CS-SO-2 Smart Outlet² Plug, White

Fantastic smart outlet!
If you’re looking for a smart outlet that is easy to set up, isn’t an eyesore, and just works, this one is for you. This was my first smart outlet, so I had NO idea how to set it up, but the instructions were very clear and easy to follow. There are really only 2 steps to set it up: plug it in, scan a code on the instructions. Sets up in under a minute, integrates seamlessly with HomeKit and Alexa, and is so easy to use that my 4-year-old was using it within minutes. I am using the outlet with lamps in my house, so that’s what this review will be about.Setup/Install: Took less than a minute from unboxing to being functional. Take it out of the box, plug it in, download the ConnectSense app, scan a code on the instructions, and you’re ready to start configuring.Design: What I love about this outlet is that it looks just like a regular wall outlet (apart from the blue lights that indicate that the outlet is on). Since it uses the traditional rectangular shape of a wall outlet, if you’re not looking for it, you don’t really see it. It doesn’t look like some sort of device hanging out of your outlet, it just looks like an outlet. It also has a convenient USB port on the side for charging accessories, although since mine is behind my bed, I haven’t used it. If you put it somewhere more convenient (i.e. in a living room or kitchen), you might get more use out of that aspect.App: I installed the ConnectSense app for the initial setup/install, but ended up using a combination of the ConnectSense app and HomeKit app to configure the names, types, scenes, etc. Whether you’ve you’ve used the HomeKit app before or not, the ConnectSense app is very similar and very intuitive. Even though this was my first smart outlet, I was already creating “scenes” and automations within about 15 minutes. After I did the initial setup, I opened the HomeKit app on my wife’s phone and she can use the devices as well! The app also tells you the status of each of the outlets (whether it’s On or Off), so if you leave the room or your house and can’t remember if you turned off your lights, the app will show you and you can turn them off there.Functionality/Configuration: I can’t believe how easy to use this thing is, especially for someone who hasn’t done this before. I tried this thing out in 2 rooms. In my bedroom, I have a lamp on either side of my bed. I often watch TV or work on my laptop before bed (much to the dismay of my wife), and then have to get up out of bed to turn off the lights. So I plugged this smart outlet into a wall socket behind my bed, plugged the lamps into it, and can now turn off each light individually, or as a group, without having to get up. You can use the HomeKit app, ConnectSense app, Siri, Alexa, Alexa app, etc. I set up 2 scenes for my bedroom using Alexa: “Good night” and “Good morning”. If I say “Alexa, good night”, my Echo Spot will turn off the bedroom lights. If I say “Alexa, good morning”, my Echo Spot will turn on the bedroom lights and play “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. You can also go the boring route and just say “Alexa, turn on the bedroom lights” :)Next, I wanted to try a couple things in the living room. I have a lamp on either side of my couch, so I wanted to plug them into the smart outlet. Unfortunately, the lamp cords wouldn’t reach the single outlet behind my couch, so I actually ran an extension cord from each of them, plugged them into the smart outlet, and then plugged the smart outlet into a power strip that went into a nearby wall socket – it worked perfectly! So in other words, you can use it on a power strip / extension cord if you need to – it doesn’t need to be plugged directly into the wall. Anyway, I set up 2 really cool automations for the living room using the HomeKit app. First, I set up an automation that automatically turns on the lights at sunset. Last night, the sun set at 4:46pm, and the lights popped right on! Very cool. I also set up an automation that turns on the lights when I arrive home (you need to set up an iPad or Apple TV as as a home hub to do this, but it’s very easy). and turns off the lights when I leave. And keep in mind – this was my first smart outlet, and I have zero knowledge of how to do these things. That’s how easy these things are!Overall, definitely recommend this smart outlet. Very easy to set up, great design, fun to play around with and create “scenes” and “automations”, convenient (who likes walking into a dark house at night?), and your friends will be impressed 🙂

mixed results
First things first, I think this and it’s in-wall sibling may be the only Homekit-compatible Smart Outlets on the market that natively support using the energy monitoring features as triggers for homekit automations in advanced homekit management apps like Controller or Home+. That’s why I bought them, and they do that quite well. Other Homekit-compatible Smart Outlets that have energy monitoring features don’t natively expose those features to these apps, rendering their utility limited.Unfortunately, the on-wall Smart outlet is plagued by poor wifi reliability. It loses the wifi signal multiple times a week and has to be manually power cycled. If I need smart outlet to schedule power cycle my smart outlet, just for automations to work reliably, something is very broken. I’m not the only customer who’s commented on this, and I’d hope a new Firmware update would be released to address it, but it doesn’t appear a new one has been published in over a year.On the side note, the in-wall outlet doesn’t have this problem.

Unreliable wifi
I am a long time ConnectSense customer and was pleased with their temperature/humidity remote sensors. This product seemed perfect for a remote control application so I ordered one. Installation was easy and it worked fine at first. It simply will not stay connected to my WiFi and always shows offline after a short time. I spent a week evaluating and reset it multiple times. I have no WiFi issues to my knowledge as all other devices are fine.

After a few months, it started spontaneously disconnecting
The product is a good design and offers a great feature set. But it cannot stay connected reliably.For the first few months the item worked very well. The only complaint I had is that both Alexa and HomeKit would have difficulty ascertaining it’s status (on/off), but as soon as you gave a command through either platform it worked. But in the last week, the device has started disconnecting from the network. Neither Alexa nor HomeKit can reach it. Though, somehow, the ConnectSense app can still reach it some of the time, even when the others won’t. I haven’t changed anything with my network, Alexa, or HomeKit.