An IR Blaster is a small transmitter in your phone that emits infrared light to serve as a remote control. You can use it to control your TV, its decoder, an air conditioner, cameras, projectors, or any appliance that has an infrared receiver.
The system is simple, needing only the emitter and the receiver. You can control multiple devices by pointing your phone (with an IR blaster) to the infrared receiver of the device, without interference from other signals like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
It’s a great way to eliminate the need for multiple remote controls and countless disposable batteries that are invariably missing. It also helps you avoid issues like connection drops or pairing issues, commonly experienced with most modern devices that use Bluetooth-enabled remotes.
However, not all smartphones have this technology nowadays, but there are still interesting ones with this simple but useful feature.
Comparison of the Best Phones with IR Blaster
| Image | Product | Details | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G | Screen: 6.55 inches AMOLED Resolution: 1080x2400 Refresh Rate: 120Hz Rear Camera: 108MP, 8MP, and 2MP Front Camera: 32MP Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G RAM: Up to 8GB Storage: Up to 256GB Frequency: GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G Dual SIM: Yes Weight: 173.0g | Buy on Amazon |
 | Poco F4 GT 5G | Screen: 6.67 inches AMOLED Resolution: 1080x2400 Refresh Rate: 120Hz Rear Camera: 64MP, 8MP, and 2MP Front Camera: 20MP Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 RAM: Up to 12GB Storage: Up to 256GB Frequency: GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G Dual SIM: Yes Weight: 210.0g | Buy on Amazon |
 | Poco X4 PRO 5G | Screen: 6.67 inches Super AMOLED Resolution: 1080x2400 Refresh Rate: 120Hz Rear Camera: 108MP, 64MP, 8MP, and 2MP Front Camera: 16MP Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 RAM: Up to 8GB Storage: Up to 256GB Frequency: GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G Dual SIM: Yes Weight: 205.0g | Buy on Amazon |
 | Xiaomi Poco M4 PRO | Screen: 6.43 inches AMOLED Resolution: 1080x2400 Refresh Rate: 90Hz Rear Camera: 64MP, 8MP, and 2MP Front Camera: 16MP Processor: Mediatek Helio G96 RAM: Up to Storage: Up to 256GB Frequency: GSM/HSPA/LTE Dual SIM: Yes Weight: 179.5g | Buy on Amazon |
 | HUAWEI P50 Pro | Screen: 6.60 inches OLED Resolution: 1228x2700 Refresh Rate: 120Hz Rear Camera: 50MP, 64MP, 40MP and 13MP Front Camera: 13MP Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 RAM: Up to Storage: Up to 512GB Frequency: GSM/CDMA/HSPA/CDMA2000/LTE Dual SIM: Yes Weight: 195.0g | Buy on Amazon |
 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 | Screen: 6.43 inches AMOLED Resolution: 1080x2400 Refresh Rate: 90Hz Rear Camera: 50MP, 8MP, 2MP, and 2MP Front Camera: 13MP Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 RAM: Up to 6GB Storage: Up to 128GB Frequency: GSM/CDMA/LTE Dual SIM: Yes Weight: 179.0g | Buy on Amazon |
Table of Contents
1. Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G
With a minimalistic and slick design, the Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G is suitable for users who want a portable device for everyday use. With only 173g, it is perfect for holding long periods and carrying it everywhere comfortably. Further, its mid-range specifications ensure that the phone doesn’t turn sluggish when you load it with apps and data.
The 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate screen guarantees excellent visuals and smooth transitions.
Unfortunately, the 4300mAh battery would only last for a short time under heavy usage. Thankfully, Xiaomi solves this issue by using a battery that requires only 40 mins. to 45 mins. to charge completely, making it convenient for professionals.
It’s a pleasure taking pictures with the 108MP rear camera and a 32MP selfie camera with autofocus ensuring that you get superior video call quality.
You can purchase it with different storage and RAM configurations. It fits the most demanding professional who needs to save heavy files and run demanding apps.
- It is lightweight.
- Its flat edges improve grip.
- The 32MP selfie camera has autofocus, delivering excellent video call quality.
- It charges to completion in 40 to 45 minutes.
