Customer Ratings & Reviews

We have been using the same security cameras for several years now and either they’ve ran their course and life span or there’s been something off with them lately. Therefore, after weighing our options, we decided to delve back into the security camera market to see what the competition looked like and perhaps that would solve our problems. That’s when I came across the new TP-Link TAPO solar powered security camera kit. Having used TP-Link products before in the past including smart devices, light switches, routers, etc. I knew they were a reputable company you can trust and will be around for a while in comparison to some of those other knock off brands you’ve never heard of where you would be lucky to find customer support in the event something were to go wrong with your product(s). The cameras, solar panels and mounting hardware was very easy to install with little to no reliance on the instructions. Once you fully charge the cameras via the provided USB cable, download the Tapo application, you are ready to sync the cameras to your account and begin the installation process. The syncing process did not take very long and each camera had an update that needed to be installed. The smart device application walks you through the process using simple, easy to understand, instructions providing you pictures and video as well. It even ensures you are mounting the hardware in a good place to ensure everything you want is in view. The mounting hardware provided allows for installation of the cameras and solar panels on one bracket and the option to use the provided long USB cables to mount the solar panels in a separate area in the event the area you want to view is not in the sunlight for power and charging. The whole installation process for all three cameras and solar panels took less than an hour, not including the initial charge time for the cameras. Within the application, you can live view video and/or recordings. Speaking of the video, you’ll be amazed at the quality of the cameras which offer 2K QHD video. The cameras and software are also able to identify and differentiate between people, animals and vehicles and has color infrared night vision. They have a 150 degree super-wide field of view and you are able to set up activity zones through the app to target or ignore certain areas (think a waving tree or flag that may constantly think there is movement detected you don’t want to worry about). Another benefit to this security camera kit is the lack of a “hub” that you need to plug into your existing modem/router as they simply run directly through your existing WiFi and to the smart phone/device app. The cameras and solar panels are IP66 weatherproof so no need to worry when it rains or snows. One thing we were looking for when shopping for security cameras was the wireless ability to install them without running wires all over your home or office. Our previous security cameras had solar panels as a power source however they would still die within days even though our house has full sun most of the day. The rechargeable battery in each camera is 10000mAh (almost twice the capacity than the high-end laptop I’m currently using) which makes the battery life relatively long when going between charges or at night when the solar panels aren’t able to charge them; I’m talking days on end because I tried it both ways and was surprised to see the battery percentage barely move even when there’s high traffic and they are constantly recording. I was surprised to see the cameras charging in daylight even when the solar panels were not getting full sun. According to the specs, the cameras can last up to 300 days on a single charge and the solar panels can keep the battery fully charged with just 45 minutes of daily sunlight. The smart device application is also very easy to use and understand, is very responsive with little to no delay and has plenty of options including to set alarms if a camera senses motion, use them as two-way audio, adjust the video quality, frame rate, turn on/off night vision infrared mode, etc. During the initial set up, you have the option to sign up for a free 30-day trial of their monitoring/recording which allows you to view/cloud store up to 30 days of events anywhere from the application. However, if you’re not a fan of paying subscription fees, each camera also has local storage where you can insert your own micro-SD cards (which are not included) which could run out of storage relatively fast considering the quality of the video these take. Overall, we have been impressed thus far with our new Tapo security camera kit and will probably eventually expand this system to replace the remainder of our previous system in due time. I would recommend this security camera kit over our previous manufacturer to anyone in the market for a user-friendly, high-quality security camera kit at a reasonable price.

