Why Don’t Phones Come with IR Blasters Anymore?

Discover why modern smartphones have phased out IR blasters and how smart home tech uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth instead.

Published

Video transcript

Phones no longer include IR blasters mainly because of the rise of smart home technology. Modern devices use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to connect, making IR blasters less necessary. Manufacturers aim to streamline designs, focusing on newer technologies and features, thereby reducing hardware components like the IR blaster.

Questions and answers

  1. What is an IR blaster on a phone?

    An IR blaster is a hardware component that allows a phone to send infrared signals to control devices like TVs and set-top boxes.

  2. Why are IR blasters being removed from smartphones?

    Manufacturers are removing IR blasters to streamline phone designs and because smart home devices now mostly use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connectivity.

  3. How do modern smartphones control other devices without an IR blaster?

    Modern smartphones use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to connect and control smart home devices, replacing the need for an IR blaster.