Gabe: Hey folks, this is Gabe at Security Baron.
In today's world, you can turn almost any electrical appliance into a connected device
using a Smart Plug.
Today, we're checking out our three best Smart Plugs.
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Gabe: In today's Best Smart Plugs video, I'm going to go for my favorite overall Smart
Plug.
My favorite to use is Google Home, and my favorite to use is with Amazon Alexa.
If you want to see a full written review on any of these Smart Plugs, go check it out
at securitybaron.com.
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Gabe: I want to kick off today's best Smart Plugs video talking about my overall favorite
Smart Plug, the AUKEY.
The AUKEY connects to your WiFi, allowing you to remotely control your appliances.
It can accept any appliance that goes up to 1,800 watts.
One thing to note about the actual AUKEY itself is its thin design, allowing you to stack
it in that wall outlet, giving you tons of space for whatever you would like to do.
You look at the thin, simple design of the AUKEY, it's all-white aesthetic, it's no-frills
cardboard box.
Honestly, that belies the host of features underneath.
The two biggest ones, of course, with any Smart Plug, are scenes and schedules.
When you set up a schedule, it does exactly that.
It allows you to know when your AUKEY is on and off.
You can set it up for specific things that you needed to do.
Scenes are a little bit more complicated.
This allows you to have groups of appliances working in conjunction.
If you have multiple AUKEY Smart Plugs, you can have them all set up to, example, turn
on all your air conditioners in your apartment at the same time.
On top of that, you can integrate it with IFTTT, allowing for some pretty sweet home
automations, and add on Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you have voice control capabilities
within your home.
Beyond just looking at the physical elements and capacities of the AUKEY Smart Plug, we
have to look at the mobile application, AUKEY Home, because this is where you're going to
be doing all your setting up of those scenes and schedules, and voice integration.
You want to make sure it's an intuitive experience so that when you're actually using your now-connected
devices, it's smooth and consistent.
Fortunately, AUKEY is knocking it out of the park here with a 4.5 in the Apple App Store,
and a 4 in the Google Play Store.
We don't have to worry about dealing with buggy mobile application concerns.
Now, I know what you're thinking, you're saying, "Gabe, what's the catch?
What's the price?"
I'll tell you this.
AUKEY Smart Plug gives you two for $27.99.
Honestly, that might be the price you pay for just one of its competitors.
There's a great value in the AUKEY Smart Plug.
That's why I have it picked as my best overall Smart Plug.
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Gabe: Hold on.
I hope you're enjoying today's look at the best Smart Plugs.
If you want to be kept up-to-date on the newest in Smart Plugs, Smart Bulbs, and Smart Home
Security, subscribe to the Security Baron channel.
We're dropping new content weekly.
Let's get back to the video.
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Gabe: The next category I want to jump into is the best Smart Plug for Google Home.
Here, I'm going to say something very controversial.
I'm giving it to the Wemo Insight Switch.
I understand that in 2018, Belkin had a host of issues when it comes to connectivity with
Google Home.
Since they fixed it, our experience with the Wemo Insight Switch has been very positive.
In fact, when it comes to connectivity and using Google Home, it's one of the top performers,
overall, when it comes to Smart Plugs.
It'll also work with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT.
Basically, no matter which ecosystem you find yourself in, it'll work for you.
It also comes with a host of other features that one typically expects from a Smart Plug.
Like the ability to set up schedules and set up scenes, which it calls rules.
On top of that, it gives you the ability to view your daily energy usage, daily or even
weekly.
You can know exactly how much power you're using to be a little bit more sustainable.
It has a Home and Away mode which is pretty fun, because it serves to protect your home.
It randomizes appliances going on and off to give the impression that you're actually
at home, when you can be far, far away.
Finally, you have a Sunrise and Sunset mode, so you can make sure that that coffee is ready
as soon as the rooster crows.
Overall, coming in at around $50, it's definitely on the pricier side.
Given its advanced feature set and smart home integrations, you can see why we chose it
as our best Smart Plug for Google Home.
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Gabe: The final category we're going to jump into today is the best Smart Plug for Amazon
Alexa.
For us, it's the TP-Link Smart WiFi Plug Mini.
Our experience setting up, connecting, and using this particular plug was really easy,
really smooth.
We can just name our Smart Plug something like AC, sit back on our couch, realize we're
getting hot, and say, "Alexa, turn on the AC."
Boom, we're blasted with that nice, cool breeze.
Along with Amazon Alexa, you do have the ability to have it work with Google Assistant, Nest,
IFTTT.
No matter which smart ecosystem you're a part of, you can probably have all your bases covered
with this plug.
Along with that, you get your general feature set, the ability to set up schedules, the
ability to set up the Scenes, even on Away mode to have things on so people feel like
you're home, even when you're far away on vacation.
It has a highly rated app, called Kasa, that is loved by both iPhone and Android users,
for its smooth, consistent, intuitive, overall experience.
That's not even the kicker.
The kicker is that it costs $17.99 for the TP-Link Smart WiFi Plug Mini.
It's not going to break the bank and give you that deep feature set.
This is why we give it our top Smart Plug designation for Amazon Alexa.
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Gabe: That concludes our look at the Best Smart Plugs.
If you appreciated today's video, give us a Like and hit that Subscribe button.
As always, this is Gabe at Security Baron.
Be secure.
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