The Remote Handset provides simple control of models using the 2-port hub 88009. I would recommend it highly for that purpose. The Remote Handset is much better than a phone for controlling models precisely and with feel (haptic feedback). The positive press of the buttons is good. The ability to rotate the dials is useful too. The handset is otherwise known as the Remote Sensor. It could be built into a model that could press the buttons and models could control each other that way.
The uses of the handset could be so much more but this is not yet supported by the LEGO company. An opportunity was missed with the Top Gear car 42109 because it could have used the 2-port hub and this handset with one dial rotated for steering the model, but instead it used the 4-port hub that is currently incompatible with the handset.
What is needed is for the 4-port hub standard firmware to include compatibility with the Remote Handset; that would get so much more value out of the expensive hub. Using 3rd-party programming it is possible to reprogram the hub firmware and include a small program to read the handset signals. However this would go outside the LEGO guarantee. Why doesn't the LEGO company include this feature as standard? It is an abdication and a failure to provide what fans want. I don't want to use a phone every time I play with a motorised LEGO model; I want to use this handset instead. Failure to get the value out of the product leads to poor sales and lower profits. More effort is required on versatility and compatibility; opening up all the hubs' firmware to use this handset would improve value and sales. Versatility is "LEGO System"!
We also need to see the 6-port hub 88016 and the Spike Essentials hub 45609 being able to be controlled with this handset. I had hoped the latter would be a Technic version of the Train hub 88009 but it is not so yet; perhaps the firmware could be updated and then the Spike Essentials hub could be in some medium-sized Technic sets?
So with this handset I'm happy to buy sets with the 2-port hub but not those with the 4-port hub. I recommend this handset not just to fellow fans but also to the LEGO company, that it may update the hub firmware to enable it to control all Powered-Up and Control+ products
