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May 22, 2023

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The TP-Link Tapo P125M ($19.99) was the first Matter-compliant smart plug we tested, but the company's Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim With Energy Monitoring (KP125M) goes one smart step forward by adding

The TP-Link Tapo P125M ($19.99) was the first Matter-compliant smart plug we tested, but the company's Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim With Energy Monitoring (KP125M) goes one smart step forward by adding energy-monitoring capabilities. Otherwise, the compact plug works with just about every smart home platform available, supports tons of third-party integrations, and reliably responds to voice commands. You pay a high price for these features ($39.99 for a pack of two), but that level of versatility makes it a clear Editors' Choice winner.

The TP-Link Kasa KP125M plug looks identical to the company's EP25P4 model and comes in at the same size: 1.5 by 2.6 by 1.6 inches (HWD). It's small enough that it won't block access to a second outlet in a two-outlet receptacle. As for power, the 15A plug can handle up to 1,800W (120V). As mentioned, TP-Link sells the KP125M plug in a pack of two for $39.99, but you can save a few bucks per plug by opting for a $69.99 bundle of four.

The front of the device has a three-prong outlet, while the back houses a three-prong plug. A Matter QR code sits on the left side, while the right includes both a power button and an LED indicator. The latter flashes amber and blue during setup, rapidly pulses blue when the plug is connecting to your network, glows solid blue when it has an active network connection, and shows solid amber when there is no network connection. Additionally, the indicator blinks amber quickly during a factory reset (hold down the power button for five seconds to initiate). Internally, the plug features a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio and a Bluetooth radio that respectively enables a connection to your home network and to the companion app.

As for smart features, the KP125M supports the Matter standard as well as all of the major home automation platforms including Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. It also works with IFTTT applets that allow it to integrate with third-party smart devices such as cameras, thermostats, locks, and lighting products. You can use Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands to turn the plug on or off.

For a greater level of control, you need to download the Kasa Smart app (available for Android and iOS). The plug appears on the main screen in a panel with a power button that's green or gray depending on its current state.

Tap the panel to view a larger power button, along with four smaller buttons below it: Schedule, Timer, Away, and Usage. The Schedule button lets you create usage schedules for the plug that activate at sunrise, sunset, or any other time of the day. Select the Timer button to set the plug to turn on or off after a timer for anywhere between one minute and 24 hours expires. The Away button lets you specify a period for which the plug turns on or off randomly. If you connect a lamp to the plug, this can be useful to make it look like someone is home even if you aren't. Finally, the Usage button takes you to the Energy Monitoring screen where you can view daily and monthly energy usage for connected devices in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Here, you get both numerical readings and a colorful chart that shows statistics over time. You can also enter billing information in this section, so the app can estimate how much you should expect to pay for the amount of power the plug uses.

To access the plug’s settings, tap the gear icon in the upper right corner. Here, you can edit the name of the plug and its location, toggle the LED indicator, configure an auto-off setting, and enable Power Protection. With that last feature active, the plug automatically turns off once it reaches a specific power usage threshold (in kWh). Additionally, you can update the device's firmware and add it to a group with other devices from the company to make bulk commands easier.

The KP125M plug is easy to install, but you have to download the Kasa Smart app and create an account if this is your first device from TP-Link.

To begin the installation process, I opened the app, tapped the plus icon in the upper right corner of the main screen, and chose Add Device. I selected the KP125M from the list of smart plugs and followed the on-screen instructions to turn on the plug. I confirmed that the LED was flashing amber and blue, entered my Wi-Fi credentials, and waited a few seconds for the plug to connect to my network. Once it did, it showed up automatically on my Alexa device list. To complete the installation, I gave it a name, specified an install location, and downloaded a firmware update.

To add the plug to my Apple Home, I opened the Home app, tapped the plus icon in the upper right corner of the main screen, and selected Add Accessory. The app immediately recognized the outlet after I scanned the QR code on its left side, so I tapped Add to Apple Home, provided a name and location, and tapped Done. After completing these steps, the plug appeared on the app's home screen.

The KP125M performed as intended in testing. It responded instantly to on and off commands I made via the Kasa Smart app, the Apple Home app, the Alexa app, and the Google Home app. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands also worked perfectly.

The plug’s energy readings were spot-on, matching those from my Kill-A-Watt meter. A HomeKit scene I created for the plug to turn on when a HomeKit-only Eve Motion Sensor detected motion worked every time, as did an Alexa routine for it to power on when a Ring Floodlight Cam detected motion.

The TP-Link Kasa KP125M is pricey at around $20 per plug, but you get support for the top home automation platforms including Matter, reliable voice controls, robust third-party integration options, and accurate energy usage reports with cost estimates. No other smart plug we've tested is as capable, so the KP125M easily wins our Editors' Choice award. That said, if you aren't rushing to adopt the latest smart home standard, you can save around $7.50 per plug with the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25P4), another Editors' Choice winner. It doesn’t support Matter, but it otherwise works with all the same platforms and also tracks power usage.

TP-Link’s Matter-enabled Kasa KP125M smart plug works with just about every smart home platform, supports lots of third-party integrations, and keeps track of how much energy your connected devices use.

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