You’ve probably seen someone change channels on their phone before. If you’ve come this far, you probably already know there are cell phones with infrared. But not everyone has this connection, so you may have a question: how do I know if my cell phone has infrared and what is it for?
Its functions imitate those of a traditional remote control, although that is probably something you already know. At this point, the question that may be on your mind is the following: does my cell phone have infrared? That is what you will discover throughout the article. Do you have more doubts about it? Don’t worry, I’m going to show you all its possibilities.
Which phones have infrared, how this technology works, if the iPhone is compatible with this function, and much more. All ready? Go for it!
How to know if my phone has infrared
Did you know that there are different reliable methods to know if your mobile phone has infrared? I explain them to you below:
Check the top of your mobile phone
As if it were a remote control, most manufacturers usually place the mobile’s infrared port on the top. This area is occupied by other connections almost as or equally important as this one. What connections are we referring to?
The headphone port, the phone antennas… You may even find a small noise-canceling microphone. To identify this sensor, you have to look at its size and appearance. Typically, their dimensions are larger than those of a microphone.
In the following image, you will see from left to right: the infrared port, noise cancellation microphone, speaker for calls, and headphone jack.
As for the shape, it is usually covered by a kind of dark-colored glass. In this sense, its appearance is very similar to what you can find on a remote control but much smaller.
Check the specifications of your smartphone
Have you not been able to find this sensor? Don’t lose your cool. To make sure your mobile phone has an infrared sensor, you can check the model information on the manufacturer’s website.
In the case of Xiaomi, for example, the manufacturer indicates this specification with the name “Infrared emitter”. Although its nomenclature may change depending on the company, it does not usually vary much.
Check if there is a remote control application
Another way to check if there is a mobile infrared port on our phone is based on verifying the existence of a remote control app. In Xiaomi, the name given to the application is “Mi Remote” or “Mi Remote”, depending on the version of the device. On the other hand, at Huawei, it is called the “Smart Controller”.
If you have a Samsung mobile, it is likely that the application is not installed on your device. You can identify it by the name “SmartThings” or download it from the Samsung store with the same nomenclature. As for the rest of the brands, it should not differ much from the concept of “Control”, “Controller” or “Remote”.
Can’t find the application? You can leave me any questions in the comments. But remember: if there is no trace of this functionality, it is probably not compatible with your terminal.
What is the infrared port of a mobile phone?
If you experienced the emergence of the mobile phone in the 2000s, this word will most likely sound familiar to you. And it is no wonder since it was the prelude to Bluetooth connectivity. But what is the infrared sensor of a mobile phone?
As its name indicates, it is a sensor that allows the device to interact with other devices or systems using infrared light, the same as in a remote control.
In the past, this technology was intended for the exchange of information by proximity. Who doesn’t remember to send songs in MP3 format? In fact, its operation was very similar to that of NFC technology. However, it was surpassed by other higher standards in speed and bandwidth.
The other great advantage of this technology has to do with its compatibility with third-party devices. You have a Xiaomi mobile and want to know if you can control your LG television. Is this possible or can it only interact with devices from the same company? The answer is simple: there is total freedom.
How does the infrared port work?
You already know all the possibilities of this technology, but you don’t understand how it works. Does it have something to do with the phone’s gyroscope? And with the proximity sensor? Nothing is further from reality.
To give you an idea, infrared light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is in the spectrum just below visible light. Did you know that you can see this light through a camera? No, it’s not a joke.
If you point your mobile phone’s camera at an emitter, you will be able to see a small light when you press a button. Their technology is usually used precisely to remotely control other devices. But you must keep one thing in mind: its size limits the scope of interaction.
Due to its smaller dimensions, its capacity is likely to be limited compared to a remote control. What does this translate into? Its range is much shorter, in addition to having a smaller surface area.
The main advantage with respect to this type of device has to do precisely with its possibilities, although this depends on the manufacturer. That is, unlike devices manufactured by brands, the mobile’s infrared port can control any type of machine since it is not encrypted.
What cell phones have infrared today?
The great question. You already know that only a few brands are committed to this technology. The problem is that its acceptance has not been as expected, so little by little, it is being stopped from being implemented. This is the list of mobile phones with infrared that you can find today.
