In the first of our series of smart plug reviews, we are looking at the Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug. It is a smaller version of the original Belkin Wemo, which is now discontinued. The power button is easily accessible on the front of the plug, as you can see in the image. Set up is super easy – just download the Belkin Wemo app on your smart phone and follow the prompts to connect to your wifi network and add the plug. Use your phone to turn the plug on and off.
A great feature of the Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug is its compatibility with Amazon Alexa. Set is simple there too. Just ask your Amazon Echo Spot to discover devices and it will automatically add the smart plug. The Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug is a stand alone device that does not need a hub if you don’t already have one.
The app is quite simple and user-friendly, no worries about a learning curve there. Some things you can do with your smart plug through the Belkin Wemo app:
- Name each of your smart plugs if you want to differentiate easily (i.e. air conditioner, tv, dehumidifier, etc.)
- Move the order of your smart plug icons for added convenience based on your use.
- Schedule automation of various smart plugs and name each rule (such as “Turn on A/C 4pm daily)
- The app has an away mode so you can set lights or other appliances to turn on and off within a date range, so it looks like you are actually home.
If you’re interested in power consumption for the Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug, it is about 0.7 to 0.8 watts in its idle state and about 1.3-1.4 when it’s turned on.
A couple of other considerations for this smart plug:
- The light on the device is super bright. This could be a con if you’re using it in your bedroom and you want to keep the environment as dark as possible.
- If you have a power outage, your smart plug will return to an off state, so you will have to turn connected appliances back on with your smart phone or voice-assist.
- The price is on the low side for other smart plugs on the market, at about $30. This makes it a great choice if you’re just getting started with home automation.
What do you think of the Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug? Let us know in the comments below!
