The original Amazon Smart Plug HD34BX remains a straightforward way to control a suitable appliance through Alexa. It supports app and voice control, schedules and Alexa Routines without needing a separate manufacturer’s app or hub.
It is much harder to recommend as a new purchase today. Normal UK availability is poor, it has no Matter or energy monitoring, and more capable current plugs cost around the same as old stock. Existing owners can keep using a reliable unit, but most new buyers will be better served by a current alternative.
Model note: This Amazon Smart Plug review covers the genuine UK HD34BX. Amazon Basics Alexa-only, Amazon Basics Matter and third-party Alexa-compatible plugs are separate products with different specifications and features.
Quick Verdict
- Best for: Existing Alexa-only users who already own a reliable HD34BX.
- Consider buying only if: A genuine UK unit is resettable, undamaged and unusually cheap—roughly £5–£8.
- Look elsewhere if: It costs around £10 or more, or you want Matter, Google Home, Apple Home or energy monitoring.
- Overall verdict: Still usable and supported, but no longer the strongest new purchase.
I would not replace a working HD34BX purely because it is old. For a new buyer, the Tapo P110M offers broader compatibility and energy monitoring for about the same price as many old-stock Amazon plugs.
About this review: Researched and fact-checked by Fred Robinson, drawing on six years’ experience as a PC technician and work with code since 1999.
Which Amazon Smart Plug Does This Review Cover?
HD34BX is the original Amazon-branded Smart Plug sold for UK sockets. It is an Alexa-only indoor plug rather than one of the newer products sold under the Amazon Basics name.
Amazon still publishes UK safety and compliance information for HD34BX, alongside current setup and support material. I found no official statement calling it discontinued or naming a direct replacement, so older model that remains supported is more accurate.
Normal new Amazon UK availability is poor. Most units appear as marketplace, used or old stock, often costing as much as a current plug with a full retailer return period. The Amazon Basics Alexa-only and Matter plugs are separate products, even though they now appear in many searches for an “Amazon Smart Plug”.
Amazon Smart Plug HD34BX: Key Specifications
The UK model differs from the 15A version often described in US reviews. These are the verified specifications that matter most when deciding whether it still suits your home.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | Amazon Smart Plug HD34BX |
| UK input/output | 240V~, 50Hz |
| Maximum current | 10A |
| Location | Indoor, dry environments only |
| Operating temperature | 0–35°C |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4GHz |
| Hub required | No separate smart-home hub |
| App and account | Alexa app and Amazon account |
| Echo required | No for setup or app control; yes for hands-free voice control |
| Ecosystem | Amazon Alexa only |
| Matter, Google Home and Apple Home | Not supported |
| Appliance energy monitoring | Not supported |
| Plug consumption | 0.23W in low-power/off mode; 0.88W in networked standby |
| Warranty | One-year limited warranty from the original retail purchase |
The plug connects on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, but a normal dual-band router can usually keep both 2.4GHz and 5GHz enabled. The presence of a 5GHz network does not automatically make the router incompatible.
What the Original Amazon Smart Plug Still Does Well
Straightforward Alexa Control
HD34BX can be switched through the Alexa app at home or remotely while the plug, internet connection and Amazon services are online. An Echo or another Alexa-enabled voice device adds spoken commands, while the side button provides manual on/off control.
No Separate Manufacturer App or Hub
The clearest remaining advantage is that everything stays inside Alexa. You do not need another manufacturer account, second smart-plug app or separate hub. This is genuinely convenient in an existing Alexa home, although the Alexa app and an Amazon account are still required.
Useful Groups, Schedules and Routines
You can name the plug, assign it to a room and include it in Alexa groups or Routines. A schedule could switch a lamp on around sunset and off at bedtime, while a wider Routine could control several compatible devices together.
HD34BX remains a simple on/off switch. It cannot dim a lamp, change its colour or measure the connected appliance’s electricity use.
If you already own one, follow my guide to setting up an Amazon Smart Plug for the current UK setup and reset process.
Where HD34BX Now Falls Behind
Alexa-Only Compatibility
The plug does not support Matter, Google Home or Apple Home. If you move away from Alexa, it cannot simply transfer into the new ecosystem. Current Matter-compatible plugs provide much more flexibility at a similar price.
No Appliance Energy Monitoring
HD34BX cannot show live wattage, daily consumption or energy history for the connected appliance. A schedule may prevent something running unnecessarily, but the plug does not measure the saving and consumes a small amount of electricity itself. It controls running time; it is not an energy monitor.
Limited Availability and Weaker Value
Older reviews assessed the Amazon Smart Plug as a normal £24.99 retail product. Today, old stock may have little remaining warranty, while a second-hand unit must be deregistered and capable of completing a factory reset. A very low price can compensate; paying roughly the same as a current plug cannot.
