Customer Ratings & Reviews

Overall the cameras produce a high-quality image with entirely sufficient audio for basic home surveillance. Battery life lives up to advertised claims. Features are useful but not terribly intuitive and have required a fair amount of tweaking. (These are my first home cameras, so the difficulty with features may be attributed to my lack of experience, at least in part.) The range of the cameras’ viewing angle is impressive, Low-light and nighttime viewing is solid and fully meets my needs. Person Detection and Motion detection is reliable. Installation was simple, basically two screws that are easily stripped with power tools but can be set with hand tools or substituted with higher quality screws. The magnetic base holds the camera well in most conditions, but can move slightly in high winds. The movement triggers motion detection but was so slight that I have not had to readjust. The cameras have alerted me to a neighbor attempting to steal my push mower. It took a moment to figure out the process, but I was able to berate them via the Talk feature mid-theft. They ultimately abandoned the caper, however I realized afterword that only the initial 15-second Motion Detection clip was recorded. In the fluster to save my mower, I didn’t think to hit the record button. The would-be thief set off motion detection by moving the camera with my rake, but the wide angle still captured their face and as I was able to describe to them exactly what they were wearing, I was able to give the impression that the whole event was saved on video. So there’s that. The Alarm function can be triggered by Motion/Person detection but I was unable to set it off while viewing the live feed. Connecting to WiFi is easy. Cycling between cameras is a bit convoluted at times. Wholly a good purchase.

I was looking for a surveillance system that could replace my existing Blink cameras. The Blink setup is OK, but limited features. I had several requirements that I needed to meet 1. Completely wireless 2. RTSP/ONVIF compatibility (to record in 3rd party systems) 3. No monthly fee 4. Rechargeable battery 5. Date & time on camera video The TAPO cameras fulfilled all of these needs at a great price. video quality is exceptional, night vision works well and responsiveness of the app is quick. I highly recommend this system.

DO NOT BUY! Absolute garbage. The 300 day battery life is false advertising. After fully charging twice, they do not last longer than 1 week. In 1 week I had 8 notifications of motion and the battery was already drained. The app is also garbage. At best, I had about 50%-60% success rate at connecting to live images from the app. The camera fails at its one job of detection. The software is so slow that there is a long duration between when motion is detected and when the recording starts. Almost all recordings show people's backs walking away. The same delay happens if trying to use the talk feature. Might as well be talking with someone on the moon with this delay.

The cameras looks great and the quality is excellent, some times the video color change, it not detect the exact movement. They come, rob you and you can't see the exact moment.

Good range to record, good battery life and easy to charge again, rate 4 because i am happy with cameras

