Google designed the G10 and G20 reference remotes to be used with Android TV devices this year and they set a delightful standard.
TV remotes can end up being a deeply personal thing and the design matters. Some remotes feel cheap in the hand or have buttons that don’t feel nice to press. Others are too thin and have stupid navigation methods and take 6 years to replace with one that’s still too expensive. As Android TV expands, it’s an issue that Google is attempting to curb by setting a standard with the G10 and G20 reference remotes. After using them for a bit, I think they’re a delightful standard for manufacturers to use. Manufactured by UK-based TW Electronics but designed under Google’s hand, the G10 and G20 remotes are set to be used on a huge number of Android TV and Google TV products over the next year. Examples that we know about already include the duo of Walmart streaming devices, an upcoming streaming dongle from Anker/Nebula, and the Mecool KM2. These all utilize the smaller G10 design. For devices that offer live TV service, there’s also the G20 design. This Android TV remote has all of the same functions and core design as the G10, but adds a full number pad to the top along with four programmable color keys, a captions shortcut, and an information button. This remote would most likely be used with actual TV panels or devices similar to the Verizon Stream TV or TiVo Stream 4K. By default, Android TV apps don’t accept number inputs, so the buttons would have to be mapped to a specific app as is seen on those two devices.