Cloud and Connectivity Dependence
App control, voice commands and Routines depend on connectivity and Amazon services. The side button remains available locally, but Amazon does not clearly document every aspect of HD34BX behaviour after an outage. Do not rely on it as the only controller for equipment that must restart at a precise time, or assume a missed Routine will run later.
What Can You Safely Use It With?
HD34BX is intended for indoor, dry locations and should be connected directly to a suitable wall socket. Its UK rating is 10A maximum, but that is not blanket approval for every appliance below a simple wattage calculation. The appliance must also restart safely when electricity returns.
Simple table lamps and indoor Christmas lights are clearer low-risk examples, provided they remain in good condition and within their own instructions.
Amazon warns against using the plug with equipment where inaccurate timing, accidental commands or continuous unattended operation could be dangerous. Its guidance specifically gives stoves, heaters and fans as examples. I would also avoid cooking equipment, outdoor connections and anything medical, welfare-critical or safety-sensitive.
See the best and safest Amazon Smart Plug uses for appliance checks and practical ideas without unsafe automation.
Is the Amazon Smart Plug Still Worth Buying?
For a New Buyer
Usually not at around £10 or more. Current plugs can provide the same basic Alexa control while adding Matter, other voice assistants or appliance energy monitoring.
HD34BX only makes sense when a genuine UK unit is substantially cheaper, you want to remain entirely inside Alexa and do not need modern features. Check that it is undamaged, resettable and covered by suitable seller protection.
For an Existing Owner
Keep a working unit if it remains reliable, shows no damage or abnormal heat and controls a suitable indoor load. Replacement makes sense if it starts dropping offline, fails to reset or you want energy data and wider compatibility. If yours has stopped responding, use my Amazon Smart Plug troubleshooting guide before assuming it has failed.
For a Second-Hand or Old-Stock Buyer
Check the label for HD34BX and inspect the casing, pins and socket for cracking, discolouration or signs of heat. Confirm that it has been deregistered and can complete a factory reset. Roughly £5–£8 may make sense for a clean unit with suitable returns protection; once the cost approaches a new Tapo or Amazon Basics plug, the value disappears.
Better Current Alternatives
The closest replacement depends on whether you want everything inside Alexa or prefer broader compatibility and energy data.
| Product | Best for | Key advantages | Main limitation |
| Amazon Smart Plug HD34BX | Existing Alexa-only owners | One-app Alexa control and Routines | Poor availability; no Matter or energy monitoring |
| Amazon Basics Alexa-only Smart Plug | Simple current Alexa control | No separate hub or third-party app | Alexa-only; no verified energy monitoring |
| TP-Link Tapo P110M | Most new buyers | Matter, multiple ecosystems and energy monitoring | Tapo app needed for the full feature set |
Amazon Basics Alexa-Only Smart Plug
The current Amazon Basics Alexa-only Smart Plug is the closest option for keeping setup and control inside Alexa. It supports remote control and Routines over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi without a separate hub or third-party app, but remains Alexa-only and has no verified appliance energy monitoring.
Check the exact model, pack size and offer before buying, as Amazon also sells a separate Matter-labelled range.
TP-Link Tapo P110M
The Tapo P110M is stronger for most new buyers. It supports Matter, Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and SmartThings, while the Tapo app provides appliance energy monitoring.
It is rated at 13A/2990W at 230V, subject to load type and the appliance’s instructions. Tapo app control needs no separate Tapo hub, although your chosen Matter platform may require a compatible controller. The main compromise is using another app for the full energy data and Tapo features.
Frequently Asked Questions
I found no official Amazon statement describing HD34BX as discontinued. It is more accurate to call it an older model that remains supported but has poor availability as a new product.
No. The Alexa app and an Amazon account can set up and control HD34BX. An Echo or another Alexa-enabled device is only needed for hands-free voice commands.
No. HD34BX does not display the connected appliance’s energy use and does not support Matter, Google Home or Apple Home.
Not solely because it is old. Keep a safe and reliable unit if it still meets your needs. Replace it if it develops a fault or you would benefit from energy monitoring or broader compatibility.
Final Verdict
The original Amazon Smart Plug remains a useful Alexa switch, and existing owners do not need to replace a reliable HD34BX. Its one-app simplicity, manual button and support for Alexa Routines still cover basic indoor automation well.
It is no longer the best-value new purchase. Buy it only conditionally when a genuine, resettable unit is unusually cheap and Alexa-only control is exactly what you want. For most new buyers, the Tapo P110M offers a better balance of current availability, Matter support and energy monitoring. The Amazon Basics Alexa-only plug remains the simpler alternative for anyone who wants to stay entirely inside Alexa.
