How to Pick Your First Smart Plug

Smart home devices now are more accessible than ever before. Yet, for a beginner, it can still be confusing to set up, or even understand, a complete smart ecosystem. The good news is, if you want to enjoy the convenience of a smart home, you do not have to replace all of the appliances and devices in your home with expensive smart counterparts. You can easily start your smart home with your current items and some smart plugs.

Having a smart plug is an easy way to bring smart functionality into your home. Turn your laps, appliances, and other devices on and off just like you would any other smart home device. All you have to do is plug it in.

But not all smart plugs are created equal. If you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal, consider some of the following factors when shopping for a smart plug. 

• Real-World Scenarios

Think about the way that you would use smart plugs in real life.  Ask yourself some questions to confirm your desires. Do you really want to use the plug to turn something on and off remotely? Or do you want more automatic performance, like having lights turn themselves on/off or dim at scheduled times? Do you want the sprinkler system to water the lawn when you are out? No matter what scenario you envision, you clarify your own demands for a smart plug. This would help you find the right product.

• Compatibility

Before a smart plug becomes a part of your home, make sure it is compatible with your appliances and fixtures.

1. Compatibility with normal devices: Though most of the smart plugs work well with traditional devices. It is still necessary to confirm compatibility because not everything works with smart plugs. One thing to pay particular attention to is voltage required by your devices and what output the smart plug can handle.
2. Compatibility with voice assistant: If you already have or plan to have a voice assistant, compatibility is a vital issue. Voice assistants are important tools for many smart devices. If you’re looking for voice control over your home, you’ll want to ensure that your smart plug will work with your voice assistant.

• App-Support

Many smart home devices have their own dedicated app to apply different functions and manage the related system. Some apps or platforms might limit the use of devices from other brands. Consider this in advance, or you might find yourself having to switch between different platforms or apps.

• Functions

Fully understand the various software functions of different smart plugs before paying. Pick the one that fits your demands the best. For smart plugs, functions like energy monitoring and scheduling are useful as they can help reduce your power bills.

• Specification

There is no need to deeply know all the technical parameters in the specification sheet. What is worth paying attention to are things concerning safety, like fireproofing materials or safety features.

• Size

It can be really annoying if your plug is so big that blocks off another outlet when you plug it in. Make sure your plug is compact will make this a non-issue.

• Design

Although size is part of the design, aesthetics also have their role to play. A delicate design creates not only a smart and professional impression but also makes sure your room doesn’t look tacky.

Hopefully, you’ve got a good starting point for starting your smart home and finding a plug that is right for you. If you want to get started on finding some specific products, feel free to check out Kasa smart plugs or some of the smart plugs available from Tapo. Get started today and enjoy living smart!