HomeKit Weekly: The Amazon Basics Matter plug delivers Apple Home support for under $10 should be explained through that lens before any broad claim is made. The price increase in technology is exhausting. HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework. The piece keeps the context, impact, and follow-up signals in view so readers do not stop at the headline.
What happened
The price increase in technology is exhausting. With the recent price increases across the Apple lineup , seeing items go down in price is becoming rare. The Amazon Basics smart plug is one of the rare exceptions that seems to be holding the line. With Matter support and a price under $10, it may be my new go-to smart plug. Let’s take a look.
Practical impact for readers
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
Details worth verifying
The key feature of this Amazon Basics plug is its Matter support. For Apple Home folks, this means you can completely ignore the fact that previous Amazon-branded gear was Alexa only. Because Matter establishes a universal format for smart home hardware, this plug pairs directly with Apple just as easily as it does with Alexa or Google Home. You do not need to download a separate Amazon app just to get it running. As long as you have a Matter-compatible Apple home hub, like a HomePod mini or an Apple TV 4K, the plug talks directly to your existing Apple ecosystem over your Wi-Fi network. There is a Matter code right inside the box.
Who should act or wait
IMO, smart plugs are arguably the most versatile and important building blocks of any smart home setup. While smart bulbs are great for overhead fixtures, outlet adapters let you bring automation to appliances that cannot be easily retrofitted.
What is still unclear
Another major win here on this plug is the physical footprint. Early smart plugs were often bulky, frequently blocking both of the outlets and forcing you to use surge protectors. Amazon designed this plug with a highly compact form factor. It fits perfectly into a single socket, leaving the other outlet completely clear for other appliances or a second smart plug if you want to stack them.
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