Will this affordable Tapo set keep burglars away?
9.1.2026
Translation: Eva Francis
Pictures: Martin Jungfer
If the balcony door of our holiday home opens in the middle of the night, I’ll know. Even if I’m not there. There’ll be an alarm, which might just scare off the burglar.
Someone recently broke into the apartment complex that houses our holiday home. Luckily, our flat wasn’t affected. As a result, the WhatsApp group of flat owners was buzzing with messages and outrage and the decision was taken to ask property management to come up with a security plan and get quotes for surveillance and burglary protection. Soon later, we got a quote – a sobering one, in my opinion. There was no way I was going to spend a four-figure sum. That would be in no relation to what my belongings in the small flat are actually worth.
Having said that, I did decide to add a bit of security to our holiday home and got the Smart Sensor Starter Kit by Tapo. It was launched a few months ago by Chinese company TP-Link. The T30 Starter Kit contains everything you need to build a basic security solution:
- Tapo H100: serves as a central IoT hub, is placed in a socket and connects to the WLAN.
- Tapo T100: motion sensor that’s battery-operated (CR2450) and connects to the hub via Matter.
- Tapo T110: contact sensors – the starter kit contains two of them. They’re battery-powered (CR2032), consist of two elements and are glued to the frames of your doors and windows.
For just over 50 francs, you get everything you need to equip a balcony sliding door and a window, for example, with contact sensors. The motion sensor is easy to hide in your home. It’s compact, (just over four centimetres long) and you can attach it using a magnet or adhesive tape. Equipped with a ball joint, you can adjust the detection range; it detects an area with a maximum angle of 120 degrees and everything up to a distance of seven metres. The sensor notifies the app when it detects movement.
For this review, I tried out the scenario I just described. Oh and let’s not forget to mention: nothing works without the app. And you absolutely need a user account. There are always people who find this a nuisance, but in this case, it makes sense because you can manage all kinds of automations in the app. In addition, having a user account allows you to organise several Tapo hubs in multiple locations or in different rooms. In my example, the hub and sensors are a room of their own, namely our holiday home.
Data from the sensors is temporarily stored in the Tapo cloud so that you can call up the information on your smartphone via the app. If you’re concerned about information sensitivity, you have to rely on what TP-Link promises about data protection and in the small print. Only the one size larger Tapo-Hub H200 has space for a micro SD card for local data storage.
Easy installation
The app guides me step by step through setting up the system. This works without any problems. The Wi-Fi’s found, allocating the newly recognised devices to the rooms is straight forward and the user interface of the app is easy and clear even with many devices in the system.
Low-cost material, solid finish
The Tapo sensors come with batteries. All I need to do is remove a protective film and they’re ready to be used. They’re made of cheap white plastic, but with a quality finish. In other words, there’s no plastic sticking out anywhere. Instead, it’s a smooth surface. Both the motion sensor and the contact sensor are fitted with a small status LED.
To change the battery, I have to remove a cover on the back by lifting a small plastic nose. Tapo supplied a little plastic tool to open the cover, but the tip of a knife will also do the job. Plasters are available on Galaxus, if you need.
I attach the two parts of the contact sensors to the balcony sliding door with the double-sided adhesive tape. They mustn’t be more than 15 millimetres apart. According to the instructions, however, they can’t be closer than 10 millimetres or I’ll have trouble changing the battery. An unnecessary hint, as it turns out. They’re far apart anyway when the balcony door’s open.
If-then commands
Once I’ve found a place for the hub and sensors, I can set up the automations. In the Tapo app, this menu item is named «Intelligent». Automations consist of if-then command chains. For example: if the contact sensor on the balcony door changes to «open», then the loudspeaker in the hub needs to play an alarm sound for one minute. I can also set up «If» conditions. And I can specify that an automation is only active at certain times. However, I don’t use this function, as I’ve got into the habit of activating the alarm system via the app as soon as I leave the flat.
Alternatively, I could buy a smart button from Tapo and use it to activate my automations as soon as I close the front door.
Limitations with several users
I can also share the devices with other users via the app. In my case, my wife also uses the app, as she needs to be able to start the automation when leaving the holiday home. However, she needs to set up all the if-then commands herself and can’t take over what I’ve already set up in my app.
Tapo also restricts the use of shared devices such as cameras for other users. For example, only the main user can manage advanced settings such as privacy zones.
Real security or just a feeling?
Even if Tapo’s marketing material is full of the word «security», ultimately, neither sensors nor a hub can prevent someone from gaining unauthorised access to my home. The only difference is I’ll know about it happening – without being able to stop it. Of course, the siren might startle a burglar or even scare them away. After all, it is up to 90 decibels loud. It might wake up the neighbours if they’re not in deep sleep. However, professional alarm systems can reach volumes of up to 110 decibels, which is up to four times louder based on the logarithmic decibel scale.
Therefore, mechanical security devices such as lockable window handles or security fittings to prevent break-ins are at least as important as sensors, cameras and alarm systems. And there are plenty more good tips from Swiss Crime Prevention on how to protect yourself from burglars (link in German).
In a nutshell
Home security made simple and affordable
With the Tapo kit, I’ve installed a basic security solution without spending much money. Two contact sensors and a motion sensor as well as the hub with built-in speakers allow me to monitor when windows and doors open. The motion sensor lets me know if someone’s in the living room with no business being there. I only wish the hub speaker had more power. The Tapo range includes more sensors, smart light bulbs and cameras to expand my system step by step.
Pro
- Simple installation
- Easy-to-use app
- Compatible with Google Home and Alexa
- Supports Matter standard
- Almost limitless extension options
Contra
- Restrictions when used by several people
- Slightly complicated integration into Apple Home
- Starter kit not much cheaper than getting devices individually (depending on daily prices)
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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