I’ve used and tested a LOT of security cameras from the cheap eBay specials back in the day to full featured suites from name brands like Ring, Eufy and Arlo. I have to say that the Tapo setup has become my new favorite pick and if it weren’t for one small flaw, I’d be replacing at least one or two of my current platforms. I’m kind of surprised because I have more than a few TP-Link (which is the parent company of the Tapo brand) is the smart home devices and I’ve never really considered their cameras until now. I’ve always been happy with my TPLink smart switches and Smart Power strips, but I guess I never thought of them as a security cam company. And I saw there were cameras in an announcement about the merging of the Kasa branding and Tapo, but again I didn’t look into it that closely. Wow that was a mistake on my part! These Tapo cameras come with so many on board options and features and include local storage giving you a real option if you don’t want or need to get a subscription. However, the subscription fee is very reasonable, especially given the market so I’m definitely going to check out the free 30-day trial that is included in package! Tapo gives you up to 10 cams for one price and that price is lower than I am paying for my other subscription platforms. But if you want to avoid that and don’t need the extra features a sub provides, the TC85 includes an Mini SD card slot that supports up to a 512gb card. So you have plenty of options! They were incredibly easy to install, and I loved the design of the mounting bracket that gives you the option to mount the camera and the solar panel separately from each other. This provided some flexible options for mounting. Plus, with the solar panel, I could mount them in places where I wouldn’t put a camera I’d have to take down to recharge (even with the great battery life the TC85 has). The picture is clear and crisp, even at night and has an extremely wide field of view yet little to no barrel distortion common on other wide-angle cams. The starlight gives you great night color vision, and this can be augmented by the on-board spotlight as well. Given its size I was impressed with the alarm, which scared the daylights out of a rabbit about to check out my garden; proving that the AI pet detection works well! Overall, I found the detection and notifications worked well on average a bit faster than my Eufy and Ring cameras. Options for detection zones were great, but this also included privacy zones where detections can be suppressed, which was a first for me and added to the options for placement. Given the price, I can’t recommend this highly enough in terms of the features included and the local storage and overall performance. The build quality and engineering are top notch. It’s in the details like the way that everything seals up watertight and gaskets are provided for the connections. If I had to find a downer in all of this, it’s that the TC85 does not have support for Onvif or RTSP protocols, so using them with third party applications like a DVR or Home Assistant is currently out of the question. This may not be a big deal to many, but I mention it because it’s currently keeping me from purchasing additional cams to replace my others. It’s also a bit disturbing because on my research, many if not most of the other Tapo cams DO come with Onvif/RTSP support. I’m hoping this isn’t a trend, but I am holding out hope that a new API that is being developed will include support for the TC85. Because I’d really like to buy more and replace my other subscription platforms with one Tapo subscription. Yeah, they’re really that good! I’m going to start looking at more of the Tapo offerings.

This is my 4th Tapo (TP Link) product so I knew I was getting a quality product. I was not dissapointd. Inside the box younhave 3 camera's, 3 solar panels, 3 multi-use mounts, 3 short cable, 3 long cables and various mounting hardware. Per instructions, I charged all 3 camera's. Took 2.5 / 3 hours per camera. I already had the Tapo app loaded so next step, I powered on a camera (hold power down 3 seconds), then in app chose the add device (big + symbol, upper right)... After a few seconds, you will need to go into youe WiFi settings and connect to the Tapo device displayed on your screen. Once connected in the app, you enter your WiFi ESSID and password. Then reconnect to your network and in a couple mintes you are up and running. Lather, rinse repeat 3 times naming each camera and creating an icon as you go. Physically mounting, you have a a couple choices... You can (as I did) mount the camera and solar panel as one piece, or if needee, you can remove the camera mount and place it seperately while using the main mount and long chords to get the solar panel where it can catch. For me, I just grabbed my handy chordless drill, 3 included screws for each plate and in less than 30 seconds each, they were mounted. Then mount the camera and solar panel, plug them in, adjust the camera to prefered angle and the solar panel where it will catch the sun and you are good to go. Once installed, you can add MIcro SD's for local storage pr pay a small fee for cloud. Each camera, you can use the mic, operate the lights, turn alarm on/off, camera and tag. Nice set of items to have. End of the day, this is a great system to afford camera's without having to pull electricity to power them. Great choice if you have the need and means!

The quality of these cameras are great. Very durable and sturdy. I really enjoy the duality of them. I can choose to use its internal battery and recharge when needed or use the supplied solar panels. We were already integrated into the Tapo family with their light switches and smart plugs. It was extremely easy to add the cameras to our existing system. Took about 2 minutes with each camera besides the initial software update for each camera in the app. The display is clear and sound is good. The two way audio is clear and responds rather quickly both ways. The one downside with the sound, is the alarm, is it is not loud enough to scare anyone away. It sounds like a distinct fake audio recording of an alarm. I believe there are 3 sounds to choose from. Each sounded worse than the last. So if I was in the shoes of a robber I wouldn’t feel threatened enough to flee immediately. Video quality and playback is really good. So far, the notifications received once triggered are fairly quick. The app is easy to use. The cameras respond quickly in app. And there are many customizable features for your camera and what you need to be detected. You can set privacy zones, video distances, tag or track the movement of people, animals etc across the viewable area. You can also share the device(s) with someone else you trust. Storage and recording can be local with an microSD card, if you don’t opt into their Tapo Care for cloud. The biggest miss that TPLink has with these Tapo cameras is that they will not allow you to get “rich” notifications without their subscription, “Tapo Care”. Yes, you can get regular notifications but that doesn’t include a snapshot of what your cameras are picking up. The Tapo Care subscription only provides unlimited cloud storage, rich notifications with snapshots and a video sort filter. It goes up in price depending upon how many cameras are in your setup. I’m not impressed with that offering when there are others that offer emergency security services, including cloud service for those subscription prices. I do however appreciate that I can create smart actions through shortcuts, automations freely and a full array of other customizations. Because there’s no base station (main hub), all data is recorded via microSD cards. So be mindful that you have to buy a microSD card for all cameras in your setup. So that can be an inconvenience or deterrent for some. This isn’t much of a negative but it’s a personal preference of mine but I do not like that there’s no option to change from military time to standard, and not allowing that to be customizable. Thankfully, the solar panels are much smaller than I thought they would be but works effortlessly with the cameras. I did the initial battery charge to try them out without the panels. They aren’t located in spaces that get much action so I wasn’t able to test out how long the battery lasts. We’ve had them for a week and are at 98-99% charge without solar. With the solar panels we don’t have to worry about the battery levels at all. It may seem minor to others but having the ability to see snapshots of what’s happening on my property without having to fully open the app to see every recorded or live footage trigger is important to me and a potential deal breaker when it comes to securing the main areas of our home. I shouldn’t have to pay to get a thumbnail view. I should be able to decide if the event is worth my time. Or if it’s just a neighbor walking by, a stray cat or a vehicle going down the road. So that’s why I’m rating this a 4. Other than that personal inconvenience, I think these are great. You get alot in these cameras. Yes, I would recommend them if it fits into your budget and security needs.

