Sofabaton X2 vs X1S: Which Universal Remote Should You Buy?

In the Sofabaton X2 vs X1S comparison, the X2 wins on build, touchscreen and infrared from the handset, while the X1S costs about half as much, according to Theater At Home, a home theater YouTube channel that put both side by side.

Theater At Home said Sofabaton sent him both remotes. Reed Kleinman of Smart Home Solver used the X1S for about a year before moving to the X2. Here is how the two differ, with prices checked October 21, 2026.

Sofabaton X2 vs X1S: prices and specs

Prices checked on Amazon Oct 21, 2026. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.

Sofabaton X2 vs X1S: build and feel

Theater At Home describes the Sofabaton X2 as metal and noticeably heavier, and the Sofabaton X1S as plastic and light. Both remotes are backlit and wake when you lift them. Youthman’s guest in a separate roundup said the X2’s metal front gives it a better feel in the hand.

Touchscreen vs scroll wheel

The X2 has a touchscreen, and its back button sits on the screen. The X1S has a scroll wheel and a physical back button. Theater At Home says the two run the same app with the same device database and protocols, so the difference is in how you navigate, not what you can control. Smart Home Solver adds a tip for the X2: because the number keys now live on the screen, map favorite channels to physical macro buttons.

Infrared: the deciding difference

This is where most buyers will decide. The X1S sends infrared only from its hub and two wired blasters, and it cannot use Sofabaton’s repeater. That works when all your gear sits in one cabinet. The X2 sends infrared from the remote too, and it supports an optional repeater for another room, according to Theater At Home. Youthman’s guest said the X1S did not suit his setup because his equipment is in a rack in a different room.

Charging and battery

The X2 comes with a charging dock. The X1S has no dock and charges over USB-C, and Sofabaton claims about 45 days per charge. Smart Home Solver said the charging indicator on the X2 is small, so you may not notice it at a glance.

Firmware and responsiveness

Theater At Home reported that a firmware update lets the X2 respond to a button press without waking first, and that switching activities now powers off the devices the new activity does not use. At the time of his video, the X1S had not received those changes. He also noticed a slight delay on the X1S back button with an Apple TV over Bluetooth.

Setup and switching between them

Because both remotes use the same Sofabaton app, setup steps are the same: add devices from the database, build activities, then assign buttons. Theater At Home said that when an activity occasionally misses a device, pressing OK resends the command. If you are coming from an X1S, Smart Home Solver says backups do not import, so budget time to rebuild your activities on the X2, and expect to relearn some infrared codes; he had to reprogram his Denon receiver.

Home Assistant

Smart Home Solver set up MQTT virtual buttons on the X2 to trigger Home Assistant automations. Theater At Home runs Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi to control his lights alongside the remote. If you are buying a remote partly to run smart home scenes, the X2 is the one reviewers built around.

Price

Amazon lists the X2 at $359.99 and the X1S at $179.99 as of October 21, 2026. When Theater At Home made his video, the gap was about $150. Moving from an X1S also means setting the X2 up again, since Smart Home Solver says X1S backups do not import. Amazon also carries other X2 listings, including a remote-only version without the hub, so confirm what is in the box before you order.

Which should you buy?

• Choose the X2 if your gear is in a cabinet or another room, you want a dock and a touchscreen, or you plan to use Home Assistant buttons.
• Choose the X1S if everything sits in one open cabinet, you prefer a physical scroll wheel, and you want to spend less.
• Consider the Unfolded Circle Remote 3 if you want two-way feedback and deep customization and do not mind a learning curve.

Video: Theater At Home: “X2 vs X1S – Sofabaton Universal Remote Comparison”. Embedded with credit; the findings are the creator’s own.

Video: Smart Home Solver: “The Smart Remote I’ve been WAITING for! Sofabaton X2”. Embedded with credit; the findings are the creator’s own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference in Sofabaton X2 vs X1S?

The X2 adds a touchscreen, a charging dock, a metal build and infrared in the handset. The X1S uses a scroll wheel and sends infrared only from the hub.

Do the Sofabaton X2 and X1S use the same app?

Yes. Theater At Home says both run the same app and device database.

Which has better battery life, X2 or X1S?

Sofabaton claims about 45 days for the X1S, which charges over USB-C. The X2 sits in a charging dock, so battery life matters less.

Can the X1S use an IR repeater?

No. Theater At Home says only the X2 supports Sofabaton’s repeater.

Sources

• Amazon product listings for the products linked above, checked October 21, 2026
• Theater At Home: “X2 vs X1S – Sofabaton Universal Remote Comparison”
• Smart Home Solver: “The Smart Remote I’ve been WAITING for! Sofabaton X2”
• Youthman: “Harmony Is Dead, These 3 Remotes Are Fighting to Replace It”

Related: Best Smart Universal Remote | Sofabaton X2 Review | Home Assistant Green Review