# Magic TV Remote HD vs Sam

The clearest difference is rating: Sam at 4.2 against Magic TV Remote HD's 2.0. Sam also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 35 months) and ratings volume (116K vs 1). Magic TV Remote HD's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sam sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Magic TV Remote HD asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sam holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of Magic TV Remote HD's written reviews are positive against 26% of Sam's.

Magic TV Remote HD ships an update every 35 months, Sam every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic TV Remote HD | Sam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-tv-remote-hd/id674397982/reviews) | **[4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **116K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.2% of reviews | **25.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pixel Magic Systems Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/429349005) | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic TV Remote HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-tv-remote-hd/id674397982)

This app allows you to control Magic TV devices on your local Wi-Fi network. It supports multiple devices, allows renaming, and offers customization options for the remote's appearance and size. Requires specific Magic TV hardware and firmware.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi control for Magic TV devices, Discover and control multiple devices, Rename Magic TV devices, Adjust remote size via pinch, Change remote skin (black/white) by shaking, Disable skin change or scaling options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136)

Transform your iPhone into a virtual remote for your smart TV. Easily control channels, volume, menus, and media with a simple tap. It syncs automatically via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for physical remotes and batteries.

**Highlights:** Virtual remote control, Channel switching, Volume adjustment, Menu navigation, Media management, Automatic Wi-Fi sync, No setup required

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium version | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium version | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium version | $29.99 | per year |
| removal of advertising | $3.99 | one-time |
| removal of advertising | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium version | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well when connected
- 👍 Easy to set up
- 👍 Convenient to use phone as remote

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Frequent disconnection issues
- 📺 Can't turn TV on with app
- 💸 Expensive paid version
- 📢 Excessive ads in free version
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to connect to TV consistently
- Buttons stop working after a while
- Paid version loses ad-free functionality

**Requested features**

- Add option to turn TV on/off
- Improve stability and reliability
- Reduce frequency of ads in free version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic TV Remote HD free?

Magic TV Remote HD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sam free?

Sam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Magic TV Remote HD or Sam?

Sam is rated higher. Magic TV Remote HD averages 2.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Sam averages 4.2 from 116K ratings.

### Do Magic TV Remote HD or Sam have ads?

Sam shows ads; Magic TV Remote HD does not.

### Which is updated more often, Magic TV Remote HD or Sam?

Magic TV Remote HD ships an update every 35 months, and Sam every 2 weeks. Most recently, Magic TV Remote HD was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sam on November 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*