Updated February 2020…
If you are looking for a universal remote that is more affordable then you most likely have discovered the Logitech Harmony 650, 665, and 700 models. They all have a great feature set at an affordable price and Logitech is well known as a leader in the universal remote space.
Logitech Harmony 665
Pros:
Affordable
Great Ergonomics
Cons:
No Bluetooth or Wifi
No Smart-home Connectivity
But, if you compare the Harmony 650 vs. 665 vs. 700, the differences may not be apparent right away.
The most important difference between the Logitech Harmony 650 and the Harmony 700 is that the 700 is an older model. However, both have been discontinued by the manufacturer (though you can still find them available for purchase in some places). In addition, the 700 comes with two (2) rechargeable AA batteries that can be charged in the device. The 650 does not come with rechargeable batteries and cannot charge batteries while in the remote (although you can use third-party rechargeable AA batteries in the 650).
These remotes form the middle ground in Logitech’s lineup. If you’re looking for the top choices out there for your home theater, then check out our review of the Best Universal Remotes.
When I was looking for a universal remote in this range, I noticed that they were all quite similar and wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something. So I did some research to figure out what separates one from the other. Here is what I discovered…
If you are here just to find out my top choice, it’s the Logitech Harmony 665. CLICK HERE to see availability on Amazon.
The 665 is an update to the 650. It has all the same features and the ability to control 10 devices compared to the 8 devices that the 650 can control. At this time, the 650 has been discontinued by Logitech.
Contents
Logitech Harmony 650 vs. 665 vs. 700 Comparison Table
Harmony 665 | Harmony 650 | Harmony 700 | |
| Devices Controlled | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Control Method | Infrared | Infrared | Infrared |
| LCD Screen |  | | |
| Rechargeable Batteries Included |  | | |
| Easy Set Up With Computer | | | |
| Alexa, Google Home, Siri Compatibility |  | | |
| Smart Phone Integration | | | |
| Hub Needed | | | |
| Bluetooth and Wi-fi Control | | | |
| Find On Amazon |  | | |
Logitech Harmony 665
Pros:
Affordable
Great Ergonomics
Cons:
No Bluetooth or Wifi
No Smart-home Connectivity
Logitech Harmony 665
The Harmony 665 is an updated version of the 650.
The biggest change is the ability to control ten (10) devices compared to the eight (8) that the 650 and 700 can handle. So if you happen to be in that small range of having 9 or 10 devices that you want to control with a remote, then this is the one you should choose.
Being that it is an updated model, there are likely to be some less noticeable updates as well. Probably to address bugs or frequent issues that were popping up with the 650. The Logitech website really doesn’t give much information as to the reason for the update or what is different (other than the increase to 10 devices), so that is just speculation.
At this point, since the 650 has been discontinued by Logitech, the 665 is the obvious choice if you are trying to decide between these three. It has all the important features that the other two have, is the most current model, and is the only one out of the three still being manufactured by Logitech.
When you buy one, the box contains the Harmony 665 remote, a USB cable for setup, and 2 AA batteries.
Layout
The Harmony 665 has a pretty standard remote control layout. Which is a good thing.
For better or worse, we are accustomed to remote control buttons being laid out in a certain way. The 665 button layout generally holds true to what you would expect and be used to.
The 665 layout is the result of many years of Logitech design refinements and it shows. The most used buttons are right in the middle where your thumb comfortably rests while holding the remote normally. These include the directional pad, channel up/down, volume up/down, mute, and last channel.
Just below that are the playback buttons such as play, pause, fast forward, rewind, record, and stop. They seem to be the second most used buttons for most people so this is a great location. Below that is the number pad. Higher up on the remote, where it is less easy to reach while holding the remote with one hand are the less used buttons, the LCD screen, and the activity buttons that can be programmed to perform a sequence of button pushes to do things like turn on the TV, watch a movie, etc.
