Do you know smart outlets can make your life so much easier and more comfortable? Would you like to know how you can convert your regular household device and appliances into a smart one?
Smart plugs are one of the most affordable and easiest to use smart home devices. But before we get into all of that, you need to know what is a smart outlet plug.
A Smart outlet allows you to control anything you plug into it. Devices like table lamps, irons for clothes, and even coffee makers can be made smart!
It’s not a typical outlet that you have seen in the past. A Smart outlet has numerous features that are hard to find anywhere else. If you want to discover more about this amazing technology, do keep reading!
- What is a Smart Outlet?
- Smart Switches vs Smart Outlet, What to Choose?
- Top 6 Best Smart Outlets for 2023
What is a Smart Outlet?
As we have said before, A smart outlet can convert any ordinary device into a smart device. You can control these devices through an app on your smartphone or by voice using a virtual assistant.
By just putting in a smart plug, the common devices in your home become a part of your smart home network. The smart outlets provide you with more control and personalization opportunities.
Smart Outlet Features
Smart outlets provide you and your family with comfort and safety. Now let's have a detailed look at some of the smart outlet features.
- Smart outlets Can restrict excessive energy consumption by turning devices off when they are not in use.
- Smart outlets have virtual assistants built in. That's why you can control these outlets without touching them.
- Some of these devices come with wireless remote control. So you will no longer need to carry your smartphone with you to control the device.
- These smart outlets have a built-in Surge protector. That's why it will save your devices and give you a notification if any power Surge occurs
- You can set timers for smart outlets. They will turn on and off according to the schedule.
- smart outlets can give you a summary of power usage. With this information, you can adjust your power consumption.
Smart Switches vs Smart Outlet, What to Choose?
Now the question comes should you buy a smart outlet or a smart switch? Well, the answer is a bit tricky as both devices have different roles but also have some similarities between them.
The best place to start when making your house smarter is with smart outlets because they are simple to install and configure. Smart outlets have a wide range of sizes and styles, and they range in price.
They are also very convenient because they don't need to be installed; instead, you can just unplug them and take them with you whenever you move.
These small gadgets have a connector on the back that can be used to plug in any device, like a fan, light, TV, or other household appliances. While some Smart outlets can be rather huge, others can be incredibly small.
Some smart outlets also feature a physical on/off switch, making them controllable without a phone or voice command or by a less tech-savvy family member. Now let's look at the basic features of smart switches.
Smart switches are the best solution for landowners who seeks a more seamless approach to managing their lights, fans, or other wired devices. A smart switch is ideal if you have high or vaulted ceilings or hard-to-reach fixtures.
However, you must be aware of how your home is wired because, often, you can't just swap out an old switch for a smart one and expect it to function properly.
Switches and dimmers are two examples of this type of smart device which let you turn lights on, and off, or adjust their brightness. You'll need a wall switch, a smartphone app, or a voice-activated smart speaker to perform this action.
Installing the smart switches doesn't need changing any existing lamps, fans, or fixtures, and you can schedule your devices according to your needs.
Smart switch and smart outlet both have their use cases and it is up to the user to decide which is best for their home.
Top 6 Best Smart Outlets for 2023
When it is time to buy a smart outlet there are so many options to choose from. Smart outlets come in different sizes, features, and price points. Let's look at some of the top 5 smart outlets available in the market.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300
If you require multiple smart outlets in one place for smart homes that use Alexa and Google Assistant, this intelligent power strip is an ideal option. It's simple to operate.
Even without HomeKit support, it has a useful Away mode that can switch the plug on and off at random intervals. This is perfect if a radio or lamp is plugged into one of the outlets and you need to help prevent unwelcome intruders.
This power strip has 6 outlets and also features three USB ports. You will get energy monitoring, and surge protection with this smart outlet.
Pros.
- Reasonably priced
- Easy to connect
- A Large number of outlets
Cons.
- Homekit support is unavailable.