The TP-Link Tapo 3-pack Outdoor Wireless 2K kit with solar panels is an excellent value compared to anything else I've seen on the market with similar features. Unfortunately, this incredible value is quickly overshadowed by several quirks that show TP-Link still has some work to do. Don't get me wrong; this TP-Link Tapo kit really is an incredible value. You get three Tapo cameras and three solar panels, so you don't have to worry about getting on a ladder to charge the batteries. After using them for a week, they are still at 100% battery despite significant activity, indicating the solar panels provide more than enough power to keep the cameras charged. As for the app, I would not recommend TP-Link Tapo products to a novice. Yes, the app is feature-rich and has a seemingly endless number of settings for customization, but it's almost too much, making you hunt for some of the simplest settings. My number one gripe with the app is the lack of a notification snooze feature. This is something incredibly basic, but for some reason, TP-Link decided not to include it. I spent 15-20 minutes looking for a snooze setting, and the closest solution I could find was scheduling do-not-disturb times. Sometimes you are doing a bit of yard work and don't want your phone notifying you every five seconds that a person is in your backyard. If they added that one feature, it would be enough to give it five stars. The video quality of the TC85 kit is some of the best I've seen in battery and solar-powered cameras. The video is crisp, the audio is clear, and the night vision is more than adequate. Typically, I've found battery-powered security cameras sacrifice any number of features, usually to preserve battery life, but not the Tapo. These cameras send push notifications to my phone in a matter of seconds, the lights are nice and bright, and the motion detection is incredible at nearly eliminating false alerts. The build quality is worth mentioning. I'd give TP-Link a good, not great, score. The mounting methods for the camera and solar panel could use some work. The way they are mounted to tiny ball joints makes it difficult to tighten the camera and solar panel in a fixed position with confidence. I know they have versions that use a magnetic mount—why not use the same system here? Also, the cables make the solar panels feel like an afterthought. For example, the Tapo camera requires a micro USB and the solar panel has a USB-C. Their solution is to provide a female USB-C to male micro USB dongle. Why not just design the camera to use a USB-C? After using these cameras for a week, I'm still unsure if I would recommend them. On one hand, you have all the features you could possibly want in a battery/solar-powered security camera, but on the other hand, the complexity of the app combined with the lack of basic quality-of-life settings like notification snoozing is really frustrating. If you're looking for a robust system and don't mind dozens of notifications when you're out in the yard, then this is an excellent option for you.

This TP Link Tapo 3 Pack of outdoor cameras with solar panels, in white, is a great set of security cameras for your home. In summary, the setup and installation were not complicated, the picture quality is outstanding, and the functionality of the cameras and application to go with it are quite impressive. I’ll break it down: Things you will need to setup, install and use these camera are a WiFi Internet connection, user name and password, a smartphone to download and use the application, a micro SD card for each camera, a pencil to mark the drill holes, a drill or powered screwdriver to drill the holes to mount the cameras. Setup and Installation are fairly easy to do this set comes with all the instructions and guidance you will need. Tapo application is the app you will use to setup, manage, control, and access your cameras and settings. In this app, you can also take still shots and record videos. You can use this app to talk to the person on the cameras, turn on the light, and call the camera. Remote access: You can watch/view, snap photos and video, watch live and monitor your cameras via smartphone while you are away. Picture and video quality are superior on these cameras. Full color 2k cameras with night vision that is great too. The resolution on these is amazing. I’m very impressed. Sound on these cameras is good too. In the past I have used cameras that have poor audio quality, but these are not in that category at all. The audio quality is very good. Physical aspects of the cameras are good. The solar panels connect to the camera mount. The cameras are stationary, but you can adjust them as you see fit. Buttons and ports on the cameras are well covered to protect them from the outdoor elements. They include a micro SD card port and reset in the top part. In the middle is the on and off button. On the bottom is the charging port. All cords and extenders come with the set. What’s included: 3 cameras with mounts and hardware, 3 solar panels with mounts and hardware, installation guide, screw hole templates, all screws, caps, and washers. Micro SD cards are not included. This is a very good set of security camera with excellent picture quality and audio quality.

