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HomeKit smart plugs are one of the most useful smart home products you can buy. Everyone can find a use for them. You can use anything with a 110-volt plug that turns on automatically, and it’s very affordable. Since it has been around for many years, the hardware has also become very reliable. Linkind’s new Matter-enabled smart plugs come in a two-pack and are an incredible value for anyone looking to automate multiple rooms in their home.
home kit weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and all things Apple’s smart home framework.
Why is Matter a key selling point?
Matter eliminates the hassle of downloading and registering apps from different manufacturers every time you buy a new device. Just go directly to your trusted smart home platform like Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, or SmartThings. If you decide to switch to another smart home platform in the future, you can easily migrate all your devices.
Matter is still in its infancy as a smart home protocol, but I truly believe that in 15 years we’ll be thinking of it in the same way as SMTP, IMAP, HTTP, etc. This is a protocol that allows consumers to have a choice or not. Trapped within the ecosystem.
Set up your experience
Linkind’s smart home plug lives up to Matter’s claims and can be unpacked and added to HomeKit without downloading a single app. From unpacking to choosing a room, it only took 3 minutes. The Matter QR code is located on the left side of your device and will be available for scanning after you connect. I can’t for the life of me understand any vendor putting it on the back so it can’t be scanned while it’s powered on. Even if a code sheet is included in the box, I like to have it on the left or right side so I can always see it.
Once you select a room, choose whether to display it as a light, switch, or fan. Once you select it, choose from several preset automations.
Automation and scenes
The suggested automations aren’t terrible, but they’re usually not what I’m looking for. Indicates what scenes and automations to use depending on how the item is used. Assuming you are using this with a lamp. An easy automation to create is one that automatically turns on your lights at 6pm when the sun begins to set.
First, tap the icon in the Apple Home app, select Add Automation, and then select Occurs at a Time of Day. Choose a time (you can also choose sunset), find your newly added accessory, turn it on, and click Done.
If you want it to turn off automatically at a certain time, create a second automation that turns it off after a few hours or when you go to bed. I wish Apple’s automations were more granular in allowing you to turn them back off at a specific time within the “turn on” automation instead of having to create a whole new automation, but that’s coming in a future update. I hope you do.
It lights up at sunset and turns off after 4 hours, as shown in this photo. If this is a living room lamp, it should be turned on to coincide with bedtime.
summary
Overall, this is a standard Matter-enabled smart plug. Linkind has delivered exactly what you want in a smart plug: Matter and a low-cost two-pack. The only thing I would like to see in future versions is support for 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Currently only supports 2.4 GHz.
The Linkind 2-Pack Smart Home Plug with Matter and HomeKit support is available for purchase below. Amazon.
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“HomeKit smart plugs are the most convenient smart home products you can buy. Everyone can take advantage of them. Anything 110 volts will work…”
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Source link: https://9to5mac.com/2024/05/17/linkind-matter-smart-plug/
