The more and more fancy, and expensive, electronic devices we pack into our homes, the more and more we need solutions for ensuring that these devices are safe in the event of a power outage or surge.  A simple solution to this is the common multi-outlet surge protector. But what if the outlets of this surge protector could be controlled via your mobile devices?  And what if the manufacturer threw in a couple of USB ports for good measure?  Well then you’d have the VOCOlinc PM2E Smart Power Strip.  In this post, we’ll go through its features, examine some advantages and disadvantages of this accessory, and give you our opinion on it.

A review unit was provided to myHomeKithome for the purpose of this review, but no compensation was received nor was the content reviewed before publishing. All thoughts expressed are purely those of my own.

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Features

• 3 individually controllable smart AC outlets 
• 2 x 5V / 2.4A USB Type A ports
• surge protection
• works with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa

Need to Knows

• uses a 2.4Ghz b/g/n IEEE802.11 WiFi band
• maximum output of 15A / 1800W per outlet
• Each outlet has a distinct color LED indicating it’s on/off state

Pros

Before even unboxing this power strip, one thing is very evident: it’s not a small accessory.  Part of this has to do with a well-packed device and another has to do with the size of the device itself.  Though it may be larger than a standard, non-surge protected power strip, it isn’t when compared to surge protectors.  

You also notice the weight of this device when picking it up.  It’s hefty enough to potentially do some relatively serious damage if you drop it on your foot.  Don’t drop it on your foot! A very nice feature of this surge protector is the length of its cord.  Measuring in at approximately 6 ft. (1.8m), this should give you plenty of slack to reach even the most tucked away outlets.   It definitely feels like a well-built device and not cheap at all.  

Though they are not “smart” meaning that they are not controlled by the LinkWise app, the addition of two USB ports is a definite plus for a variety of applications from kitchens to offices.  There is also plenty of space between each of the outlet which is nice in the event that one of the devices you have connected to the power strip has a larger power supply.

Cons

Seeing as how this is a solid option for making sure your electronics are safe and sound, energy monitoring would have been a great addition.  The team at VOCOlinc did consider this and the PM2 version of this power strip has 1 (one) energy monitoring outlet and also an additional Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port if you have a compatible device.  This is something you’ll definitely want to consider when choosing between the PM2E and the PM2.

Another thing you’ll want to consider is physical on/off switches for the outlets.  I was disappointed to see that there are no physical switches for the individual outlets.  The device does have a primary on/off switch and you can toggle the power state of all 3 (three) outlets simultaneously with a short press of the WiFi button, but if you want to turn off just one or two outlets, you best have a mobile device or a smart speaker nearby.  I know that we’re living in the internet of things, but there are times when tradition can still be employed.  

The App

The LinkWise app is a very important part of the VOCOlinc experience and the software team goes to great lengths to ensure that the end user can actually use the app and constantly work to improve it.  This includes regular UI improvements as well as firmware updates with added functionality to their product lineup.

After factory resetting and setting up the device for the first time, I was happy to see that there in fact was a firmware update available for the PM2E. If you’d like to know how to reset the device, check out this video: 

After going through what we can do with the PM2E in the LinkWise app, I wasn’t able to find any stand-out features.  We have remote control of the individual outlets.  We can create automations that turn outlets to turn on and off on different schedules.  That’s really it, though.  So as far as any added benefit of the LinkWise app for the PM2E, I can’t really say that there is any.  VOCOlinc did recently push a firmware update to their SmartBar smart plug which allows for cycling of the on/off state for actions such as resetting routers or restarting Home hubs and this would be a welcome addition to the PM2E as I can see it having a warm spot in many offices, including my own.

Final Thoughts

Smart plugs are standard fare in the HomeKit and home automation worlds and they come in all shapes and sizes with various different features.  However, their primary function is to be able to remotely control devices connected to the smart plug.  We can also expect features such as scheduling and voice assistant control as well.  In this regard, the VOCOlinc PM2E more than meets these expectations.  It goes beyond this by adding surge protection and the two USB ports.  For me, the PM2E falls short in two ways: physical control of the individual outlets and “smart” functionality.  We talked a little about applications for this surge protector being in an office.  Being as such, it might be more convenient for a person to manually switch on or off a device connected to the power strip rather than talk to Siri or grab their phone, open the app, find the device, find the correct outlet, and then turn it off.  While the scheduling feature provided in the LinkWise app is definitely a useful tool, I feel that the “smart” features could be taken even further.  We talked about power cycling, but energy metering would also be a welcomed addition; the latter of which was addressed with the PM2.  If I’m in the market for a smart power strip, the VOCOlinc PM2E is definitely a strong contender and will not steer you wrong, but it’s not without its faults.

We mentioned offices and kitchens, but certainly you have other ideas for how to use a smart power strip and you should share your ideas in the comments down below.  If you find the content and useful and want to help support us at no extra cost to you, conside3r using the Amazon Associates link down below.  You can also check out VOCOlinc’s other HomeKit-enabled smart products at the link down below.  We’ve also done a few different reviews of their products in the past and you can find those on social media @myhomekithome. 

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Links & Resources

Learn more about VOCOlinnc’s entire line of HomeKit-compatible smart gadgets at https://www.vocolinc.com

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