Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip: Six Outlets, One App

The Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip is a single-device answer to a common problem: too many gadgets, too few outlets, and a tangle of wall adapters that never quite fit. It puts six individually switchable outlets and three USB ports on one strip, controlled through WiFi and Alexa with no hub in the mix. This review covers how it is built, what the individual outlet control actually buys a buyer, where the Alexa-only limitation bites, and who should look elsewhere. Readers who want one strip to run a desk, a TV corner or a small home office should read on; readers who use Google Home or Apple HomeKit can stop at the compatibility section.

Features and Specifications

Product Type: Smart plug power strip with surge-style multi-outlet housing
Outlet Count: 6 AC outlets, individually controlled
USB Ports: 3 total — 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C
Connectivity: WiFi, 2.4 GHz band
Voice Control: Works with Alexa only
Hub Required: No
Color: White

The headline feature is the word "individually." Each of the six AC outlets can be switched on or off on its own rather than ganging the whole strip into one on/off state. That is a meaningful difference from a basic smart strip, where cutting power to a lamp also kills the router, the charger and the speaker sharing the housing.

The three USB ports are a convenience layer rather than a control layer. They charge phones, earbuds and small accessories without eating one of the six AC slots, which matters in a strip this size because wall adapters are bulky and tend to cover neighboring outlets. The USB-C port is the one to reserve for a modern phone or tablet cable.

Build and Design

The strip is a white plastic housing in the familiar power-strip shape, built to sit on a desk, behind a TV stand or along a countertop. Amazon Basics products across the line favor functional, unremarkable construction, and this strip follows that pattern: molded plastic, a flat profile, and outlets spaced to accept standard plugs and most small adapters.

Buyers should expect a strip that looks like a utility item, not a design piece. The white finish blends into light-colored walls and trim but stands out against dark furniture. There is no mention of a braided cord or metal housing at this tier, so the realistic expectation is a standard insulated cord and a plastic body.

The practical design question is outlet spacing. Six outlets on a strip of this footprint means adapters can crowd each other, and the USB ports take up part of the end real estate. A buyer with several chunky power bricks should plan the layout before buying rather than assume every outlet stays usable.

Power and Control

The control model is the reason to buy this strip. Six independently controlled outlets means a buyer can put a lamp, a monitor, a speaker, a charger, a fan and a router on the same strip and schedule or toggle each one separately. Morning routines, evening shutdowns and vacation lighting all become app tasks rather than reach-behind-the-desk chores.

WiFi on the 2.4 GHz band with no hub required keeps setup simple. There is no bridge to buy and no separate hub to power. The strip joins the home network directly, which is the right call for a device that lives in a bedroom or behind a living room console.

The limitation is stated plainly in the product name: works with Alexa only. A household standardized on Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit or SmartThings cannot use voice control here, and there is no indication of Matter or cross-platform support. Buyers should treat Alexa compatibility as a requirement, not a bonus.

The Alexa-Only Trade-Off

Alexa-only compatibility is the single decision that makes or breaks this purchase. For a household already running Echo speakers or the Alexa app, the strip slots in cleanly: voice commands, routines and app control all work through one ecosystem. For anyone else, the strip is a manual power strip with extra steps.

That is not a small caveat. Smart-home buyers often accumulate devices from several brands and want one app to rule them all. This strip will not be that app, and it will not appear in a Google Home or Apple Home dashboard. The buyer who wants a mixed-ecosystem setup should look at a cross-platform strip instead.

The 2.4 GHz requirement is the second compatibility gate. Routers that broadcast a single merged network name can complicate pairing, and a buyer who has never separated the 2.4 GHz band before may need to do so during setup. It is a one-time hurdle, but it is a real one for less technical households.

USB Ports and Everyday Charging

The two USB-A ports and one USB-C port cover the small-device layer that most desks and nightstands need. A phone, a set of earbuds and a tablet can all charge without occupying an AC outlet, which preserves the six switched outlets for devices that actually benefit from individual control.

The USB-C port is the forward-looking one and deserves the primary charging cable. USB-A remains useful for older accessories, cables and travel gear, so the split is sensible for a household with mixed hardware.

Buyers should not expect fast-charging claims from this strip. The product name makes no wattage promise, and at this price tier the USB ports are best treated as convenient top-ups rather than primary high-speed chargers for laptops. A phone charged overnight is the realistic use case.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

This strip suits Alexa households that want granular control without buying six separate smart plugs. A desk with a monitor, lamp, speaker and charger becomes one clean strip with four independent switches. A TV corner with a console, soundbar and lamp works the same way.

It also suits renters and dorm residents who cannot rewire anything and want smart control without a hub purchase. The no-hub setup keeps the total cost and complexity low.

It does not suit Google Home or Apple HomeKit households, buyers who want one app for every brand, or anyone who needs a strip rated for heavy appliances. This is a consumer electronics strip for low-draw devices, not a solution for space heaters or power tools.

Trade-off: The Alexa-only ecosystem lock is the price of the low cost and simple setup, and it will frustrate any buyer who expects cross-platform smart-home control.

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FAQ

1. Does the Amazon Basics smart plug power strip work with Google Home?
   No. The product is specified as Alexa-only, so Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and SmartThings households should not expect voice control or app integration.

2. Do all six outlets switch independently?
   Yes. The six AC outlets are individually controlled, so each one can be toggled or scheduled on its own rather than switching the whole strip at once.

3. Is a hub required?
   No hub is required. The strip connects directly to WiFi on the 2.4 GHz band and is set up through the Alexa app.

4. Why does the strip need 2.4 GHz WiFi?
   2.4 GHz is the band most smart-home devices use for range and compatibility. A router with a merged network name may need the 2.4 GHz band separated during setup.

5. How many USB ports does it have?
   Three: two USB-A and one USB-C. They charge small devices without using up any of the six AC outlets.

6. Can the USB ports be controlled separately from the outlets?
   The product name specifies independent control for the six AC outlets. Buyers who need per-port USB switching should confirm that behavior before relying on it.

7. Can this strip handle a space heater or air conditioner?
   It is a consumer electronics power strip, not a high-draw appliance strip. Heaters, air conditioners and power tools belong on a dedicated circuit, not a shared smart strip.

8. Does it work without WiFi?
   The strip is a WiFi device controlled through Alexa. Without a network connection, the smart features and voice control do not function.

9. Is it good for a home office desk?
   Yes. A monitor, lamp, speaker and charger can each sit on its own switched outlet, which makes end-of-day shutdown a single routine instead of several.

10. Can it be scheduled?
    Scheduling runs through the Alexa app, which is where routines and timers for the individual outlets are set up.

Bottom Line

The Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip is the right buy for an Alexa household that wants six separately switchable outlets and three USB ports without buying a hub or six individual smart plugs. Its individual outlet control is the feature that justifies the purchase, and the no-hub WiFi setup keeps installation simple. Buyers outside the Alexa ecosystem should skip it and look for a cross-platform strip instead, but for everyone else this is a straightforward, budget-friendly way to smarten up a desk or TV corner.

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