Using the mouse or, worse, your laptop keyboard during a presentation is a sure-shot way to look unprofessional and outdated.
Besides compelling content, seamless control and smooth navigation are essential to captivate your audience with a presentation. This is where pointer remotes come in.
Presenter remotes have been around for quite some time. And with time, they have improved, offering the speaker more control and flexibility.
The presentation remote market is not necessarily flooded with options, but the choices are not necessarily very narrow either.
If you dare not to study the products available, you might buy the wrong device. Luckily, we’ve researched and found the best presenter remotes money can buy in 2023.
Read on to find the presentation clicker remotes that suits your needs and budget the best.
Quick Navigation
- 1. Logitech Professional R400
- 2. DinoFire Wireless Presenter
- 3. Logitech R500
- 4. Kensington Wireless Presenter
- 5. Logitech Professional R800
- 6. Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote
- 7. Heylacoolx Wireless Presenter
- 8. Elisween Wireless Presenter
- 9. NORWII N27 Wireless Presenter
- 10. Targus Wireless Presenter
- Conclusion
1. Logitech Professional R400
Last update on 2023-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Logitech Professional R400 is Logitech’s value-for-money red laser pointer device. It has intuitive touch keys to manage your slideshows easily.
The R400 is ergonomically designed. The somewhat thicker base makes it easier to hold the device, and the plastic build with the dot pattern ensures a solid grip so you do not drop the device while presenting.
The red laser light is visible against varied backgrounds. It, however, may not stand out on TV screens. The R400 has a maximum wireless range of 50 feet (15 meters), providing increased flexibility while presenting.
The device uses the 2.4 GHz wireless frequency, meaning it won’t get caught up in an area congested with other wireless devices, such as Bluetooth devices, other presenters, other radio signal-emitting devices, etc.
The pointer doesn’t use proprietary software. Just plug its receiver into your laptop, and you’re good to go. The device, however, only officially supports Windows OS.
You can still use the pointer with Macs. But there may be minor compatibility issues, or certain pointer features may not work with a Mac computer. For example, it may have trouble interacting with Keynote slides.
In the box, you get the pointer, a cloth case, a USB receiver, and a couple of AAA batteries. The receiver goes into the pointer’s bottom for easy and secure storage.
If you’re looking for a presentation pointer with all the necessary features and within budget, consider the R400.
Things to improve on:
- The pointer would have aligned with current standards if the USB receiver were USB-C and not regular USB-A.
- Instead of AAA cells, the presenter could have used rechargeable batteries.
- Bluetooth wireless tech is missing.
2. DinoFire Wireless Presenter
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The DinoFire wireless presenter is a 2.4 GHz device with a massive wireless range of up to 98 feet (30 meters). The red laser, however, shouldn’t be used with LCD or LED screens.
The pointer has a sleek, modern design and well-laid-out buttons with solid haptic feedback. The slim-shaped device holds a AAA battery at its base.
The device houses keys for volume control, hyperlinks, page up-page down functions, slide play, switching windows, and black screen (PowerPoint presentations). The up and down keys have slight bumps, making it easy to press them during presentations without looking.
The presenter also has a multipurpose button and a clip to hook the device to your clothes. And its slide advancement feature works smoothly. The USB connector sits inside the presenter when not in use, held in place by a mini but powerful magnet.
The hyperlink button helps control hyperlinks within a slide. It lets you create slides with clickable links to instantly access external sources or jump to specific slides within the presentation. This enables you to provide supporting evidence, additional context, etc., during a presentation.
The presenter works with different programs, including MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), iWork, Google Slides, ACDSee, etc. It supports various operating systems, including macOS, Windows OS, Android, and Linux.
The device is plug-and-play; no software is needed to roll with the device. However, a simple setup process could be required for some operating systems.
Things to improve on:
- The presenter must be turned off or on manually. If you forget to do so, the batteries can quickly drain out. It would have been great if the device turned off automatically after a period of inactivity or if a light indicated the presenter was still on.
- The prominent DinoFire branding on the protection case looks a tad unprofessional. A nondescript look would have been better.
3. Logitech R500
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Logitech R500 is a step up from the R400. It is the more recent of the two, with a more modern and simple button layout.
The simple set of buttons helps when you want to focus on the presentation and not worry about which button to press to initiate an action on the screen.
The R500’s single AAA battery (included in the box) lasts up to a year of regular use. It uses both Bluetooth and a 2.4 GHz USB receiver for wireless connectivity.
The R500 has a 65-foot range, meaning even more leeway in the presentation hall. The device officially supports Windows and Mac computers and other operating systems (Chrome OS, Linux, etc.).
The setup is pretty simple. Just plug the device’s USB receiver into your computer or link it via Bluetooth. Follow the simple Logitech prompts on the screen to complete the process within a few seconds.
The Logitech app also lets you customize the button functions. You can set a button to bring up a blank screen, start the presentation, fast forward, no action, etc. You can customize timer functionality in the app, choose connectivity options (Bluetooth or USB receiver), etc.
