Customers admire the Tapo Battery/Wired Smart Video Doorbell's excellent video quality, long battery life, and effective night vision. They also praise the straightforward installation process and the user-friendly app, highlighting the device's ease of use and reliable motion detection. The wide field of view is another frequently cited positive aspect. Overall, the positive feedback focuses on the product's performance and convenience.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
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Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Night vision, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent purchase, exceeded expectations!
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I purchased the Tapo doorbell and am extremely satisfied with the product. The build quality is excellent, and the modern design blends perfectly with my home’s entrance. Installation was quick and easy, even for someone with no experience with smart devices.
The Tapo app is intuitive and offers amazing features, such as real-time viewing and instant notifications when someone rings the doorbell. The video quality is sharp, even at night, thanks to the night vision. Additionally, the two-way audio system allows clear and seamless communication with visitors.
I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich smart doorbell. Great value for money!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Video quality
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Renting? Bring your own adhesive.
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Tapo is a great line of smart home devices. The hardware works seamlessly and the set up process hold your hand through it all. Generally speaking, you cannot go wrong with them.
But what you can go wrong with is the adhesive mount that they offer you. I have also tried this on the Tapo TC 85. The sticky adhesive is not strong enough. I cannot drill holes in the wall because I am renting my place. After taking great care with ensuring that I wiped the surface I mount it on, I applied pressure for well more than the 15 seconds it suggested. It looks like all is well. It lasted about 12 hours and following a round of rain, I wake up in the morning to find the camera on the ground and a fresh scratch on the lens. Meanwhile, the Tapo support has been very slow to address my case on this.
So while the camera itself is great and it is even better to have the option for power as well as battery, the support not so. I am hoping that we can get a replacement unit but I believe that I am going to be stuck with one that has a scratched lens.
With that said, if you are in a similar predicament where drilling holes in the wall is a no no, you should definitely pick up your own adhesive strips and mount the camera that way. I found some other 3M adhesive that is good for over 20 pounds plus And we have already had two rounds of rain. The camera has remained steady on the wall just fine.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TPLinkSupport
Posted .
Hi kscojosh,
Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear that you encountered this unusual situation with the adhesive backing included with the Tapo Doorbell. If the surface is somewhat porous or has aged or worn, weathered paint, the adhesive may have difficulty achieving full adhesion.
We are glad you are already in touch with our support team. Rest assured, they are dedicated to addressing your concerns.
If you have any questions about your experience, feel free to contact our support team at any time using the support portal on our TP-Link website, and they will be more than happy to help.
Best Regards, TP-Link Support
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Who's That Knocking At My Door?
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Neat little product, quite pleased. Install was a bit challenging as it replaced an existing wired door bell mounted to the lap siding; limited options to set the product flush to the siding, so bit the bullet and left the gaps. So far, no issues after some 2 months in service. Activity zones are generous, the device was picking up headlights from a road through the woods! So, we reduced some zones. Motion sensing picks up the swaying chimes; not sure what to do about that. Overall, exceeded expectations. One downer, we lost access to the camera when the internet went down suggesting the feed goes somewhere else before it gets to us; not comfortable with that but not a fatal concern. Regardless, notifications are prompt when activity is sensed.
We would like to add another chime for our home but are unable to find one; unfortunate. The only options appears to be with one of the Tapo hubs, which we may go with anyway.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Video quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Works great
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Good doorbell camera. Getting use to fish eye view. Loke the phone feature, it seems to work better than the microphone option.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Top of the line
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Yes and yes! Not enough characters to list the benefits that come with a fully integrated Tapo smart home. Must have to start or complete your system .
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Video quality
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Battery drains 20% a day with some video glitch
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The video quality is crystal clear; however, the battery is draining 20% per day when Always-On mode is enabled. The battery drops below 60% and turns it off automatically. Always-On mode only works for 2 days then I will have to wait 3-4 days for the doorbell to fully charge back to 100% then enable Always-On manually again. Too much work to do. Some videos have glitches as well so they cannot be played correctly, also not able to download from SD card. I have already reached out to Tapo and they pushed a new firmware to fix the battery issue, but it did not help at all.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from TPLinkSupport
Posted .
