ThirdReality Smart Plug Gen3

The ThirdReality Smart Plug Gen3 is one of the best budget Zigbee smart plugs we’ve tested and a substantial improvement over the previous generation. After experiencing pairing difficulties and unreliable power-restoration behavior with the Gen2, we’ve been impressed by the Gen3’s improved connectivity, dependable switching, and overall value.

It uses Zigbee 3.0, supports energy monitoring, and acts as a repeater to help strengthen a compatible Zigbee mesh network. For short-term rental owners building a Zigbee-based system, it’s an excellent option for controlling lamps, decorative lighting, and other noncritical electrical devices.

We still prefer the Eve Energy Smart Plug overall. Eve offers more refined hardware and has been exceptionally reliable throughout our testing. But for a fraction of the investment required for some premium alternatives, ThirdReality Gen3 delivers impressive functionality.

Our verdict: Highly recommended for budget-conscious Zigbee installations, especially where premium hardware isn’t necessary.

Gen3 Fixes Our Biggest Complaints About Gen2

We’ve tested both generations, and the improvements are significant.

Our experience with the ThirdReality Smart Plug Gen2 was mixed. Pairing could be frustrating, and we encountered problems with its behavior following a power interruption. The plug didn’t consistently return to the state we wanted, which is particularly undesirable at a rental property that may be unoccupied when an outage occurs.

The Gen3 has performed much better. Pairing has been easier, connectivity has been more dependable, and its power-restoration behavior has been more satisfactory in our testing.

ThirdReality also upgraded the Zigbee hardware and mesh-routing capabilities. These are meaningful improvements for properties using multiple Zigbee sensors and switches.

We see little reason to purchase the older model for a new installation.

Zigbee Connectivity and Energy Monitoring

The Gen3 uses Zigbee 3.0 rather than Wi-Fi or Matter over Thread.

That means it requires a compatible Zigbee hub, but it doesn’t need to connect directly to the property’s Wi-Fi network. It supports platforms such as SmartThings, Home Assistant, Hubitat, and other compatible Zigbee systems.

We generally prefer this arrangement for short-term rentals because it keeps individual smart-home devices off the guest Wi-Fi network.

The plug also functions as a powered Zigbee repeater, helping extend coverage for nearby Zigbee devices. That’s a useful secondary benefit when a rental has multiple contact, motion, or water leak sensors.

Energy monitoring is another welcome capability. The Gen3 can report power and energy consumption through supported platforms, providing additional visibility into connected equipment.

For actual functionality, including power-restoration settings and energy reporting, the capabilities exposed by your particular hub still matter. We’d always test these settings before relying on them for unattended automation.

Where We’d Use It at a Short-Term Rental

Smart plugs are useful for equipment that can safely be switched on and off without direct guest involvement.

We particularly like them for table lamps, decorative lighting, and other low-risk electrical devices that can be integrated into arrival, departure, or vacancy routines.

A compatible automation platform can manage the plug, while calendar-based systems such as Rental Home Automator can coordinate supported smart-device operations around reservations.

For example, lighting can be prepared before a guest arrives and turned off after checkout rather than running continuously.

Learn more in our guide to lighting automation for short-term rentals.

However, we don’t recommend plug-in smart devices for anything where an unexpected interruption could create a safety or serious operational problem. Guests can also unplug or move these devices, so hardwired smart switches are often better for permanent, important lighting installations.

ThirdReality Gen3 vs. Eve Energy

If we were buying a smart plug without worrying about price or protocol, we’d still choose the Eve Energy Smart Plug.

We’ve used Eve Energy extensively, and its build quality, responsiveness, reliability, and overall experience have been excellent.

The ThirdReality Gen3 feels less premium, but that’s reflected in its price. We don’t think every smart plug in a rental property needs to be an expensive device.

There’s also an important connectivity difference: ThirdReality Gen3 uses Zigbee, while Eve Energy uses Matter over Thread.

If your property already has a strong Zigbee network, ThirdReality is an excellent choice. There’s little reason to add Thread infrastructure solely to use an Eve plug for a few noncritical outlets.

If you’re building a new Thread-based system and want our preferred overall smart plug, we’d choose Eve.

What We Don’t Like

Our biggest criticism is the build quality. The Gen3 feels more utilitarian and less refined than the Eve Energy, although its construction is reasonable for the price.

It also requires a compatible Zigbee hub. That isn’t a major drawback if your property already uses Zigbee, but we wouldn’t introduce an entirely new protocol just to install one inexpensive smart plug.

Finally, some advanced functionality depends on the connected platform. In particular, configurable power-restoration settings aren’t exposed identically across every compatible hub. For an unattended rental, verifying exactly what happens after a power outage is essential.

Final Verdict

The ThirdReality Smart Plug Gen3 is an impressive budget smart plug and a worthwhile upgrade over Gen2.

We’ve been pleased with its improved pairing, reliable Zigbee connectivity, better power-restoration behavior, energy monitoring, and ability to strengthen a Zigbee mesh.

Although the Eve Energy remains our favorite smart plug overall, we’d happily use ThirdReality Gen3 for lower-priority applications or when building a Zigbee-based rental automation system.

It’s affordable, practical, and does what we need without unnecessary complexity.

For a broader discussion of choosing compatible devices, see our guide to Z-Wave, Zigbee, Matter, and Thread for short-term rentals.