🔒 Elevate your home security game with vivid clarity and unstoppable endurance!
The TP-Link Tapo C420 is a high-performance outdoor wireless security camera designed as an add-on to the Tapo H200 Hub system. Featuring 2K QHD resolution, IP65 weatherproofing, and advanced color night vision powered by a starlight sensor and F1.6 aperture, it delivers crystal-clear footage day and night. With AI-powered person and vehicle detection, customizable activity zones, and up to 180 days of battery life, it offers smart, reliable surveillance that keeps you connected and protected in any environment.
Indoor/Outdoor Usage | Outdoor, Indoor |
Compatible Devices | Smartphone |
Power Source | Battery Powered |
Connectivity Protocol | Wi-Fi |
Controller Type | iOS, Android |
Mounting Type | Wall Mount |
Video Capture Resolution | 1440p |
Number of Items | 1 |
Included Components | 1xTapo C420 Camera (Battery Included), USB Adapter, USB Adapter Cable, Mounting Screws, Mounting Templates, Camera Bracket, Quick Start Guide |
Number of Channels | 4 |
Wireless Communication Technology | Sub-1G, Wi-Fi |
Form Factor | Dome |
Night Vision Range | 49 Feet |
Wattage | 9 watts |
Item dimensions L x W x H | 7.17 x 2.6 x 2.6 inches |
Water Resistance Level | Waterproof |
Batteries Required? | Yes |
Item Weight | 164 Grams |
Field Of View | 97 Degrees |
Alert Type | Motion Only |
Room Type | Study Room possibility, Living Room, Hallway |
Video Capture Format | MPEG-4 |
Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
Effective Still Resolution | 4 MP |
International Protection Rating | IP65 |
Maximum Webcam Image Resolution | 4 MP |
Control Method | Voice |
UPC | 840030705120 |
Manufacturer | TP-Link |
Part Number | Tapo C420 |
Item Weight | 5.8 ounces |
Product Dimensions | 7.17 x 2.6 x 2.6 inches |
Country of Origin | Vietnam |
Item model number | Tapo C420 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
Style | Add on Camera, Hub Required |
Item Package Quantity | 1 |
Special Features | Night Vision, Motion Sensor |
Batteries Included? | Yes |
Battery Cell Type | Lithium Ion |
Warranty Description | 1 year manufacturer |
B**N
Have improved significantly since they were first released.
I have many TP-LINK lights and smart switches, so I had big expectations for this camera. However, I'm pretty disappointed.The image on this camera is good, but not as good as my Wyze cameras. That's especially true at night. The night vision is OK, but IMHO much clearer with a Wyze camera. It's perfectly acceptable though.The big problem with these is their detection algorithms. I don't want a notification every time something moves, so I have motion turned off and I'm only using AI detection, and it's pretty bad. I have a camera in my driveway. During the day, it detects vehicles basically only if they are within 10 feet of the camera unless I point the camera at the road. Then it can detect almost every truck that drives by even though it's like 50-60 feet away. On my driveway, that means there could be like 10 cars parked on my driveway and this camera wouldn't notify me. At night, it's even worse. I've driven directly under the camera. My roof is literally feet away, and the camera never triggered.It's similar for people. The UPS guy walked all of the way up my driveway and up my stairs - all of which are within view of the camera, and the camera never triggered. It triggered when he was on his way out, and somehow started when he was like 30 feet away from the camera.I also have a camera in my backyard, and I have a dog. That camera is also set to AI detection, and I have the AI level set to max on everything. That camera has not recorded a single image of my dog yet. Also, my wife goes out the door and smokes every morning. The door is located about 25 feet away from the camera. It's never taken a single image of her either. I have some plants on a table about 10 feet away from it, and it triggers about 1/2 of the time when I go out to water them.Also, they seem to go offline quite a bit, so even viewing them when there isn't any notification will often result in absolutely nothing.I'm hopeful that these triggers will improve with updates. Since they're AI, that should be possible. I'm not sure if the offline problem will ever go away though. The WiFi outside my house isn't great because of my metal siding, and there's not a lot I can do with that. Still, I would hope these things have some way of caching recordings if they can't push them to the server immediately, but I don't know if that's true or possible.In the end, these partly work as I wanted them to and they work well enough to keep. For the most part, I just wanted to be able to see my driveway from my phone while I was working in my office without having to get up and walk across my house. I previously had POE cameras, but because of some other changes at my house I had to cut the ethernet lines that went outside and I'm not keen to run them again. Battery-operated wireless convenience, for the moment, is more important to me, and I'll just cross my fingers and hope they can update these to function better.*Update 6-27-2025*These have improved significantly since I bought them. TP-Link continues to impress me with their consistent updates, and seemingly never abandon their old products. There have been multiple firmware updates, all being applied automatically without any intervention from me, and the detection algorithms have improved to the point where I'm very comfortable recommending these cameras. I also realized the WIFI issues I was having weren't actually WIFI issues, but the placement of my hub. Apparently, the camera uses some other wireless protocol to connect to the hub, and moving the hub closer to my cameras resolved all of my issues. I can now reliably view my cameras. While the night vision is still better with my Wyze cameras, it's perfectly acceptable. I have 2 of these cameras connected to small solar chargers, and have no issues keeping them full and running all day. I've raised my initial rating to 5 stars, as I now believe they deserve that rating.