Hello Dennis,
Always-On mode should not be used on battery. This is because the camera is recording 24 hours a day. That is an excessive drain on the battery. From the information that I have Always-on should not even be an option available if you using the battery. If you are able to use this feature on the battery that is something we would need to look into. Please consider contacting TP-Link support when you have a moment. Our support is free and 24 hours a day. We can be reached at 866-225-8139 or [email protected]
Best Regards
TP-Link Systems Technical Support
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Ease of use, Field of view
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I See You ALL THE WAY OVER THERE!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The TP-Link Tapo Smart Doorbell + Chime (TD25) is a 2K 5MP video doorbell that offers a unique value proposition. Its 180-degree view and 3:4 aspect ratio provide a comprehensive view of your surroundings. Despite its relatively large size, it's a breeze to install and use. The doorbell camera and chime are coupled with local recording on microSD and optional cloud service, making it a reliable choice for anyone looking at video doorbells. Whether hardwired or wireless, you are covered by up to 8 months of battery life (depending on settings). Incorporating AI ensures fewer false alarms and the ability to filter events by what matters most to you. Plus, the preprogrammed voice responses can be customized to your liking.
OVERVIEW
The TD25 offers a simple setup, flexible installation options, and a plethora of features that put you in control of your security. Start by deciding on your installation type: wired or battery-operated. The wired installation requires checking the existing chime setup for correct power and functionality, with instructions for modifying the home chime box to allow constant power. On the other hand, the battery setup only involves charging the device and turning it on using the rear power button. I chose the battery-operated install for its convenience. Mounting is straightforward in both cases, followed by the TAPO App setup process to link it to your network. Remember, you're in charge of your smart home integration.
SETUP
To set it up, remove the back cover using the "detaching pin" provided in the package. After about 6 hours of charging, you should be set to begin installation after mounting in your desired location. Download the TP-Link TAPO App (iOS & Android) to initiate the connection process and link everything using the app-guided processes. This doorbell camera assembly is weatherproof IP66 and uses a rubber flap to cover the USB-C charging port for further weather protection. This doorbell performs so well with my current smart home setup that I have recently started incorporating more of the Tapo ecosystem.
TAPO ALEXA INTEGRATIONS
Since owning Kasa switches, dimmers, and PTZ indoor cameras, Tapo came into the picture. The Tapo app has proven to be superior to the old Kasa app as it focuses more on security needs, not just smart home functionality. With flawless integration with Alexa for Echo shows that automatically show the door when it is rung, you can feel empowered and in control of your home security.
Everything is snappy, and ring and event notifications are beautifully integrated with Alexa and Google speakers in your home to announce throughout in case you are in another room. Be sure to enable skills and integrations to your home assistant by linking your Tapo credentials. The 180-degree field of view and camera picture are excellent, allowing for detailed shots of events with AI tagging things like packages, cars, people, pets, and motion.
TAPO App
The app provides various parameters for customization, including detection types and zones, motion detection adjustments, specific person detection, pet detection, and even package detection. Users can also select operating modes such as high performance, balanced, power saving, or custom, as per their preference. The device allows inserting a microSD card for video storage and supports features like spotlight control and privacy mode. I LOVE the data and charts created in the app so you can narrow down the busiest times and customize your settings accordingly.
In conclusion, the TP-Link Tapo Smart Doorbell + Chime (TD25) offers complete features and options with high-quality imaging, making it easy to recommend for any homeowner or property owner looking to keep taps while away.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Not all features listed are available - No RTSP
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I waited and purchased this doorbell camera just for the battery feature and support for ONVIF. After the latest firmware update the ONVIF feature has been removed. Contacted support and they are less than helpfull. Keep saying that it was removed on the battery cameras due to not enough power being provided with a solar panel. I have let them know twice that the TD25 is hardwired but keep replying saying it decreases battery life. They then suggest I purchase the C325WB, which is a standard camera and not a doorbell camera. I will be returning this one and purchasing something different.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Easy decision
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Not having to pay for a subscription clicks this one up 25 points just for that plus has all the features of the (way more expensive ones)
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
THIS Doorbell Cam Is AWESOME! FAST Notifications!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This device proved me WRONG in my initial judgments of it. Let me explain. For me, “TP LINK” is not a brand that I would typically look to for a device like this traditionally but upon further research and testing this doorbell out, my outlook on that should probably change! TP LINK is more than just routers and gadgets nowadays! The “TLDR” on this is that I am EXTREMELY IMPRESSED with this device and it easily exceeded all my expectations and has even over-delivered on what I would ACTUALLY want from a doorbell camera from a more “mainstream brand.” I am already involved with BLINK and Alexa pretty heavily, so going outside of those is not something I do often but the integration of this device and software work flawlessly with Alexa. The TP LINK App is OUTSTANDING and there are tons and TONS of controls and features in the app that allow the end user to make the device operate EXACTLY how they want it to. Even each motion trigger has its own scheduling options. So detection of Motion can be different than the detection of pets and then a 3rd schedule can be set to detect humans. That is totally overkill and 1,000% the type of control that makes this a super smart choice and happy addition to my cam family and home security.