Putting the 650, 665, and 700 side by side, you can see that the layout and button positions are pretty much identical…
Setup
Ease of setup is a trademark of the Logitech Harmony series of remotes for many years. I’ve had a few in their lineup and the 665 is no exception.
If you’ve has universal remotes in the past, then you may remember having to punch in a series of possible codes that matched the manufacturer of each of the devices you want to control. This took forever and sometimes didn’t work at all. Those days are over.
All you need to do is use the included USB cord and plug the Harmony 665 into your computer and run the Logitech software. The software walks you through the setup process, asking you which devices you want to control. It is compatible with over 200,000 home theater devices.
It also lets you set up sequences of commands. That means that you can turn on the TV, turn on the receiver, and switch your receiver to the TV input all with one button press. This is really helpful if you have family members that don’t know how to do all those things manually. They just need to know to press the applicable button.
If you are looking for a step by step walk-through of the remote setup, then check out this video, he covers the whole setup process (which is the same for all three of these remotes)…
I have read online reviews that call the setup process tedious. I don’t really see how Logitech could have made it any easier other than sending someone to your home to set it up for you. Sure, if you have a complicated home theater setup then it can get a little tricky. But if you have a setup that complex, then you probably know what you’re doing.
My Favorite Feature: You can upload icons to the software for your favorite TV stations. This is great when you have hundreds of channels and you can’t remember which number is which channel. Add the icon and you know.
Battery
The batteries are one significant difference between the 665/650 and the 700 that is worth talking out.
The 665 does not include rechargeable batteries in the box. It requires two AA batteries.
The 700 does include two AA rechargeable batteries AND you can recharge them in the remote by plugging in the remote.
A lot of the reviews I read online consider this a big advantage for the 700.
I disagree.
First off, the 700 is usually more expensive. Putting aside the fact that it has been discontinued by Logitech…For a fraction of that price difference, you can get a 4-pack of excellent AA batteries with a charger. (I’d recommend these Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries on Amazon. They are the ones I have been using for years.)
So the fact that rechargeable batteries are included in the box is pretty much irrelevant.
But what about the fact that you can plug in the 700 and recharge the batteries while they are in the device?
I’m not a big fan of this either.
First, it likely shortens the life of the remote itself and almost certainly does a less efficient job of recharging the batteries than a dedicated charger would. That means the batteries wear out sooner.
Second, who wants to remember to plug in their remote when they are done?!
The 700 does not come with a nice cradle like the high-end Logitech models, so you’ll have a loose charging cable laying around all the time. However, if you get the batteries I recommended above, you can always have 2 in the charger (which shuts off automatically if they are fully charged) and 2 in the remote. Then you can leave your remote wherever you want and never have to worry about plugging it in or the batteries running out. Just swap them out when needed. I think that is a much more elegant solution.
So I don’t see the battery situation as an advantage for the 700 at all.
Smart Home Compatibility
The Harmony 665 does not have smart home capability nor does it have a compatible smartphone app that lets you control your home theater.
My Overall Impression
The Harmony 665 is really good at what it does.
It lacks some of the high-end features that you can find at (much) higher price points, but that’s ok. If you want those, then you are probably willing to pay for them. What it does give you is a reliable, simple way to control up to 8 home theater devices in a very well built ergonomic device. I highly recommend the Logitech Harmony 650 remote.
You can check out more details, customer reviews, and the availability of the Harmony 665 on Amazon by clicking HERE.
Logitech Harmony 650
The Harmony 650 was an excellent universal remote choice and a great value for the price, especially if you don’t need the more high end features like Bluetooth, Wi-fi, and smartphone control.
However, it is just the older model of the 665 and has been discontinued by Logitech. At this point in time, I would not recommend buying the 650. Go with the 665 instead. In fact, due to the discontinued production, the few 650s that you can find out there are only going to be available at inflated prices.
Just like the 665, this is a great option for a secondary set up like a bedroom or living room where you may not have a ton of devices or need home automation controls. All three of these three Harmony remotes are quite the same in terms of functionally.