- Multiple storage and RAM variants for demanding professional needs.
Battery lasts a short time under demanding usage.
2. Poco F4 GT 5G
It’s a gaming device without a crazy gaming look. It has a sporty back design but nothing fancy. The RGB lighting only lights while charging or receiving notifications, and the right and left triggers to look like regular buttons.
It’s suitable for users that need a phone for a more professional environment but also love a seamless gaming experience.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 120Hz refresh rate fulfills any performance and visual gaming requirement effortlessly without interrupting your gaming hours. There is no adaptive sync, which hurts the battery, making the 4700mAh insufficient for long gaming hours.
The IR blaster sensor is located on the top, providing control to your infrared devices up to 32 feet.
It charges to completion in 15 to 20 minutes.
- The triggers pop up magnetically when unlocked.
- It has a gaming design that isn’t over the top.
- Hand positioning doesn’t interfere with the speakers.
- Multiple storages and RAM variants for varied gaming needs.
- It is on the heavier side.
- The lack of adaptive sync drains the battery fast.
3. Poco X4 PRO 5G
The Poco X4 PRO 5G is for those users who want a vibrant screen with incredible battery life and performs decently in multimedia applications.
Poco is a gaming phone brand, but the Snapdragon 695 isn’t a processor for heavy-duty usage. This phone has its limitations and covers them with performance-enhancing methods like closing background apps.
It is perfect for watching multimedia and experiencing social media with crisp colors. The super AMOLED gives it incredible natural looking and bright imaging that you can enjoy even on sunny days, thanks to its astonishing sunlight reflection.
The speakers sound clear and loud even in places with low-frequency noises, like engines or air conditioners.
So, it is more a device for the standard user that wants to experience beautiful multimedia content than a professional or gamer.
- The super AMOLED display is perfect for watching multimedia.
- The speakers sound clear in noisy environments.
- Battery life lasts up to two days, even with substantial usage.
- It charges to completion in 40 to 45 minutes.
- Multiple storage and RAM configurations to save multimedia files.
There are better gaming devices than this, despite its 120Hz refresh rate.
- The Video recording limit is up to 1080P at 30 FPS.
4. Xiaomi Poco M4 PRO
This phone is for those who want powerful specs at a pocket-friendly price. The Xiaomi Poco M4 PRO is a mid-range device perfect for users that want a fluid user experience while browsing, watching YouTube, and listening to music.
Even when gaming, this device stands out with beautiful and fluid graphics that provide an immersive gaming experience, understanding that you can’t play games at full specs. Although the Mediatek Helio G96 runs demanding games, the graphs won’t look crisp and fluid with AAA games.
The AMOLED screen gives it 1000nits max brightness, allowing you an excellent viewing experience with great detail and clarity even in brightly lit environments. It is a comfortable smartphone in your hand for extended periods thanks to its 6.43-inch screen, making it suitable for one-handed use.
And despite its max 90Hz refresh rate for multimedia, it has an incredible 180Hz tactile response, making it a fast phone even in heavy-duty usage.
Finally, it has more than enough variants for your needs. It targets students who don’t need lots of storage or RAM. But you can find it with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for more demanding usage.
The AMOLED screen’s 1000nits brightness is bright even in well-lit rooms.
- The battery lasts a day of heavy-duty usage.
- This NFC-enabled phone allows contactless payments.
- It charges to completion in an hour.
- It lacks 5G connectivity.
- The glossy reflective back gets dirty quickly.
5. HUAWEI P50 Pro
You won’t get a better device with an IR blaster with such an impressive camera.
It is for users who need a phone that takes sharp photos with exceptional white and black balance for high contrast with a natural look. The zoom is consistent throughout the whole picture, helping to accentuate little details from distant shots.
The selfie camera is a 13MP module that satisfies people who post good-quality selfies in portrait mode.
From the video perspective, it records up to 4K at 60 FPS with a smooth vibe, thanks to image stabilization. The ultra-slow-motion mode supports 1080p at 960FPS, achieving exciting scenes with good quality.
The storage and RAM sections support demanding files and multimedia. You can find this device with up to 256GB of storage and improve it with an SD card of up to 512GB. And with a max of 12GB of RAM, you can stream in 4K easily with other apps working.
