Are you looking to bring a bit of smarts to your home? This IoT WiFi plug from Bneta does just that, to some extent. Don’t expect anything too fancy, this is just a plug. It’s not going to brew your coffee or walk your dog. But it will provide some extended functionality for a few mundane tasks. And that’s what these sorts of things are meant for.

Light switches are so last year

The setup is fairly straightforward. First, you need to download the Bneta IoT app. Then stick the plug between whatever device you are wanting to control and the wall socket. Hold the sole button down for five seconds to prep it for connection and the app should do the rest.

The app connects it to whichever WiFi connection your smartphone is connected to. But only if that connection supports 2.4GHz WiFi 4 or older. If you’re only using the newer WiFi 5 or 6 standards in your house then you can forget about it, which is a pity.

Now that everything is connected, in the app you’re able to set up some automation. We started out with a simple timer for our lamp. On in the morning and off when we left for the office. You’re also able to set a countdown timer, for a visual reminder to take out the chicken. It’s also compatible with Google’s Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa if you’d prefer to just shout at it.

This plug offers a power meter so you can see how much electricity whatever you’ve plugged in is drawing. Additionally, you can use the ‘add electricity’ function for more granular power control.

While those abilities might be enough on their own, a device like this really shines when part of a larger IoT system. The app allows you to create smart scenes with a few trigger options. Want your light to come on at sunset? Check. If you’ve got another compatible product, like a motion sensor, you can set your plug to turn on when you arrive home. Your options are (almost) endless. You just need to keep adding bits, is all. 

Bneta IoT Smart WiFi Plug verdict

If you want to feel like you’re living in the future with voice-activated lights, then the Bneta IoT smart WiFi plug will get you there. The limited WiFi connectivity is the only real drawback here. But at just R350, you’re still getting your money’s worth.