Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) possess a unique electronic structure, high mechanical strength, and excellent thermal conductivity, making them a focus of research in the field of composite materials. Therefore, this paper first summarizes the preparation methods of SWCNT-based composite materials; then analyzes the property control strategies of SWCNT-based composite materials, and proposes methods to improve their mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties by controlling the defect degree and spatial arrangement, as well as conducting surface functional modification; finally, combined with the latest research results, focuses on the application breakthroughs of SWCNT-based composite materials in fields such as conductive agents for lithium-ion batteries, aerospace structures, and flexible electronic devices, so as to provide theoretical guidance for the industrial preparation of high-performance composite materials.