Sony PS5 Media Remote Review: Conditional Buy (7.9/10)
“The included batteries died so quickly… and it kept turning my PS5 on by itself.” That single complaint captures the weird split around the Sony PS5 Multimedia Remote Control: many owners call it a “must buy” convenience upgrade, while a vocal minority hit real reliability and battery quirks. Verdict: Conditional buy — 7.9/10.
Quick Verdict
The Sony PS5 Multimedia Remote Control is worth it if your PS5 is your main streaming box or 4K Blu-ray player and you’re tired of waking a DualSense just to pause. It’s less compelling if your TV remote already controls the PS5 via HDMI-CEC, or if you’re sensitive to battery drain and occasional flakiness.
| What buyers liked / disliked | What it means in real use | Evidence (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Saves DualSense battery | Stream without “wasting your ps5 controller battery” | Best Buy user homerD: “perfect for when you don’t feel like wasting your ps5 controller battery.” |
| One-touch app buttons | Launch Netflix/YouTube fast, even from couch | Best Buy user Vegeta: “if you wanna watch netflix just push the button and within seconds you are at the menu.” |
| Compact, simple design | Easier for family/guests than a controller | Best Buy highlights: “ease of use, design, size” (Best Buy) |
| No backlight | Harder to use in a dark room | Best Buy user Vegeta: “wish…buttons have the backlit feature” |
| Battery issues for some | Quick drain, erratic behavior when low | Reddit user (PlayStation thread): “included batteries died so quickly… kept turning my ps5 on by itself.” |
| TV remote may already do it | Remote can feel redundant with HDMI device link | Reddit user: “hdmi device link… makes their media remote pretty obsolete.” |
Claims vs Reality
Sony’s marketing frames the Sony PS5 Multimedia Remote Control as a simple way to “navigate entertainment… with an intuitive layout” and to “power on your PS5… and adjust the volume and power settings of compatible TVs” (Amazon specs; PlayStation Direct listing). Digging deeper into user reports, the convenience is real—but often overlaps with HDMI-CEC setups many people didn’t realize they already had.
A recurring pattern emerged on Reddit: people discover their existing TV remote already controls PS5 media playback. One commenter bluntly argued, “if your tv supports it, your tv remote can have essentially the same functionality as sony’s media remote” (Reddit, r/4kbluray). Another user had a genuine “aha” moment: “no way!!! i just discovered that my tv remote does that!!!” (Reddit, r/4kbluray). For those households, the “streamline your setup” claim is less about adding a new remote and more about realizing HDMI device link exists.
Sony also pushes “media playback controls” as a core benefit (Amazon specs). Yet at least one Reddit user ran into a functional gap: “you can’t even skip chapters with it” during disc playback, something they said the DualSense can do (Reddit, r/4kbluray). That’s a direct mismatch between expectations (“it’s a media remote, so it should handle disc controls”) and at least one reported reality.
Finally, “TV settings” control via built-in IR is marketed as a highlight (Amazon specs). Many Best Buy reviewers confirm that part: user homerD said it “automatically connects to tv so i can adjust the volume from it,” and another wrote it paired “in the click of a button” to control TV volume and power (Best Buy). Still, users also point out it won’t replace a full TV remote—Best Buy user nextgen summarized it as: “it won’t replace standard remote… no back light” (Best Buy).
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
One repeated story across Best Buy and Reddit is the “controller battery saver” angle. For binge-watchers and late-night streamers, the Sony PS5 Multimedia Remote Control lets the DualSense stay on the charger while content plays. Reddit user (r/playstation) explained the benefit plainly: it “lets my dual sense controllers charge while i use it for movies and youtube.” Best Buy user homerD echoed the same couch use-case: “perfect for when you don’t feel like wasting your ps5 controller battery.” For people who treat the PS5 like a Roku replacement, the remote becomes less of a novelty and more of a daily convenience.
The app shortcut buttons are another crowd-pleaser—especially for users who hop between services. Best Buy user Vegeta described the instant gratification: “if you wanna watch netflix just push the button and within seconds you are at the menu.” Another reviewer (undefeated meatz) framed it as friction reduction: it’s “convenient that it switches apps with one button rather than going all the way to the home screen” (Best Buy). That’s particularly attractive for families, where the “who benefits?” isn’t just the owner—it’s anyone who wants a familiar “TV remote” feel instead of a gamepad.