Things to improve on:
- Although the R500 drops one AAA battery, an improvement over the R400, which uses two, it still doesn’t use rechargeable batteries.
- The case should have been included in the box.
4. Kensington Wireless Presenter
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Kensington wireless presenter is a red laser pointer with a 65-foot maximum wireless range. The device is well-built and conforms to your palm perfectly. The slightly rubberized casing prevents accidental slips.
The intuitive four-button control makes activating the device, moving to subsequent and prior slides, etc., simple. The device is compatible with Windows OS and macOS, particularly PowerPoint and Keynote. You’ll, however, need a USB-A to USB-C connector if you have a newer Mac.
The buttons are rubberized and make a satisfying sound when depressed. The minimal button layout is easy to muscle-memorize. The symmetrical design makes using the presenter remote easy for right- and left-handed users.
The device is plug-and-play, powered by two AAA batteries, and works with both PowerPoint and Keynote presentations. The 2.4 GHz USB receiver neatly hides into the presentation clicker so it doesn’t get lost.
Things to improve on:
- Although the battery can last for months, a low-battery indicator on the device would have been handy.
- The USB receiver is tied to the particular handset at the factory. If you lose it, you cannot buy it separately.
5. Logitech Professional R800
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Logitech Professional R800 is the only presenter with a green laser on this list. The green is unique and has a greater frequency than red, making it more visible to you and your audience. The device has a 100 feet (30 meters) range.
The R800 has buttons for basic controls (page up/down, launch slideshow, and black screen) and a green laser button. There are a couple of side-mounted buttons too—one is the power key, and the other button is to set the timer.
Sitting above the physical keys is the digital screen showing the battery level, timer, and wireless strength. The R800 uses two AAA batteries for power. It has a slot at the bottom where its USB receiver sits.
The R800 has an integrated flash drive that provides easy storage and quick access to your presentation files, so that you can leave your laptop or external storage devices home.
The device fully supports Windows but should also work with Macs, even though there’s no official support from Logitech.
Things to improve on:
- The presenter not supporting hyperlinks is a big miss, especially with some more affordable and less feature-packed devices being compatible with the function.
- The keys should have been backlit, considering the premium positioning of the device.
6. Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Logitech Spotlight is Logitech’s top-of-the-line presentation remote. The heft and sturdiness give away that you’re handling a premium device. The remote comes in slate (black), gold, and silver and looks quite Apple TV remote-like, albeit slimmer.
The Spotlight remote uses an advanced digital pointer (not laser). The device can highlight or magnify particular locations on the screen to quickly draw attention to critical data or details. Not to mention, the digital laser pointer exercises precision.
The pointer remote has a long 100 feet (30 meters) range. The three-button design is simple, elegant, intuitive, and easy to familiarize with. The device connects to your computer via Bluetooth or its 2.4 GHz wireless USB receiver.
The buttons are customizable. The pointer could act as a cursor. You may also decide what long-pressing the bottom or top buttons yield. For instance, one could be set to control the volume, and holding down on the other button can evoke a black screen.
There is no physical on/off button. The remote sleeps and disconnects automatically after some time of inactivity. Power management, therefore, should not be an issue.
The device uses an 85 mAh rechargeable battery that lasts up to three months on a single charge. It supports fast charging, meaning three hours of use with only a minute of charging. The remote vibrates when its battery is nearing depletion. It also vibrates when nearing time or if you spend too much time on a slide.
The Spotlight is compatible with Windows (10 or later) and macOS (10.2 or later). It also supports ChromeOS, Linux, and other popular operating systems.
The presentation programs it supports include PowerPoint, Acrobat, Keynote, Prezi, and Google Slides. The device is also compatible with video conferencing apps such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Blue Jeans.
The remote is not plug-and-play. It requires some setting up. Install the Logitech Presentation software to toggle pointer mode, manage the timer, customize actions, etc. The product box contains the remote, proprietary USB receiver, charging cable, storing pouch, and user documentation.
If it is your first time buying a presentation remote, start with something more basic. The Spotlight should be an upgrade device, like from an R500 or R800 or any other devices discussed here.
Things to improve on:
- Although the presentation remote offers a boatload of features, the retail price still needs to be lowered.
- There’s no charging brick in the box, which, unfortunately, is in line with the current trend.
7. Heylacoolx Wireless Presenter
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Heylacoolx wireless presenteris a bright red laser pointer with a range of close to 49 feet (15 meters). The device is plug-and-play (no software needed) and provides basic slide controls (forward, back, full screen, black screen, etc.).
Each function gets a dedicated button. Once your thumb gets used to the layout (which shouldn’t take very long), you’ll not have to look at the device when navigating slides.
The presenter device uses a 2.4 GHz USB receiver that slides into the presenter when not in use. The device is relatively compact, meaning it can easily sit inside your pant pockets. It’s not too small and quite ergonomic.
