Get smart suggestions and auto power off devices
Reducing energy consumption and saving money are two of the most popular reasons to get into the smart home. So expect to see more new devices like the Currant Smart Outlet, a smart plug that uses AI to suggest rules and schedules that can help you to cut down on how much electricity your gadgets and appliances are using.
Currant’s smart plug comes in a $49.99 Bluetooth version and a $59.99 Wi-Fi version, with two outlets making the price even sweeter. The Wi-Fi model work with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant for standard voice controls and can also be controlled remotely. It’s the work of a Palo Alto based smart home startup founded in 2015 and this is its first product.
Read this: How much power does your smart home tech really use?
Pair a Currant Smart Outlet with the companion app for iOS and Android and you can see real-time graphs showing your energy usage (by hour, day, month, year) and how much it’s costing.
The best bit is that after a week of normal usage Currant says the app will be able to serve you energy saving recommendations with one example being to set it up to automatically power off the set top box when the TV is off. You can also set up your own rules and schedules.
The Smart Outlet was designed by Bould Design, the team behind the Nest thermostat’s minimalist design. And, well, there’s not much you can do with a smart plug but it’s got a reflective surface and can be rotated when plugged in which is handy.
Inspiration: The best uses for smart plugs
The Currant Smart Outlet is on sale now direct from Currant and on Amazon. We haven’t tested it yet but we’ll be looking to see how it compares to our smart plug picks.
