Review: Meross Smart Power Strip and Plug Offer Affordable and Versatile HomeKit Sockets, but Setup Difficulties Can Cause Frustration

[Jadzea97]

Was dead easy to setup. It did say please connect to 2.4GHz WiFi which was easy for me as I have my router set to broadcast the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks separately. Quick switch over and setup in 30 seconds. I guess they only support 2.4GHz and need the iPhone on the 2.4GHz network to copy over the current network key.
much better than requiring an another app to be installed just to get into HomeKit. Very quick to respond too!

 

[G5isAlive]

I keep wanting to get into HomeKit in a bigger way (non-apple products) so I really appreciate your candid views on set up. I think I will keep waiting and hoping, but worry at this rate I might have to switch over to Alexa.

 

[lederermc]

It's very common that IoT devices need a 2.4 GHz only WiFi SSID. If you have a router that supports a combined 2.4 and 5 GHz SSID then you should either separate them into two different SSIDs or, if you can, create a separate SSID that is only 2.4 GHz for these IoT devices.

 

[BJMRamage]

I bought a Meross Outdoor plug (with HomeKit) and then a 4-pack of Indoor Plugs...all (that I have used) so far have been simple to install and simple to use. I have an Xfinity router with 2 & 5 GHz running at the same with the same names and had (thankfully) zero issues during setup - other than saying on one plug I needed to RESET due to a Home issue (did the setup fail during my attempt OR was it used and returned...).

Either way my automations work flawlessly (knock on wood) and I would be fine ordering more plugs.

I really WISH dual smart plugs had outlets that allowed plugs to enter like a Hammerhead shark rather than straight out so I could put these behind furniture more easily without such a depth for plugs. I have had to buy a 90º rotating plug to plug into the Meross Smart plug so the cord aims downward and push furniture closer.

Unsure too may use cases for the Smart Strip but perhaps I could individually turn off work monitors/devices on the weekends so not just drawing power.

 

[ArmPol]

I have the power strip and several of the plugs. No problem at all setting them up and they work flawlessly through HomeKit. Highly recommended products.

 

[Jadzea97]

I keep wanting to get into HomeKit in a bigger way (non-apple products) so I really appreciate your candid views on set up. I think I will keep waiting and hoping, but worry at this rate I might have to switch over to Alexa.

Setup for HomeKit is generally great and not the issue. Issue tends to be availability of devices and cost; usually, but not always, a device with HomeKit support is more expensive. I do find that devices connected to HomeKit tend to be more responsive. I have IKEA light bulbs for instance that turn on way quicker via Siri than via Alexa.

 

[G5isAlive]

It's very common that IoT devices need a 2.4 GHz only WiFi SSID. If you have a router that supports a combined 2.4 and 5 GHz SSID then you should either separate them into two different SSIDs or, if you can, create a separate SSID that is only 2.4 GHz for these IoT devices.

Thanks for the clear info. I use a Mesh setup (Linksys Velop) that is mixed mode (2.4 and 5) with the same network name. I like the speed of 5 and would hate to give it up, but need 2.4 to reach some corners of my house and like the seamless convenience (handoff) with one name.

The separate SSID might be doable, but then to control anything from my IOS devices using the Home App would mean I would have to switch my WIFI yes?

Any advice? Or am I out of luck?

 

[Corsig]

Takes me around 30 minutes to get a Wemo plug to work. Anything less than that is a win I suppose

 

[G5isAlive]

It's very common that IoT devices need a 2.4 GHz only WiFi SSID. If you have a router that supports a combined 2.4 and 5 GHz SSID then you should either separate them into two different SSIDs or, if you can, create a separate SSID that is only 2.4 GHz for these IoT devices.

Thanks for the clear info. I use a Mesh setup (Linksys Velop) that is mixed mode (2.4 and 5) with the same network name. I like the speed of 5 and would hate to give it up, but need 2.4 to reach some corners of my house and like the seamless convenience (handoff) with one name.

The separate SSID might be doable, but then to control anything from my IOS devices using the Home App would mean I would have to switch my WIFI yes?

Any advice? Or am I out of luck?

 

[Corsig]

Takes me around 30 minutes to get a Wemo plug to work. Anything less than that is a win I suppose

 

[Jzvm]

Does the switch communicate directly to the internet or does the switch only communicate to the HomeKit hub?

My Alexa light bulbs communicate via internet. The benefit is that they work on a guest network that isolated from my main network, but the downside is that I can’t turn the light on if the internet connection is down.

My HomeKit (iDevices) light switches need a direct connection on the local network, so they don’t work on a guest network. I assume they’ll work when the internet is down though.

 

[locovaca]

I have a 4 pack of internal and an outdoor switch. All generally work fine and I had no issues pairing. I however stuck them on their own IoT wifi access point with firewalls protected them from my internal network as well as internet connection. I refuse to create an account to update the firmware.