When you buy one, the box contains the Harmony 650 remote, a USB cable for setup, and 2 AA batteries.
If you want to get more details, check out the customer reviews, and see the current (now very high) pricing you can check it out on Amazon by clicking HERE.
Logitech Harmony 700
The Harmony 700 is virtually the same as the 665, just an older model. That might lead you to think its better, but that is probably more a result of scarcity since Logitech has discontinued manufacturing of the 700.
The box contains the remote, a USB cable for setup and recharging batteries, and 2 rechargeable AA batteries.
Battery
The Harmony 700 comes with two (2) rechargeable AA batteries. You can recharge them by leaving them in the remote and plugging the remote into a wall outlet. You can also use regular AA batteries or a third party rechargeable battery brand as well.
The 665 does not come with rechargeable batteries. Just scroll up to the 665 section to find out why I don’t really think that is a meaningful advantage for the 700 though.
Why You May Want The 700
If you really like the idea of being able to recharge the batteries without taking them out of the remote then this might be worth the extra money for you.
Also, if the silver color of the 650 is a deal-breaker then the black 700 may be a good choice instead.
Where The 700 Falls Short
Really, the only reason I wouldn’t recommend the 700 is that it costs significantly more than the 650. They are virtually identical other than the battery situation described above.
So it is hard to say that the 700 “falls short” of the 650 in any way. It simply costs more because Logitech stopped making them and there aren’t that many left. Eventually, you won’t be able to find them anywhere. So if you like the 700 then grab one off of Amazon quickly!
What is the difference between Harmony 650 and 700?
The 700 is an older model of the 650 (which has been upgraded in the form of the 665). The 700 includes rechargeable batteries which are not included with the 650 or 665. The 700 has also been discontinued by the manufacturer but you may still be able to find some available online, however, they are going to be significantly more expensive than the 665 at this point.
You can check out more details, customer reviews, and the latest prices of the Harmony 700 on Amazon by clicking HERE.
Conclusion
You can’t really go wrong with a Logitech remote. They make the best ones in the industry.
But if you are trying to decide between the Harmony 650 and the Harmony 700, then I think the clear winner is the 650. It controls more devices, is a newer model, and is actually cheaper than the 700. You can also pick up the 665 for around the same price as the 650.
The 665 is the newest one so that’s where I would spend my money. CLICK HERE to check availability on Amazon.
Do you have a Harmony 650 or 700? Let me know your thoughts on the devices in the comments below.
If you are looking for a universal remote with many more features, including Bluetooth, Wi-fi, and smartphone control, then check out my comparison between the Harmony Elite and Ultimate remote systems by Logitech.
Looking for more cool gadgets for your home bar, game room, or man cave…check out this list of my favorites.
11 thoughts on “Logitech Harmony 650 vs. 665 vs. 700”
In the 665 section you mention “bugs or frequent issues that were popping up with the 650.” I don’t find you telling us of the issues – please elaborate.
QB,
That’s a fair question. I said that it was “probably” to fix some minor bugs. We don’t know for sure. Logitech does not release any details about bugs. The reason I suggest this as a possible reason for the update is that it is common for tech companies to release small updates to a product line to clear up minor issues that pop up. In this case, Logitech did not publish any information one way or the other, so it is just an educated assumption.
But given that they are pretty much the same price online, it is always a good idea to go with the updated version.
The rechargability on the 700 is a plus. The remote tells you when the batteries are low (not all that often) and you can just connect it to a cable when you’re done for the evening and the next morning it’s recharged. In 10 years I’ve gone through 2 sets of rechargeable batteries (the ones that came with it were a little lame, but standard eveready rechargeables are fine). My only issue is that after this many years, some of the buttons are starting to wear out… 🙁
That’s a good point. I guess it comes down to personal preferences.
The problem I have with the 700 is eventually the buttons fail. I’ve had this problem with other Harmony remotes in the past as well, but it seems to have happened much sooner with the 700. I only use it in the bedroom, so not very frequently, still failed quickly. I ran a One for my home theater for years, kids cracked the LCD. Replaced with a 950, one of the best universals I’ve owned.
