TP-Link Smart Switches: Light Switches and Easy Smart Network Switches

Best for
Simple smart on/off for one room

The Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200 is a single-pole on/off smart switch that replaces a standard wall switch. It needs a neutral wire and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and setup is guided through the Kasa or Tapo app. TP-Link recommends consulting an electrician if you are not familiar with electrical wiring.

Once installed, you can check and switch lights from anywhere in the Kasa app, control them by voice through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, and set timers, countdowns or schedules. Away mode randomly switches lights on and off to make the home look occupied. It is UL certified and rated at 15 A and 120 V, and the listing states app requirements of Android 5.0 or iOS 10 and higher.

The HS200 suits anyone who wants simple smart control of a ceiling light or fan. It does not list dimming or Matter support, so for adjustable brightness or cross-platform control, the Tapo S505D or S505 are better choices.

• App control and voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant
• Schedules, timers and away mode
• Neutral wire and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi required

Best for
RGB rooms needing adjustable brightness

Best for
Mixed-ecosystem homes wanting Matter

The TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Light Switch S505 comes as a 2-pack and adds Matter support. That means it works with certified smart home platforms such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings, and the title also mentions Siri. With Matter’s Multi-Admin feature, you can control the same switch from several systems at once.

Matter also enables local LAN control, so devices can talk to each other even if your internet goes down. Like the HS200, it needs a neutral wire and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, installs with guidance from the Tapo app, and is UL certified with timers and schedules. It is rated at 15 A and 120 V.

Choose the S505 if your household mixes iPhones and Android devices or several voice assistants. It is an on/off switch, so for dimming, step over to the S505D. Our Tapo smart switch guide covers more of the Tapo range.

• Matter: Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings
• Local LAN control and Multi-Admin
• 2-pack, neutral wire required

Best for
Wired gaming desks with many devices

The TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Switch TL-SG108E is an Easy Smart managed network switch, not a light switch. It adds eight gigabit Ethernet ports and is managed through a web interface or free software. TP-Link pitches it as an upgrade from an unmanaged switch.

Its feature set goes well beyond plug-and-play: up to 32 VLANs out of 4K VLAN IDs, port-based, 802.1p and DSCP QoS to keep latency-sensitive traffic moving, IGMP snooping for multicast, link aggregation, port mirroring, loop prevention and cable diagnostics. It has a sturdy metal case with shielded ports and can sit on a desk or mount on a wall. Some spec fields, including an 11.9 Mbps data rate and a 1000W maximum power figure, clearly do not match a gigabit desktop switch and look like listing errors.

This is the right pick for a gaming desk or entertainment center with a PC, consoles, a streaming box and a NAS, where QoS can help prioritize game traffic. If you only need a few extra ports, the 5-port model is smaller.

• 8 gigabit ports
• VLAN, QoS, IGMP snooping, LAG
• Port mirroring, loop prevention, cable diagnostics
• Metal case, desktop or wall mount

Best for
Powering cameras and APs over Ethernet

The TP-Link TL-SG1428PE is a 28-port Easy Smart managed switch with 24 PoE+ ports. Each PoE+ port supports 802.3at/af and up to 30W, with a total PoE budget of 250W. It also has two gigabit non-PoE ports and two SFP slots for fiber or other high-speed links.

Management is through a web interface and configuration utility, with VLAN segmentation, QoS, IGMP and LAG. PoE auto recovery can detect and reboot unresponsive PoE devices once configured. It has a metal case and TP-Link backs it with a 3-year warranty and weekday technical support.

This switch is aimed at powering and connecting many devices over Ethernet, such as security cameras, Wi-Fi access points or a large LAN party setup. It is far more than a single gaming desk needs, so most home users will be better served by the 5-port or 8-port models.

• 24 PoE+ ports, 30W per port, 250W budget
• 2 gigabit ports and 2 SFP slots
• PoE auto recovery
• 3-year warranty

The Tapo Matter Smart Dimmer Switch S505D(2-Pack) adds full 0 to 100% dimming to the Matter feature set. It works with Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings, and supports voice control through Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant and Samsung Bixby.

Fade on/off provides smooth lighting transitions, and custom schedules can turn lights on, off or dim them at set times. Away mode is included, as are local LAN control and Multi-Admin. It needs a neutral wire and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, is UL certified and carries a 2-year warranty. Its current rating is listed at 2.5 A, lower than the on/off switches, which is typical for dimmers; check your fixture’s load before installing.

This is our pick for gaming rooms and home theaters. Dimming the overhead light while RGB strips and monitors take over sets the mood and reduces glare on screens. If you are comparing other ecosystems, our smart dimmer kit guide covers an alternative approach.

• 0-100% dimming with fade on/off
• Matter certified, Multi-Admin
• 2-pack, 2-year warranty

Best for
Small desk setups adding wired ports

The TP-Link 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Easy Smart switch TL-SG105E is the compact managed option. It offers five 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports, plug-and-play setup for basic use and Easy Smart features when you need them: QoS, VLANs, IGMP snooping, port mirroring, loop prevention and cable diagnostics through a web interface.

It measures about 3.9 by 3.9 by 1 inch, has a metal case with shielded ports and is backed by TP-Link’s limited lifetime replacement policy and free technical support. The “number of ports: 1” field in the listing is an obvious error; the title and features confirm five.

It suits a small gaming desk where your router is too far away or has too few ports, letting you wire a PC, console and streaming device with QoS available if you want it.