In the grand theatre of energy consumption, we often overlook the subtle whispers of devices in standby mode. These whispers, while quiet and unassuming, can accumulate over time into a cacophony of energy loss. And let's face it, the prospect of crawling behind cabinets to unplug a TV or media centre each night is about as appealing as a root canal. Enter SONOFF's discounted S40 Lite ZB and S31 Lite ZB smart plugs. Harmonious with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT, they'll save you from those nightly contortions.
A tale of two plugs: the aesthetics
From the outside, the S40 Lite ZB and S31 Lite ZB might look like fraternal twins with minor cosmetic differences. The S40 Lite ZB dons a sleeker, more polished guise, but don't be fooled – their current functionality is identical. Both smart plugs have chosen to keep power monitoring off their résumés for now.
The heart of the matter: the chips
Diving deeper into the inner workings of these smart plugs, we find that their hearts beat to slightly different rhythms. The S31 Lite ZB is brought to life by the Texas Instruments CC2530, a reliable workhorse in the Zigbee stable. It might not officially support Zigbee 3.0, but whispers abound of its potential to moonlight as a Zigbee Router.
The S40 Lite ZB, on the other hand, hides a more intriguing secret beneath its polished exterior. The Texas Instruments CC2652P microcontroller sits at its core, flexing its extra horsepower and expanded 88 KB memory. While you might not notice these enhancements in your daily routine, the CC2652P's versatility makes it the life of the party. Not only does it dance to the tune of Zigbee 3.0, but it also embraces Bluetooth 5.2 Low Energy and Thread.
The future of SONOFF's smart plugs
What does this mean for SONOFF's future updates? Will they bless the S40 Lite ZB with Thread support through a firmware update? Alas, my crystal ball is clouded, and your guess is as good as mine. But one thing's for certain – these Zigbee smart plugs will help silence those energy-sapping whispers, making your home a little greener and your wallet a bit heavier.
