New Wyze Plug Outdoor is the cheapest outdoor smart plug yet

Disclaimer: We aren't recommending that consumers purchase Wyze products at this time. Over the past several years, Wyze has suffered from repeated data leaks and security breaches, including a 2019 user data leak, exposed databases in 2022, and exposed video files that same year. More recently, Wyze has seen both 2023 and 2024 security flaws that let at least 13,000 people see through other Wyze security cams owned by unrelated users.

Wyze's forum report on the latest breach includes an update from February 2024: "Our engineering team has added a new layer of verification between users and event videos to prevent this from happening again. We've also removed the client library and will not be using caching until we can find a new client library and stress test it for extreme scenarios like we saw on Friday."

This response is a start, but Wyze has repeatedly struggled to reliably update its approach to security and meaningfully communicate with its users. While we have seen security companies bounce back from security problems in the past, we haven't seen this kind of improvement from Wyze yet. So we are not endorsing their products or any services where you need to create a Wyze account with your personal info. 

We'll keep you updated on Wyze's security and privacy if our recommendations change. If you're looking for security brands that have made notable security improvements or have good privacy track records, we can recommend products from Ring, Google's Nest, Blink, and Arlo.

Today, the Wyze Plug Outdoor joins Wyze's growing line of affordable smart home products. Preorder pricing for the Wyze Plug Outdoor is just $10, with the cost rising to $11 for general sale in 2021. It won't wow you with its looks, but this ultra-affordable outdoor smart plug comes with a surprisingly long list of smart features you won't often find in even pricier plugs, like energy monitoring, individual outlet control and multiple automation options. 

The Wyze Plug Outdoor includes two 15-amp outlets you can control independently. It's rated IP64 for protection against water and fine particles like dust. You can control the Plug Outdoor with physical buttons, voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or through the Wyze app for Android and iOS. 

You can also set the plug to run on various automations like dusk-to-dawn sensing, vacation mode, custom schedules and triggers based on other devices. Unlike most smart plugs, the Wyze Plug Outdoor includes energy monitoring. You'll be able to receive alerts when energy thresholds are exceeded and view consumption history in the Wyze app. 

That $11 MSRP is an impressively low price for an outdoor smart plug. Heck, even indoor smart plugs that don't need weatherproofing or extra tough construction don't often dip that low. Similarly capable, dual-outlet plugs we've tested include the $30 TP-Link Kasa Smart Outdoor Plug (without energy monitoring) and the $35 iDevices Outdoor Switch with energy monitoring and HomeKit compatibility.

If the Wyze Plug Outdoor is as good as the Wyze Cam, it will be a best bet for smartening up your outdoor spaces. You can find out more about the Wyze Plug Outdoor on the Wyze website.