Smart Plug for Alexa: Amazon Smart Plug Review
By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2023
Amazon is a well-known brand that has been providing smart home solutions for years. Their latest smart plug, the Amazon Smart Plug, is a great addition to any smart home.
Smart plug allows you to turn your regular lamps or appliances into smart ones at a low cost. For example, instead of investing in a new fan, you can connect your existing regular fan to the smart plug to make it smart. This way, you can turn on and off your fan conveniently from your phone or simply with your voice.
Amazon Smart Plug is one of the best products in the market that offers compatibility with Amazon Alexa. However, like any other product, it has its pros and cons that you might like to consider first before making your purchase decision.
Amazon Smart Plug
Official Amazon Product
✓ 2.4GHz Wifi
✓ Schedule, routines, away lighting, energy monitoring
✓ No hub required
✓ Seamless integration with Alexa
#1 Technical Specs
Amazon Smart Plug
Pros
Amazon Smart Plug connects to a 2.4GHz WiFi network. You can plug it into any standard electrical outlet that provides 120VAC, operates at 60Hz, and has a maximum current rating of 15A. It is capable of powering lamps and other electrical appliances that require up to 15A of current. This gives you the flexibility to use a wide range of devices to connect with the smart plug, including lamps, fans, holiday lighting, coffee makers, humidifiers, electric kettles, and so on.
Amazon Smart Plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa. Even though there are many other smart plug products compatible with Alexa, Amazon Smart Plug is an Amazon product, which means it integrates seamlessly with the Alexa app and other Amazon devices.
Cons
Unlike the Alexa Smart Plug by Exioty, the Amazon Smart Plug does not have dual-band connectivity. It doesn't support 5GHz or connection to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. If your WiFi is on a 5GHz band, it is not recommended for you to buy this smart plug.
Amazon Smart Plug is designed for indoor use only. If you want to use a smart plug outdoors, you will need to purchase an outdoor smart plug that is specially designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions.
Amazon Smart Plug is also not compatible with other smart home ecosystems, such as Google Home and Apple HomeKit. If your smart home devices are not built around the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, you might want to consider other smart plug products that offer more flexibility. After all, there are many smart plug products in the market that offer compatibility with multiple smart home ecosystems including Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, and so on.
#2 Features
Amazon Smart Plug
Pros
Amazon Smart Plug allows you to control your plugged-in lamps or appliances remotely via the Amazon Alexa app. You can also turn the plugged-in devices on and off simply by voice command. Moreover, automation control is also possible with these features:
• Schedule feature. You can set the smart plug to turn on or off your plugged-in appliances at a chosen time. For example, to turn off your bedroom lamp every 11 PM.
• Routines feature. If you have multiple smart plugs connected to multiple devices, you can set up a routine that will trigger the automation of those devices with a single command. For example, by simply saying "Alexa, good morning", your smart plugs will simultaneously turn on the lights and the coffee maker.
• Away Lighting feature. When you're away from home for an extended period, you can utilize this feature to make it looks like you're home. The smart plug will randomly turn your plugged-in lighting to simulate your presence and deter potential intruders. This can be a great benefit for your home security.
The Amazon Alexa app also comes with an energy dashboard that allows you to track and analyze the energy consumption of your plugged-in devices. This will help you to make well-informed decisions about your energy usage and make adjustments to optimize energy efficiency.
Cons
If you have a few household members, using the Amazon Smart Plug might become a little more complicated as it cannot be controlled by multiple Amazon accounts. Everyone is able to control the smart plugs via voice commands, but access to settings and routines is only available for one Amazon account holder. This can be a major downside for households with multiple users who want to have control access to the smart plug.
#3 Installation
Amazon Smart Plug
Pros
Amazon claims its smart plug has an easy and quick setup process. All you have to do is plug it into an electrical outlet and wait for the Amazon Alexa app to detect it. Additionally, there's no need for a smart hub since the plug can directly connect to your WiFi network.
Cons
Despite being advertised as an easy-to-use device, a number of users have encountered issues while setting up the Amazon Smart Plug, claiming that the Alexa app can't detect the smart plug immediately. In that case, you can scan the barcode located at the bottom of the plug using the Alexa app.
Some users also have reported that the plugs stop working after a few months. However, the Amazon Smart Plug comes with a 1-year warranty, so you can always contact customer support for a replacement or repair if you experience any issues with your smart plug.
Final Thoughts
Amazon Smart Plug
Amazon Smart Plug is a feature-rich device that allows you to turn on and off your lamps or appliances conveniently via Alexa app or voice command. However, it also has some drawbacks including incompatibility with 5GHz network, exclusive compatibility to Alexa only, and inability to share access to multiple users.
If your smart home is built around the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, the Amazon Smart Plug can be a great choice. Otherwise, you can consider many other smart plug options and choose the one that best fits your needs, budget, and preferences.
If you like to read more about Smart Plugs, check out our other relevant guides here:
The Best Smart Plugs of 2023
Best Smart Plugs for 5GHz WiFi
BroadLink Smart Plug Mini SP4D-US Review
Leviton Decora Smart Plug DW15P-1BW Review
Alexa Smart Plug Exioty Review: PROS and CONS
Amazon Smart Plug vs Alexa Smart Plug Exioty: Which One is Better for Alexa?
TP-Link Kasa HS300 vs KP303: Smart Power Strip Comparison
TP-Link Kasa vs Wyze: Smart Plugs Comparison
TP-Link Kasa vs Meross: Outdoor Smart Plugs Comparison
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