IFTTT (if this then that) allows you to set up conditional automations. So you can turn on or off devices attached to the switch based on conditions like time of day, your location or any trigger from 300+ services.
The installation instructions are fairly basic - just connect to the switch's Wi-Fi, go into the WeMo app, make the connection, and then swap over to your regular Wi-Fi (if it works the first time).
You can set up the Insight to send you app notifications when the switch is turned on or off based on set rules. So you can, for example, get notified only between 9am and 5pm while you are at work, and turn off notifications while you are at home.
The WeMo app is simple to use, and provides quite a bit of information at a glance as well. There's a large power button to open/close the switch, as well as a timer which indicates how long the switch has been on for. It also shows data such as average on time each day, average cost and more.
The in-app performance is poor - it lags and studders. Performing any actions takes a couple seconds to register, and the overall experience is bad. This could be due to the Wi-Fi connection, or it could just be a poorly optimized app.
Scheduling can be done on either a weekly basis (same schedule for the whole week) or you can configure each day individually (e.g., the weekend can have a different schedule than the weekdays).
The setup process sounds simple enough - connect to the switch's Wi-Fi network to pair, and then swap back to your regular Wi-Fi. In practice, the connection is spontaneous. It takes a number of tries to set up the connection successfully.
When the switch is on it illuminates the power button which can be distracting. Especially at night or when watching a movie. And there's no way to turn off the power button without turning off the switch.
The USB charging port may have additional use in the future, however right now it can be used to charge phones or other devices such as smart watches, console controllers and more.
HomeKit is Apple's Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, with deep integration with Siri. As part of HomeKit, once properly setup you can have many devices in your house act to a single action. For example, saying "Hey Siri, go to bed" can trigger all your lights to turn off, your thermostat to turn down, and your doors to lock.
On the top left is a power indicator LED which indicates whether or not the plug is plugged into the wall and connected (if plugged in the light will be solid, if not connected the light will flash).
There are also 2 LEDs in the clear strip on the right of the sockets. These indicate whether or not the sockets are active. This is handy, because if HomeKit turns the socket off you can easily tell without wondering if anything is broken.
These lights can be turned off through the app, but can also serve as a dim nightlight if you leave them on.
Scenes allow you to not only control one device, but multiple at the same time, this outlet plays great with HomeKit so you get control not just one thing, but multiple at the same time.
While many other smart switches have support for IFTTT's customizations or adaptability with WeMo's large product range, the ConnectSense Smart Outlet is only compatible with Apple's HomeKit which could limit compatibility with other brands if you choose to get more smart devices in your house down the road.
While this feature is supposedly built into the hardware, the software isn't yet available to take advantage of this feature which is on nearly every other smart outlet.
Clearly, the Android app was an afterthought. From setting it up to controlling it - even the features available. This is an iPhone first product, with Android support added in after the fact.
This is one of the few smart switches which are small enough to not block surrounding plugs. That means that you still have access to all of your plugs, which is very important especially in older homes where accessible wall plugs can be limited.
While the other smart switches clearly look like an internet-connected product (read: eyesore), the iHome iSP5 doesn't share the same ugliness. It is compact and sleek looking, without extra buttons and a bunch of flashing lights. It has a single small LED, a white front, and a grey band running around its sides.
HomeKit is Apple's smart home ecosystem, with deep integration with Siri. Controlling the switch is as easy as saying "Her Siri, turn the living room lamp on" as you're approaching your house. You can also group together different products which will all jump into action together: once configured, saying "Hey Siri, go to bed" can turn off all the lights, enable the security system, lock the doors, and turn down the thermostat with just the single command.
Wink is an ecosystem that has compatibility with many products. Buying a Wink-compatible device means you have a wide selection of other devices that it will work with.
Alexa is an always listening voice assistant baked into Amazon's Echo series of products. These devices were all very well received, and can pick up voice actions from surprising distances. They will also allow anybody to control the lights (or whatever else might be plugged into this switch) without the need to setup an app on their phone.
This switch offers geo-fencing - that is, it can automatically turn on or off based on how close you are to it. This is extremely useful if you won't want to deal with timers or schedules. Just walk within a certain distance, and the switch will activate.
HomeKit is Apple's smart home ecosystem. It's main draw is it's deep integration with Siri, which allows you to control the switch with just your voice. You can also group connected devices together, and have multiple devices act on a single command.
The app can't control any other HomeKit enabled devices, and lacks polish. It can track weather, but temperatures can't be measured in Celsius (which isn't an issue for Americans, but is for the rest of the world). Overall, it can be confusing trying to find the setting you're looking for.
