You could even turn your lights on, as long as you’re not the type to hide under the duvet. Wake up in the morning: A smart plug can help rouse you from your morning slumber, by turning on the radio or even switching on a kettle – just make sure it’s filled it with water the night before. It’s more convenient than fumbling for a switch, and you can also schedule the lights to switch on and go off whenever you like – a simple way to deter intruders, as your home will appear to be occupied even if you’re away. Switch lights on and off: A smart plug can’t control your wall switches, but it will work perfectly with any plugged-in upright lamps. However, these handy little gadgets still have plenty of uses around the house. If an appliance requires you to press a physical button to operate it – as with, say, a dishwasher or a coffee machine – then there’s not much benefit to installing a smart plug.

You can use one with any appliance fitted a three-pin plug, but their capabilities only extend as far as turning the mains power on and off.

The first thing to know about smart plugs is that, while they may be much smarter than your average power socket, they have their limitations. But first of all, here are two hot smart plug deals to cast your eyes over. Here’s our guide to choosing the right smart plug, and our pick of the best models.

There’s a wide range of smart plugs on the market, and it’s not always obvious what the difference is between them. These simple little mains adaptors let you use an app or a voice assistant to effortlessly turn the power on and off – or, they can do it automatically to a set schedule. We live in the “smart home” age – but it's a fair bet that only a handful of the appliances in your home are designed to be controlled from your phone, or via voice commands.

Remote plug