Size and simplicity show up as consistent praise. Best Buy’s summary says customers rate it highly for “ease of use, design, size” (Best Buy). Reddit user (r/playstation) compared it directly against a TV remote they already owned, but still preferred Sony’s because it’s “small, compact and not so many buttons.” For minimalists (or anyone tired of “remote clutter”), that smaller footprint becomes a real quality-of-life perk—one user said it helped end “fumbling with different remotes” and made it “a big difference” (Best Buy user perfect ps 5 soundbar).
Common Complaints
Battery behavior is the most consistent sore spot, and it comes in a few forms: fast drain, erratic input when batteries run low, and odd wake-ups. On Reddit, one user said: “the included batteries died so quickly and… it kept turning my ps5 on by itself” (Reddit, r/playstation). Another thread describes longer-term frustration where the remote becomes unreliable over time: “after a couple of week[s]… it started to perform poorly; like late responses or even none at all,” and after battery swaps and re-pairing, “it has stopped working completely” (Reddit, r/playstation; “PS5 Media Remote” thread). For heavy users, that’s not a minor annoyance—it undermines the whole point of a “grab-and-go” media controller.
The lack of a backlight is a quieter but persistent complaint, especially for bedroom viewing. Best Buy’s aggregate callout explicitly mentions “absence of a backlight,” and individual reviewers repeat it: Vegeta wished Sony “would’ve made the buttons have the backlit feature,” while luffy said it “would have been even better if it had glow functionality” (Best Buy). For nighttime streamers, it’s the kind of missing feature that becomes obvious only after living with it.
Some users also describe physical/ergonomic nitpicks. Best Buy user kwinn felt “quality feels a bit cheap” and noticed “the back plating on mine moves around a bit.” Another reviewer complained the back is “a bit tuff to get off” when accessing batteries (Best Buy user jonathanp). These aren’t deal-breakers for everyone, but they show the remote is perceived more as a functional accessory than a premium handheld.
Divisive Features
The biggest divider is whether you need it at all, because HDMI-CEC can erase the use-case. Reddit user (r/4kbluray) argued a TV remote can provide “essentially the same functionality,” and another said their LG remote “does pretty much all the same stuff.” In the PlayStation subreddit, a user spelled out the underlying reason: “it’s hdmi device link in the settings… makes their media remote pretty obsolete” unless you really want dedicated buttons (Reddit, r/playstation). For people whose TV remote already drives the PS5 menus and playback, Sony’s remote becomes a convenience preference, not a capability upgrade.
On the flip side, some owners say it’s absolutely worth it if the PS5 is the household’s main media hub. Reddit user (r/4kbluray) gave an emphatic endorsement: “having recently bought it, 100% yes… my dualsense don’t run out every day.” Best Buy user carlos called it “a must buy ps5 accessory” because it makes media apps and Blu-rays “super easy.” Same product, two different realities—often determined by whether the TV remote already “talks” to the console, and how frequently someone streams on PS5 instead of a smart TV OS.
Trust & Reliability
Across platforms, the trust question isn’t about counterfeit listings as much as long-term reliability. A detailed Reddit account described a pattern: remote works fine at first, then becomes “finicky,” then “stopped working all together,” even after “re-pairing… changing batteries… restarting the console” (Reddit, r/playstation; “PS5 Media Remote”). That kind of timeline (“a couple of weeks later it degrades”) is exactly what prospective buyers fear.
Meanwhile, large-volume retailer reviews trend positive on day-to-day functionality. Best Buy’s aggregate sentiment says customers are satisfied with ease of use and design, while concerns cluster around “battery life” and “absence of a backlight” (Best Buy). The investigative read here: casual and mainstream users often experience it as a straightforward media remote; power users and unlucky units report behavior that feels like a reliability defect rather than a preference issue.
