If you are looking at smart plugs and came across the THIRDREALITY Zigbee Smart Plug, you might be wondering if it is worth adding to your home. There are a lot of smart plugs out there, and many of them look the same on the surface. This review walks through what this plug can and cannot do, how it works with Zigbee hubs, and what you should know before you buy it. By the end, you should have a clear idea if this model fits the way you use smart home gear, or if you should look at other options instead.
About the THIRDREALITY ZigBee Smart Plug 4 Pack
Product Features:
- Zigbee 3.0 smart plugs (requires a Zigbee hub)
- Space-saving design that does not block the other outlet
- Real-time energy monitoring with Home Assistant, SmartThings, Hubitat, and THIRDREALITY Hub Gen2
- Custom on/off restore state after power is back with THIRDREALITY Hub Gen2 and Home Assistant (ZHA and ZigBee2MQTT)
- Voice control with Alexa or Google Home through supported Zigbee hubs
- Supports grouping multiple plugs to control them together
- Acts as a Zigbee repeater
THIRDREALITY ZigBee Smart Plug 4 Pack Details
THIRDREALITY ZigBee Smart Plug 4 Pack is a set of Zigbee 3.0 smart plugs that work with a wide range of Zigbee hubs. They work with Echo devices that have a built-in Zigbee hub, such as Echo 4th Gen, Echo Plus, Echo Studio, and some Echo Show models. They also work with Eero 6, Eero Pro 6, Home Assistant, SmartThings 2015 and 2018, Aeotec, Hubitat, Homey Bridge, Homey Pro, Third Reality Hub Gen Plus, and Third Reality Smart Bridge.
These plugs have a narrow design so that they only block one outlet, unlike some other smart plugs. Setup is super easy with a Zigbee hub, simply hold the power button on the plug to trigger pairing mode and search for the device using your hub. These plugs support real time power monitoring, and also have a power restore setting – great for handling power outages if the plug needs to be on or off by default. These smart plugs act as a Zigbee repeater, making your Zigbee mesh more resilient and extending it’s range.
Our Review
I picked up the THIRDREALITY ZigBee Smart Plug 4 Pack to replace a bunch of older WiFi plugs, and I am glad I did. These have been very simple to connect, and once I paired them, they have stayed online without any random dropoffs. I like that they use ZigBee, so they sit on their own network instead of tying straight into the internet. That makes me feel a bit better about having several of these around the house running all the time.
I am using these plugs with Home Assistant, and they show power use for each outlet. That has been handy for a few things, like setting up an alert when our older washing machine finishes a cycle and stops pulling power. It also makes it easier to keep an eye on how much energy some devices are using over time. The physical design is pretty practical too, since each plug only blocks one outlet, so I can still use the second socket on the wall.
Overall, this four pack has turned into a simple “set it and forget it” upgrade for my smart home setup. They just sit there, keep a steady ZigBee connection, and do what I ask without any drama. I do recommend the THIRDREALITY ZigBee smart plugs if you want something that is plain, reliable, and works well with Home Assistant.
Pros and Cons of the THIRDREALITY ZigBee Smart Plug 4 Pack
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Zigbee 3.0 repeater | Requires a separate Zigbee hub, will not work by itself |
| Stable connection | Not compatible with WiFi-only smart home setups |
| Real-time energy monitoring for supported platforms like Home Assistant | Energy monitoring and restore-state features not supported on every hub |
| Compact design that only uses one wall socket and supports groups | Some advanced safety and status features limited to specific hubs such as THIRDREALITY Hub Gen2 and Home Assistant |
Summary
The THIRDREALITY Zigbee Smart Plug is a plain, practical choice if you want basic smart control without a lot of extra features. It connects with Zigbee hubs, handles everyday on and off needs, and keeps things simple for voice control and automation. It is not packed with special functions, but it does the job for lamps, small devices, and simple schedules. If you are already using a Zigbee hub and want a straightforward plug that just works for routine tasks, this smart plug is a reasonable option to consider.