Basically, this is the ONE STOP SHOP FOR ANYONE who needs a doorbell camera! A lot of intelligent features went into this one. It can work for people who have doorbell wiring or for those that do not have wiring with the built-in battery. Also, in the event of a power outage and coupled with an SD Card this camera will keep on keeping on to record when it is really needed! I do not have wiring where I wanted it so the built in, “8 month” rechargeable battery was super appreciated. Also, due to the battery, this can be mounted virtually anywhere and doesn’t need to be right next to a door. It could be on a fence post, side wall, a tree, or even right on the door. I’m going to babble here for a second. Again, "one stop shop" because:
-It can be used wired or not wired.
-No extra batteries or accessories to buy. It is ALL IN THE BOX ALREADY!
-IT COMES WITH A CHIME! Again, nothing extra or separate to buy! Love that! The CHIME has different chimes to choose from, even if I am feeling festive during the holiday season. It connected via the app and Bluetooth super easily.
-It comes with angle mounts INCLUDED….again, already IN THE BOX!
-It comes with Sticky Pads Included for no-hole mounting and the sticky pad is super high quality.
-Install template included with high quality screws that do not strip or deform while installing them. Mine were installed into cement board HardieBoard siding trim and went right in with a small pilot hole and are still in perfect condition. I can't say the same for most screws that have come with stuff that I have installed in the same way.
-Completely customizable! Separate scheduling for each detection mode: People, Motion & Pets.
-LED Ring around the button can be set to any of the colors included in the app or TURNED OFF to keep the camera discrete.
-Can record at night in BOTH Full Color or Black and White Night Vision. (AWESOME that users have this option available to them and they are not stuck with one or the other.)
-Nice modern design. I really like the way it looks. It has what I would call a "timeless design" ....meaning it will still look that good 5 years from now or longer.
-Feels like it is built like a tank! Doesn’t feel cheap or like it will break. Waterproof.
-Has a theft alarm built in that can be turned on and off in the app to prevent theft of the device. It cannot be easily removed from the mounting plate without knowing "the trick."
-Has cloud recording for a SMALL monthly fee or can record to an SD Card or both.
-NO FEATURES ARE LOCKED OUT if you do not subscribe to the monthly plan! The entire device operates the same no matter if I am paying monthly as part of the subscription service or if I decide to just keep the SD Card in it and not pay the subscription. (THAT is HUGE and I am not used to that with my current and past camera providers. I REALLY like that about this camera and I wish more manufacturers would follow this mentality!)
-Motion triggers are *FAST and accurate. (*More on "FAST" later in the review.)
-Can set privacy zones so motion is not captured in those areas.
-Can set video quality specs in the app. The app lets me control all sorts of stuff I didn’t even know I needed control of, but now that I have access to those settings, I am “over the moon” thrilled about having the ability to control the device at that level.
-Super Easy Install and The App is REFINED Nicely and does everything it needs to do without hang-ups, errors or complications during the initial setup and normal use/interaction with the device. Even the voice guidance that is built into the doorbell sounds like a native English speaker and prompts you along the way to keep things smooth, even if there is an update needed at the time of install. Oh yeah….you can even tell the device when it is allowed to update! I’m telling you, the control over this device is unprecedented in my experience with electronics over the years.
