Crestron Handheld Remotes: TSR-310, HR-310, and Cevo Mini

Managing a fully integrated smart home from a handheld remote requires more than a universal IR blaster from a retail shelf. The remote needs to communicate natively with the control processor, respond to system state changes, and give the homeowner a consistent experience across lighting, shading, climate, AV, and security – without having to think about which app or device handles which system.

Crestron makes three handheld remotes we install in South Florida luxury homes. Each one fits a different use case. Here is how they compare.

Crestron TSR-310

The TSR-310 is a wireless touchscreen handheld remote that operates on infiNET EX, Crestron’s encrypted wireless mesh protocol. It features a 3-inch color touchscreen alongside backlit physical buttons, giving the homeowner both a visual interface and tactile controls in a single device.

A built-in motion sensor wakes the remote whenever it’s picked up, so it’s always ready without pressing a wake button first. An ambient light sensor adjusts button backlighting automatically based on the room conditions – useful in a home theater environment where you want controls visible without the remote becoming a light source itself.

The TSR-310 runs on a rechargeable lithium polymer battery rated for over six months of typical use on a single charge. It integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Home for voice control alongside the physical interface.

Best suited for: primary living spaces, master suites, and home theater rooms where a touchscreen interface adds value and the homeowner wants a premium handheld experience.

Crestron HR-310

The HR-310 is the button-only counterpart to the TSR-310 – same infiNET EX wireless protocol, same industrial quality, no touchscreen. It has nine fully customizable backlit tactile buttons and the same motion-sensing wake mechanism as the TSR-310.

The button-only format is intentional. For homeowners who prefer tactile feedback over a screen – or for secondary rooms, guest suites, and commercial environments like boardrooms and hotel rooms where simplicity and durability matter more than interface complexity – the HR-310 is the more appropriate tool. It runs on three AAA batteries with a rated life of over six months.

Because it communicates over infiNET EX rather than IR, it works through walls and without line-of-sight to any equipment – the signal goes to the Crestron processor, which handles the command. The equipment can live in a rack room anywhere in the home.

Best suited for: guest rooms, secondary living areas, boardrooms, and any space where a clean, simple interface is preferred over a touchscreen.

Crestron Cevo Mini

The Cevo Mini is Crestron’s newest handheld remote, introduced at CEDIA Expo 2025. It was designed specifically for the way people use entertainment systems today – streaming-first, fewer sources, fewer buttons needed.

The hardware is built around a precision-machined aluminum edge and a single glass interface panel with customizable interactive cells. Each press delivers haptic feedback – a subtle vibration that confirms the command was received without the homeowner needing to look at the remote or wait for a visual response. The reduced button count is deliberate: the Cevo Mini focuses on the controls people actually use daily, eliminating the clutter of legacy remote layouts designed for cable boxes and disc players that most households no longer have.

The interactive cells on the glass surface are programmable through Crestron Home OS – they can be configured for streaming service shortcuts, lighting scene triggers, shade control, or any other Crestron function. This makes the Cevo Mini more than a media remote; it’s a compact whole-home controller that happens to fit in your hand like a TV remote.

Charging is via wireless dock or USB-C, whichever is more convenient for the installation.

Best suited for: Crestron Home OS installations where the homeowner wants a modern, minimal interface that handles both entertainment and home control from a single device.

Which Remote Is Right for Your Installation?

The answer depends on the room, the homeowner’s preferences, and the complexity of the system. Most installations we design use more than one model – a TSR-310 or Cevo Mini in the primary living areas, HR-310s in secondary rooms. All three operate on the same Crestron platform and can be programmed to reflect the specific needs of each space.

For a whole-home systems integration project, the remote selection is part of the broader user experience design – not an afterthought. We configure every button, every scene, and every interface to match how the homeowner actually lives in the space.

Questions about which Crestron remote fits your project? Call us at (954) 251-0600 or use the contact form.