Since 2015, Al Roker has been uttering the same phrase to remind others of the importance of never having a dead device: ABC, or Always Be Charging. We've taken this sentiment to heart, testing portable chargers for our annual Travel Gear Awards, and finding new ways to transform our apartments into miniature smart homes.
If you have a camera roll full of unplugged cords and appliances that have very visibly been turned off, our editors can relate and recommend purchasing a smart plug. These tech devices can be controlled via an app on your phone or with your voice as you're dashing out the door.
See below for more of our favorite tech finds — whether you want to juice multiple devices at once in a home office, or need to charge your phone in a pinch while commuting.
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"This thing my parents bought for me when I was heading to college more than 10 years ago, and I still use it," says deputy editorial director, Ali Deabler. "I pack it with me for every move (including cross-country) because it’s just so functional. Each tentacle moves and bends so you can plug in things that are on opposite sides of the room. So I can plug in my charger and when I yank on it, the tentacle moves, rather than the extension that everything else is plugged into. It’s small and cheap, but actually makes a pretty big difference."
This small but mighty power strip can power up to five different devices at one time — and each of them can be individually turned off thanks to an app, or with the power of your voice.
The app will also remind you how long devices have been "on," allowing you to conserve time and energy by setting them on a schedule.
While this isn't a smart device per se, it does have the ability to quite literally power your entire household — with the 15 included outlets and charging ports. It even promises a fast charge, juicing iPhones from 0 to 50% in under 30 minutes.
Set schedules, operate outlets on a timer and command them all with your Alexa app or the sound of your voice — either individually or altogether.
This splurge-worthy power strip from an editor-loved brand can power entire rooms, letting you control lamps, laptop chargers, walking pads or anything else you need to operate out of a home office.
Best smart plugs to shop
"I didn’t think I would love a smart plug this much and am surprised by how much I get from it!" praises editor Vivien Moon. "I primarily use it in the winter to switch my lights on before coming home since it’s dark before I even leave the office but now that it is hot enough to rely on the AC daily, I am going to switch it over to connect it to my fan or AC so I can switch those on before I get home in an attempt to save energy. I love how easy it was to install and how it just works so well."
One reviewer called these petite plugs the "unsung heroes" of her household — automatically turning on lights both in and outside of her house, illuminating rooms and the porch alike.
They operate similarly to other smart plugs and outlets, allowing you to employ the use of Amazon Alexa or a Google Assistant to make it easier than ever to command them on and off.
Power an entire workspace or nightstand's worth of products with this single plug-in, that has room for five traditional cables as well as four USB connectors.
It has built-in gaps to ensure large chargers don't bump into each other, nor that you have to pick and choose which device gets a spot.
"These might seem silly but they have actually changed my life," admits production coordinator, Camryn Privette. "All of the lights in my apartment have one of these plugs and I can control them from an app or by talking to my Alexa. One of the biggest joys of this product is being in bed and not having to get up to turn any lights off. I haven’t touched a switch in years. Also, in the summer I have one for my AC so I can control it remotely."
Over 450,000 reviewers agree that this smart plug is one of the best options out there. It's simple to set up, promising a five-minute process or less and users have the ability to command Alexa to turn on coffee makers, lamps, dog feeders and more.
Control all your items in multiple rooms at once with this pack of smart plugs. Plus, other family members who also have the app can take control too — making it easy for housesitters and babysitters alike to manage while you're away.
Best chargers to shop
Taking home the top prize in the portable chargers category during the Shop TODAY 2025 Travel Gear Awards, this pocket-size device charged a phone over 60% in an hour's time.
For a portable charger you can take virtually anywhere, reach for this one from Iniu. It's significantly lighter and thinner compared to others, and can still charge more than one device, powering phones, laptops or headphones while on the go.
We weren't kidding when we said we take Roker's statement very literally here — this award-winning product charged a phone from 0 to 73% in a single hour and still had over 60% of its own battery left over.
"We have smart chargers in every room of the apartment, most of them being this fast-acting Anker smart plug that charges my iPhones (yes, multiple iPhones) from 2% to nearly 90% in about an hour's time," says SEO senior editor, Jess Bender.
Never lose or tangle cords again, thanks to this innovative charger that acts similarly to a tape measure, aka the cord spits out and can retract into itself. Our editors were impressed with it when they used it while traveling, which helped it earn an award during our 2025 Travel Gear Awards.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY.
