HiSense Smart TV Remote

Analysis by Appcrazy

I like remote-control apps most when they solve a very specific problem without trying to become something else. HiSense Smart TV Remote takes that approach: it turns a compatible phone into a controller for a HiSense Smart TV. I tested it as a practical House & Home utility, and my overall impression is straightforward. It can be a useful backup when the physical remote is misplaced, out of reach, or simply inconvenient, but it is not a universal replacement for every television setup.

The app is free, aimed at Everyone, and comes from Naba. It has built a strong user base, with over one hundred thousand installs and a 4.7 average from around fifteen thousand ratings. Those figures suggest that the basic idea works for many people, although they should not be mistaken for a guarantee that every HiSense television and every phone will behave identically.

Using the remote as an everyday backup

The first thing I would do after installing it is treat the app like a spare remote rather than assuming it will immediately replace the original. Open it near the television, look for the available connection or device-selection controls, and follow the on-screen setup carefully. The most important practical detail is that the phone and television need to be able to communicate; if the TV is switched off at the wall or cannot be reached by the method the app expects, the phone cannot magically wake it up.

Once connected, the normal workflow is pleasantly familiar. I use the phone to handle the tasks I reach for most often: turning the TV on or off when supported, changing the volume, moving through menus, and selecting content. This is especially handy when the physical remote has slipped between sofa cushions or when I am already holding my phone while watching something.

There is also a small psychological advantage to a phone remote: I tend to keep my phone beside me, while a television remote can disappear into another room. In a shared home, that can make the app a convenient second control point. It is also useful for a guest room or a television that is not used every day, provided the phone and TV can establish the expected connection when needed.

I would not begin by throwing away the original remote. A physical controller remains valuable during first-time setup, network troubleshooting, or any situation where the television is not responding. The app is strongest once the TV is already configured and the phone can reach it reliably.

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The connection habit that prevents most frustration

My most useful habit is to test the connection before I actually need it. If I am setting up the app for a family member, I check the TV while it is on, confirm that basic controls respond, and then try again after leaving and reopening the app. That simple test reveals whether the remote is dependable enough for the household instead of waiting until the original controller goes missing.

Keep the phone reasonably close to the television during setup. If the app does not find the TV, I would check the obvious things first: whether both devices are ready to communicate, whether the correct TV is selected, and whether the television itself is responding to other controls. Repeatedly tapping the same button is rarely a good troubleshooting method.

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Another useful routine is to avoid switching between several possible televisions without checking the selected device. In homes with more than one compatible set, a remote app can become confusing if the wrong screen is active. I prefer identifying the room or television before sending commands, particularly when one family member is watching while another is trying to control a different set.

Settings that deserve a quick inspection

After the first successful connection, I would spend a minute looking through the app’s available controls and settings rather than assuming the opening screen tells the whole story. The exact options can depend on the television and connection, so I would only rely on controls that appear and respond on my own setup. The useful question is not how many buttons are displayed, but whether the buttons I actually need are easy to reach.

Check whether the layout makes navigation comfortable in one hand. Volume and channel controls should be reachable without repeatedly shifting your grip, while directional navigation should be clear enough to use without staring at the phone every second. A remote that technically works but forces awkward tapping is less useful than a simpler controller with a better arrangement.

I also recommend checking the app after changing the television’s network arrangement. Moving the TV to another network, changing the router, or using a different phone can affect whether the devices see one another. This is not a reason to blame the app immediately; it is a reminder that a phone remote depends on the environment around it.

The best setup is the one you can repeat. I would write down the simple household routine mentally: wake the TV, open the remote, select the correct set if necessary, and test volume before settling in. That sequence is more valuable than searching for an elaborate configuration that may not apply to your model.

Small shortcuts that make it feel less like a backup

Experienced use is mostly about reducing unnecessary steps. I keep the app easy to find on the phone instead of burying it in a folder, and I open it before I sit down if I know I will need to adjust the television. That sounds minor, but it avoids the common situation where the TV is already playing and I am searching through several screens for the control.

For a shared home, I would agree on one simple rule: use the phone remote for ordinary control, but keep the physical remote in a known location for setup and recovery. This prevents two separate problems. Nobody has to hunt for the original controller every time the volume needs changing, and nobody is left without a way to fix the connection if the phone is unavailable.

The app can also help when the remote is temporarily inconvenient rather than permanently lost. If I am carrying groceries, lying in bed, or sitting farther from the television, using the phone already in my hand can be quicker than getting up. That is a realistic advantage, not a dramatic feature, but it is exactly the kind of convenience that makes a focused utility worthwhile.

For parents or less technical relatives, I would set it up personally and demonstrate only the controls they use. Showing every available button at once can make a remote feel complicated. A short demonstration of power, volume, navigation, and selection is usually enough to establish confidence. If the app’s layout is comfortable on their phone, it may be easier for them than learning a new physical remote.

