While the DualSense Charging Station and the Pulse 3D Headset are the obvious choices, there is something a bit less obvious on the shelf: the official PlayStation 5 Media Remote. It promises to be the ultimate tool for navigating your entertainment. But is it actually any good at that?

Let’s find out.

Design and Build: Sleek, but Lightweight

The remote is a sleek piece of kit built to match the PS5’s stark black-and-white color scheme and sweeping lines. It’s light in the hand—perhaps a bit too light—and doesn’t feel like the most luxurious item for its £25 price tag.

However, it fits neatly into the palm. The “rounded arse” of the device means it settles comfortably in your hand, and as a bonus, it spins incredibly well on a table if you need something to fidget with. The buttons offer a satisfying click, avoiding the squishy, “prodding a jellyfish” feel of cheaper remotes.

• The Battery Situation: It runs on two AA batteries (included). The compartment on the bottom is slightly overdesigned, requiring a fingernail to pop a button rather than a standard slide-cover.

The Setup: Easy, But Limited

Connecting the Media Remote to the PS5 is a doddle. You simply head to the settings, select the setup option, and follow the on-screen instructions. It can also link to your TV, allowing you to control volume and power.

However, this is where the remote stumbles. Sony had a chance to create a universal remote to rule them all, but they missed the mark.

• No Input Switching: You cannot change the input source on your TV. Want to swap to your Xbox Series X or Nintendo Switch? You’ll need your old TV remote.
• No Menu Access: You cannot access TV menus or change channels.
• The Verdict: As a universal remote replacement, it kind of sucks.

Functionality: Good for Streaming, Weird for Navigation

When used strictly with the PS5, the remote is competent but has strange caveats.

• The “PlayStation Shapes” are missing: There is no Triangle, Circle, Square, or Cross button. If an app (like Now TV) asks you to press Triangle to search, you are out of luck.
• Dedicated App Buttons: The bottom features four non-reprogrammable shortcut buttons for Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, and YouTube. This is great if you use them, but frustrating if you prefer Amazon Prime or Plex.
• Media Controls: You get standard Play/Pause and Fast-Forward, but no Chapter Skip.
• The Mystery Mic: There is a microphone button at the top that, as of writing, does absolutely nothing.

The Verdict: Who Is This For?

Ultimately, the official PlayStation 5 Media Remote is 100% “okay.”

Whether you should buy one depends entirely on your habits. If you use your PS5 as a primary media center for movies and music, this remote is worth picking up to save your DualSense Controller battery (and to stop the controller from timing out during a film).

But if you mostly just play games, or if you were hoping this would replace your TV remote entirely, there is little reason to pick this up.

Also Read : Mobapad M6 HD Review: The Joy-Con Upgrade You Have Been Waiting For?

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