Why I Use Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights—and Almost Nothing Fancy

ByMichael

People can get very creative with smart plugs.

Schedules. Automations. Away modes. Whole-house scenes. Devices talking to other devices. That preference for a simple useful job is similar to how we use the EyeVac for pet-hair cleanup and the Lasko fan to move conditioned air.

We use ours to turn the lights on and off.

That is about it.

And around Christmas, I think that is fantastic.

#ad

My short version: I have owned both an Amazon Smart Plug and a Kasa HS103P2 two-pack. I do not remember why I switched brands, and I am not going to invent a brand-war explanation. What I like is being able to walk into the room and tell Alexa to turn the lights on instead of reaching behind furniture or crawling under the Christmas tree for an extension-cord switch.

The smart plugs in my Amazon history

  • Amazon Smart Plug: ASIN B01MZEEFNX, bought March 21, 2021
  • Kasa HS103P2 two-pack: ASIN B07B8W2KHZ, bought November 30, 2023
  • Main use: Living-room lights
  • Favorite seasonal use: Christmas-tree and holiday lighting
  • Do I remember why I changed brands: No

Christmas is when the idea really makes sense to me

Christmas lights have an annoying habit of putting their switch exactly where you do not want it.

Once the tree, presents, extension cords, furniture, and decorations are in place, the simple act of turning the lights off can involve crawling around underneath everything.

A smart plug turns that into a voice command.

That may not be futuristic enough for a smart-home enthusiast, but it is exactly the kind of technology I like: it removes a small recurring annoyance.

I also use them for ordinary living-room lights

The rest of the year, we mostly use smart plugs for lamps or lights in the living room.

I can walk in and tell Alexa to switch them on or off.

If I wanted to, I could apparently set up every room and spend my day shouting orders to an imaginary switch flipper.

I have not felt the need.

The Kasa HS103 still supports the usual smart-plug features

TP-Link still maintains official support and product information for the HS103/HS103P2 family as of August 2026.

The current information includes Alexa and Google voice control, remote app control, scheduling, timers, and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi operation without a separate hub.

Those are product capabilities. I mostly use the voice-control part.

Setup was not a memorable problem

I remember setup being easy enough that it did not become part of the story.

That is a compliment.

TP-Link’s current setup still uses the Kasa app to connect the plug to Wi-Fi and link voice assistants.

Amazon versus Kasa?

I cannot give you a serious firsthand head-to-head verdict.

I do not remember why I bought Kasa after previously owning the Amazon plug. I also do not remember one brand failing in a way that drove me to the other.

So the useful conclusion is about smart plugs generally, not about pretending I conducted a brand comparison.

Would I buy smart plugs again?

Yes, for the same simple reasons.

I do not need my entire house to be automated. I just like being able to turn an inconvenient light on or off without physically reaching the switch.

If that makes me a very lazy smart-home user, I am comfortable with that.

Smart plug FAQ

Are smart plugs useful for Christmas lights?

They are one of my favorite uses because they let me turn tree or holiday lights on and off without reaching under the tree or hunting for an extension-cord switch.

Does the Kasa HS103P2 work with Alexa?

Yes. TP-Link currently lists Alexa voice control for the HS103/HS103P2 family.

Do Kasa smart plugs need a hub?

TP-Link currently says the HS103 connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi without a separate hub.

Which brand is better, Amazon Smart Plug or Kasa?

I cannot fairly answer that from my use. I have owned both, but I do not remember why I changed brands and did not compare them systematically.

Similar Posts