Satechi Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote Control Review

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.

I recently received a Satechi Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote Control for a product review. In addition to the remote itself, it also came with two CR2025 batteries which was nice since I didn’t have to worry about buying / finding them.

Remote - Notice the sliding cover is closed

For my first test, I paired the remote with my Samsung Galaxy S5.  The pairing completed without any issues, the remote has tiny keys so you can enter in a multiple digit PIN during the pairing process.  I was able to control music volume, track selection and play/pause using the remote.

Under the sliding cover - close up of keys used to enter pairing code

Next, I tried to pair with my Nexus 7 tablet and again it paired without any problems and I was able to control the music.  I also tested using the remote to trigger the camera, and that worked without any problems.

The directions do not mention Windows compatibility, but I did test it with a Windows 7 system.  The volume controls worked, and hitting the “Home” button at the desktop would open Internet Explorer and hitting the same button in Chrome would make the current tab go to whatever was defined as your home page.  I did test Google Slides, and during presentation mode the forward/back keys did nothing but pressing the “Enter” button did make the slide advance so you could use it for presentations.

As for actually using the remote, the first chance I had was when I was outside.  I used my phone, the Satechi remote and a Bluetooth speaker to play music.  Instead of having to use the phone to switch tracks, I just used the remote.  This was very useful since we were outside grilling.

For my next real world test, I used the remote in my car.  I use my Nexus 7 tablet for music, but of course trying to mess with a touch screen while driving isn’t smart or safe.  The remote worked perfectly, changing volume / tracks and pausing was very easy and you don’t have to worry about looking at the remote to see which key you are pressing because it is fairly easy to feel the layout of the buttons.

Remote next to a business card for size comparison

Here are the main points I noticed about this product:

Easy to Setup: All you have to do is hit one button to put it into pairing mode, use your device (smartphone / tablet / computer) to connect then use the tiny keys to enter in the pairing code.

Versatile: For a smartphone / tablet, you can use the remote to control music and the camera.  On a computer, you can even use the remote during presentations.  These are just the ideas I came up with, I am sure there are other neat things you can do with this remote.

Easy to Use: The buttons you use often are clearly labeled, and once you learn the layout you don’t even have to look at the remote to use them.  The keys you use less often just for pairing are under a sliding cover, and I like the fact there is a on/off switch.

Bottom line: If you are looking for a Bluetooth remote to control music on your smartphone or tablet, this is a great option to consider.  It also can do other tricks, but for me the music control is the main feature I plan to use.

Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00DY9UFB8
Satechi Product Page: http://www.satechi.net/index.php/smartphones-and-tablets/accessories/remotes/satechi-bluetooth-multi-media-remote-control-white-for-bluetooth-enabled-android-devices