To use IFTTT, you have to enable the Smart Life service, which then provides the option to select the brand you want to use: Smart Life, TCP Smart, Amarey Smart, GeoSmartPro, Homeflow and Hey! Overall, this small smart plug is decent, and although there are cheaper options available with more features, the four-pack version offer incredible value, making this a great choice if you need multiple smart plugs. The TCP Smart WiFi Plug does lack some functionality that features in other smart plugs, such as the Away mode inn the TP-Link Kasa KP105, which will randomly turn the plug on and off, so you can hook it up to a lamp and mimic occupancy when you’re not at home. It's inexpensive though, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can operate it in conjunction with other smart home kit that's not made by TCP.

These can also be countdown timers and – most usefully for lights – schedules based on sunset and sunrise which you can customise to your heart’s content.Some smart plugs will even require their own specific hub, which works in a very similar way to a wireless router. However, given that the TCP Smart WiFi Plug works with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT, and it can be used in the Smart Life app, it remains a decent option. If you want to use Bot to control a rocker, rather than an on/off button, you’ll need to use the loop and sticker provided, which takes a bit more effort to place properly. Devices are often left on standby when not in use for large parts of the day, and standby use accounts for up to 16 percent of the average electricity bill.

The plug itself has a compact design, meaning you should be able to fit it into any socket (including one on a power bar) and it won’t cover up the spot next to it, or cause problems if your socket is flush with your skirting board.

There’s even an ‘away mode’ which will turn a light on and off randomly, to make it look like you’re still at home. There are downsides – obviously, you’ll need to actually install the sockets rather than just plug them in. We act as a credit broker not a lender, offering credit products provided exclusively by Klarna Bank AB UK branch (BR020956), a branch of Klarna AB (556737-0431) which is authorised and regulated by the Swedish Financial Services Authority. To reset your device turn it on and off 3x at the switch will reset the device Bulbs will quick Flash white to say they are ready to reconnect. While most are relatively thin, they do obviously add some bulk to what would usually be there, which could be an issue if your sockets are hidden away behind furniture or other items.

It has one button on the left-hand side to manually turn on and off the connected device, which is useful if you have it on a strip. It means you can control the on/off state with your voice or through the Alexa or Google Assistant app, but you can't do anything fancy like set a timer, which is why you still need the TCP app around. so can the TCP Smart Wi-Fi Plug Socket we're reviewing here do anything to stand out from the crowd? That way you’ll be able to keep hold of that an antique lamp, period radio, or whatever other older electronic you love. Energenie has a range of smart plugs, but most of them require an expensive hub that connects to your router.The TCP Smart WiFi Plug is a great option as it packs a number of really useful features into a very compact package. Most laptops these days already come with a built-in webcam, but if you plan to use yours frequently then it's worth picking up an external one with superior video quality and better audio capabilities.