• 2 min read
Amazon’s Matter plug brings Apple Home support under $10
Amazon’s Matter smart plug brings Apple Home support, a compact design, and Wi-Fi control for under $10.
Image: 9to5Mac
At a time when prices across the Apple lineup are rising, the Amazon Basics Matter smart plug stands out at under $10. Its low price, compact design, and support for Apple Home could make it a practical default for simple home automation.
Matter support for Apple Home
The plug’s key feature is Matter compatibility. Although earlier Amazon-branded smart-home products were often limited to Alexa, Matter allows this model to pair directly with Apple Home, Alexa, or Google Home. You do not need a separate Amazon app to set it up, and a Matter-compatible Apple home hub, such as a HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K, lets it connect to your existing ecosystem over Wi-Fi.
A Matter setup code is included inside the box.
Recommended reading
Huawei smart locks gain visitor video messages
Smart plugs are useful building blocks because they add automation to appliances that cannot easily be upgraded. They can control seasonal lighting, trigger heaters, dehumidifiers, or fans using room sensors, and start a coffee maker with a physical power switch as part of a morning routine.
The compact housing is another advantage. Unlike bulky older smart plugs that could block both sockets, this one occupies a single outlet and leaves the second socket available for another appliance or plug.
The Wi-Fi trade-off
This is a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi-only device, not a Thread-enabled plug. That can mean slightly more latency than a Thread model and adds another legacy client to your router. Still, at under $10, the lack of Thread is a relatively minor compromise. After several weeks of use, the source describes the plug as reliable and straightforward.
FTC: We use income-earning auto affiliate links. More.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via 9to5Mac