There are 3 lights on the front of this plug - the first is the Wi-Fi indicator. It lights up green when the connection is fine, and yellow when it isn't. The light to the right is the status light which lights up green when plugged in and ready to power devices plugged into it. The last is the power LED, located just below the power button. This light shows whether the plug is outputting any power at the time.
Inside this smart switch is a sensor that detects when it is getting too hot. It is user adjustable, allowing you to lower or raise the temperature threshold if you choose. If the device turns off due to heat, it will send a notification to your phone.
The setup is a breeze - it even includes a WPS button on the side for dead simple connecting. If your router isn't WPS compatible however, the setup is still easy. Just hook your device up to the plug's Wi-Fi network, go to the app and enter the code found on the back of the plug itself (write this down beforehand so you don't have to unplug it half way through to check). Then, hop back onto your regular Wi-Fi and login (or create) a My D-Link account.
Whether you have an Android phone or an iPhone, this smart plug will work. That makes it especially easy for households that have different mobile users living under the same roof - anybody can turn the switch on or off regardless of which mobile phone they choose (so long as it isn't a Windows Phone or old BlackBerry).
The plugs are near the bottom of the device, which means that if you plug it into the top wall socket it won't cover the bottom socket, although it will stick up above the socket and create a noticeable eye-sore (especially thanks to the always on lights).
Alexa is Amazon's personal assistant that comes with the company's smart home products, such as the Echo and Echo Dot. These are always listening devices that allow you to control certain aspects of your life without lifting a finger.
Through IFTTT, you can create very detailed schedules for when the switch will be turned on or off. This schedule can be different each day of the week, and you can have it turn on and off multiple times each day if you choose.
D-Link offers a number of smart home products whichinclude cameras, water sensors, plugs, baby sensors, sirens, and motion cameras. All of these products are designed to work together.
HomeKit is Apple's ecosystem that is just starting to step into the limelight. It has deep integration with Siri, and allows multiple actions to be taken with a single command (once configured properly).
IFTTT (IF This Then That) allows you to create your own custom 'recipes'. Triggers can be as simple as time of day, or your location, or as specific as receiving a text from a specific contact to when your favourite team scores a goal. IFTTT is easy to setup, and allows for cusomtomization far beyond what manufacturers regularly allow.
The energy data is collected and displayed in handy graphs that review the last month, 3 months, or 6 months of usage. This allows you to easily view the change in power consumption between seasons, and can help identify areas where it could be beneficial to turn the device off.
Through the app you can adjust the output of this switch. This will allow lamps and other lights to be dimmed, although not all small appliances will work well with less than normal power.
You can schedule your lights to turn on and of when you please. It can also be set to turn lights on and off on a repeated timer when you are away on vacation to deter burgles.
There isn't any Wi-Fi in this product to set up, meaning the setup process will be as easy as pairing a new Bluetooth speaker. Also, even while you are having internet troubles this switch will still work with your phone. Some users have even plugged their Wi-Fi router into this, turning it off when they are at work and sleeping.
Bluetooth has an effective range of about 20 feet, depending on variables. You won't be able to adjust this switch through the internet like you will with most of the other switches available today. If you left the lights on after you left for a vacation, you'll be much too far to turn them off.
Tracking energy usage can help you determine where you can cut energy costs. The first step is recognizing where excess energy is being used, and the GE Smart Switch helps with this.
Most other smart switches block other outlets, however because this one is designed to sit horizontally instead of vertically, it won't block any other outlets giving you full access.
The bar on the front of the switch is actually a RGB light, which can be configured to any color, at varying brightness as well. It isn't the brightest, but because most plugs are near the floor it provides sufficient lighting for night-time use or can add to accent lighting for a more whole-room effect.
The iDevices Switch doesn't support any other smart home systems. While not an issue if this is your first smart home product, it won't play well down the road if you purchase any Wink, WeMo, Nest, or other non-HomeKit devices.
HomeKit is deeply integrated within the iOS ecosystem, including Siri. You can place multiple different devices into a single 'scene' and have them all activate with a singe voice action.
There is no Android or Windows Phone support. This could be a deal-breaker if other inhabitants of the house use an Android, Windows Phone, or BlackBerry OS device.
This switch lacks the ability to dim lights plugged into it. Dimming is not only useful to control the brightness in the room, but can also act to save electricity.
The app is laid out simply, which makes using it a pleasure. It's layout is clearly designed to put the controls - the most important part of the app - front and center.
While the energy reports aren't as detailed as other switches, they are still detailed enough to show where you can save some power costs. This is a useful feature, as it can save you money in the long-run and even pay itself off.
You can configure this switch to turn on and off whenever you choose. Schedules are useful for waking up in the morning and going to bed, and timers help expand that functionality to single-time usage. You can fully automate anything plugged into this switch, even when on vacation half the world away.