To end this on a high-er note I am going to blab about how incredibly responsive and FAST this device is. All caps for a reason here: THIS DEVICE’S SPEED OF COMMUNICATION AND NOTIFICATION IS THE FASTEST OF EVERY-SINGLE-THING I CURRENTLY OWN! I was floored at how fast I get notifications on my phone. It is near INSTANT when I press the doorbell button to when my phone goes off at the same time as the chime ringing! It is only like .25 of a second behind on my phone notification audible chime vs. the chime itself. Incredible! Even if I am on a mobile network (not connected to the same network as the device, the speed is INCREDIBLE! I am a Contractor and Business Owner on top of being an electronics nerd and I install all types of doorbells for clients and this is, by far, THE FASTEST one I have ever put my hands on. Period! Even the connection to the live video stream is insanely fast. I can’t count to the “T” in Three and it is already streaming. This blows away all my SUBSCRIPTION Cameras and all of my other connected cameras that I have, including the ones that are connected to a DVR that is connected to the internet and sending notifications when triggered. Being a Business Owner I have cameras everywhere, the shop, the storage location, the shop yard and parking lot and all over my home. This camera is the fastest of all of them and my stuff is not old or outdated. I tend to have the most recent and up to date stuff available. The video image, clarity and quality is outstanding! I can see everything I need to see, including text and faces associated with vehicles and drivers and in the event that I have a slow connection and things may be only slightly blurry, I can still pull from the SD Card to either my mobile device or a computer and view the unadulterated capture in all of its 5 megapixel, 2K incredible clarity! The app also allows live feed pinch to zoom so I can get a better look at stuff that may be further away from how I have the camera set up.
Listen, I could go on and on about this doorbell camera, but the bottom line is, it is a "One Stop Shop" for ANY user, wired or battery, that gives incredible response times to motion triggers or the doorbell being rung and the image quality is fantastic. On top of that the control over the device’s options and customizable parameters is unprecedented and a subscription is not required to access all of the device features. There is nothing extra to buy and it works beyond flawlessly and makes all my other, up to date, tech and cameras jealous of its outstanding response rate and connection times. THIS is THE ONE to SERIOUSLY CONSIDER if looking for a high quality doorbell camera. I am not just saying that either. I really and genuinely LOVE this device and the app. I also love that the subscription service monthly rate is on point, affordable and not over the top or out in left field. Super competitive and affordable, like it should be. I was surprised and expected it to be more expensive but TP LINK has come a long way since I have looked at them last and they have expanded to the camera market and, in my opinion, they have done their homework and have done it the right way. In fact, I’d be willing to say they are doing it better than companies that only exist to provide camera services. This one is an EASY 5 STARS! I am super happy with it and I am happy that I chose to give it a chance outside of “mainstream brands” that I am already tangled up in. Oh, and it integrated into Alexa in 2 taps and works flawlessly. I can say, “Alexa show me the doorbell camera” and it just pops up, unlike my BLINK cams that tend to not load 50% of the time on Alexa connected devices. In addition to that, all of my Alexa devices ring a chime followed by a verbal notification that “Someone is at the doorbell” because I named it “doorbell” because something else is already named “back door.” The doorbell gets rung and my phone goes off, all my Alexa devices go off and the included chime goes off, all near instantly. Plus I can share the device so other mobiles can be triggered too! I genuinely would recommend this to friends and family and being a Contractor, this doorbell camera has just become my only recommendation to clients who are asking me what my opinion is. My answer is “I have this one on my house and I would have it no other way.” A++++ Doorbell Camera!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Ease of use, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Thoughtfully engineered. Solves problems.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
TP Link Tapo Smart Doorbell + Chime (TD25)
This is what thoughtful engineering does. It anticipates potential issues I might have and gives me options. I get choices. This is a very easy to setup doorbell/chime solution that performs exactly as promised and gives me the flexibility to use it as I need it. I can take advantage of its VERY long-life battery or connect it hardwired, using my own home doorbell wiring. And, I can change my mind later on a switch from one approach to another.
SETUP: Download the TP-Link TAPO App. You need it for the connection process. Take the surprisingly solid doorbell-camera assembly and pop the back off so you can access the still hidden USB-C charging port under the cover. [HINT: Look for the special PIN in the package used to push the concealed holding clip down so the back cover pops off. Insert in the top hole and REALLY push down. It’s a stiff locking plate you must force down.] Now you can charge for a recommended 6 hours.
While your device is charging you must decide which installation path you want to pursue. WIRED INSTALLATION requires checking to be sure your existing chime setup has the correct power and still works. There is even a modification instruction diagram showing how to modify your home chime box to allow constant power.This particular setup includes a few steps preparing to replace your existing setup. The BATTERY setup is just the single step of charging and turning on the device using that rear power button. In either case, mounting is straightforward and then it’s on to the TAPO App which is a joy to use. This has clearly been well tested to ensure no hiccups. I was connected within about 15 minutes, and most of that time was waiting for the typical Wi-Fi connection processing which begins by logging onto the very temporary TAPO network, and then onto the Wi-Fi linkage. The App takes you step by step.
