CES 2018

There isn't a great deal of differentiation amongst smart in-wall outlets on the market today. Most offer control of one outlet. Some include dimming capabilities, and there are even a few that offer energy monitoring. ConnectSense's new Smart In-Wall Outlet, of course, wouldn't be noteworthy if that were the extent of its feature set. So why am I writing about it?

Because the company's Smart In-Wall Outlet adds a multitude of features not found on any other in-wall smart outlets that I'm aware of. To begin with, the Smart In-Wall Outlet includes dual on/off relay controls—in other words, each outlet can be controlled independently, as is the case with ConnectSense's current on-wall Smart Outlet. The Smart In-Wall Outlet offers power monitoring, plug detection, NFC pairing, a local memory cache of data, and can sustain up to a 6000V/10K Amp impulse.

Beyond those "basic" features, the ConnectSense Smart In-Wall Outlet will be compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home—and is available in both Wi-Fi and ZigBee versions making it potentially compatible with a variety of DIY home automation hubs and services. The Smart In-Wall Outlet also includes capacitance-touch control, allowing each outlet to be turned on or off by simply touching the outlet's front and/or faceplate. The feature is user selectable, so homeowners with small children can disable the capacitance touch capabilities.

Initially, the ConnectSense Smart In-Wall Outlet will be available in white, in both 15A and 20A versions. Final pricing and availability have not yet been determined, but the company is targeting to release the Smart In-Wall Outlet by the end of March 2018. Pricing is anticipated to be under $100.