We never realised how much time it took to turn a plug on until we didn’t have to. Seriously, smart plugs may be one of the greatest innovations of the 21st century. Simply plugging into your socket, these smart devices connect to your Wi-Fi and can be turned on by an app on your phone, or even voice control if you have a home assistant, such as the Google Home Hub, or Amazon Echo. Once you’ve set it up, you simply plug something that you want to remotely activate into your smart plug, and voila!
Now, we know what you’re thinking, what spark of brilliance can you come up with to take advantage of these amazing tools? Well, you could up your peace of mind and plug in your iron, for example - no more worrying whether you’ve turned it off when you’re 30 minutes down the road. You can also plug in your lamps, a TV or even Christmas tree lights. Seriously, no more crawling around under the tree for us, we just shout ‘Christmas tree lights on’ and it’s done. We truly live in a glorious time!
So, now you know the benefit convenience can bring, it’s time to look at five of the best smart plugs on the market.
Best Smart Plugs
1 of 5Teckin Mini Plug,
Teckin who? Yeah, they're not the best-known company, but when it comes to affordable smart plugs, you've got to love these options. They're no-frills, but don't require any additional hub to work. You can simply plug them in, hook them up to your Wi-Fi and connect any device - couldn't be more simple. Of course, there's a free app to help you control your devices, and you can also connect it with Google's Home Hub or Amazon's Echo to initiate voice control. Oh, and it also has a sliding safety cover, so no need to worry about your kiddies' fingers any more!
2 of 5Amazon Smart plug
This no-frills plug does what it says on the tin, but can be picked up for a great price, and doesn't require any extra hub. You can control it from the free Alexa app, as well as hook it up to the Amazon Echo (not Google, it's a touchy subject!) to control it with the power of your voice. You can even control multiple plugs, as long as you buy them of course, we don't recommend messing with the neighbours' plugs... even if it is hilarious!amazon.co.uk
3 of 5Hive Active Smart Plug
Hive is one of the best known suppliers of smart tech, with a dedicated hub, which you'll need to take advantage of this plug, a thermostat and even a security system. While the plug itself is what you'd expect - a plug - it's the power of the app that makes it shine. You can connect it to your Amazon Echo or Google Home Hub to activate voice control, and there's a physical on-off switch just in case. The Hive app will allow you to automate up to six time slots, as well as the all traditional remote on and off function - that's what we bought it for after all! It's not the cheapest, but if you're invested in the hive system, this is the one.
4 of 5Belkin WeMo F7C027UK
We know, this elevates the price well above the rest of the list. What can be so special about a plug you ask? Well… As well as the usual ability to turn devices on and off through an app, or voice control when linked with an Amazon Echo, it also monitors your power usage. This is a great feature if you're looking to be more economical, or have received yet another inflated energy bill! Of course, it works with a free app, as well as Nest's Learning Thermostat. The latter can communicate with the Belkin to let it know when you're away or home based on usage patterns. Finally, it's compatible with Google's Home Hub and Amazon's Echo.
5 of 5Ikea Tradfri Control Outles Kit
Forget meatballs and flatpack furniture, Ikea has gone smart! Not only does the Swedish company supply a range of smart lighting, it also supplies a smart plug. The Control kit requires the Tradfri Gateway hub, though once you've connected it, you can plug away. It's compatible with Google's Home Hub, as well as Amazon's Echo, and also comes with a free app and a physical remote - so many glorious ways to be lazy!