Sonoff iPlug Gen2 S61s Zigbee Review: A Metering Plug That Extends Your Zigbee Mesh
The Sonoff iPlug Gen2 S61s Type B (S61SZBTPB) is a Zigbee 3.0 smart plug for North American outlets that pairs to a Zigbee coordinator rather than your Wi-Fi, which is what makes it respond over the local network and keep working when the internet is down. Alongside switching, it reports live voltage, current, power and consumption with 180 days of history and a data export, and it lets you set current, voltage and power thresholds that cut the load automatically. The main catch is upfront: it cannot do anything on its own without a Zigbee hub or dongle, it works with Apple Home and Matter only through a SONOFF Matter bridge, and the 15A / 1875W ceiling rules out EV charging and high-inrush motor appliances.
- Zigbee and Home Assistant users
- Energy cost tracking
- Extending Zigbee mesh coverage
- Budget buyers with an existing hub
One plug per appliance you want to control.
Buy on Amazon USACheck pricePros
- Zigbee 3.0 with local control through Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA
- Works as a Zigbee router, repeating signal for up to 64 end devices
- Real-time energy monitoring with 180 days of history and data export
- User-set current, voltage and power thresholds cut the load automatically
- 15A and 1875W rating with a physical on/off button
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Needs a Zigbee hub or coordinator, with no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth of its own
- Apple Home and Matter only through a SONOFF Matter bridge
- Not recommended for high-inrush motor appliances or EV charging
- North American Type B format, indoor use only
- Single outlet, no USB charging ports, white only
Who is the Sonoff iPlug Gen2 S61s Zigbee for?
This is a plug for a household that already runs a Zigbee network and wants to add a switchable, metered outlet to it. It pairs to a coordinator such as a SONOFF ZBBridge, a SONOFF Zigbee dongle or the built-in Zigbee radio of an Amazon Echo Plus, Echo 4th gen or Echo Show 2nd gen, and it also works through Home Assistant with Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA. Because it always needs that coordinator, it suits buyers who have bought into Zigbee for local control rather than someone looking for a plug that connects straight to the router over Wi-Fi. Its second job, repeating Zigbee signal for up to 64 end devices, makes it a good fit for a network that needs more coverage or more reliable links in distant rooms.
What stands out on paper
Three things carry this model. First, local Zigbee 3.0 control: the plug talks to the coordinator on the local network, so commands are fast and keep working without the cloud, and it doubles as a Zigbee router to extend coverage. Second, the metering: it reports live voltage, current, power and consumption, keeps 180 days of history by hour, day and month, and exports the data, so it answers not just whether an appliance is on but what it costs to run. Third, the protection: you set your own current, voltage and power thresholds and the plug cuts the load when one is exceeded, with a physical button for local on and off control and a two-year warranty.
What to know before you buy
The plug has no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radio of its own, so it does nothing until it is paired to a Zigbee coordinator, and it is a Type B device built for 100 to 125V North American outlets. It reaches Apple Home and Matter only indirectly, through a SONOFF Matter bridge such as the Bridge-M, ZBBridge-U, iHost or eWeLink CUBE with a SONOFF Zigbee dongle. It is rated for 15A and 1875W, which is enough for lights, fans, coffee makers and chargers, but SONOFF explicitly advises against high-inrush motor loads like air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, and against EV charging. It ships in white only, has no USB charging port, and it is an indoor product with no weather rating.
Is the Sonoff iPlug Gen2 S61s Zigbee worth it?
For a budget plug, the spec sheet is unusually complete: local Zigbee control, appliance-grade 15A and 1875W ratings, full energy metering with history and export, user-set safety thresholds, a Zigbee router role and a two-year warranty. What you give up is autonomy and breadth of connection: no standalone Wi-Fi, no native Matter or Apple Home, and a North American outlet format. If you already run a Zigbee network, or you are building one around Home Assistant, that trade is small and the metering and mesh role make this a strong value; if you want a plug that simply joins Wi-Fi with no hub, this is not that product.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Sonoff iPlug Gen2 S61s Zigbee need a hub?
Yes. It is a Zigbee 3.0 device with no Wi-Fi radio, so it pairs to a Zigbee coordinator such as a SONOFF ZBBridge, a SONOFF Zigbee dongle with Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, or the built-in Zigbee hub of an Amazon Echo Plus, Echo 4th gen or Echo Show 2nd gen.
Does it measure energy use?
Yes. It reports live voltage, current, power and consumption, keeps 180 days of consumption history by hour, day and month, and supports exporting the usage data. It does not apply an electricity rate to show a running cost.
Which smart home platforms does it work with?
Home Assistant through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, Samsung SmartThings with an AeoTec Smart Home Hub, Alexa through account linking in the eWeLink app or an Echo with a built-in Zigbee hub, and Google Home through the eWeLink cloud. Apple Home and Matter are reached only indirectly, through a SONOFF Matter bridge.
Does it work as a Zigbee range extender?
Yes. While it is powered on and connected, it acts as a Zigbee router that repeats signal to other devices on the network, with support for up to 64 end devices.
How much power can it handle?
It is rated for 15A at 100 to 125V, which is a maximum load of 1875W. SONOFF advises against high-inrush motor loads such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, and against EV charging.
Can it turn off automatically if something goes wrong?
Yes. You can set current, voltage and power thresholds, and the plug cuts the load when one is exceeded. It can then be restored remotely or with the physical button.
