Smart Plugs: The Gateway to a Smart Home
Smart plugs are the entry point for many people venturing into smart home setups. Additionally, seasoned smart homeowners utilize them for numerous purposes, including power management and remote operation of appliances, lights, and other devices. With so many smart plug options available, it can be challenging to decide which one to choose. Enter the Meross MSS315 Energy Monitoring Smart Plug. Is it worth your consideration? After reading this review, you’ll know!
Specifications
- Input: 120 Volts, ~ 60Hz
- Output: 120 Volts, ~ 60Hz, 15 amps maximum load
- Energy Monitoring: Yes
- Dimensions: 2.7 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches (excluding plug pins)
- Wi-Fi Standards: 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
- Official System Support: Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Meross
- Matter-enabled: Yes
A Few Key Points About the Specifications:
- Like most Wi-Fi smart home devices, the MSS315 only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. While the lack of 5 GHz support is a common gripe, it remains the standard for such devices.
- It supports the platforms listed above and nearly any platform that supports Matter.
- It can handle a load of 15 amps, the typical capacity of most U.S. electrical outlets.
Editor’s Note: You can purchase the MSS315 smart plug directly from the Meross store. Use the coupon code HTH15 to get 15% off anything you purchase directly from Meross.
Setting Up the Meross MSS315 Smart Plug
The Meross smart plug can be set up using a Matter controller or the Meross app. In fact, seconds after I plugged it in, my smartphone prompted me to set it up via Matter. However, I chose to use the Meross app to see how that process works. I’ve previously set up other Meross devices through the Meross app.
Setup for those devices was seamless, and I expected the same for the MSS315 smart plug. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Install the Meross App and Add the Smart Plug
I already had the app installed, so I simply opened it and selected the plus (+) button at the top right of the screen.
Then, I selected the option to add a smart plug and chose the MSS315 model.
Step 2: Configure the Meross Matter Setup
Next, the Meross app guided me through adding the device via Matter. It allowed me to choose my preferred Matter platform. I selected to add the device directly to Meross.
The app walked me through the remaining steps, and then I was done. You can see below that I successfully added the MSS315 smart plug to the Meross app.
Using the MSS315 Smart Plug
Using the MSS315 smart plug is as straightforward as any other smart plug. You can turn it on and off directly from the app. Additionally, you can use voice commands if you’ve integrated your smart plug with Google Assistant, Alexa, or HomeKit.
You can also monitor the power usage of devices plugged into the smart plug. Below is a screenshot showing the power draw of some LED lights I had connected.
One feature we appreciate is the smart plug’s compact design. As you can see, it doesn’t block adjacent outlets — a common problem with some other smart plugs.
Configuration Options
The MSS315 offers several configuration options worth noting:
- You can name the device, set up alerts, calculate electricity costs, and more within the app.
- Integration with Home Assistant is possible in a couple of ways:
- Via Matter, depending on your setup.
- Through the Meross custom component available in the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS).
Note: At the time of writing, the Home Assistant Matter integration didn’t support energy monitoring. To track energy usage in Home Assistant, you might prefer using the custom Meross component.
Comparison with Other Smart Plugs
We’ve tested many smart plugs, including the Shelly Plus Plug and Theengs Plug (with Bluetooth gateway). While both are excellent options, neither supports Matter. Additionally, the MSS315 has a smaller profile compared to those models.
Final Thoughts
The Meross MSS315 smart plug is compact, reliable, Matter-enabled, and compatible with multiple ecosystems simultaneously. Add to that its energy monitoring capability and affordability, and it’s an excellent option to consider. It should definitely be on your shortlist of smart plugs to explore!
