If you’ve ever complained about getting off the couch just to turn off the lamp across the room, then this smart plug from Amazon might be just what you need. It’s now on sale for $12.98 at Amazon, half off its original price and matching the lowest it’s ever been.
This tiny little device works without any complicated setup. You don’t need a smart home hub, and you don’t have to wire it up. Just plug it into any power outlet, open the Alexa app, follow a few steps to get it paired and operational, and you’re good. From there, you can turn it on and off from your phone or with voice, effectively controlling whatever you plug into it. “Hey Alexa, turn off the lamp!” and it’s off.
This smart plug works nicely with all sorts of household devices that have a physical on/off switch, from lamps to fans to coffee makers. You can even set timers for holiday lights or build schedules to make it look like you’re home even when you’re away on vacation.
It’s also possible to create routines that string together multiple smart home tasks. For instance, you can say “Alexa, good night!” and have it mapped to cut off power to the smart plug, turn off your outdoor light, set your morning alarm, and so on—all with a single command.
The Amazon Smart Plug is a good first step for anyone who doesn’t own any smart devices yet but wants to dip their toes, but at its original $25 price, it was a hard ask. Now that it’s half off, it’s an easy buy.