A beginner’s guide to smart plugs.
Gone are the days when we used to leave the couch to switch on fans, lights, AC, and other appliances. Nowadays, all household activities, features, and appliances, like lights, fans, doors, etc., can be controlled by sitting anywhere via the internet.
This is known as home automation, which is the underpinning technology of every smart home. It’s a very broad concept, with smart plugs being a small but one of its crucial elements.
So if you’re looking to upgrade your typical home to a smart one, these smart plugs are the best place to start with.
This guide will discuss everything about smart plugs, in addition to a few you can buy now.
What Are Smart Plugs?
Smart plugs let you turn your wired home appliances into wireless ones so that they can easily be controlled from any corner of the world using a mobile app on your smartphone.
For example, you can connect your wired appliances, like ACs, space heaters, etc., to the smart plug and control them using the dedicated app.
In addition, you can add schedules to turn them on/off automatically.
Smart, isn’t it!
How Do Smart Plugs Work?
You need to put your smart plug into a wall socket and turn on the switch and the smart plug. Doing so will enable the power supply and make the smart plug discoverable. After that, you need to download its companion app on your phone and use it to pair your smart plug to the WiFi connection.
Please note, the smart plug and the smartphone need to be on the same WiFi network. However, a few such plugs also come with Bluetooth for a dedicated connection with the phone.
Once it’s installed, open it and follow the on-screen prompts to connect the smart plug to your WiFi. Next, plug any wired home appliance into your smart plug and control it using the same mobile application you used to pair it.
The best part about the smart plugs is that they also work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and others. So, you can also control them using voice commands.
Are Smart Plugs Worth It?
Personally, I will say yes, as they have a lot of benefits.
One of the primary merits of smart plugs is you can remotely control your home appliances with just an app.
In addition:
- Smart plugs let you schedule tasks and set timers, such as turning on/off a particular device at a set time. This can help you avoid energy wastage and electrical accidents in your absence.
- They also work with voice assistants. It means you can control plugs using voice commands.
- Almost all smart plugs also let you keep track of your electricity or power consumption.
Top Smart Plugs To Consider for Your New Smart Home
If you want to check some great smart plugs for your new smart home, check the listed options.
We’ve selected these based on their features and reviews on Amazon and other eCommerce sites.
1. QUBO 16A Smart Plug
The first smart plug on our list is QUBO 16A Smart Plug. As the name suggests, it’s a 16A smart plug, which is compatible with all lightweight and heavy appliances like ACs, water pumps, geysers, space heaters, and almost all appliances.
You can pair this smart plug with the Qubo Smart Home app on your home or office WiFi network.
Key Features of QUBO 16A Smart Plug:
- Built-In Scheduler & Timer
- Compatible With Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Supports Both WiFi & Bluetooth Pairing
- Dedicated Customer Support
- Supports Sharing & Grouping
The best part about QUBO 16A Smart Plug is that it lets you easily track the energy consumption of all your appliances in the Qubo Smart Home app. You can even track real time power consumption.
Lastly, it comes with one year of warranty from the purchase date.
2. Wipro 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug
The next one in line is Wipro 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug, a great smart plug made up of polycarbonate material. This comes with an integrated WiFi module that lets you connect the smart plug to your WiFi network and phone via the Wipro Smart Home App.
Using the same app, you can control the smart plug from anywhere in the world. For instance, you can use it to switch on/off home appliances, set schedules & timers, and more.
Key Features of Wipro 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug:
- Works With Amazon Alexa and Ok Google
- Create Schedules
- Supports WiFi Pairing
- No Hub Required
The most highlighting part of Wipro 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug is that it lets you view your appliance’s consumption in the Wipro Next app. Lastly, this smart plug also comes with a one-year warranty.
3. Havells 16A WiFi Smart Plug
Havells 16A WiFi Smart Plug also directly connects with your WiFi connection without any hub, just like the other plugs we discussed so far. In addition, it can also easily handle all kinds of light and heavy home appliances.
Key Features of Havells 16A WiFi Smart Plug:
- WiFi Compatibility
- Works With Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant
- Set Schedules
- Energy Consumption Monitoring
Havells 16A WiFi Smart Plug also has a built-in fuse which protects it from circuit overload. Like other smart plugs, it also comes with one year of warranty from the date of purchase.
4. Portronics Splug 16
Last but not least, Portronics Splug 16 is also an excellent 16A smart plug made of polycarbonate.
Key Features of Portronics Splug 16:
- Works With Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa
- Integrated Scheduler & Timer
- Supports 2.4 GHz WiFi Connectivity
- Built-in Energy Consumption Tracker
Like other smart plugs, it also lets you turn your wired home devices, such as geysers, motors for water tanks, microwaves, space heaters, ovens, etc., into wireless ones and control them anywhere using the Portronics Smart Home app on your mobile phone.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the best smart plugs that you can consider when choosing one for your new smart home.
While all smart plugs mentioned in this guide have similar features, I liked QUBO 16A Smart Plug a lot.
First, this is the only smart plug on this list that has both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Second, it has a Sharing and Grouping feature that no other smart plug comes with. Lastly, it has all other essential features besides the advanced features.
So this was from my side. And if you’re searching, here is our guide to smart lighting.
