RobotPoweredHome is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my blog, I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
As a Smart Home nerd, I never miss out on an opportunity to optimize my Smart Home experience.
I’d been trying to catch up on lost sleep when I realized I’d left the light on in the other room.
By the time I’d rolled out of bed and dragged myself to the switchboard to turn it off, I found that I’d shaken off my drowsiness and couldn’t go back to sleep. This was unacceptable. It was time to go shopping.
I decided it was time to get smart light sockets along with my wall light panels which I bought recently.
I had no real reason to replace the light bulbs themselves, as they were new and functional.
I wanted the convenience of being able to control the lights from my smartphone without having to move physically towards the switches myself.
Navigating the market landscape to find the smart light sockets that fit my needs was not easy, to say the least.
The sheer variety of brands, prices, and features available, as well as having to understand the dimensions, took me a considerable number of hours to thoroughly research.
I wrote this article to save you this time and effort when you look for the right smart light socket that meets your requirements.
The factors I considered before making my selections were Ease of Installation, Electric Load, and Housing size.
If a quick recommendation is what you’re after, then the iHaper Smart Socket is the one for you.
It’s simple and straightforward to set up, and at 30 USD, it hits that price-to-performance ratio sweet spot.
It supports HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home Assistant, making it the perfect starter accessory if you’re just starting out on your Smart Home journey.
- IHaper Smart Light Bulb Socket – Best Smart Light Socket
- AICase Smart Wi-Fi E27/E26 Light Socket – Most Energy-Efficient Smart Light Socket
- iDevices Socket – Most Stylish Smart Light Socket
- Terncy Light Socket – Best Smart Light Socket for iOS
- Incipio Commandkit – Best Budget Light Socket
| Features | iHaper | AICase | iDevices | Terncy | Incipio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design |  |  |  |  |  |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 6.85 x 5.94 x 3.35 | 4.37 x 3.78 x 2.4 | 2.48 x 2.93 x 2.93 | 3.94 x 3.94 x 0.94 | 3.06 x 2.51 x 2.51 |
| Output Power | 25W | 40W | 60W | 30W | 30W |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LED Ring | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Alexa Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Google Assistant Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Siri Support | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
iHaper Smart Light Bulb Socket– Best Smart Light Socket
iHaper smart socket is designed specifically for Apple HomeKit. It comes at a price of around 30 USD. I have to say it is a very well-designed smart socket.
The easy compatibility with HomeKit, along with a clean voice control option using Amazon Alexa and Google assistant, made for a hands-free experience.
There is one thing that has to be considered during selection, The maximum permissible wattage rating for appliances you can connect is 25 W.
This can go well with normal LED bulbs and CFLs, but conventional incandescent bulbs consume 60 W and are thus, not compatible with the iHaper.
The main advantage you get while buying the iHaper is the ease of installation. Setting this up was a breeze, and I had it up and running in minutes.
Many of my friends gave up on their smart sockets too early just because the interfacing apps stopped responding after a while.
One of them even had to uninstall and reorganize the entire HomeKit just because the smart socket controlling application forced iOS to not respond, and HomeKit kept crashing.
This is where the iHaper gets the upper hand. The iHaper application is well designed.
It’s actually quite similar to HomeKit, and the way it automatically syncs all data with HomeKit is a definite plus.
The seamless integration with HomeKit allows you to add it to scenes and automate it to your heart’s content.
Maybe you want the lights to come on when the sun sets? You can set this to happen on HomeKit.
The iHaper is an iOS-friendly device, and hence its integration with iOS is seamless and tailored for use with HomeKit.
Another thing to be noted is the maximum power delivery which is 25W. I did not consider it a drawback because if you have any plans to make your homes smart, the first thing to do is to replace all unnecessary energy-consuming equipment to make your Smart Home more energy efficient.
So if you’re looking for an energy-efficient and affordable smart light socket that’s easy to set up and works seamlessly with HomeKit, then the iHaper Smart Light Socket is the right option for you.
AICase Smart Wi-Fi E27/E26 Light Socket – Most Energy-Efficient Smart Light Socket
AICase Smart Socket is very good when it comes to power savings. It is the most energy-efficient among all the other listed smart sockets.
The interfacing application used to operate the AICase is Smart Life. It is the global version of the Tuya App, and it supports IFTTT, which helped me automate it to fit my needs.
Even though it supports loads up to 40 W, the AICase also does not support incandescent bulbs.
The AICase works perfectly with Alexa, Google Assistant, Google home mini, etc., thus offering wide options for voice control for hands-free usage.
The major issue regarding the AICase light socket is its larger dimensions or housing size.
Smart sockets do not usually come with trim kits, and it becomes an unsolvable issue after purchase if the size of the AICase smart socket does not fit your electric supply socket, making it not very easy to install.
So if you’re looking for a relatively larger, energy-efficient, smart light socket to automate using IFTTT with a higher-than-average maximum load, then the AICase Smart Wi-Fi Light Socket is the right option for you.
iDevices Smart Socket
The iDevices Smart Socket is on the higher-end when it comes to price, especially compared to some of the other options on this article but for a good reason.
It’s easy to install and comes with a lot of versatility when it comes to ease of use and the features that it can provide.
iDevices offers robust construction at a middling housing size and aesthetic quality considering its dazzling appearance with the LED ring.
