Best 7.4kW home EV charger: evec VEC01 or Masterplug Smart?

Display

Neither charger appears to include a built-in display, so there’s no screen-quality winner here in the traditional sense. That means you won’t be buying either unit for on-device charging readouts or a large front-panel interface. In practice, both rely on the car, app, or installation setup for status information. Winner: tie.

Performance

On raw charging output, both are rated at 7.4kW, 32A, single phase, which is the standard UK home charging sweet spot for overnight top-ups. In real-world terms, that’s typically enough to add around 25-30 miles of range per hour depending on the vehicle’s efficiency and onboard charger limits. Product B has an edge because it explicitly includes smart features such as Wi‑Fi and solar charging, which can improve how and when you use that power. Product A is still fully capable, but it is the more straightforward charger rather than the more adaptive one. Winner: Product B.

Build quality and design

Both units are wall-mounted, black, and designed for outdoor home use, but their feature sets suggest different priorities. Product A is untethered and supports Type 1 and Type 2, which makes it more versatile if you have different vehicles now or may change cars later. That socket-only, untethered design is also tidier if you prefer to store your own cable in the boot rather than leave one hanging on the wall. Product B is socket-only too, but it adds IP55 weather protection, auto-lock, and a more obviously “smart” specification, which points to a more premium, security-conscious design. On flexibility alone, Product A wins; on smart protection and outdoor readiness, Product B is slightly stronger. Overall winner: Product A for versatility.

Battery life

For an EV charger, the more relevant question is not battery life of the charger itself, but how well it supports battery health in your car. Both units offer standard 7.4kW AC charging, which is generally gentler than frequent rapid charging and well suited to preserving EV battery longevity over time. Product B has the advantage because solar charging support can help you use surplus daytime generation, especially valuable in the UK where summer solar output is strong and export tariffs are often lower than the cost of imported electricity. If you have solar panels, shifting charging into daylight can reduce cycling on expensive grid power and improve your overall cost per mile. Winner: Product B.

Price and value for money

This is where Product A makes its strongest case. At £314.99, it is £35 cheaper than Product B at £349.99, while matching the same 7.4kW, single-phase home charging capability and sharing the same 4.4/5 rating. That lower price matters in the UK, where installation costs can already be significant and electricity prices remain high enough that every pound saved on hardware helps. If you do not need Wi‑Fi or solar integration, Product A gives you the core charging function at better value. Winner: Product A.

Game library/features

For EV chargers, translate “game library/features” into smart functions, compatibility, and convenience. Product A’s standout feature is compatibility: it supports Type 1 and Type 2 and is untethered, which gives it broader use across different cars and cable setups. Product B is the feature-rich model, with Wi‑Fi, auto-lock, and solar charging support, making it better for scheduled charging, app-based management, and energy optimisation. If you want the charger to actively work with your household energy setup, Product B is the clear winner. If you want simple, flexible hardware with fewer moving parts, Product A is still excellent. Winner: Product B.

Overall user experience

The best user experience depends on what kind of owner you are. Product A is the simpler, cheaper, more flexible charger: it suits drivers who want dependable home charging without paying extra for connected features they may never use. Product B is better for owners who value app connectivity, solar-aware charging, and the reassurance of auto-lock and IP55-rated weather protection. In the UK, where off-peak tariffs, smart charging schedules, and solar self-consumption can materially reduce running costs, Product B feels more future-proof. But if your main goal is just to charge a compatible EV at home reliably and cheaply, Product A is the easier recommendation.

Overall summary: Product B is the better all-round smart charger, especially for solar households and anyone who wants app control and extra features. Product A is the better value buy, with the same 7.4kW charging power for £35 less and broader Type 1/Type 2 flexibility. If you want the most capable ownership experience, choose Product B; if you want the best price-to-performance ratio, choose Product A.