The Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV is not what it should be, because Apple thought the remote should have a touchpad instead of the directional navigation buttons on other remotes.

In recent years, Apple has prioritized form over function, and has been stuck with butterfly switches and touch bars on the Mac and a square touchpad on the Apple TV remote. But while laptop users are getting relief in the form of the redesigned MacBook, we seem stuck with the current iteration of the Apple TV remote control.

For users like me who love Apple TV but hate remotes, the Function101 is just right: it may not look as sleek as Apple's remote, but it has physical buttons that make it much easier to control Apple's interface. It may not look as sleek as Apple's remote control, but it has physical buttons that make controlling Apple's interface much easier.

On Amazon, the Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV is $39 with free shipping; the Function101 is $29 with additional shipping. This is about half the price of Logitech's least expensive universal remote, the Logitech Harmony 665 ($59.99 at Best Buy), and much cheaper than Logitech's least expensive smart remote, the Logitech Harmony Companion ($149 ($149), which is much cheaper than the Logitech Harmony Companion ($149). Of course, these remotes can control multiple devices.

The Siri remote for Apple TV is a super small and slim aluminum and plastic one, while the Function101 Apple TV remote is a more traditional black plate. The top is rubber and the bottom is hard plastic, more like a Roku remote than an Apple device.

At 3.2 ounces and 0.7 inches thick, the Function101 Apple TV remote is twice as heavy and more than three times thicker than the 1.6-ounce, 0.2-inch Siri remote. Unless you want an extremely minimalist aesthetic for your study, this is not a serious drawback of the Function101 alternative.

The most important aspect of the Function101 Apple TV remote's design is that it feels good in the hand; the one niggle is that the top edge could be a bit duller, but it could never be called "sharp."

Unlike the Apple TV remote control, it requires two AAA batteries, which are included in the package.

The buttons on the Function101 have two outstanding features. First, you may be surprised (as I was) that this remote works with all Apple TVs right out of the box (via Apple TV's infrared protocol). Apple typically operates in its own walled garden, and I had assumed that Apple TV would only work with Apple devices.

The top of the remote has a menu button and directional pad, the center has volume and page up/down rockers, and the bottom has play/pause, stop, skip forward and skip back, fast forward, and fast reverse On the Siri remote, skipping forward and backward is done by a sensitive These rewind and fast-forward buttons would be a great boon for Apple TV, as it would rely on the touchpad.

In addition to having navigation buttons, all of the buttons on the Function101 Apple TV remote actually feel good and have a fast response time. Sure, you may not be able to scroll through an entire page of icons as quickly as you can with the Siri remote, but you can find the exact icon you want.

Nevertheless, two of the buttons on the Siri remote are missing: the TV button (great for switching between apps) and the Siri button. The former is the greater loss.

Like the Siri remote, the Function101 remote has no backlight.

If you're frustrated by the Apple TV Siri remote's very sensitive touchpad, you need to try this alternative, which at $40 is a cheaper alternative than our pick of the best universal remotes (starting at about $60) (these remotes can control multiple devices control)

but if you use the TV button or ask Siri questions via Apple TV, you should stick with the regular Siri remote. In the course of reviewing the Function 101 Apple TV remote control, I found myself in that position and was drawn back to Apple's remote control.

Hopefully Apple will learn from the laptop and redesign the remote for the rumored Apple TV 2021. Until then, the Function 101 Button Remote for Apple TV is a good compromise for those who crave physical buttons.