SmartOutlet
Latest
The best plug-in smart outlet
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full plug-in smart outlet guide here. After spending more than two years testing 41 smart outlets, we're confident that the Wemo Mini is the best smart outlet plug-in adapter for people who want to add remote control and automation to their existing lamps, fans, or other electrical devices. It's the most reliable Wi-Fi smart plug we tested, it's simple to use, and it works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The Wemo Mini is the only model that has been rock-solid reliable over long-term use, offers a compact design that won't block both outlets on a wall plate, and supports all the major voice-control platforms. Like most of the smart plug-in switches we tested, the Wemo Mini is easy to set up: Just plug it into an outlet, download an app to your phone, set up the wireless connection, and then control lamps, small appliances, and even higher-draw devices like fans and air conditioners. The Wemo family also includes light switches and dimmers, so it's easy to expand your system. The Lutron Caséta Smart Lighting Lamp Dimmer costs quite a bit more than the Wemo Mini, but it has two outlets, allowing you to control two lamps or strings of lights at once (though not independently). And it lets you dim those lamps rather than just turning them on and off—a rarity among smart plugs. The Caséta system connects over a robust wireless mesh network, rather than Wi-Fi, so Wi-Fi dead spots in your house aren't a problem, but it requires Lutron's proprietary Caséta Smart Bridge hub. We recommend you buy a kit that includes the hub. This outlet supports only lamps, not fans or other motors, but the Caséta line includes compatible in-wall dimmers, window shades, and remotes, so this model is ideal for people who want a larger smart-home system. It works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Nest, Samsung SmartThings, Wink, and more. If you want to be able to control outdoor devices—during the holidays or all year long—the iClever IC-BS06 smart plug can weather the outdoors better than you can, operating in temperatures ranging from –4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It has two plugs that you can control remotely and independently using the app or voice control (via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but not Siri), and you can configure automations based on time, weather, humidity, temperature, air quality, sunrise and sunset, or triggers from other iClever devices.
Sandia Labs develops self monitoring smart outlet, still needs you to plug it in
The folk at Sandia Labs work on all sorts of interesting projects, and the latest thing to fan our utopian dreams is this experimental smart power outlet. Unlike most monitoring set-ups, it can measure and control electric load without being connected to a central management system. The outlet comprises four receptacles, each with voltage and current sensors and a small computer which shuttles data over an Ethernet bridge. This autonomous style of operation could lead to more intelligent power grids that self-monitor, adapt and integrate with other grids without complex infrastructure updates. Other benefits include removing large points of failure, desirable in any network, and simpler home power monitoring systems. Sandia Labs' prototype could also improve effectiveness of variable output energy sources such as wind and solar, thanks to its ability to compensate for flux in energy production -- which might come in handy.
