Flirc Skip 1s Review

Titlecard for Skip1s Review

I would think that in 2025 there would be several options for programmable remotes in the market. But in reality, it’s not. If anything, it feels like the opposite is true. Imagine my surprise and frustration when I started looking at options for remotes for my basement.

Setup:

My basement setup was relatively simple. It included a BenQ 1080p projector, Roku Ultra, and an ancient Logitech 5.1 sound system. The Roku remote worked great in this setup because it was programmed to control the power and volume of the projector, which the speakers plugged into through the 3.5mm audio jack. And then last month the Logitech system stopped working altogether. I swapped to a onn. soundbar because it was given to me by my mother, who no longer needed it. The soundbar presented a new issue. The Roku remote could only be programmed to control a TV/projector. It could not be configured to turn on the projector and control the soundbar. And I didn’t want my family having to deal with two remotes.

The Search:

So the search began to find a programmable/universal remote. There were plenty of universal remotes available. One4All was a brand I used in the 90s and makes several models today. And Philips makes universal remotes (technically, they’re now made by Jasco, who licensed the Philips brand). But being a tech-minded person, I wanted more customization with the option to program a remote with more features. Two brands that came up in my research were Logitech Harmony (obviously) and Sofabaton. Unfortunately, I wasn’t comfortable with either option.

Logitech stopped manufacturing Harmony hardware in 2021, but eBay still has reasonably priced listings. My bigger issue is the software. Programming a remote/hub requires a Harmony account and access to Logitech servers. While Logitech said they would “keep services running as long as customers are using it,” that doesn’t mean it will continue to run forever. One day, those servers will shut down, and when that happens, Harmony owners will no longer be able to update their remote configurations.

Sofabaton gives me the same concerns. You are required to create an account to use their app. Even worse, Sofabaton only offers an iOS/Android app. As long as Sofabaton keeps updating their app, there are no issues. But if they stop, the app will eventually be delisted from the stores.

I did find a third option in the Flirc Skip 1s. It started in 2022 as a Kickstarter and now is sold as a real product in 2024. The sales pitch checked several boxes for me: programmable through a desktop app, which includes a decent database of IR codes; no cloud account or server required; can learn IR codes from other remotes. Reviews of the Skip 1s seemed mixed when searching through forums and Reddit. One of the issues for some users was the limitation of IR only. The remote can not control devices over Bluetooth or some other type of Wi-Fi/network connection. But for $42 (holiday season sales), it was worth purchasing to try.

Hardware Impressions:

Overall, the remote is nice and has a slim feel. It definitely has a design reminiscent of older TV/STB remotes with the inclusion of a number pad. There’s not as many buttons as found on a Harmony remote, but what’s included covers my needs. The buttons are soft but have a tactile feel with decent feedback. At the bottom is a USB-C port used for programming with a computer, and power is provided by 2x AAA batteries (included in the box). For sustainability, I like the decision to use replaceable batteries. Once the included batteries die, I’ll grab a set of rechargeables and cut down on waste. My one main complaint (nit pick, really) with the design of the Skip 1s is the lack of backlit buttons. The navigation buttons have RGBY for customization and identifying the colored function buttons (did anything ever use these?). But only the activity buttons illuminate. I would have preferred all the buttons to be backlit, similar to the Shield TV Pro remote.

Skip1s unboxing. Typical tight fitting white box
Skip1s unboxing. Packaging includes USB-C cable and 2x AAA batteries. NICE!

Software and Programming:

As mentioned earlier, the Skip 1s is programmed using a desktop app called SkippApp (or is it Skipp App). The software is available from Flirc’s website, no account required, for Windows, MacOS, and Linux (AppImage), and includes the IR code database built-in. I don’t know if database updates require a full app update or if that can be downloaded separately. The first-time setup appears straightforward. The SkipApp app(?) installs the latest Skip 1s firmware before allowing me to sync a configuration to the remote.

SkipApp welcome screen
Setup instructions saying to plug the remote into your computer
Setup instructions saying to name your remote
The main screen of the app. The left side shows the configured activities. The middle is a picture representation of the remote. The right has tips and links to documentation.