There are a few things that I look for in a security system. 1. Person, pet, vehicle detection, 2. Good picture quality, 3. Good night vision, 4. Local storage so I don’t need a subscription, 5. Smartphone notifications. 6. Either something I don’t need to charge or has a good battery life. 7. A good app. 8. Works with Apple ecosystem. This hits all of them except it only works with Alexa and Google Home. Some of the important specs. 150 degree FOV, activity zones, local SD storage up to 512 GB, IP66 rating, 10,000 mAh battery, solar, and doesn’t require a hub. Setup is easy and straightforward. Only thing I disliked is that these are using MicroUSB to charge. Making them have to include a microUSB to USB-C adapter in the box to connect to the solar panels. The original cord on the solar panel is short (which is nice when you connect it to the included mount for the camera and the solar panel. But if you are wanting to put the panel somewhere else it does come with a longer USB-C to USB-C cable to get that done. There is weatherproofing on the cable itself to help prevent damage during storms. Picture quality is good. Night vision is good as well. Comes with two modes, color, or your classic black/white. Bringing up the live view is quick with low latency, as is going through recordings. App is laid out well making it easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. Plenty of customization features. Low rate of false positives during testing. It does support an SD card, but those are not included with the purchase. Additionally, if you so wish they do have a monthly/yearly membership with some extra features such as saving your recordings to the cloud. But the person/pet/vehicle detection is free, which I’ve found to be rare, and very much appreciated.

I like almost everything about my new TP Link solar powered cameras, but there are a a few features that i had to consider when leaving this review. First off, I think these cameras are very high quality. There are three cameras plus three solar panels. You must charge each camera fully before you begin using them. Then you power them up, and connect them to the Tapo app. Setting up the cameras is actually very easy and you can be up and running in a matter of minutes. Mounting the cameras is also very easy since you don't need to worry about being near a power source or somewhere convenient for you to reach to charge the battery. The app interface is extremely easy to use. The layout is user friendly and it even provides a quick tutorial, which I appreciate. Video playback is very smooth, with almost no glitche, bugs, or pixelation. Now on to the feature I dislike the most, the subscription plan. The app constantlly promts you to subscribe or sign up for the 30 trial. You soon figure out that you cannot review ANY clips without the subcription plan or a Micro SD card. I found this to be very dissappointing as every single camera and app I use able to review clips, even on a limited basis without any type of paid subscription. I had to find some Micro SD cards to use, and I am even missing one that I will have to purchase. Once you install a Micro SD card, video playback runs very smooth. They detect motion very well and you can review the clips with ease. Another item I dislike is the fact that thumbnails on the alerts is only available in the paid subscription. Overall, these cameras are extremely nice and easy to use. They also perform nicer than any other cameras I own. If you mount Micro SD cards in them, you will find that they are the perfect solution for your security camera needs.

