Shows how much appliances consume. Smart plug from Lidl with Matter is half price

Days are getting shorter, heating season is beginning, and with it comes the question of how much electricity an old electric heater actually consumes. A smart plug with consumption measurement will give you the answer, and Lidl is now selling one at half price. The Silvercrest plug adapter with Matter support costs 199.90 CZK instead of 399.90 CZK.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you want to switch on a lamp, heating, or Christmas lights from your mobile according to a schedule and also see how much electricity they consume.
⚠️ Be aware that the plug only connects to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and Lidl offers free shipping only for purchases over 1,300 CZK.
💡 For 199.90 CZK you get Matter standard support, a consumption meter, and a three-year warranty.

The plug supports the Matter protocol. Why is that good?

Matter is a common smart home standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, among others. Lidl states that thanks to certification, the plug is compatible with all important ecosystems, meaning in practice it should be possible to add it to Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or SmartThings. Pairing and control can also be handled by the Lidl Home app itself.

The plug communicates via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Unlike older Silvercrest smart products that run on Zigbee and require a central unit, it only needs a regular home router. Just plug it into an outlet and add a new device in the app. Communication between the plug and the phone is encrypted, according to Lidl.

How much does an electric heater consume? The plug will tell you

The main draw is the integrated consumption meter. In the Lidl Home app, you’ll see how much electricity is drawn by the appliance you plug into the socket, whether it’s an oil radiator, an old refrigerator, or a gaming computer with a monitor. This is especially useful when you’re trying to figure out what’s driving up your electricity bill at home.

You can switch it manually with a button on the body, from your mobile, or by voice via Google Assistant. The app also offers multiple time schedules, a countdown, and switching on or off according to sunrise and sunset. With Advent approaching, this is useful for Christmas lights in the window, which will turn on automatically at dusk. According to Lidl, the plug will handle the transition between summer and winter time itself.

Maximum load and ratings

Lidl states the maximum load as 3,680 W, or 16 A, so on paper, the plug can handle an electric heater, an electric kettle, or a washing machine. Dimensions are approximately 5.8 × 5.8 × 7.3 cm and weight about 107 grams. The Lidl Home app runs on phones with Android 6.0 or iOS 11.0 and newer.

Lidl customers give the plug an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 10 ratings, and 80% of them recommend it. The sample size is not large yet, so consider it more as an indication. Additionally, Lidl offers a three-year warranty, and goods ordered online can be returned for free within 30 days.

When to look elsewhere?

If you want to connect the plug to Apple Home or Google Home, be aware that these platforms for controlling Matter devices usually require their own home hub, such as a HomePod, Apple TV, or a Nest speaker or display. Lidl explicitly promises voice control only with Google Assistant in the description. And if you only have a 5 GHz network at home, you won’t be able to connect the plug to it.

The second caveat is shipping. Lidl offers it for free only for purchases over 1,300 CZK, so the plug itself for two hundred with shipping won’t stand out as much. It’s worth adding it to a larger order, or simply buying several units at once.

Who will benefit from the two-hundred-crown plug?

The Silvercrest for 199.90 CZK is a good first step for anyone who is just trying out smart home technology and doesn’t want to buy a hub for it. It will also be appreciated by those who want to figure out which appliance at home consumes the most power, or who need a lamp or Christmas lights to turn on automatically. Those who already have a Zigbee or Thread network with their own hub at home will likely opt for a plug within their existing ecosystem.

Which appliance would you plug into the consumption meter first?