Why You Can Trust CNET Koogeek Smart Plug P1 review: This Siri-centered smart plug is made for HomeKit users
This $32 smart plug works well with HomeKit and Siri for voice controls, scheduling and power monitoring, but halfheartedly connects with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
HomeKit -compatible smart plugs aren't as easy to find as smart plugs that work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa . Luckily, the list is growing.
Koogeek Smart Plug P1
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Read more: These smart plugs are the secret to a seamless smart home | Want to buy a smart plug? Read this first
At $32, the Koogeek Smart Plug P1 aims to be the smart plug for every platform, but I wouldn't rush out and buy one. The plug works well with HomeKit, but with an oversized design and an Alexa skill that's unreliable at best, it isn't as good as it could be.
The Koogeek Smart Plug P1 looks cute, but it blocks outlets beneath it.
Let's start with Koogeek's design. I like the simple approach, but the problem is the device's size. The Smart Plug P1 measures 2.6 inches on all sides. When plugged into the top receptacle of a standard wall outlet, Koogeek's plug covers the receptacle below it. In order to use both receptacles of a wall outlet, you'll need to place this smart plug on the bottom. If you'd like two smart plugs in one wall outlet, Koogeek isn't an option. Meanwjile, HomeKit-compatible competitors such as the iDevices Switch, the Belkin WeMo Mini and the PureGear PureSwitch all take care not to obstruct adjacent outlets.
Setting up the Koogeek Smart Plug P1 begins like most HomeKit devices, by downloading the Koogeek app and scanning the Apple Home code either in the plug's printed user manual or on the plug itself. From there, you can name the device and assign it to a room in your home. The plug automatically appears in your Apple Home app.
Pairing the Smart Plug P1 with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant isn't nearly as intuitive. On an iOS device, a long press of the smart plug icon on the Koogeek menu reveals plug details. From there, a submenu called third-party connections displays the option to configure Alexa and Google Assistant integration. Tap the name of your desired assistant, and the app automatically configures the plug -- or at least it says it does. After a "configuration successful" message, I found I still needed to open the Google Home app, add a device and log into my Koogeek account to pair the plug. Once paired, the Smart Plug P1 did work well with Google Assistant voice commands.
I can't say the same for Alexa. I followed Koogeek's instructions for configuring Alexa, which included configuring the smart plug in the Koogeek app, enabling the Koogeek Home Alexa skill and discovering devices in the Alexa app. I wasn't able to get Alexa to discover my smart plug. I tried resetting both devices, as well as logging out and back into both platforms, but I could never get it to work.
The Koogeek home screen mimicks the Home app.
A firmware update recently added Alexa compatibility to the Smart Plug P1, and I'm hoping a future update will improve functionality.
True, the Koogeek Smart Plug P1 is optimized for iOS devices, HomeKit and Siri . Maybe that means the difficult Alexa integration isn't a deal breaker. Still, I would've loved to see a smart plug that not only worked, but worked well with all three platforms.
The Koogeek Smart Plug P1 does have several useful features in the iOS version of the app. You can view power monitoring, including a graph of monthly use and a current usage reading. I was able to see that the table lamp I connected to the smart plug used 11 watts of electricity. The max load for the Smart Plug P1 is listed at 15 amps or 1,800 watts. I could also schedule the plug to turn on and off at a specific time and choose whether or not I would like that schedule to repeat.
The Koogeek Home app displays a menu that's essentially a copy of your Home app's menu, so you'll see all your other connected Apple Home devices, their statuses and time and temperature readings for your phone's location. The Android version of the app is much more limited. You can turn the plug on and off from your phone, but there aren't any options for connecting to voice assistants, scheduling or power monitoring.
Clearly optimized for iOS devices and HomeKit, the Koogeek Smart Plug isn't the plug I'd recommend for anyone with a Google Assistant or Alexa-centered smart home -- or with an Android mobile device. If you don't care about HomeKit compatibility, you'd be better off with the TP-Link Kasa Wi-Fi Smart Plug Mini or the Belkin Wemo Mini.
If, however, you're looking for a HomeKit-compatible smart plug with scheduling, power monitoring and Siri voice controls, you'll get it with the Koogeek Smart Plug P1. Overall, I'd still recommend the space-saving, better performing iDevices Switch over Koogeek's Smart Plug P1.