PERFORMANCE and FEATURES: It’s all about the very well thought out App interacting with a high performing device. I already have a couple of TAPO security cameras, so for me, it was no more than ADDING NEW DEVICE, and the App found it, adding to my camera list. The TAPO App sees this doorbell as a camera, but with more features.
I’ll refer you to my accompanying photos, where you will see a stuffed menu of parameters that allow:
Detection types and Zones, motion detection adjustments, specific person Detection, pet Detection, and even PACKAGE DETECTION for those deliveries we all worry about! (Some of these setting are in a submenu.)
TAPO recognizes that not all users want to become doorbell experts and allows us to simply select generalized operating modes, High performance, Balanced, Power Saving, Custom, so the device makes the detail decisions. We can add Auto Power Saving so battery life is further conserved if it drops to 10%.
A microSD Card CAN BE inserted if you want to avoid a subscription service for your videos.The device formats for you and allows a number of parameter changes.
There is a spotlight, and of course, Spotlight control. And, there is a Privacy Mode which immediately suspends recordings.Auto updating is another feature.
[Photos of the porch are taken from a temporary location in a window frame, not doorbell height.]
RECOMMENDATION: It’s hard to imagine a more complete set of features or options. The quality of imaging starts with the 5MP Camera and continues with the hidef imaging. A subscription service is available, but completely unnecessary with the memory card inserted. There are notification you can control and videos available in the memory card library. Mounting choices cover anything you might need. This is easy to recommend.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Night vision, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Crystal clear 2K 5MP image no monthly fee required
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
TP-Link Tapo Smart Video Doorbell 2K 5MP with Chime is a brand new model, with an innovative approach to front door security that helps with package delivery security thanks to the super wide angle camera coverage.
The setup instructions are easy to follow and physical installation is pretty much two screws. I installed this as a replacement for an older Ring Pro doorbell. The Tapo Doorbell is much larger, mainly because it has a larger wide angle camera and a large battery pack that’s supposed to last 8 months between charges. Initially I wasn’t looking forward to taking the doorbell off the wall to recharge a couple of times per year, but as it turns out you don’t have to because it also supports hard wiring to standard wired doorbells with a powered transformer which is what I already had. I ended up installing the vertical wedge that angles the camera down by 5 degrees, so it will now capture most of your front door steps/landing where packages are usually delivered.
Image quality at 2k 5 MP is superior and sound is also better being full duplex. Night vision is very good and can be in full color with the powerful white LED spotlight light built-in to the button. The App is very intuitive being part of the Tapo ecosystem of smart devices which I own plenty of, so it’s nice to have all cameras, lights, plugs in one place. It also offers plenty of customizations, video and recording settings, notifications and alert settings. The built-in AI helps detect motion, people, cars, pets, packages and notifies you almost instantly.
The included wireless chime plugs into a standard outlet and can be installed anywhere else in the house where you have WiFi coverage. If you have a bigger house and can’t hear the chime from another floor/room, you can add more than one chime which is what I’m planning to do.
One feature worth picking this over the more popular competition is the local SDcard capability of up to 512 GB of storage that allows you to record locally, so no need for yet another monthly subscription, though that is an option if you prefer cloud storage. So if you want to pay no monthly fees and not worry about your privacy being at risk in the cloud, the Tapo Smart Video Doorbell 2K 5MP with Chime is the way to go.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Field of view, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great detection, no subscription needed!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Being a battery doorbell, this is a bit larger and heavier than the smart-doorbell I had before, which didn't have a battery. But, I still set this up wired to my doorbell wiring (this can also be setup to operate on battery only).
If you want clips to be saved and not need to pay for a subscription, you will need a microSD card (up to 512gb supported) for it to save clips to. Alternatively (or in addition to) you can pay for a subscription for cloud saves.
They include a quickstart paper instructions in the box, but you can go through more detailed step-by-step by using the app.
Setup is basically the same as any other smart doorbell, but they give you two wedges, to either angle this to the side, or angle down, depending on where you position your doorbell (you can also mount flat). They also include a template that you can stick to your wall to help with drilling holes if necessary. And finally, they include a sticky mounting if you have a flat and clean surface and don't want to drill.
I went with wired installation, and there are two options for wired installation. You can either have it "always on" by bridging two contacts at your doorbell chime inside (effectively disabling the existing chime), or by skipping that step, and being able to have 24/7 recording and better performance.
