Ultimately, the best smart plug for you is the one that easily interacts with the products you already have, especially any smart speakers and smart displays. We take a close look at each plug's companion app in our reviews and consider its usability in our rating.Ĥ Easy Ways to Make Your Smart Home More Secure 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. Others simply give a cursory overview of the hours you use over a set period or don't report power usage at all.įeatures aside, installation and app design are also major factors. 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. Just keep in mind that the energy data collected isn't uniform across all plugs. If you're concerned about the environment or hoping to save a few bucks, look for a plug that supports energy monitoring. Scene options vary from plug to plug, so it's good to keep in mind what automation options fit your lifestyle. 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. Some let you program scenes based on conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sunrise or sunset times. Scenes (this is the term most often used, but it might vary) let you program several devices to interact with each other. 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. And most smart plugs also offer some form of scheduling. 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. Once you're sure a smart plug fits properly in your home, it's important to consider what it can do. Others that can withstand the elements are a better choice for your backyard or porch. Note that some smart plugs are exclusively for the inside of your home. Whether this layout is easier or more difficult to access depends on the type of power strip you're using. For instance, some feature outlets on the side. If you have a crowded power strip, it's important to consider the plug outlet's location. 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. With that in mind, the first thing to consider is where you want to place your smart plug. You don't gain or lose any outlets in the process-you're simply making an existing outlet smart by connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network. These devices plug directly into a wall outlet or traditional power strip and offer an outlet you can plug other things into for automation. 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). What Is a Smart Plug and Where Can You Use It?
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