Pros
Works with lots of other smart devices
Supports voice contol
Easy to installr
Cons
Doesn't integrate with HomeKit
Lacks energy usage reports
TP-LINK KASA SMART WI-FI PLUG MINI EP10 SPECS
Size | 1.5 by 2.3 by 1.2 inches |
|---|---|
Amazon Alexa | |
Apple HomeKit | |
Apple Siri | |
Energy Reporting | |
Google Assistant | |
IFTTT |
The Kasa Smart Mini Wi-Fi Plug EP10 has received high marks for its affordability, voice control capabilities, and ability to work with various other smart home devices. Compared to the Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi Smart Plug ($17.99), it is slightly cheaper, offers similar capabilities, and is a bit more compact, making it a good choice for smartening up lamps, coffee makers, and other small appliances.
Design and Features
The EP10 appears similar to the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Lite HS-103, but with dimensions of 1.5 by 2.3 by 1.2 inches (HWD), it's slightly more compact (while the HS-103 measures 1.5 by 2.6 by 1.5 inches). The front of the EP10 accommodates a single, three-prong outlet, and the back features a three-prong plug. Positioned on the left side is a backlit power button that emits a solid blue glow when the plug is powered on and connected. During setup, it flashes amber and blue, and if the plug loses its Wi-Fi connection, the light turns solid amber.
The plug employs a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio to connect to your home network, enabling you to control it using the Kasa Smart mobile app (available for Android and iOS), as well as through voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Additionally, it enables you to utilize IFTTT applets for linking the plug with third-party devices, including door locks, cameras, and thermostats. The plug seamlessly integrates with other Kasa devices, such as the Kasa Spot KC400 camera. However, it lacks support for the Apple HomeKit platform or Siri voice commands.
The EP10 is presented within a dedicated panel on the Kasa Smart app's Device screen under the Smart Plugs section. Tapping this panel will reveal a screen featuring a prominent power button; the button emits a green glow when the plug is on and appears gray when it's off. Positioned at the screen's bottom are buttons for Schedule, Timer, Away, and Runtime functions. Settings can be accessed by tapping the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
Tap the Schedule icon to create on and off schedules for specific times and days of the week. The Timer button allows you to set a countdown timer for when the plug should turn on or off. Using the Away button, you can configure the plug to turn on and off randomly, creating the illusion that someone is at home while you are away. The Runtime section lets you view basic usage statistics. For instance,you can see how many hours the plug has been on for the current day, the past week, and the past month. That said, you don’t get the same energy usage reports that you do with the Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi Smart Plug.
To create scenes in which the plug will turn on or off using custom presets, tap the Scenes button at the bottom of the Devices screen. The Smart Actions button here lets you build automations based on the activity of other Kasa devices.
Installation and Performance
The EP10 plug is remarkably easy to install. All you need to do is download the mobile app, create an account, tap the plus icon in the upper right corner of the Devices screen, select Device, and then choose Smart Plugs. Locate the EP10 in the list of available plugs, tap on it, follow the provided instructions to power it up, and confirm that the LED is blinking in amber and blue. Utilize your phone's Wi-Fi settings to connect to the plug's SSID, return to the app, choose your home SSID, and input your Wi-Fi password. The app will automatically add the plug to both your Kasa devices list and your Alexa devices list. To finalize the installation, assign a name to the plug.
During testing, the plug performed flawlessly. It displayed no hesitation when responding to app commands for turning on and off. The responsiveness was equally excellent with Alexa voice commands. The plug seamlessly adhered to my preset schedules and the Smart Action I created functioned without any issues. For instance, I configured the plug to activate when a Kasa Spot camera detected motion.
Conclusions
At just under $20, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini EP10 is an affordable way to turn ordinary appliances into smart ones that you can control with your phone or voice. It’s compact enough to not block other outlets and interacts with numerous Kasa and third-party smart devices. However, if you're not using other Kasa devices, you can use the Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi Smart Plug ($17.99) to replace it.
