TCP Smart 13A Wi-Fi Plug

Product Information

It uses the same MiHome app as Energenie’s other products and, if we’re brutally honest, it’s one of our least favourite apps because of its clunky interface. Make sure you don’t mistakenly install Xiaomi’s MiHome app: look for the Energenie one instead.

Nevertheless, such a command is useful. For example, in my best uses for smart plugs article, one option listed is for charging tools. With a Tap To Run, you can set the plug to come on and turn off automatically when the batteries are charged.Easy to set up and I got them when they were half price (even at full price I think they are great value for ease of use and the functionality). You can also give the impression you are at home by setting time schedules for your plugged-in lamps to switch on whilst you are away. Features and Benefits Smart controls can make it easier to manage electrical devices and lighting to suit your home. This can help reduce your home's energy consumption.

While it’s okay to use the TCP app, compatibility with the Smart Life app allows you to combine control of smart devices from multiple manufacturers in one place. No you don’t, if you lose your internet connection the system will still work, but you won’t be able to control if from your phone via the internet if you are away from the location the device is set up at. Actually, it looks like the TCP engineers have got a little confused. In the Android app at least, the Timer option lets you set a schedule, while the Appointment option lets you start a countdown. It's a rather glaring error but we assume it'll get fixed at some point – and it doesn't really stop you using the plug.

This is hands down the best smart plug on the market, especially as it comes in at the cheaper end of the price spectrum. While not compatible with Apple, it does everything you'd want from a smart plug and has a two year warranty to boot! The Hey! smart plug is affordable, practical and easy to use, with no hub required. It’s the same hardware as the Humax, but the Hey! app is different. Automations are basically the same, only you set a different Condition to run them. Conditions can include outside influences – when the local weather drops below a set temperature or humidity, for example, or at a specific time (schedule), or when you leave or arrive at a location. The latter geolocation tool only works with a single device, so isn’t much cop for multi-user households. White bulbs are just that, a white light that can be adjusted, dimmed & turned on and off. Ambient lights gives you colour, you can adjust to suit your mood, or the room setting, they are great for parties or other special events.

This TCP plug is an excellent option with pretty much everything you’d want in a smart plug at a very good price point. Not all smart tech needs to be born smart. A smart plug can transform anything into a smart device that you can control from your phone. Buy one of these and you can integrate any plug-in appliance into your smart home system. This means you could switch on a vintage lamp with a voice command.It’s worth noting, however, that you can’t use it with the Kasa app, so it isn’t ideal if you already have TP-Link smart plugs or other smart devices. Once in the app, you can give the plug a meaningful name. It appears on the app’s homescreen, with a toggle control, or you can tap the main entry to view a more detailed screen. This provides the same toggle option, plus some more detailed options that include a Timer (actually, a scheduler that lets you configure automatic on/off times) and a Countdown (actually a countdown timer). That said, it’s worth making sure that the signal is good enough in the area where you intend to place the plug to ensure that the connection won’t drop while you’re trying to use it. Some smart plugs will even require their own specific hub, which works in a very similar way to a wireless router. You can turn the switch on and off via the Apple Home app in iOS 10, or using the Eve app. There’s a button on top for manual control as well. Emma is Group Home Tech Editor at Tech Advisor. She covers everything from kitchen appliances to smart home devices, from floor care to personal care to air care technology. She’s particularly interested in environmentally conscious brands and products that save people time and money.