Onvis has released a new outdoor smart plug that combines Matter over Thread, real-time energy monitoring, and IP65 weather resistance. It works natively with Apple Home without requiring a hub of its own, making it a strong option for outdoor lighting, holiday decorations, and other outdoor devices.
Many outdoor smart plugs that use Wi-Fi depend on the router's signal reaching outside, which can be unreliable in homes made of materials like brick. Thread is a mesh protocol in which devices route traffic through one another, making it more dependable for outdoor locations on the edge of Wi-Fi coverage. Because Onvis built the plug on Matter over Thread, it works with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings without being locked into a single platform. To take full advantage of it, you need a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K.
The plug tracks real-time power usage and energy consumption through your Matter-compatible smart home system. This lets you see how much electricity your landscape lighting, pool pump, or outdoor heater is using, and that data appears directly in Apple Home's energy view without a separate app. It is rated IP65, meaning it is protected against dust and low-pressure water jets from sprinklers or rain, and it handles up to 1800 watts, enough for landscape lighting, holiday decorations, and outdoor fans.
Schedules and automations work natively within Apple Home, so you can have landscape lights turn on at sunset and off at a set time without building anything complicated. Onvis is filling a useful product gap at a good price point, and the plug is available now on Amazon. The company has also been a solid vendor for Apple Home for years.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing