The Eve Energy smart plug is an exciting product that allows you to automate your life in a whole new way. The smart plug not only lets you control specific devices while away, but it also allows you to monitor energy usage, set schedules, have remote control, and much more.
Today, we’re going to delve deeper into the features of the Eve Energy smart plug, what you can expect from it, and whether or not it’s worth the price.
What Makes the Eve Energy Smart Plug Smart?
A standout feature from the Eve Energy smart plug is its Bluetooth and Thread support. Let’s go over exactly what that means.
What Is Thread?
Thread is a smart home protocol that’s similar to Zigbee and Z-Wave. While it’s not as well-known yet, Thread is quickly gaining recognition with more prominent brands like Nanoleaf, Apple, and Google.
This low-power radio protocol allows smart home devices to effectively “communicate” with each other—with each Thread-enabled device acting as a mini-hub. This can also save you money, since you don’t need to purchase any type of hub if you already own an Apple TV or HomePod.
The only thing you’ll need is a border router if you want to have remote control over your Eve-powered devices. The best one would be the HomePod Mini when using Thread over HomeKit.
Thread also has lower latency than Bluetooth, so you won’t experience as much lag either. Plus, both Bluetooth and Thread are more energy-saving than other protocols—which is a huge plus.
How Does It Integrate Into Your Smart Home?
Working in conjunction with the Eve app, you’re able to use Siri to control any appliance that’s plugged into the Eve Enery smart plug. You just need to use HomeKit over Thread, and you’ll have the power to set up schedules, view electricity usage, and much more.
Additionally, because Eve Energy doesn’t use Wi-Fi, just Bluetooth or Thread, you can expect much smoother and faster speeds when it comes to smart devices communicating with each other.
If you’d rather not use Thread since some of the Thread devices can work out being expensive, you can always opt for Bluetooth control instead.
It’s worth noting that Thread potentially could end up working with Matter (what is Matter?) in the near future. This is great news since this would mean you could also use Alexa and Google Assistant alongside Eve products.
However, this is not the case at the time of writing.
Eve Energy Smart Plug’s Best Features
So, is the Eve Energy smart plug worth buying? Let’s go over some of its best features in order to help you decide…
Scheduling
The Eve Energy smart plug lets you set specific schedules to suit your lifestyle. For example, you can schedule to have all your lamps turn on when arriving home from work or to switch off right when you go to bed.
This feature is also convenient if you want to make it look like someone’s at home while on vacation, or if you’d like to have your espresso machine up and running before you’re out of bed.
Siri Support
Using an assistant like Siri is an effective way to have hands-free control over your devices. You can use commands such as, “Hey Siri, switch off the lights in the bathroom” or “Turn on the Christmas tree” from wherever you are at home.
Power Consumption
Most of us are trying to be more energy conscious nowadays. Using an Eve Energy smart plug, you can watch those watts via the Eve app to see which appliances are consuming the most energy. Plus, You can get a complete overview by simply entering your electricity rate.
Smart Home Automation
Using the Eve Energy smart plug you can have all your HomeKit-enabled devices communicating with each other. This feature can also go hand-in-hand with the scheduling function to create various scenarios.
For example, you can set the light to turn on in the living room if the Eve Motion detector captures a movement or have the fan switch on once the Eve Weather monitor detects a specific temperature. The list is endless.
Child Lock
Lastly, the smart plug’s child-lock function is a pretty great addition,as well. The plug’s built-in terminal shutters will close automatically when unoccupied to prevent any fingers or objects from going in.
Eve Energy Smart Plug Downsides
While there is a lot to like about the Eve Energy smart plug, there are also a few disadvantages. For instance, the plug doesn’t yet offer Alexa or Google Assistant support.
Additionally, you’ll also need an Apple TV or a HomePod if you wish to control your devices remotely—and neither option is cheap.
Price and Availability
You can find the Eve Energy smart plug on Eve’s official site or Amazon for an MSRP of $49.95. While the price range isn’t too steep, there are other, more affordable alternatives out there that are just as good (if not better).
For example, the TP Link Kasa Mini smart plug works with Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Amazon Alexa, and all for less than $15. On top of that, there is no hub required since the smart plug will work well with any Wi-Fi router you have at home.
Another cheaper option is the Meross smart plug. It also offers compatibility with Siri, Alexa, and Google Home. On top of that, you can have all the same control, such as scheduling, home automation, and remote control, without breaking the bank.
Eve Energy Smart Plug: Weighing Everything Up
Overall, the Eve Energy smart plug offers various exciting features that can complement any smart home. Functions like scheduling, voice and remote control, as well as home automation without having to buy a smart hub, are all pretty great.
On top of that, Thread and Bluetooth support is also a bonus, especially if you don’t have the best Wi-Fi in your home. The potential to support Matter in the future also looks very promising.
However, the fact that you’ll need to own either a HomePod or an Apple TV to utilize the remote control function is a definite downside. Especially when considering the steep asking price and limited compatibility.
Therefore, if you’re planning to buy multiple smart home plugs, it might be best to look into other alternatives.