Sofabaton X2 FULL REVIEW: Unboxing, Setup, HA, Voice Control & More
A full review that goes from unboxing and setup to Home Assistant integration and voice control with the X2.
SofaBaton · 2025
SofaBaton X2 Universal Remote
A hub-based universal remote with a color touchscreen that controls IR, Bluetooth, RF and Wi-Fi gear, aimed squarely at former Harmony owners.
Where to buy
List $379.99
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The verdict
A strong choice for replacing a Logitech Harmony remote in a multi-device home theater: Tom's Guide and AV Gadgets both found it dependable once configured. Expect to spend time sorting out power and input settings during setup, and note that it has no microphone, so voice control has to go through an Alexa or Google speaker.
The SofaBaton X2 pairs an aluminum remote with a 2.4-inch color touchscreen and a hub that sends commands by infrared, Bluetooth, RF and Wi-Fi, so gear inside a cabinet can still be controlled. Activities switch several devices and inputs at once, and the system links to Home Assistant over MQTT, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Matter, with direct control of Roku, Sonos and Philips Hue. The remote has backlit keys, its own IR emitter, a charging dock and a 1200 mAh battery rated for about 30 days. Reviewers call it the closest thing yet to a Logitech Harmony, though setup still takes patience.
Strengths
- The hub controls infrared, Bluetooth, RF and Wi-Fi devices, including gear hidden in a cabinet.
- Aluminum remote with a 2.4-inch color touchscreen and backlit keys.
- The remote has its own IR emitter for any device the hub cannot reach.
- Links to Home Assistant, Alexa, Google Assistant and Matter, with direct control of Roku, Sonos and Philips Hue.
- Comes with a charging dock and a pair of wired IR extenders, according to AV Gadgets.
- Tom's Guide and AV Gadgets both found it reliable once Activities were set up.
Weak spots
- Setup is still slow: Tom's Guide spent about 45 minutes adding five devices and building Activities.
- No microphone, so voice commands must go through an Alexa or Google speaker.
- Tom's Guide found Philips Hue control clumsy, with plain text buttons for each light.
- The hub only joins 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks.
- SofaBaton rates the battery at about 30 days, shorter than the 45 days it lists for the X1S.
- Tom's Guide found the smooth metal body slippery in the hand.
Great for
- Former Logitech Harmony owners
- Home theaters with gear inside a closed cabinet
- Home Assistant users who want a physical remote
Skip if
- Anyone who wants voice search built into the remote
- People who expect plug-and-play setup
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for this model.
Overview
- Type
- Universal remote
- Key specification
- Hub-based universal remote with a 2.4-inch color touchscreen; controls IR, Bluetooth, RF (433/315 MHz) and Wi-Fi (IP) devices; Device and Activity modes; 1200 mAh Li-Polymer battery rated for about 30 days; charging docksource
- Works with
- Controls IR, Bluetooth and RF gear plus Wi-Fi devices such as Roku, Sonos and Philips Hue; works with Home Assistant (via MQTT), Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Matter; set up with the SofaBaton app on a phonesource
Warranty
- Warranty
- 12-month limited warranty; 30-day returns on orders placed directly with SofaBatonsource
Primary source: sofabaton.com
Setup notes
- The hub must join a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network (5 GHz is not supported), and the phone used for setup needs Bluetooth turned on and must be on the same network.
- Power the hub with the included 5V/2A adapter. The remote charges on its dock or with a USB-A to USB-C cable; SofaBaton says USB-C to USB-C cables and chargers are not supported.
- The hub sends IR forwards and upwards in a 360-degree pattern but not downwards, so place it on top of a cabinet or on an open shelf.
- For gear inside a closed cabinet, aim the included wired IR blaster at each device's sensor; the R1 IR repeater is sold separately for equipment in other rooms.
- The X2 can connect to three Bluetooth LE devices at once, and RF devices on 433 MHz or 315 MHz are added by learning from their original remote.
- Home Assistant control works through an MQTT broker, such as the Mosquitto add-on.
- The remote ships in a low-power mode and must be connected to 5V USB power before its first use.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the SofaBaton X2 Universal Remote.
Finally, A REAL Harmony Remote Replacement? SofaBaton X2 Setup & Review
Sets up the X2 in a home theater and weighs whether it can finally stand in for a Logitech Harmony remote.
Sofabaton X2 Review: The Harmony Replacement with Home Assistant?
Reviews the X2 as a Harmony successor, with attention to how it works alongside Home Assistant.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Tom's Guide rates it the nearest thing yet to a Harmony and the strongest universal remote its reviewer has used lately, praising the aluminum build, backlit keys and touchscreen. Pairing five devices and building Activities still took around 45 minutes, Philips Hue control felt crude, and the lack of a microphone means voice commands need a smart speaker.
Read the originalAfter a couple of weeks the reviewer retired an older X1S, finding the X2 dependable once power and input settings were tuned, with a broad code database and a handy IR emitter in the remote itself. Expect some tinkering, though: duplicate input commands had to be tested and pruned, and Bluetooth pairing proved stubborn.
Read the original
What owners are saying
From Reddit and forums, paraphrased with a link to the original discussion. Community reports are anecdotal.
After repeated trouble with HDMI-CEC, this owner switched it off and moved to an X2, and says the rest of the household has never been happier with the remote setup.
Read the originalThis owner likes the X2 and has tied it into a Hubitat smart home hub, so room lights switch off when playback starts and come back on when it is paused, something their old Harmony could not do.
Read the original
Questions
Does the SofaBaton X2 have voice control?
Not built in. The remote has no microphone, but the X2 can be linked to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so a smart speaker can start or stop its Activities.
Can the SofaBaton X2 control devices inside a cabinet?
Yes. The hub sends IR in a wide pattern, and SofaBaton includes wired IR blasters for devices behind cabinet doors. An R1 IR repeater is sold separately for equipment in other rooms.
How long does the SofaBaton X2 battery last?
SofaBaton rates the 1200 mAh battery at about 30 days per charge, and Tom's Guide lists 3 to 4 weeks. The remote charges on its dock or over USB-C.
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Sources for this page
Last reviewed Nov 10, 2026. Released November 2025. Spotted an error? Tell us.