Forum Discussion

lfayb's avatar
lfayb
Roku Guru
8 years ago

Feature Request: Remote Light Up

Just a thought  for a future enhancement   I use the headphone feature of my  remote to watch tv at night.  Normally, watch in low light.  It can be hard to see the buttons on the remote, would be great if they would light up so they could be seen in low light.

33 Replies

  • rockou's avatar
    rockou
    Binge Watcher
    "jeffrok" wrote:
    Tons of cheaper remotes are not backlit.. especially ones with so few buttons.. in 2018..

    Yep but they shouldn't be. It's 2018 not 1998.
  • this should be a top feature- i would rather have that then the netflix buttons etc

  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    Actually, it's amazing how many remotes don't include back-lighting. My Yamaha AVR remotes aren't (including one I just bought last week), my Samsung TV (more than one), some Vizio and Insignia TV remotes, none of them. In fact, I believe the only lighted remote I have is for my older Panasonic plasma ST30. 
  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    With the extremely low button count on a Roku remote (ignoring the four preset buttons), is it really necessary to be able to see them? I never even look at the remote, going solely by touch and memory. 
    .
    Besides, with my eyesight, I couldn't read the buttons even if they were backlit unless I grabbed my reading glasses. And I don't keep them with me in bed.  :P
  • I agree 150% that Raku needs to add back lighting to the remote. I have the Roku Streaming Stick + (3810, 3811 series) . It's such a nice product and service but this is the one thing about it that I don't like. I use Raku in my bedroom and I hate having to either turn on a light or use my phone's light to see the buttons. I do have the Raku app on my phone, which allows me to change channels, so that's helpful but not if I have it charging or if my wife is asleep because the phone can be too bright compared to just backlit buttons on a remote

    The argument that there aren't that many buttons and I could just try to do it from memory is a weak argument at best and really an insult at worst.

    I believe it should be a standard feature in the next Raku to be released and I'd be willing to buy a replacement remote from Raku that has this feature built in.

    I've tried to find a universal remote that's backlit and compatible but with no success. I like that small size of the Raku remote and the universal remotes out there all seem to be quite large.

    Come on Raku, please listen to your customers and add this small upgrade to the remotes.

    Thank you.

    • TLR's avatar
      TLR
      Reel Rookie

      On top of the back lighting issue... The Roku remotes are generally rather cheap as well. I don't mind the simplicity of the remote... Which by the way... Will NEVER be muscle memory in a dark.. But it feels cheap and dinky. My remote for my Roku TV... that's only about a year old... if that... just broke. So now I was forced to find another option. The app is a nice back up.. But nothing I would ever want to rely on. My prayers were answered when I came across the One for All Streamer remote. 

      https://www.oneforall.us/universal-remotes/urc-7935-streamer-remote

      I've seen it range from $16-26 and let me tell you .. It was worth every penny... Backlit and all! Your able to do alot more customizing with it then I bothered to but simply put... It's everything the Roku remotes should be in 2020 and more!

      *Note: This will work with the Roku TV and regular streaming units but not the streaming stick. 

      • jtksmith's avatar
        jtksmith
        Reel Rookie

        I like it. Too bad it’s not compatible with the Roku I own. :smileysad:

  • SK-Pete's avatar
    SK-Pete
    Streaming Star

    Absolutely agree. I would pay extra for that feature.  Like others, I watch TV at night with the headphones (killer app!) and as well designed as it is, it is still too easy to hit a wrong button.  (My old FIOS remote was much easier to operate blind).  I have to use my cell phone as a light some times. 

    Come on Roku, make it an option.  Battery life is my problem, not yours.

    • Scolli23's avatar
      Scolli23
      Streaming Star

      And one more request to the light feature;

      Motion activated, when movement detected over remote, it will light the keys. 

  • derekmski's avatar
    derekmski
    Channel Surfer

    Huge missed opportunity with the Roku Voice Remote Pro IMO.  It should have been backlit! Roku needs a backlit remote!