Great camera for quick installation, They’re 2K camera

The TP-Link Tapo TC85 Wire-Free Magnetic Security Camera is going to garner lots of attention due to its price point and the number of cameras included, but let’s get to the review to find out if it’s the right security solution for you. The TC85 cameras are super easy to set up via the Tapo smartphone app. I had no issues with the initial setup and installation of the cameras. All 3 cameras came with a partial charge, but I made sure they were all fully charged before mounting them. The cameras still rely on micro-USB which is disappointing as most electronics are now USB-C. This means you’ll have to make sure you have a micro-USB cable lying around to charge these when needed. The magnetic base and included mounting hardware make sure that you can mount the cameras for optimal outdoor coverage. I used the included magnetic mounts and positioned them where I needed coverage. With 3 cameras included in this set, most people will be able to cover the entrances of their homes and maybe set up a camera inside as well. Unfortunately, the TC85 does not come with a mount that allows the unit to sit on a table or bookshelf and the camera will have to be mounted to a wall. The TC85 has all the bells and whistles you’d expect for a camera in this price range. Two-way audio, night vision, AI detection of people/pets/vehicles, and an SD card slot for local video storage. All of these functions proved to work well in my testing, but be prepared to spend a little more to equip the cameras with at least 128GB SD cards if you don’t want to pay the subscription fee for cloud storage. The good news is, that even with the local storage solution, you will be able to see your recordings remotely on the Tapo app. Overall, the TP-Link Tapo TC85 Wire-Free Security Camera 3 pack is a great value for the price and would be a good choice for anyone looking for an easy to set up, all-in-one solution to their video security needs. Here are some of the pros and cons of the TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free Security Camera: Pros: Easy to set up and use: The TC85s are very easy to set up and use via the Tapo app. Being that these are wireless, the freedom to put them anywhere is awesome. Good video quality: The TC85s provide clear and sharp video quality, even in low-light conditions. These are definitely a step above my old 1080p wired cameras. Night vision feature: The TC85s have a night vision feature that works very well. Getting 3 top-notch wireless cameras at a reasonable price is definitely a value-add. Built-in AI detection seems to work very well. This feature can be paywalled behind a subscription in other camera products. SD card slot makes it easy to add local storage to the cameras. Cons: A subscription is required to store any video in the cloud. Some other cameras allow you to store a limited amount of video for free. Micro-USB is very disappointing for a new product in 2023. Make sure to keep a few of these ancient cables lying around. The kit only comes with one micro-USB cable and charging brick, so initially charging the cameras is slow going unless you have some extra cables and power bricks lying around. Overall, the TP-Link Tapo TC85 Wire0Free Security Camera 3 pack is a wonderful security solution for those looking for something that’s easy and affordable. Setup will be a breeze, and the video quality is clear and sharp. The lack of free cloud storage means you’re going to want to factor in the price of SD cards or the Tapo subscription when making this purchase.

Picked up a set of these due to the growing number of package thieves for the building. Best choice yet. Needed something simple, wireless, and with all the bells and whistles. The ease of placing these anywhere and simple maintenance have me hopeful these will be a solid choice for most security camera needs. Pros: - Easy Setup. - Magnetic Placement. - Battery Life is ridiculous. - Local storage options. Cons: - Batteries are not replaceable. - Service Plan for some features, but basic features are enough for most. Your situation will vary, as I live in a small condo building in IL with an active Home Owners Association, I needed to obtain some additional permissions before placing the cameras. Check with your local laws and building regulations before placing these. It only took about 15mins to get all 3 cameras’ connected and working with default settings. TP-Link has some of the best guided walk throughs for setup that I have ever used, often working the first time without issue. Start with downloading the Tapo app, create an account, then start adding devices. Search by type or type in the device ID, in this case it is TC85. Then follow the instructions. One nice feature I noticed was that when connecting to the WiFi network, the Tapo app offered to save the network details for future use. This is extremely convenient in the case where you are adding multiple devices! When adding the MicroSD card, make sure to unformat the card with a computer first. Some brands pre-format expecting you to use the card with a device that supports the format. Unfortunately, the format used for the Camera requires special formatting, but the cameras will do the formatting if the MicroSD card is unformatted. Once you input the MicroSD card, the camera will start saying something every few mins along the lines of “the SD Card is not in a supported format, please follow the instructions in the app”. Just navigate to the Camera in the app, at the top it should say “initialize SD card forming” or if not, go to settings and Storage & Recording. It will take a few minutes and then the local storage will be enabled. Once the camera has been added, you can do a lot more in the app: - Notifications and timing, including Rich Notifications that include a snapshot or video of the activity. - Activity to monitor: Motion, Person, Pet, Vehicle. - Activity Zones to monitor. - Spotlight settings. - Video feed settings. - Storage and downloads, videos can be remotely clipped and downloaded. I’ve had 2 of the camera’s up in different locations with different settings for almost a week and both cameras are near 100% charged after a week! Camera 1 was pointing out into my back area through a window to see how well it did, as I am still figuring out where to affix it outside on the brick. I would not recommend using this pointing out a window as the reflection from the glass really messes up the image. Camera 2 was setup on an AC unit facing the front entrance, I literally just slapped it on the bottom of the AC unit facing the door and where delivery drivers tend to leave our packages. This turned out to be a perfect angel to capture just the activity I wanted while being out of the way to not be obvious. After the week with Camera 1 in default settings and camera 2 having been reconfigured, there most noticeable difference was the resolution and FPS of the default settings verse max. Default the cameras are set to resolution of 720p and fps of 15fps. Raising the Resolution to 2K was by far the most useful change. Otherwise adjusting the camera monitoring zones to exclude public sidewalks and streets helped cut down on the notifications significantly, if you have these facing any sort of high traffic area your device is going to blow up with notifications. Be warned that you will want to adjust the activity zones and play with the settings for when notifications are sent, or you will receive an alert for everything by default. Additionally, the night vision was great with 2 different modes: normal black/white and color. The Color really helped bring out the details. Though in my case both areas are lit up enough that night vision isn’t needed to capture clear video. One major reason I keep using TP-Link devices is the option to use onboard storage, many major brands only have cloud storage that require a monthly subscription. Adding a monthly subscription greatly increases the cost of the device, and in the long term can cost many times more than the device. The ability to have both local and cloud if required, is a great feature for the budget security options. Overall, I’m very impressed with the results I have seen so far. I want to see how long the batteries last in active use before needing another charge, but otherwise I am sold on these as a solid security option. I use other TP-Link devices but have also installed tons of smart camera’s, these have been the easiest to install and use so far. TP-Link is currently my #1 suggested brand for low-cost smart security devices because of ease of use, cost, and option to use without a subscription service. I would recommend the TP-Link Tapo TC85 Smart Wire-Free Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera to anyone who needs a flexible outdoor camera, that doesn’t require any wires or major installation or a subscription service to use.

