The Battle for the Perfect TV Remote: How LG’s Magic Remote has Evolved
LG’s Magic Remote has had a tumultuous history, from its innovative design to its criticisms. With the new AI Magic Remote, have the company’s efforts paid off?
Television has come a long way since its early days, and with the advent of streaming and smart TVs, our viewing experiences have become more immersive and interactive than ever. One aspect that often gets overlooked in this rapid evolution is the humble TV remote control. However, a solid, well-designed remote is a key feature of the best TVs, and for LG, the Magic Remote has been a game-changer. Or has it?
As someone who reviews TVs regularly, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with the Magic Remote, and I’ve always found it to be…fine. It’s not the most intuitive design, and its cursor control can be a bit finicky at times. But for the most part, it gets the job done. That is, until I saw the new AI Magic Remote that comes with the LG G5 OLED TV.
The new AI Magic Remote abandons the old shoehorn-like design for a more modern flat form factor with gently rounded corners and a streamlined keypad with a limited button count. Yes, the scroll wheel is still there, and as with the previous version, clicking on it will trigger the cursor control to use that function. But the new design appears to favor the more conventional navigation disc control option, which works perfectly well on the speedy, responsive webOS 25 smart interface.
One of the biggest criticisms of the old Magic Remote design was its cheap build quality, which seemed out of step with a premium TV like the G5. The new AI Magic Remote, on the other hand, feels much more solid and premium in the hand.
However, I do have to mention that the new design isn’t available in all regions. Certain regions have legal requirements that prevent TV manufacturers from removing buttons such as a numbered keypad from remote controls, and for those regions, LG is retaining the same old Magic Remote design. I wish it didn’t have to be this way – there’s been a history of companies such as Samsung including two remotes in the box to get around these rules – but for those of us who get the stylish new remote, I think it’s a much-awaited step forward.
As for the input select button, which was removed from the new design, I do have to admit that I found myself using the Home Hub to switch between sources more frequently than usual. It’s not the most elegant solution, but it does work.
Overall, the new AI Magic Remote is a step in the right direction for LG. It’s a more modern, premium design that feels more intuitive and responsive than its predecessor. However, the region-specific issues with the design do raise some concerns. Nevertheless, the Magic Remote’s evolution is a testament to the ongoing battle for the perfect TV remote – a battle that will likely continue to shape the way we interact with our TVs for years to come.
Key Highlights:
- The new AI Magic Remote design is a significant improvement over the old design, with a more modern and premium feel
- The cursor control can still be a bit finicky, but the navigation disc control option works well
- The input select button is missing on the new design, but the Home Hub can be used as a workaround
- The design is not available in all regions due to legal requirements
- The region-specific issues do raise some concerns, but the new AI Magic Remote is a step in the right direction for LG.
Conclusion: The new AI Magic Remote is a significant improvement over its predecessor, with a more modern and premium design that feels more intuitive and responsive. However, the region-specific issues do raise some concerns. Nevertheless, the Magic Remote’s evolution is a testament to the ongoing battle for the perfect TV remote – a battle that will likely continue to shape the way we interact with our TVs for years to come.
Keywords: LG, Magic Remote, AI Magic Remote, TV remote control, smart TV, webOS, LG G5, OLED TV, TV design.
Hashtags: #LGTv #MagicRemote #AIMagicRemote #TVRemoteControl #SmartTV #webOS #LGG5 #OLEDtv #TVDesign