I’ve had a poor experience with both the 650 and 700. I’m on my third 650 in as many years and went through 2 700s prior to those. As others have mentioned, some of the buttons stop working after a few months. I have gotten around this by reprogramming ff and rew to other buttons, but eventually they too wear out. The product has good features but very low long term quality or reliability. Always get an extended warranty – It takes some of the sting out of having to replace the remote so often.
Years ago I had an older model Harmony (a 350 IIRC) which supported 8 devices, and I used them all. When that remote died a couple of years ago I bought a 650 at Costco but returned it the next day because it only supported 5 devices. The only other 8+ device Harmony remotes then in the lineup were $250 and up and more than I needed, so I found an old-stock 700 on Amazon because it was basically a 650 which supported 8 devices. Some time later the 650 was upgraded to 8 devices too, but at the time I bought the 700 the 650 was more limited. I have come to really like the rechargeable battery feature of the 700. I have a multi-port charge adapter right next to the couch for my smartphones, so one extra cord for the Harmony works perfectly. I just plug it in when I go to bed and it is fully charged and ready for a couple of weeks of usage by morning. I just needed to buy a second Harmony for a vacation home we bought last year and would have preferred another 700, but they are very hard to find now so I picked up a refurb 650 instead. More than adequate for anything short of a full-blown home theater setup.
My 650 buttons failed as well after about 3 years. Tried repairing, but eventually everything failed. Have bought a second 650 for £44 as a replacement, figuring another 3 years will be ok for that price. Seems to be a Universal problem for these remotes, however.
Thanks for the comment Steve,
I think button fatigue is a problem in every single remote out there. You’re pressing these buttons over and over again for years so they are eventually going to fail. This happens sooner on the sub $100 remotes. Nothing lasts forever.
Up until about a year ago, the Harmony 700 was still relatively easy to find at Best Buy, and they frequently ran specials on that remote. The built-in battery charging is a huge improvement. The remote will warn you when the battery goes low, and it will still have enough life to wrap up whatever you’re watching that day. After you switch everything off, just plug it in and let it charge overnight. No different than remembering to charge a smartphone, which drains down way more frequently than a universal remote.
If you’re concerned about wear and tear from the charging, I would actually be more concerned about the delicate metal contacts in the battery compartment. With rechargeable AAs, these Harmony remotes will typically last just under two weeks per charge with our normal usage. Having to constantly remove and re-insert the batteries into that tight compartment increases the chance of something breaking off.
I started with a Harmony 650, and replaced it with the 700 after about 6 years of regular use. The most frequently used buttons on the 650 began wearing out and often took multiple pushes to work. I’m on the 6th year with the 700, and only one button has shown any signs of wear.
The other great feature of the Harmony line is the ability to move all the settings from one remote to another. When I switched from the 650 to the 700, it was a simple sync to move all the device settings and activities over. I have another 700 with a broken screen (household accident involving a dog) that I use as a backup, and anytime I make changes or add devices, I can update both remotes in less than 5 minutes.
I have been a fan of the Harmony 650 remote for a decade now (replacing the Sony programmable remote). A few years into ownership when Logitech announced they were leaving the remote business, a purchased another as a back up. The remote is used daily with lots of drops and still works great with only an internal cleaning of the contacts once. Buttons worn off where light shines through the edges, and still working! Old school home automation with X10 with IR receiver and PS3 with IR receiver. The remote controls my PS3, Stereo, TV, DVD, Dish, AND the house lighting in a single remote with macro controls for dimming lights and source selections for setting multiple devices with a single button touch. Awesome, high quality product. Software is only mediocre, but once you have it set it is easy to update with new changes or improvements in operations. Would be nice if it had an RF transmitter, but an IR dongle or receiver solves this issue.
Glad to see they still make the replacement 665 that handles more devices.