Turn on the lights, even when you are not home. How? With a smart socket! The Sonoff S20 is one of the many options available. You can create custom schedules, custom scenes and even ask Google or Amazon Alexa to turn on or off the lights. Let’s find out if this smart socket can beat the competition.
Introduction & Specifications
Man, I love smart sockets. I used the BlitzWolf BW-SHP6, BlitzWolf BW-SHP2, and several TP-Link sockets. Now, with the Sonoff sockets, I have even more options! The size is a downside in this model, but I know Sonoff is making smaller ones too (I will post a review shortly!). The app Ewelink is easy to use and offers a lot of options to make your house smarter. There is no USB port on the Sonoff S20, but that is not a requirement for me. Have a look at the specifications below.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Sonoff |
| Model: | S26 |
| Standard: | US/ UK/ AU/ EU(type F/E) |
| Power Supply: | 90V~250V AC(50/60Hz) |
| Maximum Current: | 10A |
| Maximum Power: | 2200W |
| Enclosure Material: | Fire Retardant ABS |
| Wireless Standard: | 802.11.b/g/n 2.4G WiFi |
| Encryption: | WEP/TKIP/AES/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK |
| Operating Temperature: | 0ºC-40ºC(32°F-104°F) |
| Operating Humidity: | 5%-90%RH, Non-condensing |
| Product Dimensions (EU/UK): | 130*80*78(mm) |
| Product Dimensions (US /CN(AU): | 120*78*34 (mm) |
| Certification: | CE/RoHS/FCC |
Unboxing
The Sonoff S20 comes in a blue box which has a lot of information and images on it. Some people find this handy, personally, I think this makes the box a bit too much. Sonoff picked a nice color and there is no plastic waste in the box. Just the charger, some information sheets, and nothing more.
Hardware & Design
Unboxing the Sonoff S20, we see that this smart socket is pretty big! If we compare it to the BlitzWolf BW-SHP2 or the BlitzWolf BW-SHP6, we see that there is a pretty big size difference. No issue, but if you are looking for a smaller smart socket, this might not be the one.
There is no USB port on the Sonoff S20. If it is there, it is handy, but it is not required. The power on/off button is big but can be switched on/off with your smartphone. Hiding this socket behind a closet is no problem, you don’t need access to it to control it. Around the button, is a ring. This ring will blink in green and indicate if you are online or ready to pair for example.
Looking for a great and affordable smart socket? Click Here to buy the Sonoff S20!
Software
I still think there should be one universal app where you can connect all, or almost all, smart home accessories too. Now you have to install several apps to use different hardware. For the Sonoff S20, you need the EWelink App which is available for Android and iOS. Below I will explain how to connect your Sonoff S20.
How To Connect?
Before you are able to use the Sonoff S20, there are some things you must take care of. You must have a 2.4GHz WiFi network. With a newer and faster 5GHz WiFi network it won’t work. Of course, you must have the password to the WiFi network. Also, your router must be MAC-Open.
In order to use the Sonoff S20, you need to download the EWelink app (Google Play Store // Apple App Store). Register your account and log in with your newly made account.
Plug the Sonoff S20 in the wall socket and wait for the ring to blink in green. Now, press and hold the button for +-7 seconds until the green ring will blink more rapidly. In the EWelink app, press the “+” sign and make the connection with the socket. Log in to your WiFi network and give a name to your socket. Done! You are able to use the Sonoff S20 now!
Features
A smart socket must do more than just turn a light on or off. Luckily, Sonoff is a pretty big brand in smart gadgets and they have some additional features. You can use several smart assistants and even create your own actions based on things that happen with IFTTT. In the Ewelink App, you can make and create custom schedules and customer scenes. A lot of additional features, which is a good thing.
Looking for a great and affordable smart socket? Click Here to buy the Sonoff S20!
Smart Assistants / Other Features
You can use your Sonoff S20 with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, and Nest! A lot of programs and smart assistants are available, which is a good thing. It doesn’t matter if you prefer Google or Amazon, you can use it with your smart speaker! With the compatibility of Nest and IFTTT, you can really customize how you use your Sonoff S20.
Conclusion
The Sonoff S20 is a great option if you are looking for a smart socket. It is a bit too big if you ask me, but the functionality is fine. If we look at the price, this is a very affordable option. However, there are other brands, like Blitzwolf, who make affordable smart sockets which are way smaller.
Having Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Nest, and IFTTT as supported platforms is just a big plus. This could very well be your first smart socket to play around with.
Want to read another review about a smart socket? Click Here for the Sonoff S26F, or the Oukitel P2!
Sonoff S20
€12
Pros
- Price
- Software is simple to use
- Supported platforms
Cons
- Size