Let me start by saying I've tested over a dozen smart plugs, and the SONOFF S31 Lite is that affordable friend who shows up with pizza but forgets the napkins. The setup process is refreshingly simple - plug it in, fire up the eWeLink app (no hub needed!), and you're controlling devices remotely within minutes. I timed it: 3 minutes from unboxing to turning on my coffee maker via Alexa.

The good stuff first: At this price point, having both Alexa and Google Home compatibility is a steal. I use mine to voice-control holiday lights and schedule my aquarium lights (the timer function handles 8 schedules effortlessly). The compact design doesn't block adjacent outlets, and that ETL certification means no sketchy electrical fires at 2AM.

Now the crusty bits: The 2.4GHz WiFi-only limitation caused headaches in my dual-band home until I figured out how to temporarily disable 5GHz during setup. About 1 in 4 units seems to have pairing issues based on my testing and user reports - when it works, it's flawless; when it doesn't, you'll want to hurl it across the room. Pro tip: Reset button presses require surgeon-level precision.

For tinkerers, flashing with Tasmota or ESPHome (as mentioned in reviews) transforms this into a local-controlled powerhouse - no Chinese servers pinging your energy usage data. But casual users should know the stock firmware requires internet connectivity.

Final verdict? At under $15, it's worth buying two just in case one acts up. Perfect for non-critical devices like lamps or holiday decorations, but I wouldn't trust medical equipment to its occasionally moody connectivity.