While sleek and attractive, the Apple TV remote can be somewhat frustrating to use, in large part due to its lack of buttons. That’s where Universal Electronics (UEI) comes in.
The manufacturer is rolling out its own version of the Apple TV remote next year. It comes with all the same features you’d expect, like access to Siri, but with the addition of backlit buttons, including one to mute the Apple TV entirely.
There’s just one catch: this remote is being planned and sold as an alternative for cable companies to distribute. Customers won’t be able to directly purchase one themselves. Providers that offer Apple TV 4K can start placing orders for the remote in late December, UEI says.
If you nab one, it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Infrared to connect with the Apple TV, which means it also acts as a universal remote that can connect to whatever setup you have in your living room.
As The Verge notes, this isn’t the only Apple TV remote alternative. Salt offers one you can purchase directly.
