The best smart extension leads, compared.
Top pick: Tapo P304M Matter 4-socket strip – Highest score in the set: about £29.99, 4.8 from 773 reviews, four individually switched sockets and energy readings in the Tapo app. No USB, and Matter hubs do not get the energy data. Best value: HBN 1.8 m Wi-Fi strip, 600 J – About £28.99, the lowest shelf price among the other rows that score at least 70. 1.8 m, BS 1363 and 600 J stated. 3.7 from 24 reviews. Updated October 2026.
A smart extension lead is a mains extension whose AC sockets switch from an app, a voice assistant or a schedule. It is not a USB charging cube and not a plain four-way with a neon lamp. You buy one in the UK when a socket sits behind a desk or a television and you want named outlets you can turn off without pulling every plug. Tell a suitable lead from a weak one by the plug, the shared current and the control path. A domestic lead needs a BS 1363 plug and a BS 1362 fuse. A Type B or Type C cell beside a UK-socket line means check the pins. The strip is still one 13 A circuit at 230 V. Extra sockets do not add amps. Do not add a heater, and do not daisy-chain. Wi-Fi is often 2.4 GHz only. A native home-app strip, a Matter strip and a cloud-app strip are different paths. Which path fits is set out in the [HomeKit or Matter guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/smart-extension-lead/sub/smart-extension-lead-homekit-vs-matter). Use it indoors unless the listing prints an IP rating.
A smart extension lead is a mains extension whose AC sockets switch from an app, a voice assistant or a schedule. It is not a USB charging cube and not a plain four-way with a neon lamp.
28 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Which control path do you already use?
Across 773 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.8, the Tapo P304M switches four UK sockets one by one from the Tapo app, Matter, Alexa or Google, and shows energy use per socket in the Tapo app at about £29.99. Several reviewers who also own Meross strips call this one sturdier under a desk, and many finish the first join in about a minute on 2.4 GHz. Local buttons on each socket matter when the Wi-Fi drops. The listing says energy monitoring through a Matter hub is not supported on this model, so Apple Home will not replace the Tapo watt screens. There are no USB ports on this listing. A Matter firmware path briefly switches loads off for some owners, and rectangular chargers can hide the socket LED. It is the top pick because it has the highest score in this set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want Matter plus a watts figure in the Tapo app on four sockets, and you do not need USB on the strip.
Less suitable: You need USB charging on the same bar, or you expected Apple Home to show the energy graphs.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Tapo P304M show energy use?
The listing says you can estimate bills and see appliance consumption in the Tapo app. It also says energy monitoring through a Matter hub is not supported on this model.
Does it include USB ports?
The bullets do not list USB ports. A reviewer who owned an older Kasa strip noted that those USB ports are not on this model.
What load is stated?
The listing states a maximum of 13 A and 3,250 W, with surge protection and no joule figure. The protection rating printed is IP00.
This Meross MSS426 listing is the non-HomeKit twin at about £39.99, with 4.3 from 1,001 reviews, slightly stronger stars than the HomeKit MSS426 ASIN. Bullets name Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings, and say Apple HomeKit, Smart Life and Tuya are not supported. Reviewers like named sockets for AV gear and schedules that cut standby when they leave for work. Some use Home Assistant over the Meross LAN integration. The Smart Energy Saving field prints No. After a power cut or unplug, several owners say the strip will not reconnect and Alexa links must be rebuilt. Sockets are tight for large adaptors, LEDs are bright, USB is a 20 W group only, and Plug Type prints Type B beside Type G. Indoor electronics, not several heaters at once.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Alexa or Google households that need six sockets and will deliberately avoid the HomeKit MSS426 twin.
Less suitable: Apple Home buyers, or anyone who assumed every MSS426 was HomeKit.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this MSS426 work with Apple Home?
This listing says Apple HomeKit is not supported, and that Smart Life and Tuya are not supported. The HomeKit listing is a different ASIN.
Does it measure electricity?
The Smart Energy Saving field prints No. The bullets do not describe a watt meter.
What is the stated load?
The bullet says 13 A and 3,250 W total, with overload protection, for indoor electronics rather than several heaters at once.
