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A remote with no name.
Radio Shack hasn’t yet discovered the benefit of practical “rolls-off-the-tongue” marketing names for their remote control line-up. On the box and in the manual, it’s called by either its basic function – “6-in-1 Remote”, a title shared by previous products – or more explicitly by catalogue code number, “15-2133”. So “15-2133” it shall be in this review.
Available for $59.99 USD direct – about half the cost of the nearly identical European version – the 15-2133 seems like a great value for something so instantly appealing and obviously unique. But could this be a case of form over function? Read on and see!
Sleek, yes... small, no.
While creating the 15-2133, Universal Electronics’ designers obviously felt that a super-sized remote was fine as long as it was thin enough. Because, while the 15-2133 is just about the slimmest remote control I’ve seen, its footprint is fairly large. Measuring 9.38” long and 2.79” wide (23.9cm by 7.1cm), the 15-2133 is capable of offering a substantial handheld controlling surface, but at only 0.69” thick (1.8cm) it is not bulky.
The remote’s housing is comprised of three main sections, a large solid-aluminum middle, finished off with two plastic end caps. There are almost no sides to the super-svelte remote, with a mere 0.25” (0.6cm) vertical section that quickly begins curving around to the opposite edge. The sizeable aluminum section is lightly textured, but slick to the touch. The slimness and lack of tactile-enhancing treatments could make greasy hands a real hazard!
Due to this unique construction method, there are no moulding seams along the sides of the remote, where the two halves of a plastic clamshell usually meet – seams that are often sharp and improperly finished. The two areas on the 15-2133 where plastic abuts metal are far enough from the middle to avoid frequent contact, and are free of rough edges.
The aluminum center appears to be finished with a protective silver-colored coating, while the two black endcaps aren’t actually black at all – shine a bright light through and you’ll discover that they’re a very dark transparent blue. No lateral twisting of the remote is possible, just as I’d imagine for a remote with a metal middle.
Weighing in at 7.3 ounces (207 grams) with batteries and 5.6 ounces (159 grams) without, the 15-2133 is lighter than expected. Aluminum really is light!
* Batteries not included.
One of the most interesting challenges in setting up the 15-2133 is simply installing the batteries. First, there’s no obvious battery compartment on the rear. The Kameleon’s solid extruded aluminum back panel is graced with only four screw holes – no traditional little removable panel. The concise manual states simply to “unscrew and remove the battery cover”, so we must look at the only other thing held on by a screw – a bit of plastic at the very bottom, seemingly too small to hold the four AAA batteries advertised as necessary (but, ironically for a company that markets a huge line of batteries, not included).
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