The LED ring also allows you to set Hue and add saturation. This will allow you to customize the lighting to your preferences.
You could also set the ring to change colors at different times of the day. The ring can also be used as a nightlight. It supports incandescent bulbs at its 60W max load.
It works very well with HomeKit, and voice control via Alexa and Google assistant is also impeccable.
The device also offers a dimmability option. This can be accessed by long-pressing the device icon while operating the control application.
This offers a lot of versatility as you can set the brightness to how you like it/need it, and you can automate this using HomeKit Scenes to customize and tailor it to your preferences,
If you’re looking for a smart light socket that is compatible with HomeKit, comes with an LED ring, and comes with a dimmability feature, then the iDevices Socket is the right fit for you.
Terncy Light Socket – Best Smart Light Socket for iOS
Terncy Light Socket is a great pick considering its light construction. If I were, to sum up, my opinion of this socket in one word, it would be “compact”.
A simple yet elegant design at such a small housing size and an affordable price makes it a compelling option for anyone looking to get started with “smartifying” their home on a budget.
The control application developed by Zigbee is not the most responsive compared to its competitors.
However, it does support Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, etc.
The Terncy Light Socket is easy to install and works for mid-range light loads of around 30 W, which is adequate for normal needs.
Another factor to be considered is the unavailability of a dimmable option. The Terncy ‘light’ socket is a simple on/off socket, which could be perfect if you’re just looking to wet your feet in the Smart Home ocean.
If you’re looking for a simple, compact, no-frills smart light socket that offers on/off capability and supports Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free usage, then the Terncy Light Socket might just be what you’re looking for.
Incipio CommandKit Wireless Smart Light Bulb Adapter – Best Budget Light Socket
The most affordable option in this article, the Incipio CommandKit, offers HomeKit on a budget.
A concern among affordable options is always whether they support the standard automation platforms like HomeKit.
If they don’t and the standalone app they come with is poorly designed, then the overall experience is more frustrating than liberating.
I appreciate the forethought in cutting out extra features but including HomeKit compatibility at this price.
It made for a smooth experience as I didn’t have to worry much about automating the light socket as HomeKit took care of it for me.
I just had to drop it into my pre-existing scenes, and I was set.Installing this puppy too was a breeze. It’s got a max load of 30W so it handles most bulbs out there.
The standalone app designed for this smart socket was lackluster, but that wasn’t much of an issue again, thanks to it being HomeKit compatible.
If you’re set on the HomeKit platform and are looking for an affordable smart socket to test it out, look no further, the Incipio CommandKit Smart Light Bulb Adapter is the right option for you.
Buyer’s Guide To Buying Smart Light Sockets
There are a few points to keep in mind while purchasing a smart socket. Understanding them is essential to making the right decision on which smart socket is the right fit for you.
As there are many similar products on the market, these points could be the deciding factor.
Price Efficiency
While purchasing, you have to check the initial investment and the running cost because the more you save, the smarter you could make your home in the future.
Max Load
Always go for products that offer the necessary options for a typical smart home. For example, if we consider the iDevices smart socket, it supports loads of up to 150 W, which is likely way more than your requirement (for normal building light loads).
This would be a great choice for industrial buildings or larger-than-average homes. So you should check to see if the socket fits your specific requirements.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is another parameter; the better the interfacing software, the smarter it stays after a while.
Go for HomeKit compatible devices and devices that come with operating platforms that can offer a fast response.
The voice control support is also a point to consider to get the maximum use out of your smart light socket.
Housing Size
Make sure your device is not that large. You cannot use a trim kit or any additional tool to reduce the size after you’ve bought it.
I have a friend who bought six sets of smart sockets to light up his little outdoor garden. None of them could fit in the fixture, and he was left in a pickle.
Final Thoughts
It’s always nice to add more to your smart homes. But you can get the most out of your purchases by making as informed a decision as you can.
If you’re looking for an outdoor lighting solution however, I’d suggest getting an outdoor smart bulb.
You can’t go wrong with any of the sockets listed here, and if you’re in a rush, the iHaper Smart Socket will not let you down.
Getting a smart socket will allow you to get a good night’s sleep as you won’t shake off your drowsiness on your trip to the switchboard to turn off those lights you forgot about.
The convenience they offer in letting you control them from your phone is undebatable.
You May Also Enjoy Reading:
- Best Uses For Smart Plugs [30 Creative Ways]
- How To Troubleshoot Etekcity Wi-Fi Outlet In Seconds [2021]
- Best No Neutral-Wire Smart Switches That You Can Buy Today [2021]
- How To Troubleshoot TP-Link Smart Switches
- Does Leviton Work With HomeKit? How To Connect
- Best 5 GHz Smart Plugs You Can Buy Today
- Does Philips Wiz Work With HomeKit?
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my existing lights smarter?
You can either go for a smart switch or a smart socket, as both can help you automate your lighting using interfacing applications like Home, Smart Life, etc.
Should I get a smart socket or smart bulb?
A smart bulb is a primary option as it covers almost all features of a smart socket and can even provide more.
A smart socket on the other hand helps to make the already existing normal bulbs smarter and can be considered secondary to smart bulbs.
Do you need a smart socket for smart lights?
You can use smart sockets, smart bulbs, and smart switches to make your lighting smarter and automating the already existing conventional lights.
