GoKawiilThe Shelly Plug Gen4 has an LED indicator on the back of the device that casts a glow onto the wall and makes it easy to see from a distance. John Carlsen/CNET
Very few smart home devices are as versatile as smart plugs. In addition to working with almost anything that uses a wall plug, they're easy to set up and move to any outlet in your home. Still, smart plugs don't typically do much more than act as simple on/off switches with occasional energy monitoring features. But the Shelly Plug Gen4 stands out as an exception by offering compatibility with a number of smart home platforms, an illuminance sensor and deep settings options for power users.
I spent a few days testing the Shelly Plug Gen4 and found it to be a capable smart plug, even if some of its more advanced features are beyond my skill level. Let's dig into the three features I liked best, and what I disliked about it.
Deep features are a delight and a deluge
I can't say if these features are truly necessary or game-changing, but they demonstrate how thoughtful Shelly was to provide extra tools beyond the standard remote access, schedules and automation you get from other smart plugs. John Carlsen/CNET
Many aspects of Shelly smart devices are more than most people will need, and some are probably more suitable for technically advanced folks or those with an IT background. But that doesn't mean regular users won’t be able to take advantage of and appreciate some of their unique features. There are three in particular that I think anyone could benefit from: the customizable indicator light, power management tools and the ability to turn off the on-device button.
Customizable indicator light
Unlike the small indicator light on the front of most smart plugs, the Shelly Plug Gen4 has a large LED indicator that's easy to see from a distance because it casts a glow from the back of the plug onto the wall. You can disable the light, but I think the Power and Switch modes can be very helpful. In the Power mode, the light turns on when the smart plug is on, and the light turns off when the plug is off. In Switch mode, the light toggles between two different colors to indicate whether the device is on or off.
Shelly provides night mode options that use a built-in light sensor to adjust the light's brightness -- or turn it off entirely -- depending on the brightness of the room. John Carlsen/CNET
This might not seem like a big deal, but it's easy to imagine how it could be useful. For example, imagine seeing a red light when someone accidentally turns off a plug running your internet router or home security hub. Since you can adjust the brightness as well as the color, you also have the option to use the Shelly plug as a small nightlight when turning off a lamp for the night.
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