IR Blaster

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IR blaster removal refers to the elimination of infrared transmitters from smartphones that allowed them to function as universal remote controls.

Overview

IR blasters allowed phones to control TVs, air conditioners, stereos, and other devices. Despite minimal cost and space requirements, manufacturers removed them claiming "lack of use" while simultaneously investing in expensive smart home ecosystems.

Technical Specifications

Hardware Requirements

IR LED: $0.15
Driver circuit: $0.10
Protective lens: $0.05
Board space: 4mm²
Power draw: 50-100mW when active
Total cost: $0.30-0.50

Capabilities

Range: 5-10 meters
Frequency: 30-60kHz carrier
Protocols: RC5, RC6, NEC, Sony SIRC
Devices controlled: Thousands of models
Learning function: Copy any remote

Timeline of Elimination

Rise (2012-2015)

2012: HTC One includes IR blaster
2013: Samsung Galaxy S4 adds "WatchON"
2014: LG G3, Note 4 standard feature
2015: Peak adoption - most flagships include

Fall (2016-2020)

2016: iPhone 7 never had it, Samsung keeps
2017: Galaxy S6 removes, S7 retains
2018: Samsung removes from S series permanently
2019: LG removes from all models
2020: Only Xiaomi, Huawei retain (some models)

Real Reasons for Removal

Smart Home Ecosystem Lock-in

Samsung SmartThings: $50-300 per device
Apple HomeKit: Premium-priced accessories
Google Home: Subscription services
IR blaster: Controls everything for free

Planned Obsolescence of Remotes

Smart TV remote: $30-80 replacement
Cable box remote: $20-40
Universal remote: $50-200
Phone with IR: $0 additional cost

Data Collection Prevention

IR control: Completely offline
Smart home: Tracks usage patterns
Voice assistants: Record commands
Apps: Collect behavioral data

Manufacturer Excuses Debunked

"Nobody used it"

Reality: Peel Smart Remote - 100 million downloads
AnyMote: 50 million users
Mi Remote: 75 million active users
Sure Universal: 30 million downloads

"Takes up space"

Reality: Smaller than front camera
Thickness impact: 0.5mm maximum
Location: Top edge unused space
Modern phones thicker anyway

"Confusing for consumers"

Reality: One-button setup in most apps
Easier than pairing Bluetooth
Grandparents could use it
Point and click interface

"Old technology"

Reality: Every TV still uses IR (2024)
Air conditioners: 95% IR controlled
Set-top boxes: All use IR
Will remain standard for decades

Use Cases Eliminated

Home Entertainment

Control TV without finding remote
Adjust soundbar from couch
Navigate cable box menus
Control DVD/Blu-ray players
Manage projector presentations

Public Spaces

Mute loud TVs in waiting rooms
Adjust gym TV channels
Control hotel room AC
Change restaurant TV channels
Conference room presentations

Accessibility

Elderly: One device for everything
Disabled: Always within reach
Visually impaired: Familiar phone interface
Lost remote replacement

Travel

Hotel room control
No learning curve for new devices
International compatibility
No need to pack remotes

Financial Impact on Consumers

Replacement Costs

Lost TV remote: $30-80
Universal remote: $50-200
Smart home hub: $100-300
Smart bulbs: $15-50 each
Smart plugs: $20-40 each
Total ecosystem: $500-2000

What IR Blaster Replaced

All remotes: $0
Setup time: Minutes
Compatibility: Universal
Maintenance: None
Subscription: None

Market Manipulation

Coordinated Removal

2016-2018: All major brands remove
No technical reason cited
Smart home push simultaneous
Consumer choice eliminated

Upselling Strategy

"Your phone can't control your TV anymore, but for $299 you can buy our smart home hub, plus $30 per smart plug, plus $50 per smart bulb..."

Environmental Impact

E-Waste from Remotes

5 remotes per household average
500 million remotes disposed annually
Batteries: 2-4 AA per remote
Plastic waste: Non-recyclable
All preventable with IR phone

Resource Consumption

Rare earth elements in remotes
Shipping individual remotes
Packaging waste
Manufacturing energy
Redundant production

Current Alternatives

Phones with IR (2024)

Xiaomi Redmi series (some)
POCO phones (some)
Select Chinese brands
No flagship phones
No US carrier phones

Workarounds

USB-C IR dongles ($10-20)
Bluetooth-to-IR bridges ($30-50)
WiFi universal remotes ($60-100)
Smart home ecosystem ($500+)
All inferior to built-in

Consumer Resistance

Petition Campaigns

Change.org: "Bring back IR blasters" - 250,000 signatures
Reddit r/Android: Regular request threads
Samsung Members: Top requested feature
OnePlus forums: Consistent demands

Market Response

Chinese brands keeping IR = increased sales
Xiaomi marketing IR as premium feature
Consumer loyalty to IR-equipped brands
Second-hand market for IR phones

Technical Innovation Stifled

Potential developments killed

IR learning improvements
Macro programming
Gesture controls
AI-powered setup
Cross-device synchronization

Instead we got: Expensive proprietary ecosystems

References

[1] Samsung Galaxy S4 WatchON marketing materials [2] Peel