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Universal remote deal: Logitech Harmony Smart Control is $70 at Best Buy and Amazon

One of our favorite universal remotes is on sale now at the lowest price we've seen.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
David Carnoy
Sarah Tew

Logitech's Harmony Smart Control universal remote may not be as fancy as its touchscreen Harmony Elite, but we've always thought it was the better value -- and it's on sale right now at a Black Friday-like price of $70 (its list price is $130 but it usually sells online for a little over $100).

Like Logitech's high-end $300 Elite, this one comes with the Harmony Hub, which lets you control devices hidden behind cabinet doors or walls, use a smartphone as a remote control or even issue voice commands -- the Hub can connect to Amazon's Alexa voice assistant if you have an Amazon Echo.

Since the Harmony Hub usually retails for $100 on its own, you're getting a $30 savings even if you just want the Hub and don't need the physical remote.

Watch this: A fresh take on the universal remote

Once you have the Hub installed, you can use the included remote or download the Harmony app to an iOS or Android device and use that device as your remote control. The Hub also allows you to control such smart-home devices as Philips Hue lighting.

The price drop could very well mean that Logitech has a new Smart Control coming soon, particularly since this product has been out for a few years. That said, if there's is a new Smart Control package coming, it will most likely cost $130 or more at launch.