The device is compatible with Windows OS, macOS, Android, and Linux. The software programs it supports include MS Office, Keynote, Prezi, Google Slides, ACDSee, and websites.
The product box contains the clicker with the USB receiver and a user manual.
Things to improve on:
- Although the ergonomics are on point, the device could be too small for large palms and stubby fingers.
- The buttons, when clicked, are pretty audible and can be distracting. The button clicks are satisfying but need to be more discreet soundwise.
8. Elisween Wireless Presenter
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Elisween wireless presenter is a presentation clicker with a 2.4 GHz receiver and a dedicated button layout. The buttons support volume control, hyperlink, windows switch, page up/down, and full/black screen functions.
The device has an excellent wireless range of close to 100 feet (30 meters) and a laser range of around 300 feet (90 meters). The presentation remote is quite slim and tall. The pen clip design makes it easy to stow away the device temporarily.
The USB receiver goes into the bottom of the device. Most importantly, it can switch between USB-A and USB-C, which is quite handy.
The lightweight, easy-to-use device is plug-and-play and uses two AAA batteries for power. The power cells, however, are not included in the product bundle. When the batteries run low on fuel, the device flashes a blue light as a sign.
The presenter is compatible with various operating systems and software programs—including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, MS Office, Prezi, Keynote, and Google Slides.
Things to improve on:
- Batteries should have been included in the product package.
- The sharp edges can be smoother so they don’t dig into the palms when held for long.
9. NORWII N27 Wireless Presenter
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Norwii N27 may look like yet another red laser pointer at a glance. It, in fact, looks very much like the Elisween presenter. But the N27 stands out with its wireless range of 330 feet (100 meters).
The multi-button layout supports page up/down, full/black screen, pointer, and hyperlink functions. The right side has the volume up and down keys. The 2.4 GHz USB receiver sits snugly within the presenter at the bottom rear with a magnet.
Customize the keys to enable all the functions and add more (previous/next track, media play/pause, etc.). Download Norwii’s software to assign functions. Here is Norwii Presenter software for macOS.
A tiny LED indicator light is at the top to alert the lone AAA battery that the device uses is running low on power.
Norwii uses “unicoding” technology, meaning each wireless presenter is assigned a unique code in the factory. A USB receiver can be paired with up to six wireless presenters.
Similarly, a single wireless presenter can be linked to any number of Norwii USB receivers. That means one Norwii presentation remote can be used to manage any number of devices with a USB receiver paired to the remote.
And if you lose the receiver, you can buy it here separately, not having to repurchase the entire product.
The Norwii Presenter supports Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, various software applications (Prezi, Keynote, Office, Photos, ACDSee, PDF readers, etc.), graphic viewers, and web browsers.
Things to improve:
- The design could have been unique. It’s currently quite generic.
- The red laser could pack in more power, although it’s not too bad currently.
10. Targus Wireless Presenter
Last update on 2023-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
The Targus wireless presenter is a basic plug-and-play, no-driver-required device with a wireless range of up to 49 feet (15 meters).
It features basic presentation navigation buttons to go up or down a slide, switch applications, resume a presentation, etc. The layout makes the device quite keychain-like.
The ergonomically styled presenter supports both Windows and macOS. The sides and underside are serrated, allowing a good grip and not allowing the device to slip through.
The device has two modes: mouse and pointer. The laser button functions as the left click of a mouse in mouse mode, enabling drag-and-drop functionality. A color change indicates whether the presenter clicker is in mouse or pointer mode.
The mode switching helps scroll websites, close or open a browser or tab, click the Enter key, etc., on the go, so you do not have to reach out for the keyboard.
The presenter uses a single AAA battery. The battery life is claimed to be up to six months.
Things to improve:
- The rear compartment door is not the sturdiest. Future iterations will hopefully have the flaw rectified.
- The presenter needs a design overhaul too. It’s used the same look and feel for over a decade now. Of course, looks are subjective, and some users would have no problem with the product’s aesthetics.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, all the presentation pointers mentioned above are worth their asking prices. Of course, some come for a much better bargain, but they also miss out on a few bells and whistles.
Are they all ideal? In 2023, wireless presenters don’t get any better than the ones mentioned above. Having said that, we’d like to see a few updates/changes in their future iterations.
First, they should all move up to USB-C. USB-A is so not 2023. Second, the presenters must pack in non-rechargeable batteries. Third, the buttons must be backlit, so thumbing over the keys is not tricky in a dimly lit environment.
And the external shells of all presenters should provide battery information and not just be plastic bodies with physical buttons. A tiny LCD will be handy to glean data anytime. The R800 is perhaps the only presenter on the list that offers the provision.
Not to mention, when all of our wishlist features come true, we’ll either update this list or create a new one altogether.
Catherine Tramell has been covering technology as a freelance writer for over a decade. She has been writing for Pointer Clicker for over a year, further expanding her expertise as a tech columnist. Catherine likes spending time with her family and friends and her pastimes are reading books and news articles.