Smart plugs are the entry point for many people creating a smart home. Also, veteran smart homeowners employ smart plugs for various functions including energy management and remote operation of appliances, lamps, and other devices. With so many smart plug options, it is hard to know which one to choose. Enter the Meross MSS315 energy monitoring smart plug. Is it worth your consideration? After reading this review you’ll know!
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Table of Contents
Meross MSS315 Specifications
- Latest Tech – Easy Setup with Echo: With 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 (𝗠𝗦𝗦) 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, no more complicated setup! Just one step to power plug on, and ask Amazon Echo to discover the devices for automatic connection with Alexa. *MSS requires your purchase account matches your Echo account. If not, traditional pairing way with Matter is still enable.
- Insightful Energy Monitoring: Track 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and access historical data with the built-in power meter in the Matter smart plug via the Meross app. Gain insights into usage patterns to make informed decisions and save on energy bills.
| 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, 2.4GHz |
| Official Platform Support | Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Meross |
| Matter-enabled? | Yes |
There are a few things to note about the specs above:
- Like most Wi-Fi smart home devices, the MSS315 only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Not supporting 5 GHz signals is a common gripe of mine, but it is standard nonetheless.
- It supports the platforms listed above, and pretty much any platform that supports Matter (here is a Matter primer). Also, it can be added function in multiple platforms at the same time.
- It can handle 15 amps of load, the standard capacity of most US outlets.
Editor’s Note: You can buy the MSS315 smart plug directly from the Meross store. And if you use the coupon code HTH15 you’ll get 15% off anything you purchase directly from Meross.
MSS315 setup
The Meross smart plug can be set up using a Matter controller and the Meross App. In fact, seconds after I plugged it in my smartphone prompted me to set it up through Matter. However, I wanted to use the Meross app to see how that process works. I have other Meross devices that I have set up with the Meross app, including:
- Meross MSL430 Wi-Fi Ambient Light
- Meross MS400 Smart Leak Sensor
- Meross MS200H Smart Window and Door Sensor
- Meross MS100F Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor
Set up for those devices via the Meross app was simple, and I expected that to be 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 install so I just had to open it and select the plus button at the top right of the screen below:
Then, select that you want to add a smart plug and choose the MS315:
Step 2: Meross Matter setup
Next, the Meross app will guide you through adding the device via Matter. You can see below that it lets you select your preferred Matter platform. I chose to add the device to Meross.
The Meross app guides you through the final steps, and then you are done. You can see below that I’ve added the MSS315 smart plug to the Meross app:
Using the MSS315 smart plug
Using the MSS315 smart plug is as easy as any other smart plug. You can turn it on and off directly from the app. Also, you can use voice to do so if you’ve integrated your smart plug with Google Assistant, Alexa, or HomeKit.
You can also monitor the energy utilization of the devices plugged into the smart plug. Below is an image of the app showing the energy draw of some LED lights I had plugged in:
One thing I appreciate about using the Meross smart plug is its form factor. As you can see below, it does not block any outlets it isn’t connected to. Amazingly, some smart plugs do!
The MSS315 has some configuration options worth checking out:
You can name the device, set up alerts and electricity bill calculations, and more on this screen.
Home Assistant integration
I’m a huge fan of Home Assistant, and I like for every device to integrate with it. This device can integrate in couple of ways. You can integrate with Home Assistant via Matter depending on your installation type. I use Home Assistant core for now, so that isn’t an option for me.
You can also use the Meross custom component through the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS). As of the time of writing this article, the Home Assistant Matter integration didn’t support power monitoring, so if you want to see power usage in Home Assistant you’re probably better off using the custom component.
Alternatives to the Meross MSS315 smart plug
There are many smart plugs out there, and I’ve reviewed many of them, including recently the Shelly Plus Plug and Theengs Plug (with Bluetooth gateway). Although both of those smart plus are good options, neither supports Matter and the Meross MSS315 has smaller profile than those.
If you are interested in other smart plugs, including Z-Wave- and Zigbee-powered devices be sure to check out my Smart Plug Technology Advisor for personalized recommendations.
Final thoughts
The Meross MSS315 smart plug is compact, reliable, matter-enables, and works with multiple ecosystems, even at the same time. Add to that the fact that it does energy monitoring and it’s inexpensive. It should be on your short list of smart plugs to consider.
