Most smart plugs and their app-based controls are designed for indoor use. For outdoor smart plugs, you need to find a specialized model — which is where our hours of testing at CNET come in handy.

Not sure where to start with smart plugs? At CNET, these are the tricks we use to make our homes smarter and routines faster.

Outdoor outlets serve as a reliable power source for speakers, lighting, and tools to help maximize your outdoor living space. However, many homeowners have none or very few throughout their home's ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. A dangerous mistake to make is assuming that all outlets are created equally. It can lead to frying your electrical equipment, damaging ...

I'm not sure if this even exists, or if I'm overthinking it and there is a completely different/better way of accomplishing this. Here's the setup: I have a patio light controlled by a switch inside.

My smart home extends to both my front and back yards. But I have only one weather-protected duplex outlet in each location, which isn’t enough to accommodate all the smart devices I need to plug in.

Don't miss out! Get weekly deals, trends and product recommendations from USA TODAY Shopping delivered straight to your inbox. 4. Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300 with 6 Smart Outlets and 3 USB Port ...

Forgot to unplug the iron this morning? The top smart plugs, outlets, and power strips we've tested let you control anything you can plug into the wall from your phone. I'm PCMag's managing editor for ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When people think about smart home technology, they typically think of things inside the house such as a smart speaker or a smart thermostat.

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter.

If you have any kind of outdoor lights, Christmas lighting, speakers, or other outdoor electronics, chances are they aren’t really smart. And if you try to add smart home functionality, regular smart ...