W**E
Works just fine!
We have 2 of these, they just work. I've been really impressed with many TP-Link products, we have their Kasa smart switches/plugs that have never faild, TP-Link wifi that just works. These cameras are the same, they work and they work well. We have one that's hardwired to power, one that has the add-on solar panel. The app to control them is pretty good, actually quite good compared to most of the lame apps out there. The image resolution is great. You have a choice of online (for a fee) storage, or local storage. We use local storage, no way I want some server somewhere, somewhere recording video. Like their Kasa smart widgets, it can work just fine on your local net. But, still, who knows what it does when you're not looking. :) Highly recommended.
K**U
Good price, great quality, great batt life, no subscription necessary, inconsistent triggering.
TP-Link Tapo 2K QHD Outdoor Wireless Security CamI got these for a number of reasons, but primarily as a test alternative to the Blink units I have. For the features and price these Tapos were the right choice for me over the Arlo, Eufy and a couple others in the same category. In a nut shell, these are (mostly) light years ahead of the Blink cams. More on that below ...I don't really need or use our cams for security. I use them mostly to capture the wildlife in the area, keep track of our outdoor cats, and to let me know when mail arrives or a package delivery. I have no desire what-so-ever to get trapped into a required subscription. I just need/want local free storage. That alone will narrow the options for any cam, much less a battery + WifI cam.Good video quality, responsive app (though not most intuitive), great batt life, easy to setup. The lenses did fog up initially, but they don't seem to do that anymore.Video quality: really good. pretty clear, even at a distance and when zooming in. Even at night IR mode. Significantly better than the Blink. Plus, I can operate these Tapos at highest quality with super long batt life, unlike the BlinkRain has a pretty big impact on visibility - would love to see them make a rain hood for these. I tried making one on my own with only low success - didn't block the rain enough and kinda tough to attach and still be effective without it getting into the cam's filed of view. Oddly, the Blinks are slightly better in this category. Odd since the lens exposure is basically the same.Night view and IR range is pretty good, and clear. Effectively 25', though best at <15'. A better and clearer than the Blink. These have an 'intelligent' mode that will turn on the LEDs and go full color at night when motion is detected, but this is a bit inconsistent in triggering, sometimes it will trigger on/off in the middle of a recording. I prefer the full IR-only for night.Motion detection and object detection. This is only so-so. I'm not sure yet if I can say this is better or not than the Blink. They both have their short comings. The Tapo has more detection options, though the results can be hilarious - detecting deer and turkey as a 'person', or our cats as 'packages' ;P Honestly doesn't bother me, though, as long as it is detecting and identifying it as something other than just motion. Does a petty good job of detecting just motion, without identifying it as an object or person - e.g., it may trigger motion detection on trees waving, bugs, spiders, shadows, and it will detect motion like that without mistakenly calling it a person or pet.Battery life is great! The batts are rechargeable and will go 0-100 in about 3 hours. So far they seem to last several months on a single charge with pretty high usage and full quality video etc. The Blinks are absolutely miserable in this category. The Blinks won't last more than a month even on lowest settings and very light traffic! Blinks say they require the Everyready Lithium only, so at that rate you will literally spend hundreds of dollars per year on batteries for the Blink cams. Despite what they say, there are some rechargeable Lithiums that will work with them (with caveats). Enough about the Blink - these Tapos have rechargeable batts that are super easy to access, fast to recharge and run for months even under heavy use.Storage: PLENTY of storage locally. Slight win for the Tapo here, but the Blink was more than sufficient for me as well.Would love to have HomeKit integration. However, not really feasible with a batt cam. HomeKit is just not set up for that.App: Easy to set up and use. Live streaming connects very quickly. Plenty of local storage available for clips. No subscription is required, but it will constantly nag you. My only real nit-pick is that it would be nice to have a single view where you can list and see all clips from all cams. In this app you need to go to each individual cam to see the clips stored for that cam only. The Blink does have this full clip directory, with filters. However, Blink live streaming is miserable if it even works at all.Hub connection range: Tapo wins hands down here as well. The Blinks are really sensitive to line-of-sight placement of the hubs and WiFi, and can get super finicky over about 25'-30'. These Tapos connect right up to their hubs regardless of line-of-sight. I have some that connect through redwoods, around a mountain side and they have no issue even connecting to a hub under my house about 150'-200' away.Would I get these again? Definitely. Though I will always research to see what new things may have come along. These Tapos are my new benchmark, though.
Trustpilot
4 days ago
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