Those integrations enable voice commands and allow for Routines, or automated actions that you configure using the app. We independently review everything we recommend. An in-wall smart outlet replaces a traditional electrical outlet and makes automation a permanent part of your home. It also allows you to keep tabs on how much you use a device (in hours/days). And thats where trouble sometimes crops up; if your smartphone is on the 5 GHz frequency while youre trying to set up your device, and your plug uses only 2.4 GHz, then you wont be able to connect. When we first started testing this new model, we were very happy to see that the HomeKit code had been moved to the side of the plug (with the Wemo Mini, you had to unplug it, scan a code on its back side, plug it back in, and then wait for it to turn on). Log in to submit feedback. Its the smallest of our single-outlet picks. Read this first. But it works with Apple HomeKit only, and its usually three times the price of the Wemo, which makes it a hard sell. Many smart-home devices ask you to enable location services on your smartphone to unlock specific features. Otherwise, the Wemo Android and iOS apps are almost identical, offering on/off controls, scheduling, timers, and an Away Mode. So you can pair the EP10 with other devices to do cool smart-home things. Its just a little bit bigger and more expensive than our top pick. The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini has a handful of features beyond just automated on and off control. We named the plug Kasa Mini in the app and connected it to both Alexa and Google Home, after which we were able to say things like Alexa, turn the Kasa Mini off, and have it work seamlessly. And if you make that a HomePod Mini, you can also tap into Thread support. This smart plug is almost identical to the Kasa EP10. If you want to make the jump from dull lighting to smart lighting, here are some easy ways to get started. You can also set up schedules to turn on and off at sunrise or sunset. If you arent interested in these types of features, its typically fine to disable location awareness or just opt to enable it only when the app is in use. If youre prone to torrential downpours: The Lutron Casta Outdoor Smart Plug is IP65-rated, so it can handle water at a slightly higher pressure than the other smart plugs we tested. It also has three USB ports. And that would be fine, if it werent so difficult to use. And in our own tests using 5,000-volt surges, our top surge-protector picks were able to reduce that even further, to 200 volts. The app also includes information about device usage by day, week, and month; we discovered we were using that lamp for roughly 16 hours a week. The email address you entered was an invalid email. Its almost identical to our runner-up, the Wyze Plug, except the Kasa plug is physically a little smaller, so its a better choice for tight spaces. Also, remember that smart plugs (like most smart-home devices) suffer from occasional flubs, so you may need to get back there and reset the device on occasion. In our testing, the Duo responded slowly at bestand often not at allboth outside and when it was installed indoors right next to our router. Just be aware that most smart plugs connect on the front and therefore will stick out from the walland even more so once something is plugged into it. The $30 Ring Outdoor Smart Plug requires a Ring Smart Bridge, has two independently controlled outlets, and works with Amazon Alexa. And with the Wemo WiFi, if youre using the Home app, you can bypass the Wemo app completely. All of our picks require a password for the accompanying app. Copyright TP-Link Corporation Limited. Then set it up with an app, andboomyoure making magic. : Elec. The Geeni Surge is also good, but it doesnt have USB ports. The 10A had setup problems and went offline within a week, even though it was positioned right next to our router. Also, many smart plugs can be triggered based on local sunrise and sunset times, which are determined based on your location. On top, it has separate buttons to manually control each outlet. Both the iOS and Android apps are easy to operate and well laid out. Yet it leaves enough room for you to plug another device (including a second Wyze Plug) into the remaining receptacle. Unlike the apps of our top two picks, the Wemo app doesnt allow you to group plugs. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. However, unlike with the Wyze Plug, you cant use this group for scheduling purposes; you will need to schedule those separately or use a third-party platform, such as Amazon Alexa. Select a time and day of the week, and let the app know what you'd like the plug to do. So weve kept tabs on new and existing models, as well as on what features to expect: All three of our single-outlet top picks are usually available for $15 or less. And we dismissed both the EZVIZ T30-10A and the T30-10B-US. If you cant find our top pick, the Wyze Plug is almost identical. And although the company refers to it as a surge protector, wed suggest its more accurate to consider it a smart power strip. Its compact, reliable, and easy to use, but it is just a wee bit bigger and more expensive than our top pick. In general, smart plug-in outlets are pretty low risk when it comes to concerns about being hacked, but we always prefer to use the highest form of security, whenever possible. We tested a number of smart plugs that we didnt prefer as overall picks but that are perfectly fine choices. I first started testing smart-home devices more than 20 years ago, back when the only smart-home devices were X10. We then tested plugs using several table lamps, fans, a white noise machine, a radio, and Christmas lights, both inside the house and while at the grocery store (2 miles away), the gym (10 miles away), and other locations (up to 50 miles away). TP-Link's $30 Kasa Wi-Fi Smart Plug Mini adds scheduling, voice commands and remote access to everyday devices. If youre looking to extend your smart home outdoors, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug (EP40) is easy, reliable, and affordable, and it includes two outlets you can control independently. #0907905; Sec. Notably, for our surge-protector guide, the models we test are generally rated to lower surges, to 330 volts, in the same situation. I am a bit confused on thr differences betweenthe other plugs and which are the current models (specifically mini vs lite vs slim). Put Amazon's Alexa to work for you with these great smart-home devices. Those integrations enable voice commands, so you can turn the plug on and off hands-free. Weve added the TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini (EP25) to What to look forward to. The Tp-Link Kasa Wi-Fi Smart Plug Mini has a thin design to keep adjacent outlets accessible. The UltraPro Plug-In 1-Outlet WiFi Smart Switch performed well in our tests, but it doesnt have any of the extras offered by our top picks. You dont need programming skills or an installer on speed dial to set up smart outlets, and they become immediately useful with very little fuss. We also scheduled two Wemo plugs to go on at the same time, as well as to turn on when triggered by someone walking by the Wyze Cam v3 (using Alexa) or turning on the Lutron Casta (via HomeKit). Just plug one into any standard electrical outlet, and add a lamp, fan, or other on/off device. TP-Link also announced the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (EP25), with real-time energy monitoring and support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit. This smart plug is a great option for anyone interested in scheduling, voice commands and remote access to everyday devices up to 1,500 watts. For each smart outlet in our test group, we downloaded the appropriate app to an iPhone SE, an iPad, and a Samsung Galaxy J7 running Android Oreo, when possible. Setting up the plug with either assistant is just a matter of linking your created Kasa account and, in Amazon's case, discovering devices. Many Wirecutter readers are concerned about how the world is impacted by the manufacturing, shipping, and normal use of the products we recommend. Scheduling and automation options are tucked under the Settings icon. The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is a little pricier than the average smart plug. Wirecutter long-term tests all of its picks, and that includes keeping track of hardware and software incidents. And even though it has two outlets, they cant be controlled independently. Add at least two items to compare. So far, the iDevices Switch is our favorite HomeKit option. But it transforms one wall plug into six independently controllable outlets, so you can turn different devices on and off as well as create separate Schedules and triggers. Gen. #0907906. Our product recommendations are based completely on the criteria outlined in How we picked and How we tested. At 2.7 by 1.1 by 1.5 inches, the Wyze Plug isnt the smallest plug weve seen. No items to compare. It never used the same pattern twice. In addition to smart plugs, TP-Link makes several other Wi-Fi smart home products including smart LED light bulbs, cameras and light switches. Or you can set them on a schedule so they go on and off at the same time every day. Just getting into smart plugs in my hone setup. Read more: The best Google Assistant and Google Home devices of 2019. TP-Link Kasa is the only company we picked that doesnt currently offer 2FA. The Geeni Smart Dot performed well in tests, but it doesnt offer the extras our top picks do, and the app isnt as user-friendly. However, if you opt to connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, or IFTTT, you are bound to their rules. This weatherproof smart plug withstands snow, rain, heat, and dust, and it has two outlets that you can control independently. And you can control it with its app as well as with Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartThings. Weve been covering smart plugs for over five years now. And its the only one of our picks that requires (for new users) two-factor authentication, for added security. It has an easy-to-use app and works well, and it can also track how many minutes and hours youre using a device.
kasa smart plug mini vs regular