I love smart plugs for smart home automations. Smart plugs are one of the easiest ways to start building out a smart home without overwhelming someone. They are easy to install, use, and are usually low-cost. Today, Shelly has released the new Shelly Plug Gen4. Big point up front: it works with Matter, and it’s under $20. For HomeKit users, it is an easy way to add automations, track power usage, and control lamps or small appliances directly from the Home app.
“Shelly Plug Gen4 isn’t just another smart plug; it has the potential to be the foundation of a smarter, more efficient home,” said Svetlin Todorov, CEO of Shelly USA and co founder of Shelly Group. “We’ve packed flexibility and intelligence into every inch to create a device that does so much more than on off control; it helps end users automate routines, manage energy, protect devices, and implement personalized experiences.”
The Shelly Plug Gen4 supports Matter, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and full local control, so it can fit into just about any smart home setup. Because of its Matter support, it works with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple Home/ HomeKit, Samsung’s SmartThings, and the increasingly popular Home Assistant. For people who like to tinker with their setup, Shelly’s new plug includes custom automation and scripting support. You can write advanced automations in JavaScript or grab some from the Shelly script library as well.
Power-wise, it supports loads up to 1800 watts, so it works with a wide range of appliances, lamps, and office gear without worrying about tripping breakers. I am waiting on my unit to arrive to test, but from what I understand, all you do is plug it in, open the Shelly app, and choose between local control or cloud control. As I said earlier, it works with all the major smart home platforms through Matter, so it fits in wherever you need it. The device also includes a built-in lux sensor and a customizable LED ring. You can trigger automations based on light levels and adjust the LED color or brightness to show status or act as a night light.
Wrap up
The huge win here is the sub-$20 price point while including Matter support out of the box. It’s for sale today on Shelly’s website. I have a unit on the way, so I will be diving into it further in the coming weeks, but on paper, it looks like a winner.
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