I skipped the bridging for now, and it seems to work ok, sometimes the alerts to motion or activity is slightly delayed, so I think I'll switch it to always on mode.
I love the super wide angle... this thing captures everything. Very good quality images too, so you get a real good look at who's (or what) is at the door. It's also good at detecting pets and packages. You can also configure it to trigger on general motion, but I found this to trigger two alerts on my phone one after another, if say a person walks by, I get an alert for motion, and an alert for person detected.
But, what's also nice, is you can set a detection area for each alert type, so you can have it only look for people in an area thats closer to your front porch, and set the car detection further out, such as where it might capture a section of your driveway. In addition, you can set the sensitivity level for each detection type.
The ring button on the doorbell does have a light on it, but it's rather dim and not noticeable at all in daylight. If you're trying to encourage people to press the doorbell, this might not do it. But this is a bigger doorbell, so it's a bit more noticeable (almost no one noticed my old doorbell for some reason).
Overall, I'm very happy with this.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Video quality
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Good hardware with lacking software
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The TP-Link Tapo TD25 is my first attempt at a door bell camera/microphone setup. So going into this review I have no experience with any other competitor, so I can't give comparisons at all to the experience that might be had there, these are just my observations and things that are good, and could be done better with this product.
The hardware for this product I feel is very good. Upon opening the box you have everything you need in order to install the camera. It comes with various mounting plates to help with installing at either a flat orientation or angled, fitted double sided adhesive for the wireless option, and the wiring necessary to replace an actual door bell. I opted for now with the wireless option to test it out so I haven't actually replaced my doorbell yet, but it looks very straight forward.
The camera itself has a nice camera on it with a wider angle lens that takes very good quality pictures (for what it is, hopefully you're not attempting to record for national geographic with it). I had no issues making out details of license plates in my driveway and could make out who people were on my sidewalk that is roughly 15 meters away. The resolution is 2K (2560x1920, so a little over twice that of 1080p and has a day and night mode. The night mode works very well, I can make out details far beyond my porch even in a pretty dark area.
The mic and speaker on it aren't the greatest, but they work well enough. Audio quality I would say is subpar but I didn't have any problems making out what people were saying, and they could understand me just fine. That said, it has a very electronic sound to it. I do believe its expected given the hardware and what they are achieving on battery but thought it should be mentioned. The latency with the mic is another thing though. There is a very solid roughly 1 second delay between speaking into the mic on your phone and when it comes out the speaker. Not a big issue, just something that I think needs pointed out.
The battery life on this I think is decent. I've only had the device for roughly 5 days installed, and in that time the battery has dropped 15%. It is advertised as having an 8 month battery, and that might be true, but if you're using the features that this device has like object detection then I believe its going to shorten the battery life. Still, I think a month of use before having to be charged isn't a big downside.
The camera comes with a couple options for storage. The first being microSD and the second being cloud. The first option has the obvious drawbacks of someone stealing your device and getting your footage (it has anti theft warnings, though given my experience with the software I don't know what good it would do). The second option I think is where the real security from this comes from.
TP Link offers cloud storage for up to 1 month of video for $2.49 a month (currently) for the first 6 months. After that I believe it goes up to $3.49, or yearly for $30 a month. So in order for this device to be really functional from the security side of it, its a subscription service. The prices I feel aren't bad, but I do wish they offered a local NAS (network attached storage) option given this device does connect to the wifi. If there is an exposed storage device, it should be an option for storage. I'm pretty against subscription services myself so I haven't opted to test it out yet (I will forget after the 30 day trial is up) so I have no comments on how well it works.
Finally, the software. I will give it to TP Link on the UI (user interface) front. They did a great job there. The setup only took 5 minutes to get everything paired and connected to the WiFi. It was a very straight forward, intuitive process.
Configuring the device inside the software was also very easy and intuitive. The camera has a neat feature where you can setup zones for different types of object detection. It has People, Cars, Pets and Packages. You can easily draw zones for each (with the exception of packages) and see how they overlay. Very good job on their part with the interface.
The problem with the software comes from it not actually telling you when things are happening unless you have the app open. If I open the app I will get a notification that there is a vehicle at that exact time (which is my car in the parking lot or on the street), but not any of the other times my wife, or myself, have pulled in or anyone has driven down the street. It also doesn't tell me when a package was delivered. I've had multiple packages delivered since it was installed, but no notifications.
