T3’s Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip overview in a sentence: An glorious electrical strip extension that gives far more than decrease finances options.
Once, a few years in the past, I labored for a enterprise that dealt with fireplace and flood clean-up operations, which was fascinating. It was additionally worrying to see simply what number of fires began by way of electrical faults. Often, fires had began as a result of overloading {of electrical} sockets. Thankfully, since then, electrical energy strips have turn out to be extra commonplace, much more reasonably priced and definitely extra sturdy.
This, the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip represents the most recent in extension lead comfort and, though it’s not as low cost as one thing you would possibly discover within the center aisle of a reduction grocery store, the additional price is totally justified. Tapo’s Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip delivers much more than simply providing plug-and-play comfort, and the bonus is it has Matter certification. This means it’s been examined and accredited by the Connectivity Standards Alliance and will work seamlessly with different Matter-certified Tapo home equipment.
What’s extra, utilizing Tapo’s supplementary app, the Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip will help you with monitoring vitality and protecting tabs on electrical energy prices. Plus, it affords harmonious integration with voice and remote-control expertise, which implies it’s tremendous handy. A primary instance is with the ability to schedule it to change on the ability at a sure time, so vitality is barely being delivered at a particular time. Considering the way in which vitality payments are going, as in upwards, any small saving is actually price contemplating.
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip overview: Price and availability
The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip, or Tapo P304M to provide it the official product code identifier, is accessible now and could be bought instantly from Tapo online.
Currently, the cost in the UK is £29.99, which is a reduction down from the original RRP of £34.99. Alternatively, the power strip can also be had from Amazon, for a similar £29.99 asking worth should you’d favor to go down that route.
(Image credit score: Future)
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip overview: Is it any good?
The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip is a far cry from on a regular basis fundamental extension leads. This, because the identify suggests, affords one other dimension in house energy options. While there are cheaper options, the 230 Volts AC mains Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip comes bristling with options and performance, together with real-time vitality monitoring, surge safety, zero-crossing detection, voice management and advantages from UKCA Safety certification.
Tapo merchandise are usually superb high quality and the design and construct of the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip is up there with one of the best of them. It’s properly completed in white plastic, has dimensions of 260mm by 62.7mm by 31.4mm and options 4 parallel ports, every of which has its personal standing indicator. At the cable finish, which is a beneficiant 1.5-metres, there are two indicators, one to point out the two.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity and the opposite signifies the surge safety.
(Image credit score: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Another bonus with the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip is that, thanks to the app and timer options, it’s easy to configure so things come on when you’re not at home. This adds another dimension to home security by being able to switch lights on and off, giving the impression that someone’s home. Very handy.
(Image credit: Future)
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip review: Performance
The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip was a doddle to setup and configure. After I’d unpacked it and plugged the unit into a mains socket, I downloaded the Tapo app from the Apple store and launched it on my iPhone. The app itself is very good and, after selecting the Tapo P304M from the menu, I tapped my way through the various steps. This included adding in my home Wi-Fi connection details and there was also a firmware update that took place over a matter of seconds.
I liked the way the app offered me options for customising the way the plug array was setup, with options for naming the room it was going to be located in, as well as being able to give each plug socket a unique name. I stuck with the default options until I’d decided on a final home for the socket. However, these can always be changed to suit your needs further down the line. Overall, the procedure is as simple and slick as it could be.
(Image credit: Future)
Since installing the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip, it has become way easier to keep tabs on my energy usage. On top of my smart meter and the supporting app information from my energy company, keeping tabs on electricity usage has been a doddle. It’s quite accurate too, right down to the hour. However, the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip adds another level of energy monitoring and offers pinpoint data on specific appliances, which is a real bonus.
The Tapo app provides the real brains behind the power strip, with options for powering each socket up and down, getting those real-time energy usage stats, plus there is the ability to set up a power schedule with timer and away options. These are similarly easy to configure. Energy usage can be shown by the day or over the space of a month, which provides a great way of keeping tabs on how much power is being used. Anything particularly energy draining can subsequently be put on a timed schedule, just to prevent it using more power than is needed.
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip review: Verdict
This is a really great home accessory, especially if you’ve frequently got lots of folks wanting to charge things in quick succession. I’d be happy to get one for each of the rooms in my home and, thanks to the excellent Tapo app, adding and managing extra power strips seems to be about as easy as it gets. The design and build quality are top-notch and configuring everything is a doddle too. Overall, the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip is currently one of the best power strips money can buy.