Meross MSS315 Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini Review – A smart plug with Matter

I have previously been impressed with the range of Meross smart devices, including the Meross MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip, MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip and Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor.

Last year, Meross launched the new MSS315 mini smart plug, which is one of their first Matter-enabled plugs which allows you to easily integrate it with other smart home ecosystems such as Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Google Home and Home Assistant.

Thanks to its low price point and energy monitoring via the Mersoss app, I think this is one of the best smart plugs on the market at the moment.

Specifications

MODEL	MSS315
Input	100-240~, 50/60Hz
Output	100-240~, 50/60Hz, 16A maximum load
Energy Monitor	Yes
Button	1 x On/Off Button Press and hold for 5 seconds to initiate the factory reset process
LED	1 x Status LED
Dimensions (W x D x H)	5 x 5 x 6.4cm (excluding plug pins)
Wireless Standards	IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4GHz, IPv6 network required
System Requirements	Smartphone running iOS 16.1 or later or Android 8.1 or later, supporting Bluetooth 4.2 or later. Existing 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network

Features

Energy Monitoring Capabilities

The Meross smart plug, which utilises the Matter protocol, features an integrated electricity meter that enables users to monitor the power consumption of connected devices. The companion Meross app provides real-time reports and historical data on energy usage, empowering users to make informed decisions and adopt a more environmentally conscious lifestyle by reducing their carbon footprint.

Streamlined Setup Process

Setting up the Meross Matter smart plug is a straightforward process. Users simply need to scan the provided QR code, and the device will be ready for use. The Matter protocol’s standardised and simplified approach ensures a seamless implementation and user experience.

Extensive Industry Support

The Matter protocol has garnered significant support from major players in the smart home ecosystem, including Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and over 500 global companies. This widespread adoption ensures a rich array of compatible applications and products for users to choose from.

Robust Interoperability

One of the key strengths of the Matter protocol is its powerful interoperability. The Meross Matter smart plug can seamlessly connect to a wide range of applications, control various devices, and integrate with multiple cloud services. This flexibility allows users to create a cohesive smart home environment tailored to their specific needs.

Enhanced Security Measures

Security is a top priority within the Matter protocol. The Meross smart plug employs proven and standardised cryptographic algorithms to protect every message transmitted. Additionally, the Matter protocol operates on a completely local architecture, minimising the risk of unauthorised access to user data. With these robust security measures in place, users can have peace of mind when using their smart home devices.

Multi-Admin Functionality

The Meross Matter smart plug supports simultaneous operation across multiple smart home systems. This multi-admin feature grants users the freedom to combine and operate their devices according to their preferences, enabling a truly personalised smart home experience.

System Requirements

To use the Meross Matter smart plug, users need an existing 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and a smartphone running iOS 16.1 or later or Android 8.1 or later. These requirements ensure compatibility and optimal performance of the device within the user’s smart home ecosystem.

Design / Unboxing

There is nothing particularly notable about the plug itself. It is a mini plug so it shouldn’t obstruct any adjacent plug sockets and you have a power button allowing you to manually switch it on and off.

Set-Up with Meross App

The Meross smart plug is compatible with the Maross app and this will give you access to the energy monitoring.

When you select to add the smart plug, it will ask if you have added it to another ecosystem, such as SmartThings. If you select no, you can add it directly to Meross, and I found this less problematic than trying to add it to SmartThings or Home Assistant. However, with it added directly to Meross, there appears to be no way to expose it to other Matter-enabled ecosystems.

SmartThings / Home Assistant

I have consistently had issues with Home Assistant and Matter. I suspect the issue is the mini PC I am running it on, which uses Proxmox and Home Assistant OS as a VM.

Adding to SmartThings was less problematic but was quite a slow process.

With SmartThings, you only have basic control and no energy monitoring. However, if you then go into the Meross app and try and add a device, it will automatically identify the unbound smart plug and allow you to import it. You can then view the energy monitoring within the Meross app.

Energy Monitoring

The energy monitoring was only available via the Meross app, as Matter does not support energy monitoring.

However, the energy monitoring within the Meross app is good. You have a view of the current power consumption and graphs with options for the current day, week, month and year.

The Meross app also has some additional useful features:

Electricity Bill Calculation: If you provide your unit rate, then it will give you an estimate of the running costs.

Standby Killer: If a connected device drops below a power threshold you define, the plug will power off. This can be handy to avoid phantom energy costs.

Energy Guardian: This is in Beta, and it will notify you when there is abnormal power consumption. The idea is that it will help prevent you from forgetting about running a high-power device. I suspect this could be handy for portable air conditioners, electric heaters and heated clothes racks.

Price and Alternative Options

The Meross MSS315 Matter smart plug is available as a two pack in the UK for just £24.45 direct from Meross.

At the time of writing, Amazon has the two pack available for £28.76 with the RRP listed as £32.99.

There are a few affordable alternatives, including the EIGHTREE Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring, which is just £10 and appears to be the same hardware as the Meross plug.

The TP-Link Tapo P110M has an RRP of £17 and is available for just £13 from Amazon.

Then there is the Onvis Matter Smart Plug, which uses Matter over Thread and is available for £22.

Verdict

The Meross MSS315 is a superb, affordable smart plug with energy monitoring.

I’d say it is just as good, if not a bit better, than the TP-Link Tapo P110M, which has been my favourite smart plug recently. The price is a bit lower and there are a couple of extra features compared to Tapo. That being said, if you already own Tapo devices, I’d stick to the same brand to avoid having to use multiple apps.

Overall, considering the low price point, there is nothing I can really criticise about the Meross MSS315 smart plug.