My Experience with HiSense TV Remote Control
I downloaded this app a few months back, mostly out of curiosity. I saw it mentioned on a forum and wondered if a free app could really control a TV. I didn’t lose my remote; I just wanted to see what it did. Honestly, it works. I use it on my iPhone 15 Pro and the basic functions are solid. Last Tuesday, I was cooking and my hands were messy. I used the app on my phone to turn up the volume on the news from across the room without touching anything. That’s the kind of convenience it offers. It found my TV on the first try and paired with a code. For turning the TV on/off, changing inputs, and launching Netflix, it’s become my lazy-day tool. It’s not my main remote, but it’s a handy backup that lives on my phone.
Features Worth Noting
The layout is simple, which is good. You get a directional pad, volume, and power. The dedicated buttons for Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video are genuinely useful. Tapping YouTube on the app is faster than digging through my TV’s home screen with the physical remote. The voice search function is better than I expected. I said “play classic rock on Spotify” and it opened the app and started a playlist. It’s not perfect, but it works more often than not. I also like the number pad for live TV. My dad was over last Sunday and wanted channel 702. Instead of scrolling, I just punched in the numbers. He thought it was magic.
What Needs Work
My main gripe isn’t with function, it’s with feel. The connection drops sometimes if my phone has been idle. I’ll go to pause a show and nothing happens for a second or two. It reconnects fast, but it’s annoying. The ads at the bottom aren’t video ads, but they do make the real buttons—like the menu and back buttons—feel a bit small and cramped, especially for my thumbs. It also means you’re always looking at a small banner ad, which is a visual clutter I don’t love. The app is completely dependent on both devices being on the same Wi-Fi network. If your network is having a moment, the app is useless.
Pricing
It’s free. There’s no upgrade option or premium tier, which is refreshing. You get all the features without paying. The trade-off is the banner ad permanently sitting at the bottom of the remote interface. For a tool that replaces a $20 piece of hardware, you can’t complain about the price. The value is absolutely there if you need it. I just wish the ad implementation was a bit less intrusive to the layout.
Developer Notes
The developer is listed as AYYAN. I’ve had the app for several months and I’ve seen one update pop up, which is a good sign. I checked the App Store reviews before downloading, and while most are positive, there are a few scattered complaints about connectivity on newer TV models. I haven’t needed support, so I can’t speak to their responsiveness. The app itself has a basic feedback form in the settings, which is better than nothing. They seem to be maintaining it, which is more than I can say for some abandoned utility apps.
Security & Privacy
This is where I get skeptical. I always read the privacy labels and permissions. The app needs access to your local network to find the TV, which makes perfect sense. However, the developer’s privacy policy, which I checked, states they may collect identifiers and usage data. For an app that’s just sending basic IR-style commands over Wi-Fi, that feels unnecessary. What usage data? My channel-changing habits? It doesn’t sit right with me. I use it on a guest Wi-Fi network when possible, not my main one. It works, but I don’t fully trust it. I wouldn’t log into any sensitive accounts through the apps I launch with it.
Can the HiSense TV Remote Control app launch streaming services like Netflix and YouTube?
Yes, the app has dedicated buttons for Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, making it faster to open these services than navigating through your TV's home screen with the physical remote. The voice search feature also works well for launching content, such as saying 'play classic rock on Spotify' to start a playlist.
Does the app support voice search and number pad input for live TV?
Yes, the voice search function is surprisingly reliable and can open apps and play content, though it's not perfect every time. The number pad is especially handy for live TV—just punch in a channel number like 702 instead of scrolling, which works great for quick access.
Why does the app sometimes stop responding when my phone has been idle?
This is a common issue caused by the connection dropping after your phone has been idle for a while. The app reconnects quickly, but you might experience a second or two of delay when trying to pause a show or adjust volume. To avoid this, try keeping the app active or waking your phone just before using it.
Are the ads in the app intrusive or do they affect usability?
The ads are small banner ads at the bottom of the screen, not video ads, but they can make the menu and back buttons feel cramped, especially for larger thumbs. While the app remains functional, the visual clutter is a minor annoyance for some users.
How does the HiSense TV Remote Control app compare to using a physical remote?
This app is a great backup or lazy-day tool, offering convenience like controlling your TV from across the room when your hands are messy or you don't want to search for the remote. However, it's not a full replacement for a physical remote due to occasional connection drops and smaller button layouts, so it shines best as a handy secondary option.
