Priced at $49.95, the Eve Energy is one of the more expensive smart plugs we've seen, which is curious given that it only works on the Apple HomeKit platform.
This plug is very easy to install and offers handy power usage and cost reporting, and it worked well in our tests.
That said, it lacks the third-party interoperability that you get with our Editors' Choice, the more affordable iHome iSP6X SmartPlug.
Design and Features
At 2.6 by 2.6 by 1.9 inches (HWD) the glossy white Eve Energy plug is roughly the same size as the Belkin WeMo Insight.
It has a three-prong outlet on its face along with an LED-backlit On/Off button that glows green when the plug is on.
A three-prong plug on the back is positioned so that the device won't block the second outlet on a two-outlet wall receptacle.
The plug uses Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate with your iOS device, but lacks the Wi-Fi circuitry that you get with other smart plugs like the iHome iSP6X and the Aukey SH-PA3.
If you want to access the plug remotely, you need to connect it to a hub in the form of an Apple TV, a HomePod, or an iPad configured as a Wi-Fi bridge.
Moreover, it doesn't support IFTTT applets that allow it to work with other IFTTT-enabled devices such as door locks and cameras, and it doesn't support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands like the above-mentioned smart plugs.
The Energy plug uses the same mobile app as other Eve Home devices.
Upon launching the app you'll see a Rooms screen that lists all rooms in your home with the names of all devices installed in each room.
Tap the room in which the Energy plug is installed and then tap the On/Off button to turn the plug on or off.
Tap the plug's name to access its usage reports including current Consumption (watts), Projected Cost per year based on the last minute, day, or week of usage, Total Consumption in kWh with hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly bar charts, and Total Cost with hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly bar charts.
There's also an On/Off button in this screen.
At the bottom of the screen are five navigation buttons.
Use the At A Glance button to set up a page where you can access your most-used devices and turn them on and off with a single touch.
The Scenes button takes you to a screen where you can create scenes to have the plug turn on or off along with other devices.
For example, a Bedtime scene can turn off the plug and lock the front door.
The Scenes screen also has a Timer feature that lets you schedule on and off times, and a Rules feature that lets you trigger scenes, but you must be connected to a hub to use these features.
The Rooms button takes you to the same screen that you see when you open the app, and the Types button displays a list of devices by their function.
Here you can access the Energy plug's individual functions including Power, Consumption, Projected Cost, Total Cost, and Total Consumption.
In the Settings menu you can set electricity costs, change room assignments, add and remove devices, and create groups of devices to make it easier for Siri to understand which accessories belong together.
Installation and Performance
As with other Eve smart home devices, the Eve Energy is a snap to install.
Simply download the mobile app and plug the device into a wall outlet.
Go to Settings in the app and tap the plus icon in the upper right corner to initiate a search.
In my tests, the Energy was identified within seconds.
I tapped the Energy tab, scanned the HomeKit code on the box, and was connected in around 10 seconds.
I chose a room (Den), gave the device a name and an icon, and was done.
The Eve Energy plug worked flawlessly.
I had no trouble turning it on and off using the physical button or the in-app button, and it responded quickly to Siri voice commands.
I added it to a Bedtime scene that turns off several other HomeKit-enabled devices, including Philips Hue lighting and an iDevices outdoor switch, and it worked perfectly.
Conclusions
The Eve Energy offers an easy way to control things like lamps, coffee makers, and other small home appliances using Apple's HomeKit platform.
It's a true plug-and-play device that is ready to use in a matter of seconds, and it offers robust energy usage and cost reporting.
You can create HomeKit scenes to have the switch turn off at bedtime and on in the morning, and you can set up automations to have it work with other devices if you have an Apple TV or a HomePod serving as a home hub.
But it doesn't support IFTTT applets and it doesn't work with Android devices.
Siri voice commands worked well in testing, but you can't control this device using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.
If you want a smart plug with more third-party support, consider our Editors' Choice, the iHome iSP6X SmartPlug.
It doesn't offer usage reporting, but it supports HomeKit and works with Andriod devices, and it supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, with IFTTT support coming soon.
It's also around $20 cheaper than the Eve Energy, making it a better buy.
The Bottom Line
The Eve Energy is a single-socket smart plug designed to work with Apple's HomeKit platform, but not with Android devices.