The Meross MSS425F is the HomeKit four-socket strip with a stated 1.8 m cord at about £34.99, scoring 4.2 from 1,213 amazon.co.uk reviews. Reviewers scan the HomeKit code, then often add Alexa or Google, and use schedules for lights and desks. Four AC sockets switch individually in the app. Four USB-A ports share up to 20 W as one group and are not USB-C. The housing button turns the whole strip together, which surprises people who expected a physical switch per socket. Pairing fails until 5 GHz is off on combined SSIDs, and some units drop Wi-Fi until a power cycle. LEDs are bright enough to disturb sleep, and there is no energy meter on this listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Apple Home households that want four sockets, a stated 1.8 m lead, and USB-A on the same bar.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a watts meter, USB-C laptop charging, or outdoor use.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the MSS425F cord?
The bullet states 1.8 m, also written as 6 ft.
Does it meter energy?
The listing does not claim energy monitoring. Reviewers who expected a meter say this strip does not have one.
Do the USB ports switch separately?
No. Four USB-A ports share up to 20 W and switch as one group. They are not described as USB-C.
This Meross MSS426 listing is the HomeKit six-socket strip at about £38.24, with 4.2 from 884 reviews. It is not the same product as B09CH3WCDX, which shares the MSS426 model string and says HomeKit is not supported. Reviewers name each mains socket in Apple Home and run routines. Four USB-A ports share 20 W as one group, and the local button is all-or-nothing. First pairing often fails until 5 GHz or WPA3 is disabled. Recurring complaints include random power cycles that restart PCs, TVs and soundbars, plus bright bedroom LEDs and stiff sockets that block bulky plugs. Cord length is not stated on the kept amazon table, and the bullet is indoor use only.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Apple Home users who need six named sockets on a TV unit or crowded desk and will keep a PC off the strip.
Less suitable: Households that refuse any risk of a strip power-cycling a PC, or shoppers who only checked the MSS426 model string.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the HomeKit version of the MSS426?
This listing, B08MJP8ZQF, names Apple HomeKit and Siri and says Smart Life is not supported. B09CH3WCDX uses the same model number and says HomeKit is not supported.
Can it be used outdoors?
The bullet says it is for indoor UK use and not for outdoor use.
Do the six sockets have their own buttons?
The listing gives individual control in the app or by voice. Reviewers say the button on the strip turns every socket and the USB group together.
UseeLink’s Matter strip asks for a Matter-certified hub and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, with four individually switched AC sockets and a USB group at about £35.99. The star line is 4.2 from only three reviews, and the one UK review on the listing says SmartThings setup was easy and the strip stayed connected for a week. The listing itself conflicts: the table says 13 A while a bullet says 16 A / 3,500 W with a short-time caveat, and the USB story is two USB plus two USB-C in one place and four USB-A in a highlight. FCC and ETL appear in the bullet. BS 1363 is not printed beside the Type G plug cell. Treat this as a Matter option on paper, not as a proven twin of the Tapo P304M.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already have a Matter hub and will accept a three-review listing while you verify the box.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a large UK review sample or a clear single current rating.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Matter strip need a hub?
The bullet says it requires a Matter certified hub and a 2.4 GHz router. It also names Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings.
Is the limit 13 A or 16 A?
The specification table says 13 A. A bullet says 16 A and 3,500 W and adds that it cannot be used that way for a long time. Both figures are on the listing.
Which USB ports does it have?
The bullet says two USB ports and two USB-C ports, switched as one unit. The item highlight says four USB-A ports. Those lines conflict.
The Meross MSP843 is the HomeKit strip with a 65 W GaN USB bank, two USB-C and one USB-A switched as one group, plus four individually switched AC sockets at about £49.99. The star line is 4.0 from 90 reviews. Owners who get pairing done use it for laptop USB-C charging beside desk loads, and the listing says schedules can still run if the internet is down. Wi-Fi dropouts, daily lock-ups, and USB ports that die after weeks while AC still works are recurring themes. Meross support has sent replacements for some USB failures. Pairing can force a HomeKit path and block Alexa or the Meross app until 5 GHz is off. The Plug Type cell says Type B while the highlight says UK sockets. A green LED that keeps blinking annoys some bedrooms.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Apple Home desks that specifically want 65 W USB-C on the strip and accept a smaller review sample.
Less suitable: Buyers who only need AC switching, or who will not check the plug pins against the Type B cell.
Specifications
Common questions
How much USB power does the MSP843 claim?
The bullet says 65 W total for two USB-C PD ports and one USB-A port, using GaN III. The three USB ports switch as one group.
Does it need a hub?
The bullet says no hub is required and names Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.
Will schedules run if the internet drops?
The schedule bullet says they can still run if the internet is down. That sentence is on this listing, not on every Meross strip in the set.
The HBN BNPS-50/E81WT is the cheapest kept row at about £28.99, with a stated 1.8 m cord, BS 1363 named, 13 A / 3,120 W, and 600 J of surge protection, the only joule figure in this set. It joins Alexa, Google Home, and Smart Life or Tuya on 2.4 GHz only, with no hub claimed in the bullets. The star line is 3.7 from 24 reviews, so you cannot treat it as proven long-term reliability. Reviewers who get past setup like remote on/off and a housing button, but one returned the strip because the USB sockets were not on the smart control. A few owners describe units that stop responding after months or about two years, and bright indicator lights bother bedrooms. It is the best value because it is the lowest shelf price among the other rows that score at least 70.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already live in Smart Life or Tuya, want a stated 1.8 m lead and a joule figure, and accept a thin review file.
Less suitable: You need HomeKit-native control, proven longevity, or USB ports that switch in the app.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this HBN strip join 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
The listing says it only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and does not support a 5 GHz network.
How long is the cord?
The title and the bullet both state 1.8 metres.
Are the USB ports switched in the app?
The specification table does not list a USB count. One reviewer returned the strip because the USB sockets were not on the smart control.
UseeLink’s SM-SO306-M1 lists four individually switched AC sockets and four USB-A ports as one 20 W group, with setup in Smart Life and bullets that also name HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings at about £34.19. The amazon.co.uk sample is only 3.6 from 15 reviews, so ecosystem claims stay unverified at scale. Reviewers who succeed describe a few minutes of setup and useful routines, but one unit lit an indicator while nothing plugged in would power or charge. Setup can be lost after a mains cut. The Plug Type cell prints Type B beside Type G, so the pins need checking in the box, and one measured strip disagreed with the printed dimensions.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already use Smart Life and will treat the HomeKit line as a claim to check, not a guarantee.
Less suitable: You need a large UK review sample or a HomeKit-native Meross ASIN you can identify by listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Which app does this UseeLink strip use?
The bullet says setup is in the Smart Life app and that no hub is required. It also names Apple HomeKit, Alexa, SmartThings and Google Home.
Can each USB port be switched on its own?
No. The listing says the four USB-A ports are controlled as a group, with a 20 W maximum for those ports.
Is the plug Type G?
Power Plug Type prints Type G and the highlight says UK sockets. The Plug Type cell prints Type B, so the pins need checking in the box.
Eight amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. The working score starts at 70. Evidence is four times the log of the review count, capped at 16, plus a star adjustment from 4.2. Spec points cover individual AC switching, a stated 13 A line, a clear UK plug story, HomeKit-native or Matter wording, and a stated cord length. Price adds up to 6 points at £30 or under. Penalties cover a review count under 20, listing conflicts, stars under 3.8 on a thin sample, a Type B or Type C cell, Wi-Fi dropouts, missing energy monitoring, and bright LEDs. The weights below sum to 100. No lab test was run. The top pick is the highest score. The best value is the lowest shelf price among the other rows that score at least 70.
Review evidence
38%Review count adds round(4 × log10 of the count), capped at 16. Stars add round((stars − 4.2) × 12). A 4.8 from 773 gains more than a 4.2 from 3. A count under 20 is penalised.
Individual AC switching
19%Eight points when each AC socket is individually switched in the listing. A four-way table line with no individual switching does not get those points.
Price band
14%Six points at £30 or under, four from £30.01 to £36, two from £36.01 to £42, and none above £42. The best value is the lowest shelf price among the other rows at 70 or above.
Stated current
10%Four points when 13 A and about 3,250 W or 3,120 W is printed. A table that says 13 A beside a bullet that says 16 A loses points for the conflict.
UK plug story
7%Three points when a UK, BS 1363 or Type G story is clear. A Type B or Type C cell printed beside that story is penalised. FCC or ETL is not treated as a UK approval.
