Smart plugs are a no-brainer when setting up a smart home. They let you take almost any traditional device and make it remotely controllable from your phone or other smart devices.
Yet, even as more devices are added to the smart home, the smart plug remains an essential accessory—until you run into its biggest drawback. That is why I switched to smart USB adapters, and I think you should too.
Size matters when space is tight
Smart plugs take up a bunch of space
Smart plugs are easy to set up and use. All you have to do is plug one into an outlet, connect it to its companion app, and then plug in the appliance you want to control. In just three steps, you can turn nearly any traditional appliance into a smart one.
- Connectivity
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2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- Integrations
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Alexa, Google Home
- Dimensions
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2.62 x 1.57 x 1.5 inches
The Kasa Smart Plug Mini is a connected wall outlet that allows you to control plugged-in devices with voice commands or a smartphone.
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- Brand
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Eve
- Connectivity
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Matter
- Integrations
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HomeKit, Alexa, Assistant
- Schedules
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Yes
- Current Rating
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15A
Enjoy multi-platform functionality with this Matter-enabled smart plug, while keeping your data secure. With energy consumption tracking for Apple HomeKit users, the Eve Energy Matter Smart Plug makes a great choice for seamless smart home integration.
I have been using smart plugs for years, dating back to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were a great way to upgrade my home and easily control devices that were difficult to reach, such as a lamp behind the sofa. I have them set up in nearly every room: the bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, and even the bathroom. If an appliance could be made smart with a smart plug, I used one.
However, the more smart plugs I installed throughout my house, the more I realized one of their biggest drawbacks: they are bulky. That does not mean they are huge, but they do take up a lot of space. For example, two smart plugs may fit in a standard wall outlet when stacked one above the other, but the same cannot be said for a multi-outlet adapter.
I have a six-outlet adapter, but even with two smart plugs, they take up four outlets, leaving only two available. Even then, the remaining space is tight.
Nathaniel Pangaro / How-To Geek
This has been an issue for a while, and I have learned to live with it. However, while browsing Amazon during Prime Day, I came across a solution that addressed the problem: smart USB adapters.
Smaller size, same performance
Smart USB adapters do the same job but at a fraction of the size
Thanks to the Matter smart home standard, more appliances and accessories are becoming smart and can be added to your smart home. That now includes smart USB adapters.
The idea may seem simple, but smart USB adapters work better than traditional smart plugs in certain situations. Their biggest advantage is their size: they are significantly smaller than the average smart plug, making them a better choice when outlet space is limited.
Even with their smaller form factor, they work like smart plugs, letting you turn whatever device is plugged into them on or off remotely. While they can be used on their own when plugged into a USB port, you will likely want to plug them into a wall outlet. In that case, you will need a separate USB power adapter, which is not included.
If you’re like me, though, you probably have several lying around from devices and accessories you have purchased over the years. I repurposed the brick from an old USB-powered fan, plugged the smart USB adapter into it, and was ready to go.
Since it supports Matter, I did not have to download another app, which made setting it up easy. I use Apple Home, so all I had to do was open the Home app, scan the device’s QR code, and follow the on-screen instructions. Once it was added to my home, it was ready to use.
As I mentioned earlier, I use outlet extenders and power strips throughout my house, so space is often limited. A smart plug can take up the space of two outlets when it only needs one, but by using a smaller USB brick with the smart USB adapter, I use only the one outlet it requires.
This means I no longer have to play outlet switcheroo every time I want to plug in another device because each device already plugged in takes up only the outlet space it actually needs. However, while I have enjoyed using the smart USB adapter, I quickly realized there was one major reason it could not completely replace all of my smart plugs.
You’ll still want to use smart plugs
Smart USB adapters aren’t compatible with everything
Even though I can plug my fly trap and mini fan into a smart USB adapter, that is only because they are powered by USB. Devices that normally connect to a smart plug, such as a lamp or coffee maker, use standard electrical plugs and therefore are not compatible with a smart USB adapter.
Nathaniel Pangaro / How-To Geek
For that reason, I still keep my smart plugs on hand and use them for devices that plug directly into wall outlets. While they are bulky, they are not obsolete and remain necessary for devices that do not use USB power.
Living in harmony with the two
Smart plugs are a great addition to any smart home because they turn ordinary devices into smart ones. However, they are bulky and often take up more outlet space than necessary.
Since not every device I use with a smart plug can be powered through USB, I still rely on the smart plugs I already own for everything else. As a result, I use both smart devices throughout my house.
