AA batteries are not included in the box, which requires an extra purchase before first use.
  • The 2024 refresh adds streaming buttons only; the underlying code library and remote design remain essentially unchanged.
  • No mode indicator display means users must remember which device mode is currently active, which can cause confusion.

Ratings

The scores below reflect our AI-driven analysis of verified global buyer reviews for the QFX REM-115 Universal Remote Control, with spam, bot activity, and incentivized feedback actively filtered out before any category was scored. Each rating is calibrated to reflect both the genuine strengths buyers consistently praised and the recurring frustrations that surfaced across thousands of real-world household experiences. Nothing has been softened — where this jumbo remote earns its keep, the scores show it; where it falls short, that is reflected too.

Button Size & Accessibility
88%
Among all the feedback patterns, oversized button layout is the single most praised aspect of the REM-115. Users caring for elderly relatives specifically called it out as transformative — one buyer noted their 80-year-old mother could finally operate the TV independently without accidentally muting it mid-show.
A small cohort of younger buyers with average-sized hands found the wide button spacing slightly awkward during rapid channel surfing, and some wished the frequently used volume buttons were positioned a touch lower for single-handed thumb reach.
Value for Money
81%
19%
For households replacing a single lost or broken manufacturer remote, this universal clicker often costs less than sourcing an OEM replacement, yet handles multiple devices in one shot. Buyers who came in with calibrated expectations consistently rated it as a smart, no-regrets spend.
Those who purchased hoping for a full-featured smart remote — expecting seamless macro programming or automatic device detection — felt the price still bought them less than they imagined. The value equation only holds when the use case is kept simple.
Device Compatibility
74%
26%
For mainstream brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Panasonic, the code library lands on a valid match the majority of the time. Buyers with common mid-range flat-screen TVs paired alongside cable boxes frequently reported a smooth, frustration-free pairing experience.
Compatibility drops off meaningfully for older, regional, or discontinued brands. Buyers running soundbars from niche manufacturers or VCRs from less-documented brands sometimes exhausted the entire code list without finding a working match.
Setup & Programming
66%
34%
For buyers who have programmed a universal remote before, the code-entry process is familiar and takes only a few minutes per device. Many reviewers with mainstream brand equipment got everything working in a single sitting without referring to support.
Non-technical users and first-time universal remote owners reported a steeper learning curve than expected. When the first code fails and manual scanning is required, the trial-and-error process can stretch into a genuinely frustrating hour-long exercise with no guaranteed success.
Streaming Shortcuts
57%
43%
Smart TV owners with active internet connections who use built-in apps for streaming found the dedicated Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube buttons a legitimate convenience — tapping once instead of navigating through input menus saves noticeable time in daily use.
The lack of clarity around the Smart TV requirement caused significant buyer disappointment. A substantial share of reviewers did not realize the streaming buttons would be completely non-functional on their standard or older televisions, and considered this a material misrepresentation of the product.
Glow-in-the-Dark Buttons
76%
24%
Home theater users and late-night viewers appreciated the glow feature more than they expected to — once the buttons were charged by room lighting, navigating in a completely dark viewing room became noticeably easier and required no interruption to the viewing experience.
