PACKAGING/CONTENTS

With Wemo’s new line of devices, including the Video Doorbell and the Wemo Stage Scene Controller (review here, video here), the company go to some length to ensure customers know that these devices are exclusive to HomeKit, at least until Matter establishes itself perhaps. Not only that, these devices will not work in any Wemo app, and are therefore tied to the Home app, and third-party HomeKit apps. This is stated on the box quite clearly, with even the ‘Works with Apple HomeKit’ (soon to be ‘Works with Apple Home’) badge in both English and French. Alongside this, there’s the ever more common ‘Built on Thread’ badge.

The rear of the box just goes through an overview of what it does and its features, including the size of the plug allowing it to be stacked with another plug, and not blocking both outlets. This is something that was the case with both WiFi models and is usually the case with a lot more smart plugs now that components allow for a smaller overall size.

There’s very little in the box, and why would there be, with only the smart plug, a concise user manual, and document outlining all manner of legal jargon etc. The manual comes with a HomeKit QR code, although you’ll also find one on the plug itself.

THE SMART PLUG

I’ve had a few smart plugs in my time, with some ridiculously large (Opro9 Smart plug), and others very compact (Vocolinc Smartbar), but this has to be the smallest North American Smart plug (for HomeKit) to date at only 53.7mm / 2.11in wide, and 30mm / 1.18in high.

As previously mentioned, the plug comes with a HomeKit code, although it’s not a QR code, only containing the 8-digit code. The reason for this is that, like the Stage Scene controller, and the video doorbell, this comes with NFC Pairing, hence the NFC icon in place of a QR code. More on that later. The opposite side is home to a large power button and a small status LED that simply lights up in white in normal operation when the plug is on. Aside from that, there’s nothing else to see in all honesty. It’s just a smart plug. Of course, the Thread support is what sets it apart from almost all other smart plugs. Here are some specs;

• Supported by Thread
• Bluetooth compatible (used if Thread isn’t available)
• Native HomeKit integration (this plug is not supported in the Wemo app)
• NFC touchless pairing
• On/Off switching up to 15A/1800W

SETUP IN HOMEKIT

As the new Wemo devices are exclusive to HomeKit and also don’t work with any Wemo app, you can add them directly to the Home app, or any third-party HomeKit app. Even though the plug has NFC built-in, when adding it, I simply couldn’t get NFC to show up, so I eventually added it by scanning the code. I’ve actually heard others with the same issue, notably Eric Welander. Still, with the code, it was easy enough to add. My WiFi network is split into 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, and I usually have my iPhone connected to the 5GHz network for speed. One of the benefits of adding a Thread device, at least in my case, is that if it’s a 2,4GHz WiFi device I’m adding, I have to connect to the 2.4GHz network in order to pass those 2.4GHz WiFi details over to the device in question. As Thread devices don’t directly connect to a WiFi network, it doesn’t matter which network my iPhone is connected to.

Whilst NFC pairing didn’t work at the time it was needed, once the device was added, I did try to see if the NFC chip was subsequently picked up by my phone within the Home app, and oddly enough it worked, although as you can see in the fourth screenshot, by that time it was already added, and as such the app told me the same.

If you’re not too familiar with or are new to HomeKit, then once the device is added, you do need to assign it to a room and name the device. In addition, because smart plugs are almost always used to control other devices, you get (admittedly somewhat limited) options as to what kind of device they appear as in HomeKit; a power point (which is what it is), a light, if for example, you have a lamp plugged into it, or fan, for the same reason.

Most smart plugs are fairly bare bones these days, and in the case of the Wemo, there are no extras at all. Eve Energy has power monitoring, although this is only available directly within the Eve app, as standard, and as the Wemo doesn’t have an app, there’s nothing to show. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless you want to keep an eye on energy usage, as for the most part, it’s just for turning a dumb device on and off, using a smart plug.

WEMO AND THREAD

Even though the Wemo plug uses Thread, unless you have an app capable of giving you a bit more information on that aspect, it’s not easy to tell if it’s using Thread or Bluetooth. Luckily, the Eve app has a dedicated section that shows all your Thread-enabled devices, along with a few extra details. There’s one caveat, however, as in order to see this extra level of detail, you do need at least one Eve Thread device. As I’ve already gotten an Eve Energy smart plug, I’m covered. You can see my Thread network in the app, with the Wemo Smart Plug part of it. As it’s a permanently powered device (i.e. it’s plugged into a power outlet and not battery powered), it also acts as a Thread Router, which allows it to act as a Thread signal repeater, essentially. Battery-powered Thread devices can only act as endpoints, and can’t help spread the Thread network’s signal.