The TP-Link Tapo 3-pack Outdoor Battery-Powered Wireless 2K QHD Security Camera with 3 Solar Panels is a good choice for anyone looking for a reliable and versatile security camera system that can be used both indoors and outdoors, though with solar panels the system is geared more towards outdoor use. The bundle comes with three cameras, three solar panels, and the associated mounting hardware. The system offers 24/7 monitoring and is weatherproof with an IP66 rating, making it suitable for use in any weather condition. The cameras are capable of capturing high-quality footage with 2K QHD clarity during the day and 2K color night vision with an integrated starlight sensor that captures low light images in high definition color with reasonable detail up to about 100 ft. The cameras also come with built-in dual spotlights that illuminates darkness and low light conditions for enhanced viewing at night while still being displayed in full color. The Tapo TC85’s smart AI technology detects and identifies people, pets, and vehicles, sending you only relevant notifications while effectively avoiding unnecessary alerts. The system also comes with customizable sound and light alarms that can be adjusted to suit your preferences for a completely customized alarm system to deter intruders. The installation process was easy and hassle-free for the most part. To setup and configure the system only requires to scan a QR code to download the app the your smartphone. Connecting to your phone app and TP-Links cloud service is a breeze. Mounting is not quite that simple. In this kit with solar panels the TC85’s magnetic base isn’t used. The camera and the panel are both attached to a mounting plate, which in turn is mounted on a wall or an eave. In my opinion, this is significantly lacking. TP-Link should’ve have included the TC85’s magnetic mounting system and a separate mount for the small solar panel. Another oversight – perhaps more significant than the mounting system, is that the cable which attaches the solar panel to the camera. The solar panel uses a USB-C cable, but the camera uses USB-A/B and mini USB port, requiring the use of an extra adapter cable. Also, rather than having a 90 degree end like the solar panel cable, the adapter plug is straight. This works to connect the two, but now we have extra cables hanging off the camera that needs be dealt with, or wires just hang off the camera (see one of the attached photos). Configuring and installing the three cameras took a bit over 90 minutes, and that included installing the included solar panels. Running for several days with intermittent cloud cover, the cameras maintained a battery level of 85-100%. No more having to manually recharge. The TC85 allows you to store your video to their cloud service, which runs about $10/mo for 3 cameras. It also supports SD Card storage, as well as ONVIF so you can configure it to record to a local DVR on your own PC using a third party app such as Blue Iris or iSpy (more on this later). Overall I found the TP-Link Tapo 3-Camera Indoor/Outdoor 2K QHD Wireless Home Security Surveillance System is a good value and a good choice for anyone looking for a reliable, easy-to-use security camera system that offers high-quality footage, smart AI detection, and customizable alarms. If not for the oversight of using a cable on the solar panel that is not compatible with the camera – requiring the use of an adapter cable, I would give this kit the highest rating. I hope they fix this.

Quick easy setup, configure and install. Solar panel keeps battery fully charged and one of the best images I have seen on any camera.

Easy to setup and configure, Solar panels do a great job charging the batteries, will see this Winter if they won't need manual charging.

Cameras are great, don’t have to climb up on anything to charge them, the sun does it all, love that,

Easy to install and mount. Has done everything we hoped for. The solar panels do an awesome job of keeping them charged and allowed us to setup in the areas we wanted but didn’t have access to power. Great purchase.

A little motion sensitive but otherwise a good product

Cameras work well. However the cable connection is complex with multiple adarpters. The camera cable is mini USB while the other connector is USB-C. The charging cables do not work

This review is for a set of TP-Link Tapo wireless battery powered cameras with solar panel chargers. The cameras connect via WiFi and are paired/added using the TP-Link Tapo app. Note, if you have Kasa devices, you already have a valid TP-Link login. In fact, the Tapo app showed my smart outlets once I signed in. For initial setup, you'll charge each camera over USB. After doing that, pair by turning on the camera and waiting for it to enter pairing mode. Then let the app find it and walk you through adding it to the network and the app. The cameras come with installation hardware and to my relief, the solar panel can be located separately though nearby to the camera. This is nice for when you're better off placing the camera under a overhanging roof but as a result, the solar panel needs to be on the roof or overhang to actually get sun. The cameras are 2K so hands down will likely be have the highest quality video feed you've seen yet with a security camera. That plus the color night vision really stands out. The color night vision is even better with the spotlight feature. You can record video locally to a micro SD card installed in the camera or to the cloud or both. As usual, I'm always concerned about cloud features, particularly when they require the company or a third party to have working servers. For these, things are a bit mixed. You need the app and a TP link login for initial setup and configuration. But once that's done, you could theoretically use the cameras with just the SD card and manually retrieve the cards periodically to review footage. So some use without needing go outside your home network, but you pretty much lose just about every advantage of having a “smart” camera. Accessible functionality with just the account is camera configuration, two way audio (they have mic and speakers), live feeds, and the ability to set activity and privacy zones. The former the camera uses to trigger notifications and the latter to ignore. The notifications are a mixed bag. With premium, you get a still of what triggered the notification and are able to rewind and watch video on the app requires premium. Without, hopefully the feed will show you whats going on. You do get a free month to try things out. But even though it seems all the processing is happening locally, because you need to be signed in, functionality depends on the continued operation of TP-link authentication servers. Overall, the pros are the 2K video resolution, color night vision, two way audio, being able to record locally, and getting notifications on the free tier. Setup is also pretty straightforward so if you need to move things around, that's not an issue. I really like that the solar panel can fully charge what's a pretty decent capacity battery with 45 minutes of optimistic direct sunlight but that means even on cloudy winter weeks, unless there's snow that completely blankets the panels for days at a time, I don't have to worry about recharging the cameras which means these can be placed with zero concerns about how you're going to do an end run of wiring to a DVR or just power. As someone who has needed to carry out this task multiple times, this benefit is not to be underestimated.

