Many electronic devices normally come with their own remotes, but having multiple remotes in your home can be incredibly confusing at times. A universal remote can be a real life-saver by centralizing the control of your appliances to a single stick. In this article, we will discuss about two universal remotes from Logitech, which are Logitech Harmony 650 vs 700.
Read on below to read more about:
– The design of each Logitech universal remote
– Whether these remotes are easy to set up and use
– The max number of devices that can be controlled by each remote
– The features and compatibility of Logitech Harmony 650 vs 700
– The battery type and battery life of each remote
– Which model that is generally more recommended
Design
From the design perspective, Logitech Harmony 650 and Logitech Harmony 700 do share many similarities. For sure, the button layouts are identical. There is the power button on the uppermost of each remote, followed by shortcut buttons to TV, movie, music, activities, and the Help button, and then the square display screen.
The two remotes also come with the same display screen. The display is very nice because it can show brilliant colors. While the resolution isn’t terribly high, it is quite easy to read. The color display makes the remote easy and intuitive to operate.
Both remotes are comfortable to hold, thanks to the ergonomic curves on the sides. The only difference between Logitech Harmony 650 vs 700 is the colors. Logitech Harmony 650 has a silver color. The buttons are mostly black, with the color buttons above the directional pad having black borders.
On the other hand, Logitech Harmony 700 comes in black. The buttons have slightly different colors; the shortcut buttons on the top are dark maroon, while the color buttons above the directional pad don’t have any black border. Actually, Logitech Harmony 700 looks more stylish due to the color combination.
Maximum Number of Devices
This is one of the biggest differences between Logitech Harmony 650 vs 700. For many people, a major advantage that Logitech Harmony 650 offers is the ability to control up to 8 devices with just a single remote. With this universal remote, you can really say goodbye to jumbling remotes on the coffee table!
According to the manufacturer, Logitech Harmony 650 is compatible with more than 225,000 devices from over 6000 brands. With such vast compatibility, you can be almost completely certain that it can work with all the devices in your home. It is definitely a great choice if you need something that can work with not only your existing equipment, but also your future purchases. (See also : Logitech Harmony 600 Vs 650)
On the other hand, Logitech Harmony 700 can only control up to 6 devices with a single remote. This is despite the fact that Logitech Harmony 700 also has very wide compatibility; it is just as vast as Logitech Harmony 650. Apparently, Logitech Harmony 700 has a more limited memory, hence the lower maximum number of devices that it can control.
For some people, being able to control just 6 devices using the remote is not enough. Not to mention the future purchases that you probably want to pair with your universal remote as well. However, if you only have a few devices and you think that it is sufficient, Logitech Harmony 700 is still a pretty good choice.
Programmability
If you are an expert or experienced user, you probably will appreciate the ability to program a sequence on your universal remote. By programming your universal remote to suit your particular habits, you can make the operation a lot more streamlined, efficient, and convenient. For example, you can create a sequence for watching a movie with your home theater system.
Logitech Harmony 650 has this feature. With Logitech Harmony 650, you can create sequences for specific activities. A sequence is a series of operation of one or more devices. It is like a multi-device macro. For example, for watching movies, you can make a sequence in which the remote will automatically turn on the television, turn on the home theater system, and turn off the lamps. This is incredibly convenient.
On the other hand, Logitech Harmony 700 does not have this feature. It is quite a significant drawback. With Logitech Harmony 700, you can still control various devices, but you need to deliver the commands one by one.
Battery
Logitech Harmony 650 works with regular AA batteries. Well, you can use rechargeable batteries, of course, but keep in mind that you need to recharge the batteries with your own device. Using non-rechargeable batteries is fine, as the batter life is quite long.
According to the user reviews, each set of batteries on Logitech Harmony 650 can last for about 3 – 4 months. So, you probably will need to replace the batteries three times or four times a year.
On the other hand, Logitech Harmony 700 has a charging port on the remote. As the effect, you can use rechargeable batteries without having to take out the batteries to recharge. Simply plug the remote to a power outlet.
At first, Logitech Harmony 700 may seem like a convenient solution due to the charging port. However, this is actually not the case. According to the user reviews, if you use rechargeable batteries, the battery life is only a few days. Hence, you will need to recharge the remote frequently every several days.
Setup and Operation
Both remotes here follow the same setup process as many other Logitech Harmony remotes. The process is easy and quick. First of all, you need to connect your Logitech Harmony 650 or Logitech Harmony 700 to your personal computer by using the included USB cable. Afterwards, you need to install the Logitech Harmony software.
The software’s wizard will guide you throughout the setup process. You will be asked to enter all the devices that you want to control using the universal remote, along with their specific functions. You also define which devices that are associated with particular activities. For example, you can list your TV, AV receiver, and soundbar for the “Watch TV” activity. This way, whenever you hit the “Watch TV” button, the remote will turn on the associated devices.
There is just one minor quirk on Logitech Harmony 650 and Logitech Harmony 700. They both still use the infrared (IR) technology. Hence, they need to be in a direct line of sight with the device that you want to control. You need to aim your remote to the right direction in order for the command to register.
Logitech Harmony 650 Vs 700
Conclusion
Between these two models, Logitech Harmony 650 is more recommended. It is able to control more devices, so it is more practical to use. It also has better programmability, as it allows you to set sequences. The battery life is better, too.