If you’re new to our products and curious about the differences between Smart Plug Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3, this guide will walk you through the key details and help you choose the option that best fits your needs.
Let’s start with what they have in common.
All Smart Plugs use a PC+ABS enclosure, offering excellent impact and heat resistance. With added flame-retardant properties, the material helps enhance safety by reducing fire risk.
The enclosure is sealed using ultrasonic welding, making the unit solid and durable enough to withstand accidental drops during everyday use.
Key Differences
Gen 1 / Gen 2 / Gen 3 = US plug (Type B)
E2 / E3 = European plug (Type C / E / F)
UZ1 = UK plug (Type G)
Smart Plug Gen1:
This is our most basic smart plug in terms of functionality—but not quality. It provides reliable On/Off control and also works as a Zigbee repeater, helping extend the signal range of your Zigbee network at home.
Smart Plug Gen 2 / E2
Building on Gen 1, Gen 2 adds power monitoring capabilities. It provides readings such as voltage, current, power factor, and total energy consumption. This allows you to better understand how much electricity your connected devices are using.
Smart Plug Gen 3 / E3 / UZ1
Gen 3 is based on Gen 2, with an upgraded SoC that improves signal performance. Under the same test conditions, Gen 3 reaches around 14 dB signal strength, compared to about 10 dB for Gen 2.
This updated chip also allows the relay to maintain its state during firmware OTA updates. In Home Assistant, there is an additional option to keep the relay always on while continuing to monitor power usage.
Smart Dual Plug / Smart Wall Plug
Based on the Gen 3 Plug, we have developed two types of dual-outlet solutions.
The first is a built-in dual outlet version [Smart Wall Outlet ZW1], designed for in-wall installation. It provides two independently controlled sockets, each with separate relay control and individual power metering, offering a clean and integrated solution for permanent setups.
The second is a dual plug adapter [Smart Dual Plug ZP1], which plugs directly into a standard US wall outlet and expands it into two independently controlled sockets. Each socket also supports separate relay control and power metering, providing a flexible and easy-to-use option without any installation required.
Using two dual plug adapters, a single standard US wall outlet can be expanded into four independently controlled outlets. This greatly increases available power access and helps solve the common problem of limited wall sockets in areas such as kitchens, bedrooms, or workstations where multiple devices need to run at the same time. [Notice:For Smart Dual Plug ZP1, the maximum rated current is 15A in total. Do not exceed 15A across both outlets combined.]
If you prefer a quicker overview, the table below provides a clear comparison of all three generations:
