Smart homes have been a massive trend for the last few years. There are currently many new smart devices that were created to make your home appliances work easier and save energy. One of the most popular tools on the market are “Smart Plugs.” These modern plugs were created to update old home appliances to a “Smarter” version without buying a completely new one, which can save both money and time. In this article, we’re going to go through how smart plugs work and the best versions available that work with 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and dual-band routers.
Overview of the Best Smart Plugs
5GHz Smart Plug
Dual-Band Smart Plugs
What Are Smart Plugs?
While there are already many appliances that come in a “Smart” version, such as smart doorbells and smart bulbs, there are still many others that haven’t been upgraded. While it’s only a matter of time until these appliances also get updated with more features, there’s a way to switch them into a better device without actually having to change them; smart plugs are the solution to this issue.
Smart plugs look like regular plugs. The main difference is that the “Smart” variant supports WiFi network connections. This means that any appliance that you connect through a smart plug can be controlled with an app. With smart plugs, you can turn an old blender or lamp into a smart device that responds to automation and voice commands over an internet connection.
Do Any Smart Plugs Support 5GHz Wi-Fi Connection?
With the arrival of a faster 5GHz WiFi connection, many users have been wondering if their devices could connect properly with the newer network frequency. Most devices right now are only compatible with the 2.4GHz frequency, so it’s important to check if your smart device supports dual-band connectivity to avoid connectivity issues.
If you were looking for smart plugs that work with 5GHz, you might have noticed that there’s only one 5GHz-compatible smart plug on the market right now. When it comes to a smart plug, 5GHz support is not very practical for several reasons, which we’re going to discuss in this article.
2.4GHz vs. 5GHz Wi-Fi. Which One is Best for Smart Plugs?
5-GHz frequencies are relatively new on the market. This connection frequency was first announced in October 2009, and it provided speeds of up to 1,300 Mbps, which was double the amount of what regular 2.4-GHz connections offered. While the 5-GHz frequency provides a huge amount of speed, it has a shorter range than 2.4-GHz frequencies, which aren’t as fast but offer a much better range.
Back to smart plugs, most of the manufactured models you can find on the internet only support 2.4-GHz routers or dual-band routers. This is because these outlets need to have a stable wireless connection for them to function well. If you link a smart plug to a 5-GHz wireless connection, it may be faster, but it would not have as much range, so you may only be able to access it when you’re near the device or change to a 2.4-GHz internet frequency.
In these cases, we recommend that you get a dual-band router. These variants share 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz network frequencies, which can allow you to link with any device without any issues and save time.
Leviton DW15P-1BW Outlet – The Only 5-GHz Smart Plug On the Market
If you want to try a smart plug that connects to both 5-GHz and 2.4-GHz frequencies, this is the only product that can be used at the moment. The Leviton DW15P is one of the top smart plugs on the market because it can be used with several smart assistants and voice control software.
This product comes with a single socket, but it can be used for many different things, including light on/off scheduling, sunrise/sunset lighting settings, and many more. It supports Alexa and Google Assistant if you’re planning on using voice control, but you can also manage the device with IFTTT, SmartThings, August, My Leviton, and many more smart home apps.
The most remarkable thing about it is that it’s the first dual-band smart plug, which means that it can share connectivity to both frequencies. If you have a dual-band router, this device can switch between the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequency automatically.
Pros
- You don’t need a hub.
- It includes dual-band internet connections.
- It can be easily set up.
- It can be connected with most third-party smart home apps on the market.
Cons
- It doesn’t offer Apple HomeKit features.
Overall, this is a great 5GHz smart outlet that you can get for a great price. To read more about this product, follow this link: Leviton DW15P-1BW Outlet.
Best Smart Plugs that Work With Dual-Band Routers
1. Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug
If you want a product that you can use both inside and outside of your home, this product may be the way to go. The Kasa Outdoor Plug comes with two individual outlets. Since this product was developed to excel in outdoor settings, it’s suitable for landscape lighting, swimming pool pumps, and other outdoor appliances.
To achieve this outdoor compatibility, the outlets are weather-resistant with a rating of IP64. As for the WiFi range, it can support up to 300 feet of distance, which is perfect for most households.
One of the most remarkable things about this smart plug is that it can share connectivity with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also use it with the Kasa Smart Home app.
Pros
- It works well with outdoor environments.
- The outlets come with two protectors.
- It has multiple assistant compatibility.
- It can be locally controlled with physical buttons included in the outlet or by wireless internet.
- You can set up automatic light switches, even if you’re away.
Cons
- It can’t be used with Apple HomeKit.
- It needs to be always connected to a network if you want your scheduled actions to work well.
- It doesn’t send any type of usage report.
Here’s the product listing link if you want to read more about this product! Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug.