The glow intensity is modest and fades relatively quickly once lights go out. In truly pitch-black rooms, the illumination dims to a faint trace within 15 to 20 minutes, which means the benefit is most useful in rooms with some ambient light rather than total blackout setups.
Build Quality
62%
38%
The remote has a reassuring heft to it at 9.6 ounces, feeling more substantial than comparably priced thin-plastic alternatives. For users who simply rest it on a side table and pick it up occasionally, the construction holds up adequately for routine use.
Sustained daily handling reveals the budget-grade materials beneath the initial impression. Several long-term owners noted that button labels began fading within a few months of regular use, and the plastic casing picked up scuffs and minor creasing along the edges over time.
Ergonomics & Grip
71%
29%
The generous width and length make the remote easy to locate on a cluttered table and nearly impossible to lose between sofa cushions — a practical benefit that several buyers specifically highlighted after years of losing slim remotes in their furniture.
The same large footprint that prevents it from getting lost can make extended single-handed holding uncomfortable, particularly for users with smaller hands. The remote is better suited to resting flat and being picked up briefly than to being held continuously during a long browsing session.
Multi-Device Control
78%
22%
The eight-device capacity covers the realistic scope of most household entertainment setups — a TV, cable box, Blu-ray player, and soundbar can all be assigned and switched between without returning to the setup process. This consolidated control genuinely reduces remote clutter for many buyers.
Switching between programmed device modes is a manual step with no visual confirmation, which trips up some users who lose track of which mode is currently active. This occasionally leads to pressing volume controls that are accidentally aimed at the wrong device.
IR Range & Responsiveness
74%
26%
For a budget-tier universal remote, the IR signal performs reliably within typical living-room distances. Most users operating from a couch 8 to 12 feet from the TV reported no missed button presses during normal straight-line usage.
Performance degrades in larger rooms or when the remote is used at steep angles rather than pointed directly at the receiving sensor. A handful of buyers noted inconsistency when controlling devices positioned to the side of the viewing area or tucked inside a cabinet.
Code Library Coverage
68%
32%
The code database spans a wide range of established manufacturers and covers most TV brands that have seen significant market presence in North America over the past two decades. Buyers with common mainstream equipment generally found a working code without major difficulty.
The library has meaningful gaps for less common regional brands, budget Chinese-manufactured TVs, and soundbars from boutique audio companies. Buyers who purchased this remote specifically for an obscure or off-brand device run a tangible risk of coming up empty.
Durability Over Time
63%
37%
Units used in lighter-touch environments — like a guest room TV or a parent's bedroom setup — have held up without notable degradation for over a year in multiple buyer reports. The core button mechanism remains functional well past the point where cosmetic wear becomes visible.
Heavier daily use accelerates wear faster than expected for a remote in this category. Label fading, a slightly loosening battery door, and minor play in the button travel have all been mentioned by buyers who used the remote as a primary controller for a full household television.
Packaging & First Impression
69%
31%
The remote arrives with a code booklet included, which buyers appreciated as a tangible, offline reference rather than having to dig through a manufacturer website. For less tech-comfortable users, having a physical guide on hand made the setup process feel more manageable.
The packaging itself is basic and the printed code guide, while functional, is densely formatted in small text that some older buyers found difficult to read. A larger-print or simplified quick-start guide would have meaningfully improved the out-of-box experience for the core target audience.