This is probably one of the best solutions currently out in the market, even better than big name brands out there. I know that is a huge claim, but having experience with other bigger brands, I will explain why this Tapo outdoor camera is a much better option. Design The camera is very well-built, as well as the panels. They do not look flimsy at all and has pretty good quality materials. There is ample weather proofing on connections and the brackets and hardware are all good quality that I know can last if I leave it out in the summer sun, or the rainy days. Installation Hardware Installation is easy. Out-of-the-box I have everything I need. Of course I wish the camera itself had a USB-C charging vs. a micro USB, but the cable from USB-C to micro-USB is included. The hardware is easy to understand as well. One set comes with a bracket that can be installed directly onto a wall-- in my case, the wooden panel below the roof. The bracket has the combined mounting for both the camera and the solar panel, which makes it look neat. You can also not opt for the combined bracket as the camera can be placed separately using a metallic magnetic surface mount. For two out of three of my installations, I separated the solar panel from the camera itself so the camera is in a corner while the long provided cable stretched out the solar panels onto where it gets the most sun all day. All hardware is included to mount it perfectly. Software set up is easy. It performed a quick firmware update, as soon as I was able to add my cameras. And adding cameras were a breeze too—I did not experience any failures or redos in adding cameras. Setting up was very helpful as well because the app guided me through each step. Sometimes the app instructions were a little overboard for me, in terms of the step-by-step install and setup, only because it details what to do. It is helpful for average Joes—can be cumbersome for advanced installers like me. Performance and Features The video quality is VERY CLEAR. These are not even 4K cameras, but the 2K QHD is very clear. Especially with video captures, I am very particular with the details because it is important that I capture the faces when you need to know who they are. The app has so many customizations that you do not find in other big brand security systems: 1) There is an option to put zones and you can also have the system indicate if it is an animal, or a car, or a person or a package—but the best part is, you can SPECIFY which zone should only capture what. So I can create a zone for an area and it only detects for people and avoid the squirrels passing on my corner screen where these animals pass through. In one camera, you can customize what area only detects what—pretty outstanding for me. 2) It also indicates what it is detecting at that specific time—for example, in my video captures, it shows that it is a person being captured and it places a box around that object in motion. 3) it picks up anything in storage pretty fast. Other cameras I had takes a while before it loads the data it captured. 4) The integration with the mobile phone is great. You can capture items directly into your phone for easy reference or sharing. Microphone and call action is great. Audio is clear and very responsive. I used to not use this option on my other cameras when I have to call the kids back in from the patio, because I know it drains the battery faster. But since this has a solar panel that charges the battery continuously, I do not worry about checking the cameras more often, and even using the other great features this camera has. That brings me to comment on battery life performance which I am happy about. It has been 2 cloudy days and one day of sun, and the battery of my least exposed camera is at 94%, while the rest are on 99%. I do not need to keep scheduling recharging my wireless cameras! Super worry-free! Connectivity and Subscriptions One of the other things I like about it is, a Tapo Care Cloud storage is not mandatory and it is not in-your-face-you-need-to-get-one approach. Esepcially that is has the option for a micro SD card, the storage on the card is pretty fast and can be easily accessed. So activity recordings go into a loop and I get notifications on what’s happening anyway. So if there is something at a suspicious time, I can easily look at it and store it on my phone. It can also be integrated into Google Home. However, I cannot see it as a stream on my Home dashboard, nor can I use it to trigger device automations. But I can voice command it to show on a home display or one of the TVs with chromecast. The Tapo App though has its own automations and since I have a lot of other TP-Link compatible plugs / outlets, I was able to create my automations through the Tapo app (e.g. when a person is detected on hallway, to turn on the lights). This camera system has replaced my cameras that need to always be charged every 3 weeks. And I have killed my security subscriptions too, thanks to the local storage available. This is a product that reduces my stress, not only in a security perspective, but also in the maintenance I need to perform for my devices, thanks to the solar charging. I recommend this a lot!

