The advent of technology has brought in many surprising gadgets that were once in the realm of science fiction, which not only has made our lives easier and comfortable but also highly efficient. Modern technology is all about solving the simplest of problems in the most elegant way. The “Smart Plug” is one such device.
Any new product in the market often has the tag “smart” attached to it. What it usually means is that the product has found a way to take away a part of the human effort that normally involves a task, so that the activity becomes one less thing to worry about for us in our day-to-day lives.
A smart plug is a Wi-Fi-enabled power plug; hence it can also be called a “Wi-Fi smart plug”. Like any other power plug, it can be used in electrical outlets to power devices, but due to its Wi-Fi capabilities, we can decide when to turn it on or off and even do it remotely without the need to be present physically at the switch.
Let us dig a little deeper into what a smart plug is, and its capabilities.
What is a Smart Plug?
A smart plug is an electrical power plug device, that functions like any other regular power plug provides the added functionalities of smart devices like programmability, voice control, power saving, efficiency, and a lot more.
The smart plug contains a Wi-Fi chip, like the ESP8266 module that can be connected wirelessly over a network to your smartphones and tablets.
A lot of the functions that make our smart homes “smart” depend on an internet connection. Without an internet connection, many Wi-Fi-based plugs and switches will continue to operate, but some of the advanced options like voice control and remote control would not work.
The voice control features can be easily set up using Google Assist or Amazon Alexa. A couple of quick steps and you’re ready to go!
What can a smart plug do?
A smart plug operated by an app allows you to switch any gadget that plugs into a normal wall socket on and off.
You can actively control it in real-time or automate it so that it reacts to schedules and triggers from your mobile or any other Wi-Fi-enabled device.
Imagine not having to bother about the coffee maker or the water heater in the already frustrating and tight morning rush. A smart plug automatically switches on and off these appliances according to your pre-programmed schedule.
Even if you are unable to program it beforehand or be there physically or had to leave the device unattended, you can control the smart plug remotely using your smartphones.
What are the Features to look for while procuring a smart plug?
Hub and network requirement:
An active internet connection is mandatory for the intended performance of the device. Once connected, a Smart Plug can be controlled remotely from your smartphone.
Also, note that some of the smart plug models available in the market require a separate hub for connectivity and remote operation. But most of the models do not require a hub and need only a wi-fi router for connectivity.
Like a smart bulb, make sure you are getting a smart plug that is compatible with the Wi-Fi frequency (2.4GHz or 5GHz) of your router. The majorities of smart plugs work with a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection and don’t need a hub. This makes them simple to install and quick to connect.
Location: Indoor /outdoor use
That being said, it is evident that a smart plug may mostly be for indoor uses like powering everyday appliances at our homes.
Although there are outdoor models available in the market but putting such sophisticated and costly equipment at the mercy of the elements is something that most people will refrain from doing.
Power capacity
Now the plug comes in the different power ratings of 10A, 16A, etc., which makes it versatile enough to be used with small and large electrical loads alike.
Select a smart plug according to the power rating of the appliance you are going to use. For example, 16A smart plug is suitable for large appliances like microwaves and geysers. 10A plugs suit for smaller appliances like smartphone/laptop charger, Tvs, small table fans, etc.
Voice assistant control
Using smart plugs is super simple. First, you plug a smart plug into a normal power outlet. Then you connect an electrical device (like a lamp or appliance) to it. Finally, you configure the smart plug using the smart plug’s app. Most of the available smart plugs in the market support voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant or Apple Siri.
Brands
There are a ton of brands out there manufacturing smart plugs in India. Also, The popularity of these devices is growing. There are a lot of manufacturers that are offering the product. Some of the most popular models available in the country are from brands like HomeMate, Helea, Wipro, etc.
App support
Usually, smart plugs work with a companion app. Smart Life App is a commonly supported one. Also, each smart plug brand has it’s App. Most of the case you will need to create an account with the App and configure preferences, schedules, and names for the devices that you plug into the socket.
Design
Smart Plug is available in different configurations for the electronic devices to be connected. The internal design is often much complex and may differ from one model to the other, but the more general feature a home or office consumer should be bothered with is the number of pins available on the output.
Power outlet type
The simplest and most common one has a single pin and supports only one device. Consecutively, there are smart plugs in the form of strips where multiple devices can be plugged in. They will have a higher current rating and will contain better protective features like a fuse, surge protection, etc.
While procuring a smart plug online to use in India, please select a smart plug with an Indian power outlet type.