2. Currant Smart Plug
Currant is one of the most popular smart plug choices that you can get since it provides a report of how much energy power your connected devices are using at the moment, which is useful if you want to be careful with your energy usage.
These products come with the “Currant App,” which can be used to access all of the device’s great features. You can create customized rules for your devices and receive a constant report on your energy power usage and cost by the hour, day, month, and year.
These products come with two outlets, but you can switch their directions from one side to another to avoid cord tangling. You can use this device with Alexa, Google Home, and the Currant App.
Pros
- It gives you a report with detailed data on power usage.
- It has a stylish design.
- It includes two outlets.
- It’s one of the top smart plugs on the market.
- It doesn’t need a hub.
Cons
- It can’t be used with Apple HomeKit
If you want to read more about this product, click the following link: Currant Smart Plug.
3. Kasa Smart Power Strip
If you want to go all-in with smart plugs, this is one of the best deals that you can get on the market. This WiFi strip works with six independent outlets and three USB ports. Every outlet on this device can use all the features individually, which is amazing if you need a product that can fit many things at the same time.
This strip can be easily connected to any wall, and it provides ETL-certified surge protection, which protects each socket and port from any unexpected power surges. You can also receive a usage report on your Kasa Smart app. This report makes it easy to know what’s taking more power, and you can share this information with other people living with you. This feature is amazing because it helps you save both energy and time.
Pros
- It comes with three additional USB ports that work well at charging a small device.
- You can obtain a power usage report whenever you need it.
- Every single outlet works individually.
- It comes with many different settings and connectivity features.
- It can be voice-managed through several available hubs, including Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana.
- It doesn’t require a hub.
Cons
- It’s the most expensive smart outlet on the list.
- It doesn’t support Apple HomeKit.
- You can’t monitor the power in the USB ports in any way.
Find out more about this Wi-Fi smart home device by following this link: Kasa Smart Power Strip.
4. Amazon Smart Plug
This is an Amazon-based plug that you can control with Alexa and any other Alexa-powered products, such as the Amazon Echo Dot. These are the most affordable models on this list, and they can be set up in an easy way.
You can use these devices to control lights, fans, and any other connected appliances through your WiFi network, even if you’re not at home. If you’re only going to use a single device, these are top-quality, affordable products you can try.
Pros
- You can use it with the Echo Dot and other Alexa devices.
- It doesn’t require a hub.
- It can save you time while setting it up.
- It can be easily linked with a dual-band wireless router.
- It has an affordable price.
- You can control it through the mobile Alexa app, even if you’re away.
Cons
- You can only control it with Alexa or Echo Dot.
- It doesn’t provide any data usage report feature.
Find out more about this product by going to the following link: Amazon Smart Plug.
Does Alexa Work On 5-GHz?
Yes! If you like Alexa products, such as Echo Dot, you can easily link them to 5-GHz networks. However, this doesn’t mean that your smart outlet can also link to 5-GHz networks. The proper way to solve this issue would be to purchase the “Leviton DW15P-1BW Outlet,” which can share 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequencies without issues, which can save you some time.
On the other hand, your Echo Dot and smart outlet don’t have to share the same frequencies. If you have a dual-band WiFi router, you can make your plug link to the 2.4-GHz frequency and the Echo Dot to the 5-GHz frequency. This way, they can still function properly.
Can 2.4-GHz Devices Connect to 5-GHz?
Unfortunately, 2.4-GHz devices don’t support 5-GHz WiFi routers. However, 5-GHz products can usually access a 2.4-GHz WiFi router. A 5-GHz-only router is very rare to find on the market because of the frequency range limitations.
In most cases, you’re going to see dual-band routers that share both frequencies. These are a little more expensive than a traditional router, but they can save you from having to buy a separate router for each device.
How To Connect Smart Plugs to a Dual-Band Router
- Make sure that your router has the two frequencies turned on. You can see this in the router’s settings.
- If you have a dual-band plug, you can connect it to any frequency that you like.
- If you have a 2.4-GHz-only plug, you’re only going to see the 2.4-GHz frequency on the wall plug’s internet settings, so that’s the router frequency that you have to select.
It’s important to know which frequency your router and smart wall plug offer to avoid issues. Still, it would be better to control the device through the 2.4-GHz frequency, even if you have access to a 5-GHz frequency. The former has a wider reach, so if you need to turn your house into a truly smart environment, using the frequency with the most range can save you time, energy, and connectivity issues.
Conclusion
If you would like to have your entire home appliances at your device’s reach, these are affordable and efficient options to purchase. If you live with several people, you can share the apps and automated controls with them so that they also have access to each feature and usage report.
You can turn even the most outdated device you own into a modern device; if you know where to look, you can purchase a product that you like and fits your needs simultaneously.