These are some pretty nice outdoor cameras. The biggest draw, obviously, being the solar panel that can feed in some extra juice when placed in decently sunny spots. You don't NEED the solar panels, these will "just work" on the pretty hefty battery (the cameras themselves are quite heavy and I assume most of that is battery). Visual quality is quite nice. Setup was pretty easy. App is actually not bad. Overall, good cameras. Installation is probably going to be the most time consuming part depending on where you want to install these. If you're putting them all outdoors, you'll need to consider both the camera placement and the solar panel placement (installing indoors is pretty straightforward). While it looks like you need to mount the solar panel and the camera in the same spot, that's actually not the case. There are even little covers included that fill in the camera mounting hole on the solar power mount so you can mount the solar panel separately. They also give you a decent amount of cable to work with. My biggest complaint is that the solar panels have a USB-C plug but the cameras have a Micro USB input. They include an adapter and everything looks pretty nicely waterproof, but it makes it feel like the solar panels were tacked on to an existing model and they couldn't be bothered to update the charging port. Not a deal breaker, just makes the installation feel needlessly complicated and clunky. Anyways, just figure out where you want your camera, decide whether that spot will get enough sunlight (they claim 30 minutes of sun a day is enough to keep your camera running but I'm sure more would be better), and then either install the solar panel and camera together in that spot or mount the camera and run a cable to your solar panel in a better spot. Setting everything up on the app was pretty easy. The camera broadcasts a wifi signal and you need to connect to it in order to set it up. It's a little clunky because the app directs you outside of the app to connect to the wifi network manually (I've seen better setup processes that find and connect to their device's wifi network automatically before), but after you do, it's a pretty straightforward setup process. A few minutes per camera should have you all set. Using the app isn't so bad which can definitely be hit or miss on a lot of smart devices. Unfortunately there's no HomeKit support, so if you want something that natively supports HomeKit on Apple devices, you'll need to look elsewhere. There appears to be a Homebridge plugin if you want to get your hands dirty but I didn't try it out. There is also RTSP support so you should be able to view these camreas from many third party apps. I'm fine just using the app. There are some neat features that seem like no brainers but I haven't found in any of the many cameras I've tested before. Like a privacy screen where you can select a part of the picture and it will black out that section of the image. Seems like something almost every camera on the market should support. The floodlight is fairly bright for getting a good image at night outside without using IR. The infrared light is pretty good too and extends a decent amount. Recording can be done a couple ways. You can subscribe to their online recording subscription service to always have access to your recordings in the cloud. Or you can pick up a few, cheap MicroSD cards and have all of your camera recordings right on your device. The fact that there's no base station for these cameras mean that the microSD card is inside the actual camera so if someone wanted to remove the recordings, it would be pretty trivial. I don't know how much this is an actual problem (especially if they're mounted high enough). Battery usage seems pretty on par with their statements and definitely depends on how sensitive you have things set as well as how often you're using the live stream. They claim 300 days of battery life (I obviously haven't been able to test that claim) without the solar panels but they also say if you change some settings the battery life gets cut in half to about 150 days. Both great numbers. It doesn't really matter, though, because if you have the solar panels connected and in view of the sun for an hour or so per day, you'll always have a topped up battery. If the cameras can't get sun for a day or two, the battery does dip a little bit but it doesn't take much sun to fill them back up. I don't like needing to remove cameras to charge them, no matter how infrequently, so the solar cells are a definite game changing feature of these. Bottom line, these are good cameras, with huge batteries and work wonderfully outside but you can use them inside too (you'll just have to charge them a few times a year depending on how often you're recording or viewing). A base station would be nice just to have recordings in a separate locations from the physical cameras without needing their subscription service. Otherwise, picture quality is good. Accessing via the app is good. The solar panels charge the cameras nicely. I wouldn't recommend the solar panel variety unless you're planning on mounting these outside, so if that's you and this is in your budget, go for it.