Thread Routers should not be confused with Thread Border Routers, which in HomeKit are currently restricted to an Apple TV (2021 model) or a HomePod Mini. Thread Border Routers act as de facto hubs for Thread devices. The difference between a Thread Border router and, say, a Zigbee hub, is that Zigbee child devices have to be bound to a specific hub. if that hub fails, all connected devices go offline. With Thread, assuming you have more than one Thread Border Router (I currently have four, all HomePods Mini) if one of them fails, your Thread devices simply connect to the next available Thread Border Router. That’s the theory at least, and as none of my Minis has failed at this point, I can’t say for sure if this actually happens or if the process is seamless. Let’s hope it is.

SIZE COMPARISON WITH EVE ENERGY

As previously stated, this is the smallest HomeKit plug for the North American market that I’m aware of, and as you can see in the images above, it’s smaller than the Eve Energy in all dimensions. That’s not to say it’s better than Eve Energy, and in at least one way, the Eve is better due to its energy monitoring functionality, but purely on size, the Wemo has it. Not only that, but if we’re talking price, then once again the Wemo Smart Plug is more budget-friendly, with the price at the time of writing this review listed as US$24.99 on Amazon.com, compared to the Eve Energy on the same site, priced at US$39.95. Eve does offer a 2-pack at US$69.95, bringing the price per plug down to US$34.98, but that’s still almost $10 more per plug. If you don’t need energy monitoring, the Wemo wins on both price and size, but does it work as well?

THE WEMO SMART PLUG IN USE

I’ve been using the Wemo Smart Plug on Thread for a few months now, and I’ll cut to the chase here – it hasn’t let me down once. Yes, it might be hard to believe for some people, who have justifiably stated that they wouldn’t go near a Wemo device again, based on past experiences, but these seem to all have been based on Wemo devices that use WiFi, not Thread. What could be at issue is the WiFi chip inside these older devices, so taking that out of the equation, and replacing it with a Thread chip, the issue shouldn’t exist. So far, it seems to have been the case for me, as the plug just works time and again, with no lost connections in HomeKit, and no reset required. To back up the theory that having Thread has fixed a commonly reported issue with Wemo devices, I’ve found the same with my Eve Energy smart plug; no disconnections, and no reset required to date, and I’ve actually had the Eve Energy even longer. This points to Thread being essentially more reliable than WiFi inside of a device, although I could just be lucky of course. I think not though.

Aside from that, as it’s just something that turns on and off, there’s not a lot to report on like would be the case with a colour bulb, for example, so all I can tell you is that I’ve been very happy with the performance so far. The small size is great for my particular needs, and is at a price point I’m willing to pay, even when there are much cheaper smart plugs out there, like the recently released Switchbot smart plug, that is selling for just US$14.99. At this point, if I can find a device that uses Thread (or Zigbee) as opposed to WiFi, I’ll take it every time, as my goal is to strip back on smart devices that simply don’t need a WiFi connection for the small packets of data they typically send and receive. WiFi is overkill in these cases. WiFi is perfect for smart cameras and the like, but smart plugs, not really.

The post Wemo Smart Plug With Thread (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• Control your floor lamps, fans, coffee makers, and more.
• Bring voice control to any outlet via Alexa and Google Assistant
• Access your smart home anywhere with the Brilliant app for iOS and Android.
• Simple to set up and use—plug in, download the Brilliant app, and control your home with touch, voice, motion, and app.
• Requires a Brilliant Control.

The post Brilliant Smart Plug appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

PACKAGING

I love to get products in sturdy packaging, and the Meross box fits the bill nicely, despite it being a bit on the basic side. The front sports the HomeKit logo and has small icons representing the different regional models they also make, with the UK variant with a tick underneath it. They also do a US plug, an Australasian plug, and an EU variant with a separate version just for France.

As the packaging is meant for all of these variants, you get the basic specs for each of these listed on the back. In the case of the UK plug it is thus;

• Input: 100-240v ~50/60Hz, 13A
• Output: 100-240v ~50/60Hz, 13A maximum load
• dimensions: 2.65 x 2.65 x 1.88in / 66.5 x 66.5 x 41mm (excluding pins)
• Connectivity: WiFi 2.4GHz
• Requirements: iOS12.3 or higher or Android 4.1 or higher

It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, and comes with a 1-year warranty. All pretty standard stuff.

When I was first contacted by Meross, they were going ship one to me via Amazon.co.uk, but after realising I’m not there, they instead sent me one directly from their factory in China. They explained that whilst the product I receive will be branded Refoss, it will, in fact, be a Meross product. Now before you get in any way alarmed, when it comes to Refoss branding, it’s literally only the top of the box and the included booklet that have the Refoss logo, with everything else being Meross. It is identical to the Meross UK plugs I’ve seen online and even has a Meross logo in use for the LED power indicator, so yes, it is a Meross product in all but packaging. Where Refoss products are marketed, I’m not sure, but it’s possible they’re meant for regions that also use a Type G plug, like Malaysia, Singapore etc.

