Best smart timer7/24/2023 ![]() ![]() Why it made the cut: The first Matter-certified smart plugs, it’s extremely easy to set up, monitor, and control as long as you have an Apple Home hub, Google Home hub, or SmartThings hub. Overall, the best smart plugs offer a simple service- Wi-Fi-enabled power control-but do so exceedingly well. Durability was once an issue with smart plugs, as they would wear out relatively quickly, but that, too, has become less and less of a consideration. Their reliability and responsiveness have improved as well. Our first recommendation is under $15 per plug. The best smart plugs have become more and more affordable. The best smart plugs: Reviews & Recommendations Size and form factor are also especially important here because fitting a smart plug into your space can be trickier than it seems. The key elements we considered were reliability, price, compatibility, and convenience. We’ve whittled down the world of choice into a few recommendations. We have also had first-hand experience with many of the products on this list. We combined our personal experiences, those of tech-savvy friends and colleagues, and testimonials from the most trustworthy sources. Best dimmable: TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug-In Dimmer.Best power strip: TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip.Best for Alexa or Google Nest: Wyze Plug.So, whether it’s the lights on your turtle tank, the old-school coffee maker you can’t give up, or your favorite old lamp that can’t fit a smart bulb, these smart plugs can bring all of them into your voice-controlled smartphone with ease. These simple-to-use devices can turn the power to a device on and off with a simple voice request through Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Google Home, or Apple’s HomeKit interfaces. The solution to getting older elements of your home to “wise up” is Wi-Fi-enabled smart plugs. Many crucial items in your home only understand two settings: on and off. We chose the best smart plugs to help bring those not-connected devices into the world of the smart home. Voice commands can control just about everything in a smart home, but there are some exceptions. Fridges can converse via Google Assistant. ![]() Have questions? Leave them in the comments and I will be happy to answer.Search the shelves of the local big-box electronics store, and you’ll find digital assistants built into a litany of devices-from lofty surround-sound components to the lowly plug. If you are ready to buy a Rachio, Rainbird, Hunter or other smart timer feel free to head over to our Amazon page. Set the days and run times yourself and then let Rachio adjust for rain, temperature, and wind. Sometimes is will want to grossly over water and, other times, it wants to water too little. I have not had great success with letting the Rachio determine how often and for how long to run each zone. You can use the controller to run your system manually, but it is not as intuitive as a Rainbird or Hunter controller. Is the Rachio a perfect controller? No, it does have some drawbacks: Rachio was designed, from day 1, to be programmed and monitored with your device. Rainbird and Hunter make great controllers, but the apps feel like afterthoughts- because they are. ![]() Otherwise every unit I have installed has worked perfectly, and I have yet to warranty one.īasically, Rachio is a great smart controller because the hardware is high quality and user interface is intuitive. If you are going to switch accounts associated with the controller you will need to call support. ![]() The only issue I have ever had is when I wanted to take a Rachio from one property and then move it to another. If you choose this information can be used to determine how often, and for how long, each irrigation zone should water. You go through your system, zone by zone, and give it some basic information. But I’m convinced (and other reviewers back this up) that 98.3% of people can install one in less than an hour.Įase of programming. Installing a Rachio is really easy, at least it is for someone who has installed hundreds of timers. ![]()
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