Review: Cantata Haptique RS90 Universal Remote

Rating: 5/10

When Logitech put an end to its Harmony remote series in April 2021, it marked the conclusion of an era. For two decades, Harmony dominated the universal remote landscape, but with advancements such as streaming services, smart TVs with embedded apps, and the widespread adoption of HDMI-CEC, the demand for infrared remotes dwindled. Even Harmony's integration of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi couldn't stave off its decline in popularity.

Potential and Promise

Despite this shift, many users continue to hang on to older IR devices while integrating new Bluetooth and network-connected gadgets into their homes. A truly comprehensive, affordable remote control that doesn’t require expensive professional setup would therefore be well received.

Enter the Cantata Haptique RS90 universal remote, priced at €349/$406. Built on an Android framework, it aspires to supersede the top-tier Harmony with additional features, including voice control, which Logitech never perfected.

First Impressions

Though my own Harmony Elite sat unused for over a year, I was eager to meet the new generation of universal remotes. The RS90 stands out with its aesthetic – shedding the conventional plastic button-heavy design for a sleek, aluminum body. The bottom half includes a simple, backlit keypad, while the upper section boasts a 3.1-inch color screen and IR transmitter, reminiscent of a contemporary twist on Bang & Olufsen's 1991 Beolink 7000 remote.

The RS90 is built with significant processing power: an ARM Octacore processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It includes a microphone, speaker, and a charging cradle. It's powered by a custom version of Android 12 and Cantata’s own software. A more advanced RS90x model is in the pipeline, promising improvements such as an OLED screen and additional storage.

Challenges to Overcome

Logitech's success was largely due to three elements: an extensive device database, an intuitive interface, and a helpful troubleshooting function. In these areas, the RS90 shows room for improvement. Although it supports over 6,200 brands according to its database, the discrepancies between the app and the brand list can be problematic as seen with the projector brand inconsistencies.

The RS90 uses a setup process familiar to Harmony users through a smartphone app that organizes devices and sequences. Yet, navigating and categorizing devices like Apple TVs presents a challenge without a global search function.

Complex Navigation

Unfortunately, the RS90's interface complicates navigation. Its design deviates from the app’s straightforward organization of Devices/Rooms/Sequences. Instead, it uses Groups/Macros/Rooms, where 'Groups' frustratingly doesn’t visibly include devices.

Further complicating use, different buttons require varied interaction styles, adding to the confusion. The controls often require lengthy presses or fail to display because of a cluttered interface, particularly with apps like Sonos.

Documentation intended to simplify navigation is outdated and unclear, providing mismatched and inaccurate instructions especially for anyone new to the digital ecosystem.

A Beautiful Device with Limited Usability

While aesthetically pleasing and robust, the Cantata Haptique RS90 is hindered by its complex usability, documentation, and the need for further development to reach its potential as a universal remote.

Rating: 5/10