That aside, the contents for the box are fairly sparse, with only a couple of small booklet (in English) to accompany the plug itself.

THE PLUG

Coming from using US-style plugs for several years now, I’m a bit taken aback at how large this smart plug is. It’s around twice as deep as a typical UK plug and is rather tall and wide. Of course, when seeing the size of some other UK smart plugs from the likes of Eve and LightWave, this isn’t exactly anything out of the ordinary, which also goes for EU style plugs, but it just shows you how small the US variants are in comparison.

Still, despite its size, I was able to place both this smart plug and a standard UK plug side by side inside the power strip I have (I knew it would come in handy one day…). You may also notice in the second picture, that Meross have included a sort of plinth which house the pins. This is quite useful for when this is plugged into a wall outlet, which it invariable will be, I imagine. The raised section cleverly avoids the area where the wall socket switches reside, thereby not inadvertently blocking said switches into one position, whilst also allowing the buttons to be turned on and off. You can also see how incredibly deep the smart plug is when lined up next to the standard UK plug.

This is something I believe is missing from the Type G variant of the Aqara Hub, for example (yes, I know it’s not actually out in the UK yet).

SETUP IN HOME

I opted to add this directly to HomeKit, given that the plug itself has no special functions that require the Meross app, aside from possible firmware updates, and when initially setting my iPhone to the 2.4GHz network in order to add the plug, you can see the plug listed as a new device, and recognised as a Meross device.

Adding to HomeKit is, as expected, very easy. Simply scan the code, wait for it to connect, and it’s all done within a minute or so.

You then simply need to add it to a room, choose whether it’s seen as a power point, a fan, or a light, and whether you want it as a favourite or not. It’ll then appear with its own tile in the Home app.

As it’s merely able to be turned on or off, you only get the toggle switch when you long-press to get to the settings section, and if you scroll down, once again you see more evidence of this being a Meross product with the manufacturer and the app listed as Meross. The Meross even makes an appearance via the green LED power indicator. This LED is not configurable within the Home or the Meross apps, and turns on or off depending on the power state the plug is in.

IN USE…

Now, as I’ve already stated, in Taiwan they use Type A and B plugs and sockets, so in order to test the relative reliability of this plug, I had to have it stuck into my UK power strip. Once plugged in, I had it set to turn on and off at three different times of the day but made sure that these times were different for every other day of the week. I would also periodically check the status and response of the plug within the Home app.  I kept the plug in the room that I also usually spend most of my time, so I was able to hear the ‘click’ when it turned on and off at the preset times. I also plugged a battery charger into the plug to make sure that it was at least sending out power. In all of these tests over the course of just less than two weeks (at the time of writing) it has performed 100% of the time. Occasionally, if I pressed the tile in the Home app, to turn the plug on, there would be a slight delay, but I’ve seen this kind of random behaviour in the best and most reliable of devices, so it’s of no consequence in reality.

Can I recommend it? For the price, without a doubt. I obviously won’t be using it myself, if I’m honest, but I may be able to send it to someone in Hong Kong at some point. The price in the UK, at a mere £16.99 makes this a real contender, especially when there’s so little competition out there at present, so it’s worth a punt for sure. It’s not elegant looking, but then I’ve seen a lot worse. I think the only thing that could possibly be a bit off-putting is the size, but then it would appear most of the other smart plugs are in the same ballpark in this regard. For some, it would possibly have nice to get energy monitoring, but personally, it’s not something I find myself using, to be honest.

The post Meross UK Smart Plug (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Home automation and scenes: Define rules according to which the connected devices are automatically switched on and off by intelligent plugs. Switch off the household appliances when they are not needed or if you have left the house. Voice control: Control the socket with your voice via Siri, Alexa and the Google voice assistant Requires iOS13 or higher and Android 10.0 or higher. Only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi.

The post Onvis S3 EU Smart Plug appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

First of all, here are some technical specifications for Onvis S3EU Smart Plug:

Power

• Input: 230V~, 50Hz
• Rated current : 10A (MAX)
• Rated Power: 2300W

Wireless Connection

• 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n Wifi

Compatibility

• Europe: Type E & F sockets

Safety

• Internal protector: 10A built-in type non-replaceable fuse
• Ambient temperature: 35℃ (MAX)

PACKAGING | DEVICE

From the very first moment, from the packaging to the product itself, there’s a feeling of the high-quality materials used. The package contains details of all functions, so if you do happen to find this in a physical store, then you will be able to know if this is the right product for you immediately. Of course, on the front you can see that the S3 plug works not only with Apple HomeKit, but also Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

After opening the package, inside, apart from the socket itself, you will find the user manual in English, German, French and Spanish. Information on how to connect the socket to the aforementioned systems is included, as well as information on how to contact technical support in case of any problems. The S3 plug itself gives the impression of being very carefully made of matte plastic with grey accessories and quite discreet, inconspicuous, Onvis logo. It has one single button that is used for various functions that I will describe later.