Alternatives
The most commonly cited alternative in community discussion is simple: use your TV remote via HDMI device link (HDMI-CEC). Reddit users repeatedly describe discovering their TV remote already controls PS5 playback and even parts of the home menu. One person said, “my tv remote can control disc playback and the home menu of the ps5” (Reddit, r/4kbluray). Another saw their TV remote unexpectedly “moved apps on my ps5s desktop” after pressing the wrong button (Reddit, r/playstation), which they later attributed to HDMI device link.
There’s also the “don’t stream on PS5” alternative: if your smart TV or a Roku/Chromecast handles streaming, the value drops. Reddit user (r/playstation) said, “i just use my roku tv for everything so there’s no point using the ps5 to stream.” In that scenario, the Sony remote isn’t competing against another paid accessory—it’s competing against the reality that the PS5 doesn’t need to be your streaming box at all.
Price & Value
Current pricing clusters around $29.90–$29.99 on Amazon and PlayStation Direct (Amazon listing; PlayStation Direct). In user debates, the perceived value hinges on how much you stream and how annoying it is to wake and sleep a DualSense just to pause. Reddit user (r/4kbluray) framed it bluntly: “it does depend how much $25 means to you” and if money is tight, “it’s not worth it.”
Resale pricing on eBay suggests the remote holds some value but fluctuates widely by condition. Listings show brand-new units around $29.99, while used/open-box can appear lower (eBay market listings). For bargain hunters, that lines up with the community’s practical advice: if you’re worried about battery issues, buying from a retailer with easy returns may matter more than saving a few dollars.
Buying tip that keeps resurfacing: don’t judge it on the included AAs. Reddit user (r/playstation) advised: “get replacement high quality batteries and it’s perfect,” after blaming the included set for quick death and weird wake-ups. Another Reddit comment simply pushed “rechargeable batteries” as the fix for always-on Bluetooth drain (Reddit, r/4kbluray).
FAQ
Q: Is the Sony PS5 Multimedia Remote Control worth it?
A: Conditionally, yes. If you stream a lot on PS5, it’s praised for letting your “dual sense controllers charge while i use it for movies and youtube” (Reddit, r/playstation). If HDMI device link already lets your TV remote control PS5, multiple users say it can feel redundant (Reddit, r/4kbluray; r/playstation).
Q: Can I control my TV volume and power with it?
A: Yes, many users report controlling TV volume/power successfully. Best Buy user homerD said it “automatically connects to tv so i can adjust the volume from it.” Official listings also describe built-in IR TV control (Amazon specs; PlayStation Direct), though it still won’t replace a full TV remote for everything.
Q: Does it have a backlight for dark rooms?
A: No, and that’s a common complaint. Best Buy’s review summary highlights “absence of a backlight,” and Best Buy user Vegeta wrote they “wish…buttons have the backlit feature.” If you watch in a dark bedroom, this limitation comes up fast.
Q: Do the dedicated app buttons help, and can they be remapped?
A: The shortcut buttons are popular for quick launches—Best Buy user Vegeta said Netflix opens “within seconds.” But multiple reviewers dislike that they can’t be changed; Best Buy user kwinn wished the dedicated buttons “could be remapped.” Some editorial reviews also call out limited customization (Quora/Editorial source).
Q: Are there known battery or reliability problems?
A: Some users report quick battery drain and erratic behavior. Reddit user (r/playstation) said the “included batteries died so quickly” and it “kept turning my ps5 on by itself.” Another Reddit post described late or missing responses after a couple weeks, eventually “stopped working completely,” despite re-pairing and new batteries.
Final Verdict
Buy the Sony PS5 Multimedia Remote Control if you’re a heavy PS5 streamer or 4K disc watcher who wants to stop waking a DualSense just to pause—Best Buy user homerD called it “perfect” for saving controller battery, and Reddit user (r/playstation) liked letting controllers charge during movies.
Avoid it if your TV already controls PS5 via HDMI device link, because multiple Reddit users found their TV remote “does pretty much all the same stuff.”
Pro tip from the community: swap out the included AAs—one Reddit user said “get replacement high quality batteries and it’s perfect,” after blaming the stock batteries for quick death and weird wake-ups (Reddit, r/playstation).