The Tapo TC85 wireless indoor/outdoor security camera comes as a 3 camera pack. The cameras can be used inside or outside, but can’t be used inside to look outside because they can’t detect motion through glass. The instructions said the cameras arrive with a partial charge and that it takes 5-6 hours to achieve a full charge. The box includes a USB adapter and a charging cord. I couldn’t find a way to see the charge level of the cameras until after they were charged and connected to the app, so I left them on the charger for 4 hours just to be safe. That seemed to be long enough because they all showed 100% charge once they were installed. The box states that they each have a 300 day battery life but I think that’s optimistic and would only be true if they rarely alerted. I installed 2 of the cameras yesterday, and today the charge level shows 95%. The cameras do support a solar panel charger. The Tapo TC85 cameras are unique in the way they attach. Unlike other cameras that screw into the wall, the Tapo camera uses a very strong magnet. The only thing that is attached to the wall is a small base plate. The magnet snaps onto the plate and the camera snaps onto the magnet. That makes it easy to move the camera for positioning or to remove it for charging. There is flexibility in the tilt (up and down) angle, but less side to side flexibility. There is a slot for a microSD card that is not included. The app installation instructions (which I will hopefully remember when the time comes) say to only initialize the SD card in the Tapo app - DO NOT format it on the computer. Recommended is a Class 10 microSD with 8 - 512 GB. Notifications can be stored on the phone, on the SD card and in the cloud. Notifications can also be individually downloaded to the phone. Cloud storage is a 30 day free trial. Unlike many similar plans, no credit card is required up front. There is no need to remember to cancel at 29 days. Instead, the plan auto cancels at 30 days with no fees. If you want to continue cloud storage, you have to proactively sign up for it. The instructions were easy to follow for the first camera. I did have some difficulty finding the right icon to add the second and third cameras. Some of the app features are: a customizable activity zone, the ability to record on demand regardless of motion detection, and Home and Away modes. The cameras have two-way audio and adjustable spotlights. The camera in the back of the house works well. The motion detector comes on to show any activity around the vehicles parked there. The camera in the front of the house doesn’t work quite as well. The real time view is phenomenal. The cameras have a 150 degree super wide field of view. We have a long driveway, and I can clearly see the end of the driveway, the street in front of our house and the neighbor’s house. But that doesn’t do me a lot of good unless I want to stare at the picture all day, waiting for something to happen. The motion detector sensor only extends about 20 feet. It doesn’t detect any person or vehicle coming straight up the driveway because the camera is set back a bit. Because we were outside a lot, there were over 100 notifications the first day. Besides draining the camera batteries, the frequent notifications drained my phone battery as well. Today I changed the app settings to monitor and record motion detection, but without phone notifications. Now I open the app a few times a day to see if there were any notifications. Another option is to create a schedule for when notifications are “on”. There are a lot of things that can be customized in the app, but each enhancement comes with a warning that it will use more battery life. It would be nice if all the features could be used without significantly reducing battery life. The cameras are easy to unsnap from the base for charging, but they are high up on the wall, which requires climbing a ladder to get to them. It looks like I’ll be doing that 3 - 4 times a year. The phone audio at the recommended level was very scratchy and I had to turn the volume down. In “Away Mode”, any motion detected generates a camera noise that is supposed to scare intruders away. The alarm sound on the phone when looking at the notification was ear piercing, but the noise from the camera sounded like a wind up toy. I don’t think it would scare anyone. I think the app could be better. I’m still trying to figure out the logic behind its organization. I know I’ve seen an option somewhere, but have trouble finding it again. There are Home and Away Modes, but when looking at the Detection Mode screen, I can’t tell which mode I'm in. The messages icon doesn’t show which camera the notification pertains to. When I switch from Home to Away and back to Home I have to reset all the AI detection and detection zone settings. The Clip Settings won’t save. When I choose “Delete all Messages” they don’t delete until the 2nd or 3rd try. I would give the camera 5 stars if it had a longer motion detection range, better battery life and an app that was easier to use.

