Two new Matter-enabled devices expand TP-Link’s smart home range (link). The Chinese manufacturer is adding a somewhat dissimilar duo to its certified Tapo products: the Tapo H500 smart home base and the Tapo H110 hub. Their type designations sound similar, but the two differ significantly in terms of functionality.
Tapo H500 with Matter Bridge and Controller
The Tapo H500 Smart Home Base is a control center for cameras and smart home sensors. It can manage up to 16 cameras and 64 sensors. The Tapo app on a smartphone or tablet is used for control, whereby the latter can also be leaned against the console-shaped housing of the H500 as a touchscreen (image below). Alternatively, there is an HDMI socket for connecting external monitors.
When it comes to Matter, TP-Link takes a two-pronged approach: The Smart Home Base H500 can serve either as a Matter Bridge or as a Matter Controller. In the first case, it passes connected products from the Tapo ecosystem to Matter platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Home or Samsung SmartThings. This means that Tapo products that transmit on a sub-gigahertz frequency (EU: 868 MHz, US/JP: 922 MHz) can also be used in these Matter systems. The program ranges from temperature sensors, motion detectors and leakage sensors to push buttons.
As a Matter controller, the H500 can integrate and control certified devices from other brands in Tapo’s own smart home ecosystem. However, the manufacturer points out that currently only version 1.1 of the standard is supported – and within that, only certain product categories: plugs, lights, and switches. Upcoming software updates are expected to expand the range of supported features.
Tapo H110: Universal Remote Control with Bridge
The Smart IR & IoT Hub Tapo H110 is designed as a Matter Bridge and also connects the company’s own sub-gigahertz products. In addition, there is an IR remote control function for devices such as air conditioners, fans, air purifiers or TV set-top boxes. According to the manufacturer, the database of command codes includes 18 appliance types from more than 8000 brands. It also includes older models and is to be updated every three months to support new products.
The local control option is very much in line with Matter‘s philosophy: even if the Internet connection is interrupted, devices in the same network can still be operated.
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