Top 7 Best Smart Plugs
| Smart Plug | Amp | Hub Required | Warranty | App | On Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wipro 10A smart plug | 10 | No | 1 Year | Wipro Smart Home App | Check Price |
| Helea 10A Wi-Fi Smart Plug | 10 | No | 2 Years | Helea Smart app | Check Price |
| HomeMate® WiFi Smart Plug Socket | 10 | No | 1 Year | Smart Life App | Check Price |
| Amazon Smart Plug | 6 | No | 1 Year | Alexa | Check Price |
| Halonix Prime 16A Smart Plug | 16 | No | 1 Year | Halonix Smart app | Check Price |
| Zebronics ZEB-SP110 Smart Wi-Fi Plug | 10 | No | 1 Year | Zeb Home app | Check Price |
| Lifelong 16A Smart Plug | 16 | No | 1 Year | Lifelong Smart Home App | Check Price |
Best Smart Plugs available in India
The following is the list of some of the best smart plugs in India. Let’s get started:
1. Wipro 10A smart plug
Wipro 10A Smart Plug is suitable for regulating small home devices such as TVs, mobile/laptop chargers, electric kettles, table fans, etc. This is one of the best smart plugs available in India.
With the assistance of this smart plug and the Wipro Smart app, you can monitor your home appliances from anywhere and can even track your devices’ energy usage.
Users can connect the Wipro smart plug to Alexa and Google Assistant to voice control the plug. And it is straightforward to link it to Wi-Fi without a dedicated hub.
The Wipro Smart Plug is inexpensive and allows you to automate your appliances’ on/off functionality according to your need.
If you like to use Wipro smart plug with larger appliances, go for the Wipro 16A smart plug instead of the 10A.
2. Helea 10A Wi-Fi Smart Plug
The Helea 10A Wi-Fi Smart Plug is a budget-friendly, WPC-approved device. This is the perfect smart plug that can make your tasks easy and make your home smart.
Without a separate hub, you can connect this plug to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi router, and then you can easily power your devices. All you have to do is to install Helea Smart application on your smartphone and link to it. Thus, you will be able to track your appliances from anywhere around the globe.
With many capabilities, such as on/off schedule, timer, remote operation, etc this product makes it easier to handle the daily tasks of your lives. And the amazing part of this smart plug is its great design that has a flame retardant body and power surge protection. That is why you would not have to worry about damage to your connected devices either.
Also, with the help of Alexa or Google Assistant, you can easily attach this smart plug so that you can control your devices using voice recognition as well.
For larger appliances, Helea 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug is also available in the market.
3. HomeMate WiFi Smart Plug Socket
HomeMate WiFi Smart Plug is available in 10A and 16A formats. 10A plug is suitable for smaller appliances. And 16A is a heavy-duty plug suitable for large appliances.
Alexa and Google Assistant are enabled in the HomeMate WiFi Smart Plug; thus, it gets easy to send voice recognition to perform those tasks on your devices. Also, you do not need a hub to set up this plug. All you need is a Wi-Fi router with a 2.4GHz or dual-band frequency.
This device supports the Smart Life app, and you can track and control your devices while you are far from home.
To handle your regular routines easily, there is a feature to set timers or On/Off schedules for your devices.
One of the great things about the HomeMate WiFi Smart Plug is that multiple persons can control it using the app. You can easily connect and manage different devices with this plug, which is typically helpful when you throw an event. This great plug is suitable for handling lamps, outdoor lighting, TVs, table fan, etc.
4. Amazon Smart Plug
Amazon has been attempting a lot to provide innovative tech gadgets to everyone since introducing its Smart Assistant Alexa.
That said, if you are using an Alexa appliance at home, this smart plug from Amazon is an excellent match for your home.
The load capacity of this smart plug is 6A, which means it is intended only for light devices such as kettles, lamps, TVs, etc.
Since you do have the Alexa app installed on your device, there is no need to install any new app to use this smart plug; you can use the same app to run this smart plug. You will also be given voice command assistance with Alexa, which will help you to physically turn off the TV after watching your favorite movie late at night.
Amazon smart plug can be set up only with a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network and works exclusively with Alexa.
5. Halonix Prime 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug
The Halonix Prime 16A Smart Plug provides you with almost everything from a Wi-Fi-supported smart plug you would expect.
The configuration is as easy as plugging it in and is ready to monitor your smart devices via the Halonix Smart app. This smart plug also does not need a separate hub. A Wi-Fi router is enough for setup.
Halonix Prime smart plug can record the connected device’s energy usage and send the reported data to the Halonix Smart app.