Portable, Easy and great resolution are the main features of the new TP-Link Tapo TC85 Indoor/Outdoor wireless home security cameras. The TP-Link Tapo TC85 camera are packed with tons of features and best of all no subscription service. So, let’s go over some of the features of the new TP-Link Tapo TC85 Cameras. Setup and Installation: The Tapo TC85 cameras are super simple to setup and install. You will need to download the TAPO application and follow the instructions provided. The app will even help you to get the right angle and the best method for installation. The cameras are held in place by a magnetic base. The base can be attached to any metallic surface or can be attached to any surface using the provided metal plate. The magnets on these cameras are really strong and hold the camera in the desired position and place even outdoor. These cameras are wireless and can be easily placed and moved and moved to any location you desire indoor or outside. • Dimension Product Height 7.46 inches Product Width 2.99 inches Product Depth 4.76 inches Product Weight 3.97 pounds Video quality: The Tapo C420S2 cameras record in 2K QHD 4MP resolution (2560 x 1440), which is very clear and sharp image. The cameras also have a wide field of view (150 Degree FOV), so you can cover a large area with just a few cameras. The cameras also offer two different types of night vision. One is your stand black and white, and the other is the full color night vision. The camera has two powerful spotlights that are used to light up the area and provide a clear image in color. The light can also be used as a deterrent and can be turned on manually from the app. The cameras also offer two-way audio (Microphone and Speaker), both of which are clear and easy to hear. Motion detection: The Tapo cameras have intelligent motion detection, which means that they can distinguish between people, pets, motion, and vehicles and send notification based on your preference. Detection can be set for certain areas or the whole FOV. You can also setup privacy areas that are blacked out and are not recorded or viewed via live image. Storage: The Tapo cameras can store video footage locally on a microSD card or in the cloud. The cloud storage service is free for the first 30 days, but you will need to subscribe to a plan after that. One thing I like about these cameras is that they offer the best of both worlds. For someone like me who hates subscription services, I have the option to use the locally stored method. For others who prefer convenience, you can sign up for the cloud storage service and along with the cloud storage you also get rich notifications which include a live image with the notification and also smart storing service. Battery Life: The battery life on these cameras is impressive. TP-Link claims that the battery on these cameras can last up to 300 days with 230 seconds of use per day, and 180 days with 360 seconds of usage per day. If you need constant power and your camera is placed outdoor you can separately purchase a TP-Link Tapo Solar panel that would provide constant power and is easy to install and just simply plugs into the camera. For indoor use, you can use pretty much any Micro USB cable to provide constant power, or just charge up the camera and place it back on the magnetic base. To fully charge the camera it takes about 5 to 6 hours. I am unable to verify how long the battery on these cameras last, because I have only had them for a few days, but I will say that even having these on and running for a few days the battery has only dropped one percent. Pros: • 2K QHD resolution • Color and Black and White Night Vision • Intelligent motion detection (Person, Pet and Vehicle) • Local and cloud storage options • Easy to install Wire free Installation • IP66 Weatherproof • Smart Home Compatible (Google/Alexa) Cons: • Cameras can be a bit large for indoor use Overall, TP-Link Tapo TC85 is a great wireless home security surveillance system. It offers a variety of features, ease of use, installation, and portability. I am usually not a fan of wireless security systems but because of how well these cameras worked, the WI-FI signal strength and the resolution won me over. I would definitely recommend these for anyone looking for an easy to install and use.