Its size does not differ from other sockets of this type available for the European market, but the rounded edges certainly make it visually appear a bit smaller than it really is. Unfortunately, as with most of these types of products, it is in fact, quite large. So, just like nearly all other EU smart plugs, it blocks the second outlet in standard double sockets, and you will not be able to connect two S3 plugs directly next to each other. The Onvis S3 plug also has built-in overload protection.

Overall, the device makes a very positive impression, but let’s see how everything works whilst it’s in use, and what additional functions – if any – there are.

S3 IN THE HOME APP

Since I’m describing products from the perspective of HomeKit users, I’ll start with the procedure of adding the S3 to the HomeKit system. You can use the Apple Home app itself for this purpose, which is available on iOS, iPadOS and also on macOS, but if you also want to have access to all additional functions not supported by the HomeKit framework, along with access to hardware updates for the plug itself, then you will also need to use the Onvis app, which is available for download from the Apple Store for iOS, iPadOS, and also for the Apple Watch.

The process of adding the S3 plug itself is no different from the standard procedure for adding new devices to the HomeKit system, regardless of whether we use the Apple Home or Onvis application.

You need to scan or manually enter the HomeKit code that is found on the plug itself, or in the user manual. After scanning the code, you’ll see the standard procedure for adding the device to HomeKit, where you can assign the device to the place in our home, where it will be used, and give it it’s own name. You also have the option of specifying the plug’s operating mode; There are three standard HomeKit options to choose from: outlet, light, or fan. It’s most useful when you want to control the plug using voice and Siri, with the plug receiving an appropriate icon depending on the selected operating mode. It’s also worth mentioning that if you use the Apple Home app to add the plug to HomeKit, then you can always install the Onvis application and everything will work without the need to reconnect or re-add the device, so the order and method do not matter here.

The S3 uses a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection to communicate with HomeKit. I’ve been using this plug for a few weeks and at the very beginning of using the early firmware version of the plug, when programming, I had a few command response issues. However, Onvis took care of this issue quickly and fixed all these bugs very quickly. Since then, I’m happy to say the S3 works and reacts very quickly and reliably to any commands. I also didn’t notice any problems with the WiFi connection itself. It is important to note that if you get this smart plug with earlier firmware than version 1.2.13, then you will need to make sure to upgrade it to a newer version before using it.

In the HomeKit system itself, you have access to basic functions such as turning the plug on and off using the application, via your voice, or programmed scenes and automation, regardless of whether you are at home or not. To use these functions when we are outside our local WiFi network, you’re required to have an active internet connection and a HomeKit hub, which is responsible for all automation and remote connections from outside our local network. For this purpose, you can use devices such as an Apple TV (4th gen or above), HomePod, or suitable iPad.

From the Apple Home app, the only available parameters to use when creating an automation are the plug, in on or off status. Unfortunately, the Apple Home app does not show and does not support all the functions available in HomeKit’s framework itself for this, which is the same for other smart plugs, so if you want to use functions such as reporting the current power consumption, creating an automation based on it or displaying the status of something that is currently connected to the plug, then you need to use a separate HomeKit application from third parties. In addition to using the app, you can, as with any HomeKit device, also control it using Siri voice control.

S3 IN THE ONVIS HOME APP

Regardless of the functions available via HomeKit, the Onvis application also gives you simultaneous access to all additional functions, such as a timer, countdown timer, firmware update and various power consumption graphs.

On the main page, the plug is represented with a tile showing us the current state of the plug, and whether it’s enabled or disabled. By briefly pressing the tile, you can quickly and easily turn on or off the plug, as expected.

All these additional functions have been placed in the plugin options, which you can open by long pressing on the plug symbol.

On the options page, starting from the top, you’ll see a symbol that informs you as to whether the plug is turned on or off by means of a backlight effect. Then you get a toggle switch with which you can disable or enable the plug. The next symbol informs you as to whether a device is connected to the plug or not. A green symbol means that a device is currently connected to the plug. If nothing is connected then this symbol will be displayed in grey.

Additional functions have been placed at the very bottom of the options page. These are a Timer with which you can program a day and time period for when you want the plug to be turned on and off. You can create any number of independent programs there.

The next feature is Countdown. This function is to turn the plug on or off after a specific amount of time. Timer settings from 1 second to 2 hours is possible, although when attempting to set the timer, the clock allows you to go up to 2 hours and 59 minutes, but will throw up an error when you try to save the timer.

