Most smart plugs come with a timer. Using this, you can schedule when you want the appliance to switch on and off — great for switching on the lights when you’re on vacation. The most important consideration when you’re looking for the best smart light switch is its compatibility. For example, the Philips Hue dimmer switch v2 is designed to connect to Philips’ own Hue lights, but as it uses the Zigbee Light Link protocol it should also work with other Zigbee-based bulbs, such as IKEA’s TRADFRI. We say “should” rather than “will” because Philips makes no promises about interoperability here. Reviewing a smart plug isn't as simple as plugging it in. Well, it almost is. In addition to making sure the plug actually turns on the thing that's plugged into it, we also evaluate the plugs on several factors: Design: Can you fit more than one plug into an outlet? Does it have a physical on/off switch or indicator lights?

Some smart plugs can create zones by connecting to groups of smart plugs. Using this, you could control several power points in a room at once — for instance, you might want to switch off all of the downstairs lights once you’ve gone to bed. Smart Home Connectivity: How many other smart home systems does the plug work with? Alexa and Google Assistant should be givens. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Will it work with more than Alexa? Smart connectivity and voice control are brilliant features to have — nothing’s more convenient than asking Alexa to switch off your lights, and watching technology do the rest. But, if you don’t have Alexa, make sure the smart light you’re looking at can connect to the alternatives, such as Google Home. Some brands, such as iHome, can also work with Apple Homekit. A dimmer setting is also available on some smart plugs, such as the Lutron Caseta Dimmer Plug as mentioned above. This is a great feature if the smart plug is intended for lighting as it gives you much more control than just switching on and off.Unlike with the best Wi-Fi routers, the best mesh Wi-Fi systems often combine their 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands into one network. This isn't a problem with other devices but many smart plugs and other smart home devices only work on the 2.4 GHz band. If you've encountered this problem, there is a fix that might work.