I’m not a fan of wired camera setups. They can be difficult to install, and if you want to remove or change the location, it becomes a challenge. That’s where this camera system hits the sweet spot for me. There’s no fussing with wires. They connect with Wi-Fi and rely on a large internal battery for power. You can optionally run them with a solar panel. You can choose to subscribe to the cloud service to retain your videos, or you can optionally install microSD cards. This obviously is driven by your mounting area and the desire to have the recordings held securely in the cloud. I installed microSD cards. They can handle up to 512GB cards. The specs on the camera are impressive, and the app is loaded with all of the features for home security. Every possible setting can be managed in the app. The initial setup is really easy. The app walks you through with lots of visuals on the install steps, including the mounting options. I was also happy that they can be connected to your smart home including Google Assistant, Alexa and Smarthings. With fully charged cameras, it was time for the physical install. One note here. It does include the micro-USB cable and adapter to charge. I was a bit surprised it was not USB-C. The first camera I installed on fence gate. With a metal surface, the rare earth magnetic mount grabbed hold solid. The camera’s magnetic base held firm and I was ready to go. I have a typical quarter acre lot. Wherever I tested the camera, it held a good Wi-Fi connection. The AI detection of people, objects and animals worked well. The motion detection range was easily over 50 ft., so aiming the camera to avoid false triggers is important. The next spot I wanted to monitor was my front door. I mounted the included plate under the eave, on a flat surface using the provided 2-sided automotive tape. It looked good for a short while, and then the tape let go. The camera fell 9 ft. to the driveway. My heart sank. Well, it proved its ruggedness by surviving the fall without any problem. I ended up fastening the plate with the included screws. I have dimmed outdoor lights in this area at night, and as the video shows, it looks almost like daylight. The photos and video are taken with the out of the box settings. These cameras are simply amazing. After using these for a short while, I’m convinced the battery will last in excess of 250 days. The depth of settings, the flexibility of install, and powerful capabilities, make these a smart choice for the average homeowner or small business.

TP-Link has always been my brand to go for smart devices and when I saw that they have a line of home security cameras, I took time to explore their products and decided to go with Smart Wire-Free Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera, 3 pack set (Model TC85). What made my decision to go with Tapo TP-Link was the ease of installation. All you have to do is install the adjustable magnetic base in a location you desire (however make sure that if you are installing outside, it is not an easy reach for security purposes, hence four star review). Once your bases are installed, the cameras magnetically adhere to the base. It is always easy to adjust the angle as well. Also the base itself can lock on to any metal surface thanks to the strong magnet. My number two choice of this camera set was the battery life since these cameras are wire free. TP-Link promises up to 300 day battery life if you use your cameras at least 230 seconds per day, which is not bad in my opinion since I don't check it daily anyways. However if you want peace of mind, I'd suggest getting Tapo Solar Panel for non-stop power supply. Now the most important thing about this camera set is whether it delivers 2K QHD video and image quality. I was pleasantly surprised that my video was always crisp and the night vision always was in full clear color. You get 150 degree Super-Wide FOV, two-way audio is also good and it is weatherproof with IP66 rating. I like that the cameras are well made, support local microSD storage up to 512 GB with cloud storage option available. The cameras also feature Smart AI Detection and it is free, activity zones and customizable sound and light alarm. The app is well designed and easy to use.

