iHome was one of the first companies to come out with a HomeKit-compatible product, debuting its iSP5 SmartPlug in the summer of 2015. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, iHome is announcing the successor to the iSP5 SmartPlug, the iSP8 SmartPlug.

While the Wi-Fi-connected iSP5 simply turned a dumb appliance into a smart appliance and allowed it to be turned on and off with Siri, the iSP8 is a more advanced product that adds power consumption monitoring. In addition to functioning as a smart outlet like the original iSP5, the iSP8 SmartPlug will collect data on how much power an appliance is using, aggregating the information in the accompanying iHome Control app.

ihomesmartplug
The iSP8 also ships with a remote control that's able to control the SmartPlug without requiring access to an iPhone or iPad. The iSP8 SmartPlug will be available later in the year for $49.99.

Top Rated Comments

justperry Avatar
126 months ago
Separate remote is not so smart. App?
There is an App, it can be controlled by Siri so it is smart, the remote is just an on/off switch.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PhoenixDown Avatar
126 months ago
At $50 per plug, I am likely spending more money on plugs than I would save by reviewing the energy used.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chuck Kostalnick Avatar
126 months ago
Only a single plug... Should've put two or three that are able to be controlled by HomeKit. Something like a Red, Green, or Blue indicator around them so you can identify them via the App.

At $50 per plug, this is probably the largest thing slowing HomeKit's growth.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
126 months ago
Yes, but that's what it means to be a geek. We spend hours to get performance increases that can only be measured in nanoseconds and a fortune to quantify our expenditures.
I review this chart before undertaking any automation tasks:
https://xkcd.com/1205/
MacRumors content image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tasset Avatar
126 months ago
Only a single plug... Should've put two or three that are able to be controlled by HomeKit. Something like a Red, Green, or Blue indicator around them so you can identify them via the App.

At $50 per plug, this is probably the largest thing slowing HomeKit's growth.
Exactly. I had an iDevices Switch until this morning, worked great for Xmas lights but it being a one-trick pony I didn't have any use after that to justify keeping. CES 2015 Incipio had some more affordable HomeKit devices but turned out to be vaporware. When they get down to the $20-$30 range then I can see replacing throughout the house.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tuckerjj Avatar
126 months ago
Hmm, HomeKit could really do with logging and dashboards, a bit like the health app for HealthKit, so that information about your house like this could be logged centrally rather than spread across separate apps.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...