The Tapo C120 security camera offers video streaming and recording capabilities at resolutions up to 2K. It features two-way audio, albeit with a slight delay, and includes a slot for microSD cards of up to 512 GB for local storage of recordings. This budget-friendly camera is equipped with a starlight sensor that provides excellent color night vision and smart detection for people, pets, and vehicles without requiring a subscription. Additionally, its IP66 rating allows for outdoor use, as long as you can connect it to a power source. The camera’s base is versatile; it can be easily mounted on a wall, placed on a shelf, or used as a magnetic holder. For monitoring an entrance or a specific room, this camera proves to be an economical choice.
Motion detection capabilities are dependable, and users can adjust sensitivity levels and customize notification settings. While the video quality is sharp, the frame rate peaks at 20 fps, which may result in blurriness for fast-moving objects. Within the Tapo app, users can define activity and privacy zones, and the camera also employs AI detection to identify people, pets, vehicles, and even the sound of a baby crying. However, features like rich notifications and a snapshot are part of the optional Tapo Care subscription, which costs $3.50 per month for a single camera or $12 per month for up to 10 cameras. The camera lacks support for HomeKit or IFTTT but is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, although loading the stream on a Nest Hub was somewhat sluggish. Furthermore, the Tapo C120 supports the open Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).
For those on a tighter budget, the Tapo C110, priced at $19, offers a more affordable alternative with slight compromises, such as a lower frame rate, no detection for pets or vehicles, and a maximum microSD capacity of 256 GB..
