The 2026 LG Magic Remote (model MR26GA) is LG’s latest universal remote. It is an update to the 2025 Magic Remote, which received backlash for its massive redesign, which included changing the shape and removing the Mute and buttons.
The 2026 version does come with some changes and updates in design and functionality. However, for many users, the question is whether these changes are worth it.
Below is a detailed review of the 2026 LG Magic Remote, covering the key changes, features that have remained unchanged, and whether or not it is worth upgrading from the 2025 to the 2026 version of the remote control.
Key changes of the 2026 LG Magic Remote
The 2026 LG Magic Remote comes with the following key updates:
A customizable heart button
One of the major changes in the 2026 LG Magic Remote is the heart-shaped customizable button. It replaces the accessibility button in the 2025 model, which offered quick access to vision/hearing aids, audio guidance, and a high-contrast menu.
The heart-shaped button is customizable, allowing users to set their preferred shortcuts, including the mute function. It also supports dual-action programming: you can set one shortcut that is triggered by a quick press and another one by long-press-and-hold.
Updated bottom hotkeys
The layout of the bottom hotkeys is another feature that has changed in the 2026 LG Magic Remote.
The 2025 LG Magic Remote control featured a physical Amazon Alexa hotkey at the bottom right of the keypad. This has been removed and replaced with a YouTube hotkey that was missing in the 2025 version.
LG has also replaced the bottom left hotkey in the 2026 version of its remote control. In the 2025 version, the button was dedicated to “Apps,” but a “Movies” shortcut button has replaced it.
Note: depending on your region, some of the hotkey shortcuts might be different. For example, some 2026 versions of remote controls have a “News” shortcut instead of “Movies”, while others (Australia) feature a “Stan” shortcut.
What has remained unchanged?
Apart from the customizable buttons and the hotkey layout update, most of the other features in the 2025 LG Magic Remote have remained unchanged.
The new remote control still maintains its rectangular design shape and still has no dedicated mute button. Additionally, it lacks button backlighting and has no physical number pad; instead, it uses a single button that displays a digital number pad on the TV screen.
Other features that have remained unchanged include the AI voice feature, the on-screen gyroscope cursor, the central scroll wheel (which acts as the OK button), the non-rechargeable batteries, and the dual infrared/Bluetooth connectivity feature.
Is the 2026 LG Magic Remote worth buying?
While the 2026 LG Magic Remote brings some changes, it is not worth replacing your 2025 remote if it is still functional.
The main reason for this is that there are no functional upgrades to the new remote. Therefore, the only thing you would be getting is a customizable button and a new hotkey shortcut layout.
And with both remotes retailing for $49.99, it does not make much sense to spend $50 for a few changes in the remote button shortcuts.
That said, there are a couple of situations when it might be worth it to purchase the 2026 LG Magic Remote. The first one is if your 2025 remote is broken, damaged, or lost, thus making a replacement necessary.
You may also want to get the 2026 remote if you hate using voice commands to mute your TV. With the new remote control, you can program the heart-shaped button to be your dedicated mute button.
Lastly, the 2026 LG Magic Remote may be worth it if you are a frequent YouTube user on your TV. The YouTube hotkey in the new remote means that you can launch the app instantly, instead of having to navigate to the home screen to access it.