Smart Plugs: The First Step Toward a Smarter Home A high-tech home doesn't have to cost a fortune. Smart plugs (and power outlets) are an easy and affordable way to upgrade ordinary appliances, lighting, and any other electronics into smart home devices that you can control straight from your smartphone. While installing and using these plugs is relatively simple, choosing which one is right for you is no easy task. To help you out, we've rounded up the best smart plugs and power outlets we've tested, along with a few tips to consider when automating your home. What Is a Smart Plug? Let's make this clear: Whether they're marketed as smart switches, smart outlets, or any variation thereof, smart plugs are ultimately plug-in outlets (or power strips). They plug directly into a wall outlet or traditional power strip, and have their own outlet you then plug into with the device you want to automate. You're not gaining or losing any outlets by plugging one in—you're simply making an existing outlet smart by connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network. With that in mind, the first thing to consider is where you want to place your smart plug. While most are svelte enough to fit next to one another in your typical wall outlet, not all of them are, and power strips are a different story entirely. If you have a crowded power strip, it's important to consider where the plug's outlet is located. Some feature outlets on the side. Layouts like this can be easier or more difficult to access depending on the type of power strip you're using and where it's located. What Does a Smart Plug Do? Once you're sure a smart plug will fit properly in your home, it's important to consider what it can do. Every plug we've tested lets you use your phone to turn control power—so if you've plugged in a lamp, for instance, you can turn it on or off no matter where you are. And most smart plugs also offer some form of scheduling. If you simply want to turn your connected coffee machine on at the same time every weekday morning, you can do that with any of the plugs on this list. Scenes (this is the term most often used, but it might vary) let you program several devices to interact with each other. Some let you program scenes based on conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sunrise or sunset times. Others have preset "away" scenes for when you're on vacation, that turn connected devices on and off to make it look like someone is home. Scene options vary from plug to plug, so it's good to keep in mind what automation options fit your lifestyle. If you're concerned about the environment or hoping to save a few bucks, look for a plug that supports energy monitoring. Just keep in mind that the energy data collected isn't uniform across all plugs. Some provide a detailed breakdown of how long your device has been on over the entire day, your daily average "on" time, your (estimated) monthly and daily power costs, and your average power usage in watts. Others simply give a cursory overview of hours used over a period of time. And many don't report power usage at all. Features aside, installation and app design are also major factors. Luckily, pretty much all the plugs we've tested are easy to install—you basically just plug them in and connect them to an app on your phone. App quality, on the other hand, varies. We take a close look at each plug's companion app in our reviews, and consider its usability in our rating. What Is the Best Smart Plug to Buy? Ultimately, the best smart plug for you is the one that easily interacts with the products you already have. For example, if you have an iPhone, an Apple TV, and a HomePod, you'll get the best experience from a plug that supports Apple's HomeKit protocol. Similarly, if you already use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice control, make sure to get a plug that supports your voice assistant of choice. Some plugs feature native support for a particular brand of smart home products, while others can interact with nearly anything via IFTTT. We've noted which features are supported by each plug in the chart above to help determine which one best fits your needs. So if you can't settle on a family of smart light bulbs, or you don't want to shell out big bucks for a set of new connected kitchen appliances, consider connecting the products you already own with a smart plug. Whether you're just dipping a toe into smart home tech, or you're a pro at writing your own IFTTT applets, smart plugs make it simple and affordable to automate just about anything in your home. Belkin WeMo Insight Smart Plug Review MSRP: $49.99 at Pros: Easy to set up. Supports IFTTT. Compact size. Tracks power usage and costs.Cons: No web browser support. App is a bit erratic.Bottom Line: The Belkin WeMo Insight Smart Plug not only uses your home Wi-Fi network to turn devices on and off remotely, it also has scheduling and IFTTT recipe capability, and it can tell you how much power you are using.Read Review ConnectSense Smart Outlet 2 Review MSRP: $59.95 at Pros: Supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands. Energy usage reporting. USB charging port. Easy to install. Cons: Bulky. Doesn't support IFTTT. Bottom Line: The ConnectSense Smart Outlet 2 is a feature-rich smart plug that works with Apple HomeKit and supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands.Read Review iHome iSP6X SmartPlug Review MSRP: $29.99 at Pros: Excellent third-party support. Simple installation. Intuitive app. Plentiful scheduling options. Affordable.Cons: May not fit some power strips. No energy reporting.Bottom Line: The iHome iSP6X SmartPlug offers an ideal combination of affordability, features, and third-party support, making it easy to control just about anything in your home from your phone.Read Review iHome iSP100 Outdoor SmartPlug Review MSRP: $39.99 at Pros: Easy to install. Small form factor. HomeKit enabled. Supports multiple voice command services. Works with popular home automation hubs.Cons: Lacks power usage reporting. Doesn't support IFTTT.Bottom Line: The iHome iSP100 SmartPlug is an outdoor smart switch that connects to your home Wi-Fi and works with a number of popular home automation platforms.Read Review TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300 Review MSRP: $79.99 at Pros: Wi-Fi. Voice control. Surge protection. Energy monitoring. Works with IFTTT. Cons: Expensive. Outlets aren't childproof.Bottom Line: The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300 is a feature-rich six-outlet smart surge protector that you can control with your voice or with a mobile device.Read Review Pros: Affordable. Small footprint. Voice command support. Works with other Geeni devices.Cons: Lacks energy usage reporting. Doesn't interact with third-party devices. No HomeKit or IFTTT support. Bottom Line: The Geeni Spot is an affordable Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug that won't overcrowd your outlets.Read Review Pros: Energy usage reports. Supports Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. Integrates well with Apple products. Lots of scheduling and automation options. Cons: Plug placement isn't ideal for power strips. Bottom Line: The iDevices Switch is an affordable, highly customizable smart plug that offers energy usage reports, voice control, and Apple HomeKit support.Read Review Pros: Two sockets per outlet. Sockets can be individually programmed. Energy monitoring. Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT support. Cons: No HomeKit support. May not fit certain power strips.Bottom Line: The Syncwire 2-in-1 Mini Wi-Fi Smart Outlet is an economical multi-socket smart plug that features energy monitoring and voice control. Read Review Pros: Easy to install. Works with Alexa and IFTTT. No hub required. Nice scheduling options.Cons: Doesn't track energy usage. No HomeKit support.Bottom Line: The Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug connects to your home Wi-Fi, allowing you to turn lights and other appliances on and off using your smartphone and voice commands. It is a cinch to install, but it lacks energy monitoring capabilities. Read Review Pros: Sleek design. Dual outlets. Usage reports. Supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. Lots of scheduling and power-saving options.Cons: Doesn't support IFTTT. No integration with other smart devices. Bottom Line: The Currant WiFi Smart Outlet is a stylish plug with two individually controlled sockets that let you know how much power you're using and offer suggestions on how to conserve energy.Read Review

weiterlesen: RSS Quelle öffnen