Amazon Smart Plug Review: Alexa’s Basic Smart Plug
The Amazon Smart Plug isn’t the most feature-rich option, but it works well.
Amazon Smart Plug makes any device smart – from lamps to household appliances and coffee machines. It lets you use voice commands or the Alexa app to turn your technology on or off, and you’ll also be able to set schedules and routines. However, it doesn’t work with Google Assistant, Siri, or HomeKit.
If you already have Amazon devices and are looking to expand your smart home, this Amazon Smart Plug review is what you need – while it may be basic, the Amazon Smart Plug is one of the best smart plugs for those already using the ecosystem Alexa.
Smart plugs are a great way to make any device smart, be it a lamp or a fan, and you can control them remotely using an app on your phone or using a voice assistant. There are plenty of options out there – so let’s dive right in to find out whether the Amazon Smart Plug is right for you or not.
Amazon Smart Plug Review: Price and Features
You can buy the Amazon Smart Plug for $34.99 in the US and £24.99 in the UK. It’s towards the more expensive end of the smart plug market, but be sure to keep an eye out for deals as it’s almost guaranteed to be included on the list. Amazon Prime Day deals for 2021, which is coming very soon.
Designed for use with the Alexa ecosystem, Amazon Smart Plug adds voice control to any of your wired electrical devices.It sounds like you’re referring to a smart home device that doesn’t require a central hub to function and can be set up using the Alexa app Once launched, you will be able to remotely turn devices on and off, as well as set schedules for them. It works with everything from lamps to appliances.
Amazon Smart Plug Review: Design and Setup
The Amazon Smart Plug measures 80mm x 38mm x 57mm in the US and 63 x 96.2 x 56mm in the UK and has one electrical outlet. This is not the smallest option, but not the largest either. If you want to use it in a tight space, like behind a cabinet, you’ll need to make sure it will fit your connected appliances. However, you don’t have to worry about it blocking access to the second wall outlet.
The simple white box-shaped design has the Amazon logo discreetly integrated into the front, there’s also a button for manual control located on the left side, and a tiny LED light to indicate whether it’s on or off.
Setup took just a couple of minutes. You just need to open the Amazon Alexa app, which will automatically identify the plug. If it doesn’t appear when you open the app, you can tap the device at the bottom of the screen and the + symbol to start setting it up. You will then need to select which device you want to add, after which you will be asked to scan the barcode on the back of the plug. This is your job, then it will connect to your home network.
You can then change the name of the plug either by asking your Alexa smart speaker to rename it or manually through the app. To control it at the same time as other smart devices in the room, you can add an Amazon Smart plug to the group. I have Alexa-compatible technology grouped by room, so I added it to my Lounge setup and connected it to a lamp for testing.
Amazon Smart Plug Review: Performance
With Amazon Smart Plug, you only get the most basic features. You are only limited to turning it on and off. To do this, you have the option of using voice commands through Alexa or through the app. You can also create routines that will turn it on and off at set times of day, at sunrise or sunset, or when a motion sensor is triggered. You can also set it to turn on or off with specific voice commands, such as turning it on when you say “Alexa, welcome home.”
The plugin responded almost immediately to both voice and app commands and adhered to schedules and procedures without issue. You’ll know it’s worked when you hear a small click every time it turns on or off. The Alexa app is also incredibly easy to use and often prompts you to make changes, such as customizing plugin routines.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have IFTTT, so it won’t work with other smart devices like locks or thermostats. You also can’t control it with other smart assistants like Siri or Google Assistant, and it doesn’t work with Apple’s HomeKit either. Another downside is the lack of energy monitoring features that you get from TP-Link smart plugs, for example.
Amazon Smart Plug Review: Verdict
The Amazon Smart Plug may not be the most feature-rich, but it certainly does what it says on the tin and does it well.
It doesn’t have IFTTT support or power monitoring, and you won’t be able to control it with other voice assistants like Siri. But if you already have Amazon Alexa devices at home and are looking for a quick and easy way to remotely control one of your other devices or devices, then this would be a good choice that will work seamlessly with the rest of your smart home.