As we collect more and more television-related gadgets, the number of remote controls expands until we find ourselves fumbling with four or five remotes trying to find the right one for the task at hand. That’s where Logitech’s line of Harmony Remote Controls comes in. They promise to control several devices to make watching TV, playing a DVD, or listening to music possible with one-click on one remote. We took a look at the Harmony 650 remote to see if it delivered on this promise.

The Harmony 650 is at the low- to mid-range of Logitech’s Harmony remote lineup. This device retails for USD 100 and can be used to control up to five devices. The lineup starts with the 300i, which sells for USD 30, and goes all the way up to the 1100, which sells for USD 359. There are plenty of choices in between with a variety of prices and features.

The Logitech Harmony 650 Remote comes in a typical green and white box as shown in Figure 1.

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Figure1: The box

As shown in Figure 2, inside the box is the remote, a USB cable for connecting it to the computer, two AA batteries, and some simple user documentation. The remote itself has a metallic pewter finish on top with a black bottom. At 1.1 pounds (500 g), its weight is average for a remote of its size. At its largest points, this remote measures 2.25 x 8.75 x 1.2 inches (57 x 222 x 30 mm) but is not rectangular. Instead it is ergonomically shaped with curved edges and an indentation in the middle for easy handling. There is also a bump at the bottom of the back as shown in Figure 3. This puts most of the weight of the remote near the bottom making it a bit easier to hold.

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Figure 2: What’s in the box

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Figure 3: The shape of the Harmony 650