Also, the Halonix Prime 16A Wi-Fi Smart Plug has an overcharge protection feature, a fire-resistant plastic body, 16A/6A female ports, and a child-safety shutter. It is built to fit in any 16A socket, with easy setup and service.
6. Zebronics ZEB-SP110 Smart Wi-Fi Plug
Zeb-SP110 Smart Wi-Fi plug from Zebronics is a 10A plug that comes with a dedicated Zeb-Home smart App.
With a smartphone and an Internet connection, you can switch on or switch off your devices such as fans, speakers, TV, etc from any place all over the world.
As mentioned earlier, the Zeb-SP110 works with Zeb-Home smart app available for both Android & iOS with rich functionality.
It also offers you features such as timers, support for voice assistants, control for scheduling, and more.
7. Lifelong 16A Smart Plug
Lifelong smart plugs are available in 10A and 16A variations. 16A smart plug is suitable for high power appliances and 10A plugs are suitable to operate smaller devices.
Lifelong Wi-Fi Smart Plug – Enables your appliances to build personalized schedules for you. For a more effective home, you will find that automating your devices will help streamline your everyday routine.
Ideal for lamps, outdoor lighting, current LED lights, ventilators, TVs, appliances, etc. Smartphone Remotely Monitor Your Device – You can monitor these devices wherever you are at any time by installing the “Lifelong Smart” home app on your smartphone.
Lifelong smart plugs are simple to install and easy to use, easy to manage, and can be instantly enabled.
F.A.Q about smart plugs
Can smart plugs turn on T.V?
Yes, smart plugs give you the ability to turn your T.V and other devices’ power on and off wherever you are…
You can turn your television on and off by using a smart plug. Smart plugs can also convert many other devices into smart devices. The list is endless as long as the device has the power rating supported by the smart plug.
In general, smart plugs can control lamps, microwaves, grinders, induction stoves, coffee makers, heaters, mobile chargers, computers, air purifiers, etc.
Do smart plugs use a lot of electricity?
Smart plugs indeed draw a small current when they are in standby mode, but it is a negligible amount of energy — only about 1 watt. And that means the overall effect on your energy consumption is small.
When used correctly, smart plugs can reduce your energy consumption by between 1% and 4.58%.
Are smart plugs a fire hazard?
Smart plugs comply with the same general safety regulations as any other gadget that you attach to the wall.
As with any electrical device, as long as you do not overload the outlet, it should be safe. Smart Plugs are not a fire hazard and most models meet the minimum specifications and safety criteria. All these devices have been reviewed and are just as stable as any other device with a wall plug.
The only thing to watch out for is overloading the plug by connecting a large number of electrical devices to it, but that is true in the case of any other normal plug.
How to install a smart plug?
Wi-Fi smart plugs are extremely easy to install! Any person can do it irrespective of their technical background.
By following a simple few steps, you can easily configure your device and start using it on the go.
1) Plug the smart plug into the wall socket at home where you will use your electrical appliances.
2) Next, you need to decide which devices you would like to automate and monitor using your smartphone.
3)Then you have to download the Smart Plug’s app on your phone, open the application, and follow the steps on the screen to pair your phone with the plug.
4) Lastly, connect your Smart Plug to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or the equivalent assistant by using their applications.
Once finished with these steps, you can start using the plug and give voice commands to the plug to control your electrical devices. Some models even allow you to preprogram the plug to follow your schedules.
That brings us to the final question…. Are Smart Plugs worth it?
In terms of saving electricity and money, it all comes down to the intended use.
A smart and well-scheduled work cycle is sure to save you some extra bucks in the long run. Be sure to not leave the plug on purposelessly for long hours or without any device connected to it.
Also, don’t connect a ton of appliances to the same plug. It will only do more harm than good.
Regarding the aspect of automation, this can be a powerful ally for those people with tight schedules and who have more important business to attend to other than turning on the heater or attending to the toaster. The smart plug scores big in that area.
It also comes in handy to monitor your electrical devices and their power consumption or say, for parents to keep a tab on their child’s T.V. schedule.
In the end, it all comes down to weighing in your pros and cons.
Conclusion
When you are away from home, these devices give users a tremendous amount of safety and protection.
With the aid of smart plugs, without investing any significant effort, you can easily monitor your energy usage and regulate your increasing electricity bills.
You can monitor your lighting from your smartphone when you link the items with your mobile app.
When you purchase these switches, you will find great peace of mind by which you can protect your home as well.
We think the smart plug buying guide along with the list of the best smart plugs would help you to choose the right one for your need.
If you have a question or suggestion, please let us know in the comment section. Have a great smart home experience!