Another function is Usage, i.e. saved data on power consumption by the device connected to the plug. This data is saved locally in the Onvis App and displayed in graphs. You can choose from daily, weekly, monthly or yearly reports. In addition, you can choose whether you want to see a summary of electricity consumption or the total cost of electricity consumption. In the Onvis app settings, you can set any rate of electricity costs.

At the very end You will find Records, a record of the time and time when the plugin was turned on and off.

There is also an extra options page accessible with the checkbox symbol in the upper right corner. There, additional information about the current state of power consumption is displayed. There, you can check the version and update the plug-in firmware, as well as options for connecting the plug to Amazon Alexa and Google Home systems.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE S3

The Onvis S3 plug also has one physical button located on the housing and a LED diode. By pressing the button shortly, you can simply turn the plug on or off, and by holding the button for a longer time, you can reset the plug to its factory state. A continuous blue LED light means that the plug is on and connected to the Wifi network, while the blinking blue light informs you that there no connection to the Wifi network. Under normal working conditions, if the LED is not showing, it simply means the plug is not on and not powering any device, although it could also be that if it’s not receiving power you would also notice a ‘no response’ issue in HomeKit.

The Onvis S3 is also designed to work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, however despite the markings on the box itself and in the Onvis app, support for Amazon Alexa and Google Home was not at the time of writing and when we tested this product, and as such, we couldn’t see how the S3 works with these systems.

SUMMING UP

Overall, despite some initial firmware issues with the Onvis S3 plug, which were quickly fixed by Onvis, it quickly became one of my favourite smart plugs for Apple HomeKit thanks to its connection stability and quick response to commands. Each additional feature certainly adds even more value to it. Certainly, a very welcome function is the measurement of power consumption and historical data related to the device. Unfortunately, not every smart plug has this feature and I believe it should be standard as it’s a very useful feature. If I miss something with this plug, it is certainly the ability to export power data from the Onvis application, along with a child lock function, which often turns out to be useful, especially when there are very young children at home. In the Onvis application itself, it’s clear there’s a lot of room for fixes in its operation and general UI improvements. For example, I would like to see easier access to information about the current power consumption and which today is hidden at the bottom, but these are mostly just cosmetic changes and generally do not affect the operation of this plug. As for ‘cosmetics’, it’s certainly not one to blend into the background, with the grey accents as part of the bodywork, which look a bit dated, but if this is going to be hidden from view, it’s not a big deal ultimately.

If you are looking for a European version of a smart plug that works with Apple HomeKit and you can rely on, I can definitely recommend Onvis S3EU to you.

Full disclosure: Onvis provided HomeKit News with the Onvis S3EU Smart Plug for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was made or requested and has in no way influenced our opinion of this product.

The post Onvis S3EU Smart Plug (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

This enables you to switch the connected devices on and off and to set schedules or automatic timer routines for your daily needs. In addition, after pairing with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, users can easily control the connected devices with voice commands.

Finally, the outdoor socket is Wi-Fi based. You can easily connect it to your existing home WiFi without having to buy an additional hub.

• Siri & HomeKit: Meross Smart Outdoor socket can work with Apple HomeKit (iOS 13 or higher), Apple Watch, Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT to manage your device with voice control. Just say “Hey Siri, open the light” and experience an intelligent and comfortable life. HomeKit socket can create unlimited possibilities according to your needs.
• Suitable for outdoor and indoor use: The HomeKit outdoor socket is IP44 waterproof housing (do not immerse and rinse). The socket should be covered with a waterproof cover when not in use. These wifi outdoor sockets are used outdoors for gardens, patios, washing machines, Christmas trees, landscape lighting, fountains, lamps and other indoor and waterproof outdoor sockets, etc.
• Schedule and timing: You can create a schedule or use the sunrise and sunset features as needed. Use electrical equipment efficiently and you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off, saving you a lot of electricity costs. WiFi outdoor socket can turn on street lights and water heaters before you go home. The fountain with WiFi garden socket opens at Sonnenunte
• Remote control: switch the external socket on / off from anywhere with the Internet via the Meross app. You can check the status of the connected plug or set schedules for it. All data is transferred securely and stored on Amazon AWS servers. Please use iOS 13 or higher. No hub or subscription required.
• Safety protection and service: The Smart outdoor sockets from Meross are of high quality to make their use safer. No outdoor hub is required. The app is free. If you have any problems, just contact Tech Support. If there are quality problems, the new product will be replaced free of charge within one year.