- Quite big in size.
Evvr Energy Monitoring Smart Plug and Relay
Evvr Energy Monitoring Smart Plug and Relay, which are HomeKit compatible, can operate "dumb" devices, connect both older and newer home gadgets, and give outdated appliances new and smart life. With Apple HomeKit, you can automate and control your appliances from anywhere at any time, use Siri voice commands as well. The Evvr App allows you to monitor power usage in real-time to save energy and money.
This home energy monitor can be used with 2-core and 3-core cable for home appliances and can carry currents up to 16 amps, allowing even older home appliances to be integrated into your HomeKit smart home. You may even have an appliance-specific home energy monitor with exciting application possibilities.
Wemo Smart Plug
Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is a great choice and a top pick when it comes to a smart outlet. Since it is smaller than other alternatives, it won't block your regular outlet.
The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is compatible with all the leading smart voice assistants. But it lacks an energy monitoring feature though most other smart outlets don't feature it too.
If you want to turn your device on or off but don't want to use a voice command or use an app, you can toggle the switch on the smart outlet.
There is also an intelligent Away mode that you can use for your convenience. This mode will help by turning a light on and off, which will give the impression that you are home even though you aren't.
Pros.
- Compact in size
- Physical power button
- Works with common voice assistants.
Cons.
- No energy monitoring feature
- Can not connect to 5Ghz network.
Amazon Smart Plug
Choosing the Amazon smart Outlet plug makes perfect sense if your house’s ecosystem is built around Alexa. It might not be the most affordable smart outlet plug available, but it works well with Alexa-enabled automation.
The smart outlet plug is relatively large. It connects to the internet through Wi-Fi, allowing you to control your smart home device even when you're not at home. Setting it up was a breeze because a QR code took care of all the complicated steps for us.
There is no energy monitoring feature, and there is no away mode to periodically switch on and off devices to keep the intruders off. Sadly being an amazon product, it does not support Google assistant and apple homekit.
Pros.
- Easy to set up.
- Physical Power button is present.
- Compatible with Alexa
Cons.
- No energy monitoring feature
- No Support for other voice assistants.
Philips Hue Smart Plug
For those lights that do not have smart features, a smart outlet plug with an internet connection can make them smart. You won't find a better alternative than the Philips Hue smart plug for this job.
It is compatible with all Hue smart lighting that is already installed in your house and is controllable via the Hue app. It's quite small in size mobility and can connect with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit.
It's one of the pricier smart outlet plugs that are available on the market. Additionally, it does not include an energy monitoring feature. Still, it's a great purchase for anyone wishing to upgrade their current lights.
Pros.
- Compact size
- Connects perfectly with the Hue system.
- Compatible with all major voice assistants.
Cons.
- Quite expensive.
- No energy monitoring feature
- Hue Bridge needed to control remotely.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Mini Plug EP10
This is another great option from TP-link. Starting at just $8, this is one of the more affordable smart outlet plugs available in the market.
The Kasa app offers a wide selection of automation features, such as scheduling and the ability to use other smart home devices under the TP-Link brand.
The Kasa Smart WiFi Mini Plug is ideal for adding lights and other low-power appliances that are in your home. You can also fit two of them in each outlet thanks to its compact design.
Pros.
- Compact in size
- Quite affordable
- Compatible with all major voice assistants.
Cons.
- Limited Smart Actions
- Does not support high-power devices
The Takeaway
In this article, we took the time to provide you with some of the best smart outlets available in the market for 2023. If you want to make ordinary devices smart, the Evvr Energy Monitoring Smart Plug is a great option to consider.
Evvr also makes control hubs like the Evvr hub and Evvr Center Lite as well as touchscreen home controllers named Evvr Pad S. If you need a single app to handle all the smart devices in your house, Evvr provides their own Evvr App.
Please do share with us which smart outlet plug you choose to buy. If you'd like to know more about smart outlets and switches, don't hesitate to contact us