You can reproduce multimedia at full audio without losing quality, which is perfect for watching movies or gaming on a high-resolution OLED display.
It is a smooth-to-navigate phone with a max 120Hz refresh rate, and with the dynamic refresh rates, it auto-adjusts itself to save battery.
It has a top construction and feels premium in hand.
- It has Leica camera sensors.
- It charges to completion in 20 to 30 minutes.
- It charges wirelessly to fruition in an hour.
It lacks Google Services.
- It lacks 5G connectivity.
6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is the cheapest phone on the list and will serve any user. It can manage regular tasks like browsing and watching multimedia at a decent performance. Thanks to the slim design and anti-slippery back, it has a good grip and only weighs 179g.
The max storage and RAM configuration allow you to download enough apps for everyday use. You can run them without worrying about the device getting slow.
Its mid-range specifications allow a reasonably good gaming experience without interruption caused by slow frame rate and sluggish transitions.
You can’t expect it to run AAA games or heavy multimedia content, but it allows you to watch YouTube and Netflix for hours. Reportedly, the 5000mAh battery will last up to two days, even with heavy use.
The camera section lacks detail and clarity, but for the price, the 50MP primary camera takes decent pictures worth posting on social media.
It’s an affordable phone with decent specs for everyday use.
- It has an AMOLED display with beautiful bright colors.
- It has dual stereo speakers with admirable clarity at high volumes.
- It has exceptional battery life.
It lacks 5G connectivity.
- It’s the most diminutive fast performer on the list.
Best Phones with IR Blaster– Our Buying Guide
You can control your TV, DVD Player, Home Theatre, Air Conditioner, and other devices with infrared receivers with your phone instead of a dedicated control for each one.
Most phone manufacturers got rid of this feature in their current devices, but some brands still invest in technology with IR receivers like bulbs, curtains, and appliances. And having a phone with an IR blaster will help you control them when you don’t find its remote.
So here are some considerations before buying a phone with an IR blaster.
Connectivity
IR blaster occupies space in your device as it is a sensor. The manufacturer decided to fill that space with an IR blaster instead of another feature, generally another sensor or port.
Ensure that every port you want from a phone is in its specs, as in most cases, it sacrifices the headphone jack.
Remote Control Dedicated App
Xiaomi smartphones come with a dedicated app called Mi Remote.
It works with the IR blaster transmitter to control thousands of Xiaomi devices or other brands like Samsung, LG, Apple, ASUS, etc. You only need to browse a device within the app, select it, and it will work as a remote control with a 38-feet range.
Poco uses this same app, as they are Xiaomi gaming phones.
Huawei uses the built-in Smart Remote app that works the same as Xiaomi Mi Remote app.
Look for phones with built-in control remote apps or with a dedicated remote app. Avoid the apps in the stores as they work less fluidly and tend to crash.
Network Compatibility
Most phones that still use an IR blaster sensor come from China and often have variants that cater to specific regions. Hence, checking whether the phone you select is compatible with your service provider’s network is essential.
You must ensure that the IR blaster phone you want has a standard international network like LTE, GSM, or CDMA. These technologies also have several variants. Therefore, you must check the network specifications of your service provider in detail.
All the phones on this list have a standard international network to use them worldwide, so we cover you here.
Best Phones with IR Blaster– Frequently Asked Questions
How to Tell My Phone Has an IR Blaster?
The easiest way to know is by locating the presumed IR sensor, entering the dedicated app, and typing any button. If you can see a light beam coming from the sensor, it is an IR blaster. Else it might be an RF blaster.
What Can You Do with an IR Blaster?
You can control any device without needing an app with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It simplifies the device control, only requiring the device to have an IR receiver.
Does an IR Blaster Work Thru Walls?
The IR rays used in remotes and smartphones are weak and optical in nature, meaning they need line-of-sight, so they can’t go thru solid objects like walls. However, painted walls reflect the IR ray, giving the impression that it went thru it.
How Far Does an IR Blaster Work?
Most IR controllers work best at 16 feet up to 38 feet. Phones with IR blasters easily reach 38 feet.