Where the app is genuinely useful

Its clearest use case is the lost-remote scenario. When the television is already connected and the phone can communicate with it, the app gives me a practical route back to basic control. It is also helpful as a secondary remote in a household where the original controller is often being used by someone else.

I can see it working well in a guest room, a small apartment, or a home where people already rely heavily on their phones. The app does not require me to keep another physical object on the coffee table, and it is free, which makes trying it low-risk. The Everyone age rating also makes it suitable for a broad household audience, although comfort with phone controls will still vary from person to person.

It is less compelling for someone who wants a complete smart-home command center. This is a focused HiSense TV remote, not a replacement for every device in the house. If I need one controller for several television brands, sound equipment, streaming boxes, lights, and routines, I would look at a broader universal-remote or smart-home solution instead.

What it does better than the usual alternatives

The original physical remote has one major advantage: it is available without opening an app or depending on the phone. It also remains the safer tool for initial TV configuration and recovery. HiSense Smart TV Remote counters with convenience, especially when the phone is already nearby and the physical remote is not.

A generic universal remote may cover more brands, but that broader reach can bring a more complicated setup and a less focused interface. A dedicated HiSense controller makes more sense when the television is the main target and the household does not need to manage a collection of unrelated devices.

Another alternative is the television manufacturer’s own ecosystem or a phone’s built-in smart-device controls. Those options can be preferable if they already support the exact TV model and offer deeper integration. I would choose them when I need more than ordinary remote commands. I would choose Naba’s app when I want a simple, dedicated option and its connection works consistently on my television.

Limits that matter before relying on it

The biggest limitation is compatibility in practice. A HiSense television name alone does not tell me that every model, operating system, or network arrangement will respond in the same way. I would test the app with the actual TV before depending on it as the only controller. This is particularly important for an older set, a television with unusual network settings, or a home with multiple access points.

Phone remotes also have a natural weakness: the phone itself can be busy, misplaced, low on battery, or being used by someone else. A physical remote is still more immediate when the phone is charging or when a child needs to pause something quickly. For that reason, I see this app as a strong backup and convenient companion, not as a reason to eliminate every other control method.

There can also be a small delay or uncertainty when a command travels through a connection instead of directly from a physical remote. If a button does not seem to work, I wait briefly and check the screen before tapping repeatedly. Rapid repeated commands can make it harder to tell whether the television is slow, the phone is waiting, or the wrong device is selected.

Users who expect advanced control should set their expectations carefully. The app’s value is in remote operation of a compatible HiSense Smart TV. If my priority is managing several brands, controlling audio equipment in detail, or building elaborate automated scenes, I would investigate a different category of product rather than judging this focused tool unfairly.

Version, access, and day-to-day practicality

The current release is version 7.0, and the app supports phones running Android 4.4 or later. That makes it approachable for people using older Android hardware, although the real experience will still depend on the phone’s performance and the television’s compatibility. I appreciate that the minimum operating-system requirement is not demanding, because a spare older phone can serve as a dedicated controller.

Since the app is free, I can test it without committing money to a remote solution. That does not remove the need to check whether it works with my particular TV, but it does make the trial process sensible: install it, establish the connection while the original remote is available, try the controls I use most, and keep it only if the behavior is reliable.

The developer, Naba, has kept the product centered on one clear task. In my view, that focus is preferable to a crowded interface filled with unrelated home controls. The trade-off is that users wanting a single app for an entire entertainment system may find the scope too narrow.

My verdict after building a repeatable routine

I recommend HiSense Smart TV Remote to someone who owns a compatible HiSense Smart TV and wants an inexpensive phone-based backup with a straightforward purpose. It is particularly suitable if the physical remote is frequently misplaced, if the phone is always close at hand, or if a second household controller would make everyday viewing less irritating.

I would skip it if I need guaranteed control during first-time setup, if the television cannot reliably communicate with the phone, or if I want one app to operate many brands and smart-home devices. In those cases, the original remote, a manufacturer-supported option, or a broader universal solution may be the better fit.

My preferred way to use it is simple: keep the original remote in a fixed recovery spot, test the phone connection before an emergency, select the correct television deliberately, and use the app for the repeated tasks that matter. With that habit, the app becomes more than a novelty. It becomes a practical spare controller that earns its place because it removes a small but recurring household annoyance.

Overall, I find the app worthwhile for the right owner. Its 4.7 average and substantial install base reflect broad interest, but my recommendation rests on a more personal test: whether it connects to your TV, whether the controls feel comfortable, and whether it saves you time in the moments when the physical remote is unavailable. If those three conditions are met, HiSense Smart TV Remote is a sensible free addition to a HiSense-focused home setup.