Shelly Gen4 Plug Review: The Smart Outlet That Does Everything Right (Almost)

The smart home market has long been plagued by protocol wars and compatibility headaches. Should you buy Zigbee? Wi-Fi? Matter? Thread? Each choice comes with trade-offs, and the wrong decision could leave you with orphaned devices when companies shift strategies. Shelly's new Plug US Gen4 appears to have solved this dilemma by including virtually every major protocol in a single outlet.

The Protocol Buffet

Most smart plugs force you into a single connectivity lane. You pick Wi-Fi and deal with network congestion, or you choose Zigbee and need a separate hub. Shelly took a different approach with the Gen4, packing in support for Wi-Fi 6, Matter, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread. It's like they looked at the smart home landscape and said, "Why not both? And also everything else?"

The Wi-Fi 6 support is particularly noteworthy. While many smart plugs still run on older Wi-Fi standards, the Gen4 uses 802.11ax, which can handle dozens of IoT devices without bogging down your network. This matters because smart home setups tend to accumulate devices quickly, and older Wi-Fi standards can create bottlenecks. The Gen4 stays connected even in "noisy" RF environments where other devices might struggle.

However, there's a notable limitation: it only supports 2.4 GHz networks. In an era where many homes run dual-band routers, this feels like a missed opportunity. The 5 GHz band offers less interference and better performance, and including it would have made this plug future-proof for several more years.

Matter Makes It Universal

Where the Gen4 really shines is its Matter certification. This means you can scan the code and add it directly to Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa without proprietary bridges. No more being locked into a single ecosystem or dealing with manufacturer-specific apps for basic functionality.

For Apple users, you'll want an Apple TV or HomePod as a Home hub for remote access, but that's standard for any HomeKit device. The real magic is that Matter support makes this plug genuinely platform-agnostic. You're not making a long-term commitment to Shelly or any other ecosystem.

Power Metering That Actually Matters

My favorite feature is the power metering, which transforms this from a simple on/off switch into a genuinely useful smart device. The Gen4 tracks exactly how much energy your plugged-in devices consume, and Shelly has implemented this data in two clever ways.

First, there's the LED ring on the plug's face. It changes color based on power draw—green for light loads, shifting to red when something like a space heater runs at full blast. You get instant visual feedback about energy consumption without opening an app.

Second, the Shelly Smart Control iPhone app provides detailed energy usage charts. You can see exactly how much power your lamp, coffee maker, or other devices use over time. This data enables some genuinely useful automations that go beyond simple scheduling.

Smart Safety Features

Because the plug knows how much power is being drawn, you can set up sophisticated safety automations. One standout feature is the "forgotten appliance" rule, which can automatically turn off the plug if it detects high power draw for an extended period. This is perfect for preventing accidents with items like irons, hair straighteners, or space heaters that might be left on accidentally.

These aren't just convenience features—they're genuine safety improvements that could prevent fires or save energy. The ability to automatically shut off devices that have been running too long adds real value beyond basic smart home functionality.

The Apple Limitation

Here's where things get a bit frustrating for Apple users. While the plug collects incredible power usage data, Apple's Home app doesn't natively display energy usage charts in a meaningful way. You're essentially locked out of the most interesting data unless you use Shelly's app or a third-party HomeKit-compatible energy monitoring app.

This isn't Shelly's fault—it's a limitation of how Apple has implemented energy monitoring in HomeKit. But it does mean that iPhone users don't get the full experience without jumping through some hoops.

Home Assistant Compatibility

For the truly adventurous, there's another option: you can flash this unit to run as a Zigbee device if you're a Home Assistant power user. This opens up even more possibilities for integration with custom smart home setups, though it requires technical knowledge and comfort with modifying device firmware.

The Verdict

The Shelly Plug US Gen4 might be the new gold standard for what a smart plug should be. It doesn't force you into a single ecosystem thanks to Matter support, Wi-Fi 6 ensures it won't become obsolete as networks evolve, and the power metering features add genuine utility beyond simple remote control.

The lack of 5 GHz Wi-Fi support is disappointing, especially given the premium positioning of this device. But considering everything else it offers—Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi-Fi 6, power monitoring, and smart automations—it's hard to find serious fault.

At around $25-30 (depending on where you buy it), the Gen4 competes with much simpler plugs that offer only one or two of these features. Shelly has essentially future-proofed your smart home investment by including every major protocol, and that's worth something in a market where device obsolescence is a constant concern.

You can buy the Shelly Plug US Gen4 from Amazon or directly from the Shelly store. If you're building or expanding a smart home setup and want a plug that won't leave you stranded when protocols inevitably shift again, this is the one to get.