If you’ve ever complained about having to get off the couch just to turn off the lamp on the other side of the room, then this smart plug from Amazon could be just what you need. It’s now on sale for $12.98 on Amazon, half its original price and the lowest yet.
This little device works without any complicated setup. You don’t need a smart home hub and there is no need to connect it. Simply plug it into any outlet, open the Alexa app, follow a few steps to pair and get it up and running, and you’re done. From there, you can turn it on and off from your phone or with your voice, effectively controlling everything you connect. “Hey Alexa, turn off the lamp!” and it goes off.
This smart plug works great with all types of home devices that have a physical on/off switch, from lamps to fans to coffee makers. You can even set timers for your Christmas lights or create schedules to make it seem like you’re home even when you’re on vacation.
It is also possible to create routines that chain together multiple smart home tasks. For example, you can say “Alexa, good night!” and assign it to turn off power to the smart plug, turn off the outside light, set the morning alarm, etc., all with a single command.
The Amazon Smart Plug is a good first step for anyone who doesn’t yet have a smart device but wants to try it out, but at its original price of $25, it was a tall order. Now that it’s half price, it’s an easy purchase.