I recently received the Tapo 3-pack 2K Indoor/Outdoor Cameras with 3 Solar Panels and have been extremely impressed with this kit. This product, with its high-quality build, has exceeded my expectations in every way, instilling confidence in its durability and performance. Out of the box, every piece of the kit feels well-crafted with a durable and solid feel. The kit boasts an industry-leading IP66 weatherproof rating, ensuring that both the camera and solar panels can withstand rain, dust, snow, and harsh sun, making them incredibly durable in any environment. I will add that where I am in central Texas, we do get a good hailstorm from time to time, so we will see how durable they are in the future. The Installation process was a breeze. The step-by-step within the app instructions guided me to a professional-looking installation of each camera and solar kit. I am not a very handyperson and was worried when one of the zones I wanted to set up monitoring was primarily blocked by trees. The flexibility offered by the 13-foot-long cable was a lifesaver and allowed me to place the camera where I wanted with the solar panel offset. The setup said that each camera needed to be pre-charged for about five hours. Then, the app had a firmware update for the cameras that took about another ten minutes per camera. I was able to name the cameras for an easy location reference. The app is user friendly, and I would feel confident in saying that if you can send an email on your phone, then you can navigate the app. A quick tip: I am not a fan of subscription-only products. My kit came with a free thirty-day trial with a month-to-month plan afterward. The plan's cost ranged from $3.49 to $11.99 monthly or $34.99 to $119.99 annually, depending on the number of cameras on the system. If you, too, are not a fan of subscriptions, make sure you grab three SD cards when you purchase if you plan not to use the subscription-based service. I understand that the subscription plan builds passive revenues for the company, which they tend to use to develop new and better products. So I admire Tapo for caring and taking into consideration the wants and needs of their consumer market. Aside from that, once installed, I was able to see the trickle charge from the solar panels keep the massive 10,000mAh batteries well charged even in my higher activity zone. The performance and features packed away in these little devices are simply stunning. The images are crystal clear, with 1.7x more pixels than 1080p, and the 150-degree field of view covers a wide area, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed. The full-color night vision with a spotlight and a starlight sensor is particularly impressive, providing clear-ish images even in low-light conditions. I know we have all seen the footage of someone doing something probably wrong, but you cannot make out any facial features. These cameras during the day are quite picturesque, but at night, the view is grainier and more saturated. The smart AI technology is able to distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles. This means the camera in my backyard is not constantly sending me notifications that my furry friends are up to shenanigans. Going further, you are able to customize detection zones to help reduce the number of unnecessary notifications as well. The cameras do offer two-way audio which can be used to communicate with guests or delivery couriers in real time. The real-time aspect is based on network connectivity capabilities. But the coolest feature is the sound and light alarm deterrent. I like to use this on my son when he comes home past curfew. In conclusion, I am overall quite satisfied with the Tapo TC85 2K camera and solar panel kit. It provides unparalleled security, convenience, and peace of mind. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality, dependable, and easy-to-install security camera system.

To briefly sum it up, I really like these cameras, and I love the overall package/system. I have used and tested a few options out there, and I think this is hands down my favorite. Yes, it will depend on your specific situation, but I think these will work for just about anyone. Install is typically the “worst” part of getting a camera system and being able to use it. There is always a little bit of pain. That said, they give you everything (i mean everything) you need, and I absolutely love the inclusion of the solar panels. Beyond that, the connection cables from the panels to the cameras are a nice length and that gave me a little more flexibility in my placement (and made it a little bit easier). I just think the solar panels set this system apart from some I have used in the past. I like the set it and forget it (mostly) approach. After that little bit of pain, but really a rather easy install, I am hoping I won’t have too much upkeep going forward. Without batteries to worry about, as well as the wireless nature of the system, I think I should be good. Perhaps some occasional panel cleaning, and I will have to see how the sun moves throughout the seasons, but I am pleased. Time will tell. All in all, zero complaints here. The cameras give detailed, crisp, and clear images. Color. Day. Night. I feel I am covered in all scenarios. They also have a nice wide field of view. Again, coverage. Beyond the picture, the cameras come with some really nice features. Alerts (accurate). Detection. Notifications (very quick). Two-way audio. Deterrence features with sound AND light alarms (both customizable). A lot of systems do come with most of these things, but the implementation and execution here is very well done. Everything has simply worked for me so far, without issue. Really, other than a couple of random alarms when I didn’t see anything, nothing. A few tweaks to my settings and it has been perfect since. Just having the ability to speak, deter, and monitor things, and knowing it will work (even with power loss), gives me a nice peace of mind. As for the build, well, we will have to see how everything holds up. Clearly this is a rather important concern with this type of product. I can’t know, but everything feels well-built, and “good in the hand.” The cams have a solid IP rating, the panels appear in line, and all of the mounting hardware (including plates, anchors, screw caps, and waterproof seals seem of good quality. I think these will be fine for some time, and from what I have seen, I have no concerns. All of that said, for how much I like the cameras, the solar panels, etc… one thing that should not be discounted is the software side. Gladly, I am happy here as well. As much as I feel the solar panels were a differentiator for me, this may be just as much of one for me as well. The app is solid and easy to navigate. It works well, but perhaps it needs a bit more polish. However, I think everywhere else, this system is fantastic. It has broad compatibility (Amazon, Google, Apple…), doesn’t need a hub, is easy to set up, has a really nice feature set, AND so much of it can be used without a subscription plan. You get Live View, Instant Notifications, Two-Way Audio, Activity Zones, Local Storage (you’ll need a SD card), and Motion Detection without it. Further, AI Detection and Privacy Zones are available with a firmware update. With the plan, you can add 30-day Video Clip History, Rich Notifications with Snapshots, and Smart Sort. Currently, I am happy without the plan, but given that the cost is quite reasonable ($3.49/month or $3499 for the year), I will probably give it a test to see if like (or feel I need) them. Ultimately, I like these cameras, and I think this is a great system. The hardware is well-built, and everything just works. Well. Easy install. Low upkeep (fingers crossed). Great software setup. For all that you get, I think there is real value here and so far I could not be happier.