You can also enable 'away mode', which turns your lights on and off automatically simulating what it would look like if somebody were home. This deters burgles, as generally they try to break in when nobody is home.
Alexa is Amazon's personal assistant, found in the Echo and Echo Dot. If you have either of these products, you (or your guests) can control this switch with nothing but your voice. Very cool as a party trick, but also useful in day-to-day life.
Similar to the vast majority of all smart plugs, this one will block the outlet above it. You can place it on top of a regular wall receptacle, although then it sticks out visually more than if it were centered on the wall mount.
This specific device doesn't offer energy tracking, although a different model does. It costs $8 more, however it has the potential to save a lot more than that in electricity costs over its lifetime.
With apps for both Android and iOS available, the vast majority of users in any house will be able to control this switch. This is an essential feature for households that have both Android and iOS users.
The app can require a password, which means that if the TV is plugged into one of these switches that your kids can't install the app and extend the auto-turn-off-time. This could also be a benefit if plugging in a basic home security system - plugging the security system into this switch isn't any less secure than plugging it straight into the wall.
This switch doesn't connect to any third party systems - no HomeKit, Nest, WeMo, Z-Wave, or other integration. These products work on their own without any external integration.
This device senses the amount of power which is drawn from it while it is in use. You can configure the switch to turn off when a certain power limit has been reached (can be based on a daily, weekly, or monthly figure). Upon hitting this limit, it will notify you with an email.
You can also view past power requirements ranging from a day to a month to see when it draws the most power. this data can be displayed as the true power (measured in watts) or approximate cost.
Many other switches can be configured to turn on at sunrise, and turn off at sunset (or vice versa if you have a light plugged into it). The Edimax SP-2101W lacks any such feature.
You can schedule the switch to turn off when you leave for work or go to bed, and to turn on when you get home from work or wake up. If you use a portable heater or air conditioner, this can be especially useful to pre-heat or cool your house just before you get home. This ensures your house is at the right temperature whenever you're home, but saves on power when you don't need it.
This switch will block the plug beneath it, effectively reducing the number of plugs you have available in your house. This also makes it a more obvious eye-sore.
The scheduling feature is easy to use - select a time to turn on, and a time to turn off. You can repeat this schedule (called a 'rule' within the app) daily, or weekly.
There is also a built-in timer, which can be useful when you only need the lights on for a few minutes during an irregular time.
Unfortunately, it seems this plug isn't compatible with WeMo, Nest, SmartThings, Wink, or other home automation ecosystems. This limits the devices that this switch can connect with in the future (or the present if you already have non-HomeKit devices).
HomeKit is created by Apple, and provides easy control through Siri. Devices can be grouped together, and multiple devices can be activated at once with a single action (if you set up the proper scenes).
The app is designed to look sleek, and give quick access to commonly used actions. Finding a specific device can be a hassle if you have many HomeKit devices connected in the same room as the lists scroll vertically, but this won't be an issue for the vast majority of users.
This smart plug will show you energy stats, which can be used to help determine the best way to slash energy costs. It does this in real-time in the app, as well as over time through a graph.
You can easily view how much energy the plugged in device is using (in watts), however the app doesn't show the costs of the power (you can figure this out yourself, but it would have been nice to be included).
This plug is physically large, and will block sockets if placed in the top wall socket. If placed in the bottom socket, the other socket will be available however it will hang past where the socket ends providing an eyesore.
Without an Apple TV, you can only control devices locally using Bluetooth. This range is very limited. With an Apple TV however, you can control the device from anywhere you have access to Wi-Fi.
HomeKit is created by Apple, and uses Siri to control the smart devices connected with HomeKit. It also allows for grouping devices so that a single command can trigger different devices to do different things.
Setup is as easy as downloading the Eve app, add the device, type in a code (or scan it automatically), and tell it where it is located (easier to control down the road).
After being used for a while, the Parce One will eventually start learning your habits, and can start turning devices off automatically when you forget to turn them off yourself. It's fairly conservative, although if you stay up a few extra minutes than normal, the lights may turn off before you're done with them - however this is to expected from any self-taught schedule.
Currently, the Parce One is only available in Germany. It uses the F plug type, which is compatible with countries listed here (USA, England, Australia and Canada don't use the same plugs).
Parce One tracks the energy used by the device that is plugged into it. It displays the information it gathers into an easy to read graphs, and even can make suggestions over time that can help reduce the power bill.
HomeKit is deeply integrated with Siri, which makes turning connected devices on or off is as simple as asking Siri. You can also group devices into a 'scene' - for example, once configured saying "OK Siri, go to bed" can turn off all your lights, adjust your thermostat, and lock all your doors with just one action.