My cousin told me to just buy the cheap $40 smart plug, but after it bricked my lamp and fried the outlet, I'm not so sure.

Avery Ross · 2026-03-18T23:40:04.649956+00:00

He swore the generic brand was 'just as good' as the name-brand ones, but now I'm out a lamp and have to call an electrician, so has anyone actually had a good experience with those off-brand smart home gadgets or should I just stick to the reviewed stuff?

thea_chen7mo ago

My old apartment's wiring still smells like burnt plastic from a no-name plug.

10

jason5246mo ago

Ever wonder why those things are so cheap? Like uma_webb28 said, you really can't risk it with stuff that plugs right into your house wiring.

5

uma_webb287mo ago

Yeah, the "just as good" line gets me every time. Had a cheap smart bulb literally start smoking once. I just don't risk it with anything that plugs into the wall anymore.

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