HomeKit or Matter
7%Three points when HomeKit-native or Matter is named without a conflicting twin ASIN. The two MSS426 listings are scored apart because one says HomeKit is not supported.
Stated cord length
5%Two points when a cord length is stated on the kept amazon.co.uk row. A length a reviewer measured is not counted as the specification.
The checks run in this order: the control path you already use, the UK plug, the shared 13 A load, then individual switching, USB grouping and any cord length the listing actually states. The table is the eight stored amazon.co.uk listings. Joule figures stay seller claims. None of these strips was tested in a lab for this page.
A smart extension lead is a mains extension whose AC sockets switch from an app, a voice assistant or a schedule. It is not a USB charging cube and not a plain four-way with only a neon lamp. In this amazon.co.uk set the split is a HomeKit-native Wi-Fi strip, a cloud Wi-Fi strip aimed at Alexa and Google, and a Matter strip. One Matter listing meters energy in its own app and says a Matter hub does not receive those readings. Another says a Matter controller is required.
Two listings use the MSS426 model string. One names HomeKit. The other says HomeKit is not supported. The ASIN is the listing you are buying. A matching model number does not make them the same product.
13 A at 250 V is 3,250 W for the strip, not for each socket. 13 A at 230 V is 2,990 W. HBN prints 13 A / 3,120 W. Extra sockets do not raise the plug limit. Do not daisy-chain, and do not add a heater.
These strips that state a band say 2.4 GHz only. A 5 GHz-only network will not pair. A cord length counts only when the listing states it. The MSS425F and the HBN lead say 1.8 m. A reviewer measurement is not the specification.
Start with the app you already use. HomeKit-native rows in this set are the Meross MSS425F, the HomeKit MSS426 and the MSP843. The other MSS426 says HomeKit is not supported. HBN and the UseeLink Smart Life strip use Alexa, Google and Smart Life or Tuya. The Tapo P304M and the UseeLink Matter strip name Matter. The Tapo row meters energy in the Tapo app and says a Matter hub does not get that data. The UseeLink Matter bullet says a Matter hub is required. Then read the plug.
Individual AC switching is stated for the Tapo, both Meross six-socket strips, the MSS425F, the MSP843 and both UseeLink rows. The HBN table says a four-way and a push button. It does not say each socket switches on its own. USB, where the listing describes it, is one group: four USB-A at 20 W on the Meross strips and the UseeLink Smart Life row, two USB-C plus one USB-A at 65 W on the MSP843, and a conflicting USB line on the UseeLink Matter row. The Tapo listing has no USB.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want named outlets behind a desk or a television, with a button if the Wi-Fi drops. The Tapo P304M is the top pick at about £29.99, with 4.8 from 773 reviews, four switched sockets and energy readings in the Tapo app. There is no USB, and Apple Home does not show those watt screens.
You need HomeKit rather than Smart Life. The Meross MSS425F is about £34.99, with 4.2 from 1,213 reviews, a stated 1.8 m cord and four USB-A ports as one 20 W group. There is no energy meter. The plug table also says Type C.
You want schedules without adding a wall socket, on Smart Life or Tuya. The HBN strip is the best value at about £28.99, with a stated 1.8 m cord, BS 1363 and 600 J. The star line is 3.7 from 24 reviews. Energy is claimed, but the listing does not say how it is measured.
The top pick is the Tapo P304M at about £29.99, with 4.8 from 773 reviews, four individually switched sockets and energy readings in the Tapo app. It has the highest score in this set. Energy monitoring does not pass through a Matter hub on this model, and there is no USB. The best value is the HBN strip at about £28.99, the lowest shelf price among the other rows that score at least 70. It states 1.8 m, BS 1363, 13 A / 3,120 W and 600 J. The star line is 3.7 from 24 reviews. It is not the second-highest score. This page did not run a lab test.
Tapo P304M Matter 4-socket strip
Highest score in the set: about £29.99, 4.8 from 773 reviews, four individually switched sockets and energy readings in the Tapo app. No USB, and Matter hubs do not get the energy data.
HBN 1.8 m Wi-Fi strip, 600 J
About £28.99, the lowest shelf price among the other rows that score at least 70. 1.8 m, BS 1363 and 600 J stated. 3.7 from 24 reviews.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources taken from the research digest. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in the stored listings. This page did not run a lab test.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from stored amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a lab test.