 

[dazcox5181]

Bought a 2 pack of the sockets from Amazon in the UK. Had zero issues with HomeKit setup, didn't even install the meross app, just plugged them in, tapped the wifi network in settings, that prompted me to scan the code in the home app and that was it.
Super easy and they work great

 

[page3]

I do not understand the use case of a HomeKit power strip. I get maybe having a lamp you want to turn on on a schedule. Can someone explain to me the use case here. How would this improve someone life, why would they want/need this?

Although I use Zigbee (Hue/Alexa) rather than Homekit, the idea is the same. I use the power strip for connecting the Christmas Tree lights, some icicle lights and a lamp, all of which automatically switch on at sunset. I can also use voice control or have them switch off automatically when we watch television (on the projector).

 

[centauratlas]

It's very common that IoT devices need a 2.4 GHz only WiFi SSID. If you have a router that supports a combined 2.4 and 5 GHz SSID then you should either separate them into two different SSIDs or, if you can, create a separate SSID that is only 2.4 GHz for these IoT devices.

You are right about how common it is, but what needs to happen is that the IoT device makers improve the chipsets and software to handle this scenario since it is common. And it is common for good reason.

Or they use chipsets that handle both.

 

[InGen]

Is USB-C only the new modernised replacement for USB-A in an alternate reality? I just don’t know why companies and peripheral makers keep bringing new products to the market using USB-A instead of C. Is it that difficult to implement?

that powerboard should have 2xA & 2xC but 4xA?? It’s 2020. Why are these peripheral/device makers not jumping onto USB-C or at least facilitating the transition by offering both? I don’t get it.

 

[LeadingHeat]

I just wish it had power monitoring to see how much power was being used by whatever is plugged into it. That would have for sure sealed the deal on these for me!

 

[ascender]

Funnily enough I picked up a four pack of the smart plugs earlier this week and they all installed first time. On the first one I used the Meross app which obviously hands-off to the Home app, but the remaining three I just used the Home app to setup and they installed without any issues.

 

[lederermc]

Thanks for the clear info. I use a Mesh setup (Linksys Velop) that is mixed mode (2.4 and 5) with the same network name. I like the speed of 5 and would hate to give it up, but need 2.4 to reach some corners of my house and like the seamless convenience (handoff) with one name.

The separate SSID might be doable, but then to control anything from my IOS devices using the Home App would mean I would have to switch my WIFI yes?

Any advice? Or am I out of luck?

No need to switch which SSID you use on your phone or computer. The router takes care of it. I have a Unifi router and 2 Unifi WAPs. I have 3 SSIDs common on each device. One combined and two 2.4 GHz only. One of the 2.4 GHz SSID is for IoT devices and one for surveillance cameras. The IoT SSZID hass restricted internet access at the firewall.

 

[name99]

Sold out at Amazon

You're not missing anything. Meross is garbage.
The hardware may be fine, but this is very definitely a company that doesn't give a damn about the HomeKit experience. The devices will be a pain to pair the first time, will constantly forget their HomeKit connection, and after a year they'll just stop pairing altogether.
And they're the only HomeKit equipment I have ever bought that appeared to have NO way to perform a firmware update, at least not that I could ever discover in the app.

Sure, you can save a few bucks compared to buying say an Eve Socket or Hue, but it's jut not worth the savings.

 

[Phil A.]

I’ve got loads of Meross sockets around my home and office and they’ve always performed flawlessly and are very reasonably priced.

However, the ones I have aren’t the HomeKit compatible ones (they charge more if you want HomeKit compatibility) so I just use the Meross app: it supports scenes, timers, etc which is good enough for my requirements.

 

[travoose]

Setup difficulties? If this is easier than Wemo's mess of a setup then I might consider.

Have tons of Wemo devices myself...got tired of the setup process (app freezing/closing, not finding the wifi network), plus not to mention that the devices keep falling offline...

Bought two of the MeRoss plugs over Thanksgiving....won't be looking back to Wemo...I am all in on MeRoss.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

I have a set of the smart plugs and have had the opposite experience to the reviewer - set up was straightforward and easy, but frequently I get the “no response” nonsense from within the Home app which requires me to go into the Meross app to find the device. On my watch especially it’s painfully slow often.

They’re fine for what I wanted, which is to set timers on heaters and make sure I don’t accidentally leave them running all the time, but could definitely be better.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I recently bought the 3 pack single plug and have been unsuccessful in updating the firmware. Other than that, I haven’t had any problems with the plugs working.

 

[ian6969]

I've got a couple of the individual sockets and they are working great, good to finally have a reasonably priced option here in the UK. As others have said, I initially had issues connecting them. As soon as I turned the 5GHz wifi off, they connected straight away. To be fair, it does say you should do this several times in the leaflet that comes with them.