One fundamental question has been the driving force behind innovation and technological advancement since time immemorial: “How can I do this without standing up?” That’s the beauty of smart plugs. Smart plugs offer the easiest way to turn your 'dumb' devices into automated sci-fi gadgets, allowing you to power any on/off device by using an app, by scheduling it, or by using voice commands.
The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) is the best smart plug for indoor use, as it provides the most features for the best price. The TP-Link Tapo TP25 Outdoor Plug (or the identical P400M) is our outdoor pick thanks to its rugged IP rating. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is our pick for a multi-plug option because of its versatility.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) offers the most robust features for the price, such as energy monitoring, sunrise/sunset scheduling and an Away Mode. In my tests, it was quick to integrate with all major smart-home platforms and a breeze to set up and use with the Tapo app (or the Kasa app, though we recommend the former), where all of its functions were readily accessible.
Along with expected smart-plug functions such as remote access and voice control through a smart speaker or hub, it supports real-time energy monitoring shown in watts and kilowatt-hours (or hours and minutes) so you can keep tabs on electricity use. It’s available only in a two-pack and a four-pack, but the price per unit is about the same or even lower than that of other smart plugs we like.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Matter, Samsung SmartThings
Outdoor smart plugs bring comparatively more considerations: You have to use a covered outlet, you should mount it at a specific height above the ground, and operating temperatures and IP ratings for resistance to water and dust play a role. The TP-Link Tapo TP25 Outdoor Plug (and the identical Amazon-exclusive TP-Link Tapo P400M) is built for the outdoors, with a weather-resistant IP65 rating and an operating-temperature range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Features such as Schedules, Away Mode and sunrise/sunset Routines were painless to set up, and the independently controllable dual outlets responded quickly to commands from third-party integrations via Matter. (If you don’t like Matter or don’t have a compatible hub, we still recommend the TP-Link Kasa EP40A.) It also tracks the run time of devices you plug into it, in hours and minutes.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
Of the smart power strips I tested, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is the most well-built and it includes three USB-A charging ports. Its 38-inch power cord opens up its placement options and it has all of the bells and whistles — energy monitoring, sunrise/sunset scheduling and an Away Mode — of our single-outlet pick.
That said, this power strip doesn’t have Apple Home compatibility and the USB ports aren’t controllable. If you don’t mind a model with fewer outlets and no physical-button controls, consider one of the other good smart plugs we found.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
If you need to put your smart plug in a tight space, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (EP10) is the optimal choice. The EP10 provided quick setup with Alexa and Google Home. It’s also the smallest and least expensive of our picks and includes a surprising amount of features for its size, such as built-in usage monitoring and an Away Mode.
The EP10 makes some trade-offs: It isn’t compatible with Apple Home and it doesn’t provide energy monitoring. Instead, it tracks a device’s run time in hours and minutes. — The New York Times
KATHRYN RATH
The writer covers audio, video and smart-home gear.
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