If you want to modernize your home without getting rid of all your old appliances, traditional stores can be very frustrating. A smart plug is great because it turns any regular appliance into a connected device without you having to buy expensive smart versions of everything: You don’t need to spend $200 on a smart lamp when you can use a simple plug to make your $30 lamp respond to voice commands and set routines. But the good news is that during Black Friday, Amazon’s smart plug goes down to $12 for Black Friday, which is less than its usual price of $24. This looks like a move by Amazon to get more homes connected to Alexa without making any money.
Voice Control at a Reasonable Price
The Amazon smart plug controls the flow of electricity to whatever you plug into it: This means that any device that has a physical on/off switch can be controlled by Alexa: Your coffee maker can start brewing before you get out of bed, your lamp in the living room can turn on when you say “Alexa, good morning,” and the box fan in your bedroom can turn off by itself when you fall asleep. The plug connects directly to your Wi-Fi network so you don’t need to buy a separate smart home hub and it only takes a few minutes to set up through the Alexa app. Once it’s connected, the plug will automatically reconnect after a power outage or Wi-Fi problem.
The small size of 2.2 inches deep by 3.2 inches wide by 1.5 inches high keeps your second outlet free for another plug or device. This is more important than you might think because a lot of smart plugs are too big to fit in both outlets so you have to choose which device to use. The plug works with any household item that runs on 120 volts, from table lamps and fans to coffee makers and holiday lights. You can also use the Alexa app to set up routines that link together different tasks: For example, when you say “Alexa, I’m home,” your entryway lights will turn on and your coffee maker will start.
You can control devices from anywhere in your home without getting up because the plug works with Alexa’s voice control system, and you can also control everything from the Alexa app when you’re not home. This lets you turn off devices you forgot about or make it look like someone is home while you’re away. You can set your lights to turn on at sunset or your fan to turn off after two hours without having to remember.
For $12, this is a great deal for making your current devices smart instead of buying expensive new ones that are already connected. A smart lamp usually costs $50 to $100 more than a regular lamp: With this plug, you can add the same features to any lamp you already own for a lot less money. Black Friday is the best time to buy them if you want to automate several outlets in your home without spending hundreds of dollars on separate smart devices.