Hardware:

• Input: 100-250V ~, 50 / 60Hz, 10A
• Output: 100-250V ~, 50 / 60Hz, 10A maximum load
• Key: On / Off key
• Press and hold this button for 5 seconds to start the reset process
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 15.1 x 8.0 x 5.0 cm (without power cord)
• Power cord: 28.5 cm
• Antenna: An internal antenna

Wireless features:

• Wireless standards: IEEE 802.11 b / g / n, 2.4 GHz, 1T1R
• Wireless security: Supports 64/128 bit WEP, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK

Other:

• Certification: CE, RoHS
• Package content: Smart Wi-Fi outdoor socket
• Quick installation guide
• System requirements: iOS 9 or higher, Android 4.1 or higher
• Existing Wi-Fi network
• Environment: Operating temperature: -20 ℃ ~ 40 ℃ (-4 ℉ ~ 104 ℉)
• Storage temperature: -40 ℃ ~ 70 ℃ (-40 ℉ ~ 158 ℉)
• Operating humidity: 10% ~ 90% non-condensing
• Storage humidity: 5% ~ 90% non-condensing

The post Meross Outdoor Dual EU Outlet appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

If you would like to read the review in Simplified Chinese, click HERE.

PACKAGING

The packaging for the P3 is very compact. and only contains two products: The P3 air conditioning companion and the Aqara temperature sensor. On the front of the box is the P3, sensor, and the Work with Apple HomeKit logo. The back of the box is marked with the product model number KTBL12LM, which supports two wireless protocols – Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and Zigbee 3.0, with a maximum power of 4000W.

THE P3

The overall appearance of the P3 product is similar to that of the previous-generation Aqara air-conditioning companion (upgraded version), except for the addition of a HomeKit QR code, which is stuck on the side of the body. The front of the unit is a 16A Chinese power socket, whilst above that is an LED indicator. The device is powered by a 16A plug, the bottom of the body has a pill-shaped pairing button, and on the other side, there is a speaker. Incidentally, the P3 motherboard also contains a temperature sensor. Because the temperature generated by the motherboard, there will be a certain amount of variance from the actual ambient temperature, so this thermometer should only be used for overload protection with the P3. The temperature and humidity sensor in the bundle can be attached to any corner of the room to monitor temperature and humidity more accurately.

ADDING THE P3 TO AQARA HOME AND HOMEKIT

At present, the P3 only supports HomeKit and Aqara platforms at this time, so no Google or Amazon integration.

The procedure to add the P3 is very simple, which is especially the case with HomeKit configuration. You can directly open the camera and scan the HomeKit QR code to complete the addition of the device. In this case, we started off using the Aqara app, as we need the app to help with configuring the AC functionality initially.

Open the Aqara app main interface and click the add button in the upper left corner.

• Find the Air Conditioning Mate P3 and tap the icon to add products.
• Read the guidance prompt, confirm that the device has a flashing yellow LED, and click Next.
• The Aqara app automatically brings up the HomeKit interface, so scan the QR code on the side of the body of the P3 (or inside the product box) to add it.
• Name the air conditioner, alarm, and temperature and humidity sensor respectively.

Luckily, the Aqara temperature and humidity sensor is already paired with P3 by default, so there is no need to go through pairing for this device.

CONFIGURING YOUR AC UNIT TO WORK WITH THE P3

• Select the relevant air conditioner device in the menu (the P3 in this case)
• Choose your particular brand of air-conditioning unit
• You then go through a procedure to match infrared signals from the P3 that match functions on your AC unit (on/off, mode, fan speed etc)
• Finally, set the functions for the air conditioner. If your air conditioner does not have certain functions, you can click to disable these functions in the interface. The temperature range defines the maximum and minimum temperature that the air conditioner can adjust to. Some air conditioners may not include a temperature panel display, so the lighting options will not appear on every air conditioner.

FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES IN THE P3
As a compact product, P3 has a lot of functions, and the package contains a variety of functions.

• Aqara Zigbee 3.0 Gateway
• Air Conditioning Companion
• Temperature and humidity sensor (via the sensor in the package)
• Alarm system
• Infrared remote control
• Smart socket

AQARA ZIGBEE 3.0 GATEWAY

the P3 includes a full Aqara Zigbee 3.0 gateway, which can connect 32 sub-devices. For example, the temperature and humidity sensor in the set is connected to the air conditioning partner by default. If you have multiple products including a gateway in your home, it pays to connect each device to the nearest hub so as to ensure the quality of Zigbee signal. Aqara has updated the firmware to support the cross-gateway automatic setting function. It is hoped that Aqara can further optimize the gateway function and let the sub-devices automatically select the optimal gateway access. Zigbee 3.0 also brings a more stable connection and more functions for sub-devices. For example, Aqara human sensor can now display battery levels through the new gateway.

AIR CONDITIONING COMPANION

Follow the previous steps to match the infrared code of the air conditioner, the air conditioning adjustment options will then appear in the Apple Home app. Apple home supports three operating modes: heating, cooling, and off. The temperature can be adjusted to a minimum of 1 degree. Due to HomeKit restrictions at present, there’s no support fan speed adjustment.

