Smart plugs are extremely useful pieces of tech that can actually change your daily habits. However, purchasing multiple plugs can be a costly task. Many of the smart plugs available even end up blocking the unused outlet above or beneath it which can be a huge hassle when you want to plug in multiple devices which sit near each other in your home. Luckily, TP-Link just introduced a product to alleviate these concerns: the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip.
This power strip features six smart outlets which can each be controlled independently just as you can control a smart plug, which makes it perfect to use with your home entertainment setup, home office, or kitchen appliances. With the free Kasa app for iOS and Android devices, you can turn on and off any of the outlets on the strip one by one and see whether you accidentally left them on while you're away from home. There are three built-in USB ports as well which max out at 4 amps.
Using the app, you can set icons and a name for each outlet to remind you of what's plugged into it. You can also set schedules for each outlet so it will turn on or off at a specific time each day.
TP-Link designed this power strip to function as a surge protector too. As such, it's ETL certified to shield your electronics from power surges. It also offers voice control if you have a device with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Microsoft Cortana, such as the Amazon Echo Dot. Kasa claims HomeKit support is coming, though it hasn't given a release window for it at this time.
If the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip has you interested, you can order yours now at B&H for $79.99. Though that seems like a pretty steep price for a power strip, just consider the price of a single smart plug by TP-Link which is generally $25 at least. Here you're getting the power of six plugs and also three USB ports at a much more affordable price.
