TECKIN Smart Plug 4 Pack, 13A Smart Socket That Works with Alexa (Echo and Echo Dot), Google Home, SmartThings, WiFi Plugs with Timing Function & Remote Control, No Hub Required, 2.4Ghz Only

I've previously bought some of the round Teckin plugs, because I'd been nervous of some of the reviews for the square ones with regards to "blocking" the power switches on sockets.I guess it depends on your sockets! As you can see in the photo, on my sockets the plug does overlap a little, but it fits the socket perfectly and the overlap does nothing other than remind me not to switch off the socket (which would render it pointless!).These have the same nice, high quality design of the round sockets. They sort of look like they'd fit right into an apple product line, for example. They use the "Smart Life" android app, which works well and is one of the better app designs I've seen. They are relatively easy to pair, and the quick-start instruction leaflet is clear.I don't have a Google Home, but do have Alexa. You pair these with Alexa by authorising a Smart Life skill in the Alexa app. Obviously, I didn't need to do this step as I already had plugs from this manufacturer. Having said that, I was still a bit surprised to hear Alexa announce that she'd discovered a new plug socket shortly after I paired.I haven't started using these in earnest yet, but I haven't had any problems with my previous Teckin plugs at all. These ones are for my indoor cctv cameras, so I can easily turn them on when I go out and off when I'm in.

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  Summary:Having dipped my toe into the water with one Teckin smart plug, took the plunge and ordered this 4 pack - very glad I did! Excellent products, been using them every day since they arrived.Ease of use:Very easy to set up - download app, sync plugs with app and WiFi, then either turn on/off manually or set timers. Can re-name each plus to make it easy to remember what each does (kettle, lamp, etc - see picture). App makes it very simple to quickly switch on and off.Item design:Compact and fits easily. As you can see from the photo, keeps sockets switched on.What I'm using them for:Lamps in different rooms (whether I'm in or if I'm away for a few days); kettle (so that it's boiled and ready when I get back from morning walk); phone charger, timed (so that my phone isn't charging all night).

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  Me and my family will be on a long holiday so I got this plug so I can control the lights to make it look like someone’s at home when we are away. This is also useful for me in the morning. I turn on the kettle while I’m still in bed or busy preparing for work so hot water is ready for coffee/ tea. I also use this to turn off my son’s night lamp in the morning so I don’t have to go to his room anymore.Set up is also a breeze. I just downloaded the app “smart life” and added the device (smart socket). The app is pretty straightforward - you can turn off or on the device, you can set a schedule or a timer and you can also check usage.I was a bit worried that the plug will cover part of the socket switch but thankfully it didn’t.

Ok so I admit that I ordered these in November with the idea fully in mind that I would have our Xmas lights fully alexa controlled this year, I figured that a month was plenty of time for me to get them installed work our how to use them with Alexa - I wasn't wrong a month was definitely enough time! From opening the box to having a voice controlled test lamp the process literally took 15 minutes, and that included reading the manual. So the steps I followed were briefly: - Put two plugs at a time in a switched-on double socket, nothing plugged into them. - Install the Smart Life on my android phone and setup an account with an email address and password. - Click the blue + in the top right corner of the app, select 'Socket (WiFi)', confirm the lights are blinking on the plugs, enter wifi password onto app, the app that connects the plugs to the wifi. - At this point I noticed that I could stop and actually use the plugs from the app, with them having tap to turn on and off functionality now, but I didn't want to stop here because I wanted voice control. - Fire up the Alex app on your phone, tap the menu button in the top-left corner, goto 'skills and games', click search icon in top right and search for 'Smart Life', add this skill to Alexa, stick the email and password info that I used from setting up the Smart Life app on my phone earlier in the steps.- On the alexa app home screen goto 'devices' at the bottom, the add '+' symbol at the top right, add devices, plug, Smart Things. It picked the plugs right up for me. - Then I renamed the plugs within the Alexa app, for instances I changed it from Smart Socket 1 to 'Lamp' at first and straight away I could just say 'Alexa Turn Lamp On' and it worked. I'll probably rename these to xmas themed names once we get the decorations up, and might even try and add them to a 'christmas' group to see if I can get the whole living room turn on with one command.I like a fun bit of tech, and these were great value. The above might sound a bit intimidating but I can honestly say it was literally 15mins from start to finish and has been great playing with since.The design of the plugs themselves are a little unusual, they overlap the actual off switch of the mains panel, which I presume is intentional to stop them being 'hard' turned off, so this works for me, I've shown this on the photo.