Poco phones with infrared port
Poco is, along with Xiaomi, the brand that is most committed to this technology. In fact, all their phones have infrared, at least what they are currently sold.
- Poco F2 Pro
- Little F3
- Little F4 GT
- Poco F5 and F5 Pro
- Poco M3 Pro 5G
- Poco M4 and M4 Pro 5G
- Poco X3 NFC and X3 Pro
- Poco X4 Pro 5G
- Poco X5 and X5 Pro
Xiaomi mobiles with infrared port
With its Mi Remote application, Xiaomi is the company that has the most commercial models on the market with an infrared sensor. Except for some versions, almost all Xiaomi have this feature.
- Xiaomi 11 Lite, 11 Lite New Edition and 11 Lite 5G
- Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro
- Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro
- Xiaomi 13, 13 Lite, 13 Pro and 13 Ultra
- Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro
- Xiaomi Mi 10T, Mi 10T-Lite and Mi 10T Pro
- Xiaomi Mi 11, Mi 11 Pro, Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11i
- Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
- Xiaomi Redmi 9
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, 10 5G, 10 Pro and 10S
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10T 4G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro 5G and 11 Pro+ 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro 5G and 12 Pro+ 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, 9S and 9 Pro
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T
Huawei mobile phones with infrared port
Another brand that has historically opted for the infrared sensor is Huawei. Despite the United States trade veto, this connection is maintained in almost all Huawei terminals.
- Huawei Mate
- Huawei Mate
- Huawei Mate 40 Pro
- Huawei Nova 5T
- Huawei nova 9 and 9 SE
- Huawei Nova 9 SE
- Huawei P Smart Pro
- Huawei P30 Pro
- Huawei P40, P40 Pro, P40 Pro+
- Huawei P50 Pocket
- Huawei P50 Pro and Pro+
TCL phones with infrared port
TCL may not sound familiar to you, since it is not as well-known as Samsung or Xiaomi. But if I tell you that it is responsible for manufacturing Alcatel mobiles, you probably know it. The list of models that have this function is as follows.
- TCL 10 5G, 10 Plus, 10 Pro and 10 SE
- TCL 10L
- TCL 20 5G, 20 SE, 20 Pro 5G and 20 R 5G
- TCL 20L and 20L+
- TCL 20Y
- TCL 30, 30+, and 30 SE
Samsung phones with infrared port
Do you know that Samsung was one of the pioneers in adapting this technology to its mobile phones? Models like the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the Galaxy S5 had an infrared sensor for remote control. The question that may arise at this point is the following, are there still Samsung phones with infrared?
Unfortunately, the South Korean firm has been declassifying this connection. The reason? It was never known, but everything indicates that it was not so popular in its beginnings. It may also be due to a space issue. The company has probably prioritized other components, such as antennas or a larger battery.
LG mobiles with infrared port
It was another of the South Korean brands that opted for this technology in the beginning. But there is a problem with this company. And it has stopped manufacturing mobile phones. Since mid-2021, the company has kept its smartphone division closed. In other words, you will no longer be able to buy their devices.
If it serves as a reference, the last LG phones with infrared were the LG Velvet and the LG Wing. Unfortunately, neither was renewed.
Does the iPhone have infrared?
Negative. Since its inception, Apple has ignored this feature. In other words, it is neither there nor expected.
It is true that there are remote control applications that act as remote controls, as well as apps to measure distances or body thermometer apps. The problem is that they are based on Wi-Fi connectivity, so they will not be compatible with devices of a certain age.
Other brands: Oppo, Realme, Vivo and more
The emergence of brands of Chinese origin, such as Oppo, Realme, and Vivo, has once again unleashed doubt. Do you have any of these infrared mobile brands for sale? Negative. At the moment, it is not available in any of its models sold in Europe and the rest of the world.
In any case, this does not mean that they will not adopt this technology in the future. Taking into account that they are the direct competition of Xiaomi, their implementation cannot be ruled out. BBK Electronics is the business group behind these companies, so once it is presented in one brand, it will reach the rest.
Did you find this information useful? Still don’t know if your phone has infrared? Leave your questions in the comments and I will help you resolve them as soon as possible. And if you think this article can help someone like it has helped you, you can always share it!