Of course, as a HomeKit smart home device, the most important thing is automation. Using the HomeKit geofencing function, you can easily set the air conditioner to turn on when the first person arrives at home, or change the AC to the corresponding temperature when someone arrives at home, or when the last person leaves home, automatically turn off the air conditioner. In the screenshots above, the Siri shortcut function is used to automatically determine the temperature of the home.

• When the room temperature is higher than 23ºC, the ‘cooling’ is automatically turned on, and when the room temperature is lower than 18ºC, the heating is automatically turned on. The air conditioner is automatically turned off when the last person leaves the house.

You can also add weather conditions as a ‘condition’ according to your needs. Of course, the commands will be more complicated.

In the Aqara app, the P3 supports more additional functions. Compared to HomeKit, it supports heating, cooling, and off three modes, but  It also adds automatic and dehumidification functions, as well as support fan speed and sweep.

Aqara has also added two special modes; ‘quick cooling’ and ‘peaceful sleep’, which is convenient for quickly adjusting the temperature to a comfortable level when you get home, and intelligently adjusting according to the temperature curve when sleeping. It also supports ‘power statistics’ mode, which shows how much power is used in a month. Not only that but it also supports the detection of real-time power. When the air conditioner is in standby, it automatically cuts off the power to ensure that you do not pay an extra electricity fee. Aqara even considers that the light of the air conditioner may affect the user’s sleep quality in the settings, allowing the user to set the temperature display panel to turn off the air conditioner at night.

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY FUNCTIONS

The temperature and humidity sensor that comes as part of the package, will automatically work with the air conditioner partner. The top of the HomeKit menu will directly display the air conditioner status and room temperature. Pull to the bottom to view the current humidity. In the Aqara app, the current temperature and humidity are directly displayed in a conspicuous location, which is convenient for users to view. The barometer function is currently only available in the Aqara app. The parameters measured by these sensors can be used not only for P3, but also for automatic linkage with other products within the Aqara app, and have the same function as the normal retail temperature and humidity sensor.

ALARM FUNCTION

This is an interesting function, and may also be the first domestic complete 4-mode alarm that supports HomeKit. The alarm can be set to one of four modes – Home, Away, Night and Off. Only four modes are supported in HomeKit, and the alarm trigger method needs to be set in the Aqara app. We enumerate the corresponding setting modes under different modes below and hope that the following settings can give you some inspiration, and then make your own unique settings according to the different home environments.

• Home mode
  The garage door and window sensor are turned on. When it is detected that the garage door or window are opened, the gateway alarm is activated.
• Away mode
  The human body sensor and the door and window sensor of each room are turned on and the alarm is armed. When movement is detected or the door or window are opened, the gateway is activated.
• Night mode
  The door and window sensor is turned on. If the door and window are turned on at night, the gateway flashes silent light alarm and pushes the alarm message to the mobile phone.
• Off mode

INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL

Whilst the P3 can control your AC, it can also control other devices, such as TV sets, set-top boxes, electric fans, etc., through the 8000+ infrared commands contained within it. At present, only the air conditioning function can be controlled in HomeKit, however. According to the strict certification conditions of HomeKit, the connected sub-devices must also be certified by HomeKit.

SMART OUTLET

The P3 Aqara Air Conditioning Companion supports changing the working mode to smart socket mode, so it can control some 16A high-powered non-smart electric heaters, electric water heaters, etc., and supports devices up to 4000W, compared with Mijia smart sockets which can only support devices up to 2200W of power. The P3’s output is more stable and the safety is more guaranteed.

PRODUCT COMPARISON

Comparing the Aqara Air Conditioning Companion P3 and Aqara Air Conditioning Companion (upgraded version), the main body appearance is almost identical, but of course, the P3 supports HomeKit, while the ‘upgraded version’ is mainly used with  Mi Home. It is precise because of HomeKit’s accurate geofencing function for family members, that you can easily set different temperature preferences when different members arrive at home, and can also intelligently identify when the last family member leaves, turn off the air conditioning alongside other operations. Geofencing not only relies on your mobile phone’s GPS but also cooperates with the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions of Apple’s Home Hubs. The reliability and accuracy of geofencing are higher. Native Siri voice control commands under HomeKit, compared to setting the control voice commands one by one through the Siri shortcut (if used via Mi Home), HomeKit commands are more natural, and there is no need to say the preset commands word for word. At the same time, it supports ‘fuzzy’ temperature increase and decreases, and the upgraded version has no way to respond to ‘fuzzy’ commands.

The Aqara Air Conditioning Companion P3 and Tado Cooling V3+ both support HomeKit. Tado’s design is more in line with the appearance of fully-fledged thermostats. The panel is flat, and the front contains an LED matrix. The panel also supports touch gesture operations. The product is connected to your network via Wi-Fi and controls your air conditioner via infrared. Still, there are many problems encountered in actual use, and Tado cannot solve them fully.

