Industry observers note that for a single plug that adds voice control to almost any outlet, that’s a hard price to argue with, especially ahead of Prime Day. Amazon’s Smart Plug is down to $12.99, matching the lowest price we’ve seen since last year.
As part of the ongoing story, there’s no separate hub to buy or wire in. You simply plug this thing into an outlet, arrival the Alexa app, and follow a few prompts to set it up. It takes just a few minutes of your time and then you’re done. From there, whatever you plug into it becomes something you can control remotely. This device is as straightforward as it gets.
In a fresh development, plug a lamp into the smart plug, for example, and add it to a “Good Night” routine that turns everything off when you head to bed. The same goes for a fan or a string of holiday lights. It can also make your home look occupied while you’re away by turning lights on and off automatically. Of course, you can skip the routines altogether and simply ask Alexa to turn devices on or off whenever you want. There are plenty of useful everyday routines you can create with it.
According to the latest update, the plug is compact enough that you can stack two of them on a standard double wall outlet without blocking the second socket. That leaves room to plug in another device alongside it. The design is worth mentioning, too.
Industry observers note that if your smart home runs on Google Home or Apple HomeKit, this isn’t the right fit. It also only works with devices that have a physical on/off switch, since whatever you plug into it needs to remain powered on so the smart plug can control when electricity flows. Before picking up the Amazon Smart Plug for $12.99, there’s one important limitation to keep in mind: it only works with Alexa.
As part of the ongoing story, at $12.99, this Amazon Smart Plug is an easy pick for Alexa users looking for a cheap, hassle-free way to automate a lamp, fan, coffee maker, or another household device.
In a fresh development, she has bylines in numerous consumer tech publications, including PCWorld, Macworld, PCMag, IGN, MakeUseOf, XDA, Android Police, and Pocket-lint. Gabriela has focused on tech writing for 12 years, covering news, reviews, buying guides, deals, and more.