The next step is configuring the A, B, & C Activity buttons. Think of these as different modes. The three Activity buttons can be programmed to change which buttons do what. The setup wizards lets you pick up to eight devices to be managed under one activity. The next screen allows you to map the devices to navigation, media control, and audio control. If you’ve configured a Harmony remote, this may sound familiar. The BIG difference between the Skip 1s and Harmony is that pressing an Activity button on the Skip 1s doesn’t automatically power devices on/off or set inputs. They only change the actions programmed to the buttons.

Activity setup. What are you wanting to control? Watch TV, Play Games, Music, Streaming? Name your activity
Select the type of device you want to control. TV, speakers, STB, etc.
Search for the device in the included IR code database
Map the devices. What is controlling navigation? What is controlling playback? What is controlling audio?
A summary of the actions showing what the power button will do.

What if a device isn’t included in the IR code database? In my case, onn. soundbars are missing. The SkipApp app and remote can record the buttons from an existing remote. The activity setup wizard has an option at the bottom of the window to record a device. Enter the device make/model, drag and drop the buttons onto a grid, and record the IR codes.

Record a device remote. Provide the Brand and Model.
Drag and drop the desired icons into the grid representing the remote's buttons.
Hold the Skip1s and device remote in front of each other. Press the button on the device remote to record it.
Remote recording complete.

Finally, if the wizard didn’t program the buttons to your liking, you can use the buttons panel to remap actions. Almost every button can be programmed to be whatever you want (even the number buttons). You can add multiple actions within each button, such as turning on the projector and soundbar when the power button is pressed and setting an input. Delays and repeats can be added to each action if needed, too.

Change the actions for each button on the Skip1s remote to the desired actions. Delay's and repeats can be sent for each action

The SkipApp app isn’t without issues. There are some improvements I’d like the developers to look at implementing:

  • The app feels slow. Every mouse click includes waiting as UI elements animate, move, and/or resize. I’d like to see the animation speed increased or an option to disable them altogether under the accessibility options. Flirc mentions the SkipApp app is React Native on their website. If I’m not careful, I can mess up the app’s viewport by trying to tab through UI elements. I don’t have accessibility issues, but I think the developers should test to see how the app responds to screen readers.
  • The Linux version needs some TLC. The app doesn’t handle non-integer scaling. I run Fedora with KDE on a Framework laptop. My screen scaling is set to 150%, which causes the image alignment in SkipApp to be off. There are also issues with some UI elements not responding to mouse clicks, which may be caused by scaling issues. Drop-down menus seem the most affected.
    • Linux scaling issues. The icons are all misalignedLinux Scaling issues. The icons are all misaligned
  • I’d like to record remotes without having to start the process from the activity wizard.
  • As of version 0.9.993, the IR recording feature of the SkipApp requires connection to Flirc servers. The developer says this is temporary while the feature is actively developed, but will be bundled into the app in the future. I hope this comes true.
  • Include an advanced option for alternate actions if a button is held or double-tapped. I’m sure this isn’t trivial, but it’s something the Shield Remote offers and is pretty nice.
  • When trying to type text, pressing SPACE causes the focus to change from the text box. I have to click on the text box every time I press the spacebar.

Conclusion:

The Skip 1s remote is perfect for my requirements and setup. An Internet connection or account isn’t required after downloading the desktop app. and it can control the projector, soundbar, and Roku Ultra in my basement. If your setup requires more advanced customizations or Bluetooth-based control, an old Harmony remote/hub or something from Sofabaton may work better.

The Good:

  • Simple Design
  • Programmable from PC application
  • No online account required
  • No cloud service required*
  • IR code database included in the app
  • Mac/Windows/Linux apps
  • Ability to record IR codes from other remotes

The Meh:

  • Only provided IR control
  • No way to control devices over Bluetooth (like NVIDIA Shield)
  • No way to control Wi-Fi Direct devices (like Roku Streaming Sticks)

The Bad:

  • Linux app needs work
    • Doesn’t render correctly when using non-integer scaling
    • Some UI elements don’t respond to clicks (likely due to scaling issues)
  • Why does the learning feature require Internet access?