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Elago R1 Intelli Case for Apple TV Remote Review
With the new Apple TV 4th Generation, lots of people have valid concern with the design of the remote. Not just on the software side, at least this was mostly fixed with a recent Apple TV update. The design of the remote is such that it’s not easy to know which side goes up and down. Also, like its older sibling, it tends to fall between the couch cushions or even worse, between furniture. If only we have a case that could make holding the case easier and help with the thickness…
Elago has a solution! Maker of fine accessories, they created the R1 Intelli Case for Apple TV that is supposed to help with these problems!
Design
The R1 Intelli Case is a silicon case shaped perfectly to your Apple TV remote and offers protection in case you drop it. As you know, this little 79$ remote is not cheap to replace. But most of all, the design of this case is aiming to fix many shortcomings of the Apple TV Siri Remote.
Half of the surface of the remote is now covered in silicone, this helps when picking up the remote to know which end goes up or down. Also, the lanyard attached to it helps for this too. It has the added benefit that your kids will not throw the remote to the TV Wii-style when it came out.
What does it do to help with the couch issues? Well, first of all, it’s thicker on each side to help with grip when playing a gyroscope-based game, but also it does not fit between cushions or furniture as easily. But the real genius idea here is the included neodymium magnets, one on each side on the back. You can now put away your remote by sticking it to your TV directly!
Exactly like the old white plastic Apple Remote and the Cinema Displays or iMac of the decade past! Depending on your HDTV model, you might not be able to stick in on the front or on the side, so you’re in the same situation as me and you can simply stick it to the top left corner on the back plate which is usually made of iron instead of aluminum.
Performance
I’ve been using this remote for the last few months and I cannot be happier. I don’t lose the remote anymore, it’s protected and my kids have easily changed their habits and now stick it to the back of the TV when done.
Thankfully, HDMI-CEC still works between my LG HDTV and Apple TV so a single remote to open and close the TV works very well. The silicone protection is thick enough to protect the remote, and believe me it was dropped many, many times already. Not a scratch!
The magnets are well positioned and hold very strongly to the back of the TV. This must be the feature I like the most!
I really like the lanyard, but I wished the piece on which it is attached would be thicker. It really seems that one day it will rip apart if too much force is applied. Like when two kids try to pick up the remote at the same time.
Conclusion
You have an Apple TV latest generation, well then you need an Elago R1 Intelli Case ! I highly recommend this well-designed product both for device protection and because it simply fixes some of the main problems of the Apple TV Siri Remote design.
Update: Since I received the R1 Intelli Case, it is now available in new colours Clear White, Red, Indigo and Solid White. Also, a 6$ set of metal plates are available so you can stick the remote almost anywhere!
Review Summary
A silicone case for your Siri Remote that packs a few features that will make your life easier!
- Perfect shape
- Protects your remote
- Lanyard is great
- Magnets are a genius idea!
- Lanyard loop through silicone seems fragile
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