Here is a list of the main problems you might encounter in use. The P3 and Tado both include infrared receivers, which is how the two products quickly match the infrared code of the air conditioner, by reading the commands issued by the remote control. However, after Tado is set up, the infrared receiver does not contain any other functions. For example, there might be other older members in the family who will still pick up the old remote control to control the air conditioner. The Tado will not adjust its own state according to the instructions received from the remote control, causing the display state and air conditioner operation state to be out of sync. In other words, you may turn on the Apple family to see that the air conditioner is cooling, but in fact, it may be blowing hot air.

When Aqara receives the air conditioner remote control command, it automatically matches the command issued by the remote control. The infrared code of each air conditioner manufacturer is different when the Apple home is opened. The manufacturer usually does not publicly provide the infrared code used by its own air conditioner. Aqara needs to preprocess and serialize such infrared codes. After receiving an infrared signal, you need to identify the remote control model of the air conditioner corresponding to the infrared signal through an algorithm, and parse out the air conditioner status, mode, wind speed, set temperature, etc. The older Aqara air conditioning partner would complete this process in the cloud. Powerful computing power can quickly complete code analysis. However, HomeKit is based on local processing operations. The above process needs to be completed on the local chip. This requires higher algorithm and requires a longer time to optimize the hardware and algorithm.

IN SUMMARY

As the first HomeKit intelligent air conditioning companion in China, this product has been in development for more than two years. The product is compact and powerful, and it is especially dedicated to product details. Aqara has considered the user first in all cases. The unique infrared synchronization function also takes into account the actual usage habits of the other people at home who may use the older remotes. It is these details that reflect Aqara’s strong technical prowess in this area. In the purchase of intelligent air conditioning products, the quality of the air conditioner itself cannot be abandoned because of intelligence. With Aqara Air Conditioning Companion P3, professional big-name air conditioners can now also be smart!

The post Aqara P3 Air Conditioning Companion (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• Input: 100-125V, 50/60Hz, 10A
• Output: 100-125V, 50/60Hz, 10A maximum load
• Button: On/Off Button, press and hold for 5 seconds to initiate factory reset process
• WiFi Required: 2.4g only
• Operating Temperature: 0℃~40℃ (32℉~104℉)
• Package Contents: 1 x Dual Smart Wi-Fi Plug, 1 x Quick Installation Guide

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Simply download the free Satechi application, connect the Smart Outlet and connect your device via Wi-Fi for easy control no matter where you are.

• OPERATION WITH APPLE HOMEKIT – the Satechi smart socket is certified to operate with Apple HomeKit technology to activate Siri, create scenes and plan devices that fit your modern lifestyle
• ACTIVATE SIRI VOICE CONTROL – use the home app to create custom scenes – such as “Hey Siri, good morning” or “Hey Siri, good night” – and call Siri to activate a preset set of house lights. HomePod, Apple TV or an iPad is required for remote access or to create automated actions
• SCHEDULE SETTING & ENERGY CONSUMPTION MONITORING – promotes efficient energy use with real-time consumption monitoring from your connected iOS device to reduce excessive power consumption and shutdown devices when needed
• COMPACT DESIGN – The compact design of the smart socket was developed for European sockets and offers a single EU connection for the convenient control of your intelligent devices – without blocking the neighbouring socket
• OPERATION – simply use the native Apple or download the Satechi Home app, connect the smart socket to your existing 2.4 GHz WiFi network and set up your devices for secure, worry-free access to your household appliances. Does not work with a 5 GHz wireless network

The post Satechi EU Smart Plug appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

At home or away, control your appliances from your phone or with any voice assistant, including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri. Use your voice assistant or phone to turn-on/off most appliances including lights, portable heating and cooling, TVs, etc.

Create schedules and automations so your favourite appliances and electronic devices turn on or off at specific times of the day. During the colder months schedule your electric blanket to turn-on in the evening, then turn-off in the morning.

Track the power usage of any device or appliance connected to a smart plug. Gain insight into your power usage to make smarter decisions that save money on your power bill.

• Control your appliances 
• Works with Google Assistant, Alexa & Siri 
• Control using the Cygnett Smart App
• Control using Apple HomeKit App 
• Monitor power usage

Input/Output

• Input: 100V-240V~,50/60Hz,10A Max, 2400W Max
• Output: 100V-240V~,50/60Hz,10A Max, 2400W Max
• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n

System Requirements

• To control this HomeKit-enabled accessory, the latest version of iOS or iPadOS is recommended.
• Controlling this HomeKit-enabled accessory automatically and away from home requires a HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad set up as a home hub. It is recommended that you update to the latest software and operating system.
• Existing 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
• Mobile device running iOS or Android

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