Suitable for:

The QFX REM-115 Universal Remote Control is a strong fit for households where remote clutter has gotten out of hand — a living room with a TV, soundbar, cable box, and Blu-ray player all demanding separate controllers is exactly the situation this jumbo remote was built to solve. It is particularly well-suited to older adults or anyone with dexterity challenges, since the oversized buttons are genuinely easier to press accurately than those found on sleek, slim modern remotes. Families buying a replacement clicker for an elderly parent will find this an intuitive, low-learning-curve option that does not require any technical know-how to operate day to day. Dark-room viewers who watch in near-total darkness also get real practical value from the glow-in-the-dark buttons, which means no more squinting or fumbling mid-film. If you have lost or broken the original remote for a mainstream brand like Samsung, LG, or Sony, this universal clicker has a solid chance of pairing successfully and saving you the cost of a manufacturer replacement.

Not suitable for:

The QFX REM-115 Universal Remote Control is a poor match for anyone whose entertainment setup revolves around modern streaming devices — it does not support Roku sticks, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or similar hardware, so if those are your primary sources of content, look elsewhere. The five streaming shortcut buttons are a frequent source of confusion: they only function on Smart TVs that are actively connected to the internet, and they will do absolutely nothing on a standard television, so buyers assuming otherwise will be disappointed. Tech-forward users who want automatic device detection, app-based control, or macro programming will find this remote far too basic — code entry is purely manual and requires looking up numbers in a printed guide. Those with unusual, discontinued, or niche home theater components run a real risk of finding no compatible code in the library at all. And if long-term build durability is a priority, some users have noted that button labels show wear over time, which is worth factoring in before buying.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: The remote measures 10.87 x 4.96 x 0.87 inches, making it noticeably larger than a typical TV remote.
  • Weight: Without batteries, the unit weighs 9.6 ounces, giving it a solid, substantial feel in hand.
  • Battery Type: Requires 2 AA batteries to operate; batteries are not included in the box.
  • Color: Available in black only.
  • Model Number: The official model designation is REM-115, manufactured by QFX USA.
  • Max Devices: Can be programmed to control up to 8 separate home entertainment devices.
  • Button Feature: Buttons are coated with a glow-in-the-dark material, remaining visible in low-light and dark-room environments.
  • Streaming Shortcuts: Includes five dedicated shortcut buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, and Disney+.
  • Streaming Requirement: Streaming shortcut buttons are only functional on internet-connected Smart TVs; they do not operate on standard televisions.
  • Setup Method: Device pairing is performed via manual code entry using a printed code guide included with the remote.
  • Compatible Brands: Supports a wide range of TV and AV brands including Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, Daewoo, Hitachi, Sanyo, JVC, Mitsubishi, Emerson, Magnavox, GE, RCA, and Zenith.
  • Device Types: Compatible device categories include HDTVs, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, soundbars, and VCRs.
  • Market Rank: Ranked #755 in the Remote Controls category on Amazon at the time of publication.
  • Product History: Originally launched in March 2010, with the current updated model released after March 2024 to include streaming shortcut buttons.

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FAQ

No, this jumbo remote does not support Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or similar streaming sticks and boxes. It is designed to control TVs and traditional AV equipment, not streaming dongles that plug into your TV. If your main source of content is a streaming stick, you will need to keep that device's original remote alongside this one.

They work, but only under one specific condition: your TV must be a Smart TV with an active internet connection. If you have a standard television — even a relatively modern one — those shortcut buttons will do nothing at all. Smart TV owners who stream through the built-in apps on their set will find them genuinely convenient though.

For most mainstream TV brands like Samsung, LG, or Sony, the setup is fairly painless. You look up your brand in the included code booklet, enter the code while pointing at your device, and test it out. The process can take a few tries if the first code does not work, but QFX USA also offers support at their email address for anyone who gets stuck.

It depends on how obscure your brand is. The code library covers a broad range of manufacturers, including some that are no longer widely sold. That said, very niche, off-brand, or discontinued models occasionally have no match in the database at all. If you can find your brand in the printed code guide, you are likely fine; if not, there is a real chance it will not pair.

Not necessarily. Glow-in-the-dark coatings need to be charged by light exposure first — leave the remote near a lamp or in a well-lit room for a while before testing it in the dark. The glow fades over time during use, so it works best in moderately dark rooms rather than pitch-black conditions.

You can program it for multiple devices, but switching between them requires manually changing the active device mode on the remote. It is not designed to control two TVs simultaneously, but you can set it up to handle one TV in the living room and another elsewhere, switching modes as needed.

No, batteries are not included. You will need two standard AA batteries before you can use the remote for the first time, so it is worth having a pair on hand when yours arrives.

This universal clicker can be programmed to control many cable boxes from providers using equipment by brands like Samsung, Motorola, or Arris. Whether it fully replaces your cable remote depends on your specific box model and whether a matching code exists in the guide. Most basic cable functions — power, volume, channel switching — tend to map over well, but advanced cable-specific menus may not.

Build quality is adequate for the price point, but this is not a premium-grade remote. Some buyers who use it heavily every day have reported that button labels start to fade after several months of regular handling. The physical buttons themselves tend to remain functional for a reasonable period, but cosmetic wear is a known trade-off at this budget tier.

It is one of the more practical choices available for exactly that reason. The buttons are large, well-spaced, and clearly labeled, which reduces mis-presses significantly compared to the slim remotes that come with most modern TVs. The glow feature also helps during evening viewing when lighting is dim. Setup may still need to be handled by a family member initially, but day-to-day use is designed to be as straightforward as possible.

Where to Buy