Smart Plugs / Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) vs Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)
Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM)
$29.99
VSMeross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)
$52.99
Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) vs Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)
Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)
Matter plus real metering in a four-pack — at a price the Kasa undercuts badly.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) wins by 0.3 points, which is not enough to settle it. Great Zigbee citizen, but only if you already own — or will buy — an Aqara hub. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) and Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) are both closely matched smart Plug models, and the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) is $23 cheaper than the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) ($29.99 vs $52.99). On Ecosystem Support, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage. On Size & Fit, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) leads (8.5 vs 7.0/10) — whether it blocks the second outlet on a duplex receptacle, and how it mounts. On Load Headroom, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) leads (6.0 vs 5.0/10) — how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by. Overall, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) scores 7.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.1/10 for the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) | Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $52.99 |
| Release Year | 2018 | 2023 |
| Max Load | 15A / 1,875W at 100-125V | 15A / 1,800W at 120V |
| Motor / Inductive Rating | Not published by Aqara | Not published by Meross |
| Energy Monitoring | Yes, measured — daily and monthly kWh in the Aqara Home app | Yes, measured — real-time watts plus history, in the Meross app |
| Radio & Protocol | Zigbee 3.0 only; no Wi-Fi radio, no Matter radio | Matter over Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Meross states an IPv6-capable network is required |
| Hub Required | Yes — an Aqara Zigbee hub is mandatory and is not included. Amazon's own listing title reads 'REQUIRES AQARA HUB' | Yes for Matter — Meross's own store page states 'A Matter-Compatible hub is required' |
| Works Without Internet | Yes — Zigbee automations execute on the hub and survive an internet outage | Matter on/off is local after commissioning; Meross app features run through Meross's cloud |
| Switched Outlets | 1 | 1 |
| Pack Size | 1 | 4 |
| Price per Switched Outlet ($) | 29.99 | 13.25✓ |
| Dimensions | 67 x 47 x 35 mm (2.64 x 1.85 x 1.38 in), 86 g | 2.7 x 1.5 x 1.5 in excluding pins |
| Blocks Second Outlet | Squat but wide at 47 mm — tighter than a Kasa mini on a horizontal duplex | No — independently confirmed to leave the neighbouring outlet clear |
| Weather Rating | Indoor only, 14°F to 104°F | Indoor only |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White | White |
Category Scores
Load Headroom
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by. If that is what you are buying for, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Energy Monitoring
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on whether power is genuinely measured, what quantities are reported, and where you can see them. If that is what you are buying for, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ecosystem Support
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage. If that is what you are buying for, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Local Control
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud. If that is what you are buying for, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Size & Fit
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on whether it blocks the second outlet on a duplex receptacle, and how it mounts. If that is what you are buying for, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build & Safety
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on certification, flame-retardant housing, overload protection, recall history and warranty. If that is what you are buying for, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
App & Automation
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on scheduling, away modes, sunrise/sunset triggers and how good the controlling app is. If that is what you are buying for, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 5.5 — a 1.0-point margin on what a switched, metered outlet actually costs once the pack size and any required hub are counted. If that is what you are buying for, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) if…
- • Load Headroom matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) scores 6.0/10 here (how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by).
- • Local Control matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) scores 8.5/10 here (whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud).
- • You want to spend less — it's $23 cheaper.
Choose the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) if…
- • Ecosystem Support matters most to you — the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) scores 8.5/10 here (matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage).
- • Size & Fit matters most to you — the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) scores 8.5/10 here (whether it blocks the second outlet on a duplex receptacle, and how it mounts).
- • Value matters most to you — the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) scores 6.5/10 here (what a switched, metered outlet actually costs once the pack size and any required hub are counted).
- • Your main use case is matter.
Pros & Cons
Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM)
Pros
- +Zigbee keeps it off your Wi-Fi entirely, and it acts as a mesh repeater for Aqara sensors
- +Automations execute on the hub, so they keep running through an internet outage
- +Full 1,875W rating with hardware overload and overheat cut-off
- +Genuinely useful if you already run Aqara sensors — the plug becomes the range extender
Cons
- −The hub is mandatory and not in the box; the real entry price is the plug plus an Aqara hub
- −$29.99 for one plug makes it the second-most expensive per-outlet option here
- −Aqara publishes no motor or HP rating
- −A 2018 design; Aqara's newer Matter-era hardware has moved on and this SKU has not
- −47 mm wide body is awkward on a horizontal duplex receptacle
Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)
Pros
- +One of the few Matter plugs that meters power and is sold in a four-pack
- +Physically the least intrusive of the metered Matter plugs — it genuinely does not block the second socket
- +Matter multi-admin, so it can sit in Apple Home and Alexa at the same time
- +Popular with Home Assistant users thanks to an active community integration
Cons
- −$13.25 a plug at Meross's own store price — 60% more than a Kasa EP25 for the same job plus Matter
- −Meross explicitly requires a Matter-compatible hub and an IPv6-capable network; a bare phone will not do
- −No published motor or HP rating, so inductive loads are unspecified
- −1-year warranty against TP-Link's two
- −Amazon four-pack pricing moves independently of the Meross store price, so per-unit maths depends on where you buy
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) or Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Ecosystem Support, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) or the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)?+
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) scores higher on Ecosystem Support (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage.
Which is better for Size & Fit, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) or the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)?+
The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) scores higher on Size & Fit (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — whether it blocks the second outlet on a duplex receptacle, and how it mounts.
Which is better for Load Headroom, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) or the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)?+
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) scores higher on Load Headroom (6.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by.
Which is better for Local Control, the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) or the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)?+
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) scores higher on Local Control (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud.
Is the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) worth the price difference over the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)?+
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) is the cheaper option at $29.99 versus $52.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Ecosystem Support.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) is the better fit if you mainly care about indoor-mini or energy-monitoring. The Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) is the better fit for matter.
What's the warranty on the Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) vs the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack)?+
The Aqara Smart Plug (US, ZNCZ12LM) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Meross Matter Smart Plug with Energy Monitor MSS315 (4-Pack) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.