Smart Home Intelligence Briefing

Tapo P110M Is the Cheap Matter Plug, But Check the Metering Path

2026-06-15 morning · 6 sources · 700 words

Helps smart-plug buyers decide whether the cheap P110M multi-pack fits their ecosystem, metering needs, and load-safety constraints before buying several plugs.

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Tapo P110M Is the Cheap Matter Plug, But Check the Metering Path

Tapo P110M Is the Cheap Matter Plug, But Check the Metering Path

The Tapo P110M is exactly the kind of smart plug Matter was supposed to make easy to recommend: inexpensive, compact, Matter-certified, and useful in more than one ecosystem. The official Tapo store listed the four-pack at $35.99 when checked on June 15, which brings it to about $9 per plug before tax and shipping. That is why the latest MatterAlpha review landed with a simple message: this is one of the cheapest good Matter plugs to consider.

The catch is not basic control. It is energy monitoring.

What Changed

The P110M has moved from "cheap Matter plug" to "cheap Matter plug with a real metering story." Tapo's product page lists Matter certification, energy monitoring, Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Tapo app control, schedules, auto-off, away mode, Smart Charge Guard, and Power Protection.

The hardware details are practical too. The US product page lists 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, Bluetooth for setup only, a compact 66 x 38 x 40 mm body, UL94-V0 flame-retardant PC material, and a 15A/1800W maximum load for general or resistive use.

CSA's product database adds the standards trail: a P110M(US) entry with Matter 1.3, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth transport, firmware 1.3.0, hardware 1.0, and a March 5, 2025 certification date. That matters because Matter 1.3 is where standardized energy-monitoring support became relevant for devices like plugs.

The Buyer Decision

If all you need is a cheap Matter on/off plug for a lamp, fan, charger, humidifier, or holiday light, P110M is easy to understand. It uses Wi-Fi, not Thread, so it will not extend a Thread mesh. But it also does not require a separate hub just to work as a basic smart plug.

If you want energy data, slow down. TP-Link's own firmware announcement says Matter energy monitoring rolled out first to P110M, but also said only SmartThings and Home Assistant apps were compatible with the feature at that stage. MatterAlpha's review found the same kind of split: Apple Home pairing worked for basic plug control, while energy monitoring needed a firmware update through the Tapo app and was confirmed through Home Assistant.

That is the real setup checklist: plug control is not the same as plug metering.

What To Check Before Buying

First, decide where the energy readings need to live. If the Tapo app is acceptable, the product page clearly leans into Tapo's own dashboard, bill estimation, Smart Charge Guard, and Power Protection features. If energy data must appear in a Matter platform, verify that platform before buying a multi-pack.

Second, update firmware before judging the plug. The Matter energy-monitoring path depends on newer firmware, and the Tapo app may still be the route for getting there.

Third, avoid overloading it. The US spec is 15A/1800W for general or resistive load. That is normal for many plug-in devices, but it does not make every heater, motor, or high-draw appliance a good automation target. Power Protection can be useful, but it should not replace correct load selection.

Fourth, think about privacy in a boring but real way. A smart plug is not a camera, but energy history can still reveal routines: when a desk setup turns on, when a bedroom fan runs, when a charger finishes, or when someone is away. Multi-admin Matter sharing, Tapo account linking, and voice assistants should be managed intentionally.

The Takeaway

Tapo P110M looks like one of the strongest value buys in Matter smart plugs right now, especially if the official four-pack pricing holds near $9 per plug. For basic smart-home control, it is a simple Wi-Fi Matter plug with broad ecosystem reach.

For energy monitoring, buy it with the right expectation. The best version of this product is not "every app gets every reading." It is "basic Matter control almost everywhere, deeper energy data where firmware and platform support line up." Check the target ecosystem first, then decide whether the cheap plug is actually the right plug.

- https://www.tapo.com/us/product/smart-plug/tapo-p110m/ - https://us.store.tapo.com/products/tapo-p110m-4-pack - https://csa-iot.org/csa_product/smart-wi-fi-power-strip-5/ - https://www.tp-link.com/en/press/news/21871/ - https://www.tapo.com/us/faq/585/ - https://www.matteralpha.com/review/tapo-p110m-review-matter-smart-plug