I have also noticed that it doesn't do the detection (or at least appear to do the detection) in night mode. When I switch it to day mode in the software, it highlights things such as vehicles or people, but when in night mode it doesn't. It could also simply be that it doesn't draw the overlays while in night mode, but its still detecting. Either way, its not doing a good job of notifying when something happens. If I have to have the app open to get notifications then its really pointless to have notifications at all. Hopefully this is simply a software issue and gets updated. If that happens I will update my review to reflect.
Overall I think its a decent product that has potential to be really good. If they can get the software to notify me when the app is in the background that would be a big step forward. The local network storage would also be a big plus, though I don't see that happening. For now, its a nice doorbell/intercom system with a camera.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Video quality
Cons mentioned:
Size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Above Average for Subscription free Doorbells
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This Tapo doorbell has been a pleasant surprise.
LIKES:
Video quality 2K 5MP, night video quality is good in low light in "Full Color Mode", Very fast connecting from App, Amazon Alexa display devices answers automatically, LED around button has different color options, 20fps option, Ring Phone to answer doorbell, Battery and hardwire options, 24/7 recording with hardwire
DISLIKES:
Too thick and kinda big, Down angle base not down angle enough, has a slight fisheye effect
STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I LIKE IT:
Head to Toe viewing angle
This will be my 4th doorbell camera. Ring Battery 2nd gen, Ring Battery 3rd gen, Eufy dual doorbell.
The TD25 is very similar to the D225. The TD25 has a 5MP camera vs the D225's 4MP. Its a slight improvement but enough for me to pay $20 more to Best Buy. The speed to connect to video is very fast compared to Ring and Eufy who were annoyingly slow. Night vision is good but not as good as the Tapo C325WB camera but not terrible and still works. Having both the battery and hardwire options is really nice. I found an AC adapter on Amazon for doorbell cameras to make it hardwired.
The doorbell is very thick with on the mounting base. Its sticks out an inch+ from the wall. Would be more aesthetically pleasing if it was thinner so maybe skip this if you care about how the doorbell looks. (The current Nest doorbell doesn't visually stick out as much but its a really needs a tech upgrade).
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great price for an excellent camera
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Fair price, simple to install. Started using battery only to decide how I wanted to install the camera. Ended up not needing any of the wedges. Great picture and easy to sent up zones and only a couple of false alarms that were my programming errors. Setting up the chime was very easy and was surprised how well we could hear it anywhere in the house. The app is great, and you are not required to use a cloud service. Can record videos on a sim card installed in the camera.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome alternative to Ring
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This doorbell has many great features with the free app. You can purchase cloud storage with a subscription, but it is not required to get notifications or to review past recorded events. All that is required is a good size microSD card and all events are stored on that. You can even download the recordings from your app. There is even an option to tie it in with an existing home network. Installation is easy with battery only mode. My install was with primary power from the existing doorbell wiring. This part can be confusing depending on your existing wiring and chime/transformer. But this option is great because if the power goes out, it will still record with it's internal power for weeks/months. Awesome product. I recommend this model TD25 over the D225 because this one is 5mp vs 4mp.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Field of view, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
2 Doorbell Tapo Cams
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Purchased 2 units for 2 residences. Both were easy to set up and worked well to detect activity and to display a clear image. Captures a broad field of view. Working at low temps here in Mpls as well. Not only satisfied with these doorbell cams but also 2 normal Tapo cams that are outside, on in Mpls and the other on the boundary of Mn and Canada where is routinely see's -20 and they have booth worked flawlessly. Doorbell cams have been operational for about 1 month and the 2 outdoor cams about 1 year.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Video quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
TP-Link Doorbell review
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Build quality is good. Have plenty of feature on it. Image quality is decent. The response time is decent when you hard wire it and enable 24/7 recording. Not sure if it is my luck with the hard wire, the battery died after 2 months of use and had it sent it back for a replacement. TP-Link's support is speedy in sending a replacement.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Just get it, don't even thank me later.
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Fantastic door-bell. I had returned a different brand prior and have had many before that and in every aspect this outshines competitors by a landslide (except being $15-20 more than the one I had purchased prior from BB). The price is well worth it, considering no monthly dues to be found, local storage, a fantastic app, great AI detection and customization and an extremely slick appearance. Unlike most tech, your doorbell really does effect the appearance of your home, and it is one of the first things guests see. This one goes far beyond the current market standard. It is sleek, symmetrical, and architectural. Love it!