The TP-Link Tapo TC85 security camera system is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and easy-to-use system. It's packed with features, including high-quality footage, smart AI detection, and customizable alarms. One of the best things about the TC85 is how easy it is to set up. The cameras have a strong magnetic base, so you can mount them virtually anywhere you have Wi-Fi coverage. Just scan a QR code to download the Tapo app on your smartphone and follow the instructions. Once the cameras are set up, you can start monitoring your home 24/7. The TC85 cameras offer high-quality 2K QHD footage and 2K color night vision, so you can see everything that's happening, even in low light conditions. The TC85 also has smart AI technology that can detect and identify people, pets, and vehicles. This means that you only get alerts that matter, rather than being bombarded with notifications every time a bird flies by or a leaf falls. If you do detect something suspicious, you can customize the TC85's alarms to suit your needs. You can set the cameras to trigger sound and light alarms, or you can simply receive a notification on your smartphone. The TC85 also offers a variety of storage options. You can store your video to the cloud, to an SD card, or to a local DVR on your own PC. This gives you the flexibility to choose the storage solution that best meets your needs. Overall, the TP-Link Tapo TC85 is a great security camera system for anyone looking for a reliable, easy-to-use system with high-quality footage and smart AI detection. It's also a great value for the price.

--- SETUP --- The TAPO 3 indoor/outdoor cameras are quick to set up. It is recommended you charge each camera for 5 hours before first use. While they charge, download the TAPO app and create your account. After fully charged, turn on each camera, one at a time, and use the app to guide you into pairing each camera to the app. Camera’s can be drilled into wall outlets, or they can be mounted more easily with the magnetic mount on a metal surface. --- FEATURES --- 300 day battery life, AI object/person/pet detection, night vision, 2K, adjustable magnetic base, wireless --- PERFORMANCE AND EXPECTATIONS --- These cameras surpassed the expectations I had from them. I had never heard of the brand TAPO. However, the look and feel of each camera unit screams quality upon feeling them. Pairing up each camera was effortless and easy to do with in-app instructions. My three favorite parts were that the cameras are wireless, there is no home base device needed to use, and all camera units are wireless. Each camera has a micro SD slot that can be used without ever subscribing to anything. A 30 day free trial is included in the box for each camera that doesn’t require you to enter any credit card info. You can try that absolutely free and the trial cancels automatically. The app is easy to understand and use. I named my cameras, and you can calibrate the aim of the camera with a field of vision cone shown to you during installation. The app recommends not to aim the camera where cars travel often, like a parking lot. I am aiming it at a parking lot, and it goes off occasionally with cars passing by, but I don’t mind it, as it’s recording the parking spot of my own vehicle. I can choose to turn off blocks of time where the camera won’t record things. You can also choose if your camera will tag if an item is a pet, a human, or just fast motion captured with the motion sensors. Every Monday, the camera app will make a report of the # of activities the camera’s captured during the week. I enjoy looking at that statistic, as it allows me to see what kind of activity is happening near my home in a single page with a graphic. The app can allow you to manually record and you can activate the microphone form each camera to talk to people near it. Night mode works great, as it clearly captures people and pets. The cameras themselves also have a light that can be turned on and off from the app. The app allows you to customize the brightness of the light. One of the best things for me is that the installation doesn’t require drilling. I live in an apartment where I am not allowed to drill. The bases are magnetic. The magnet is so strong that a warning of possible crushed fingers is included in the box. I actually almost got my fingers crushed because one magnet go too close to the one I was carrying and it snapped quick and hard to it, so really be careful. In my apartment, my balcony space has two tall metal posts. I used a ladder to install them high enough to where nobody could jump and remove them. My cameras are exposed to daily sunlight, wind, and rain. They are still aiming to where I aimed them originally with just magnets and are holding strong. --- APPROVAL --- Overall, these cameras are a great peace of mind to my apartment and the app makes accessing the recording very easy. It's even easier to save videos to your phone if you ever need to save them permanently or share them with authorities.

For the average person these are great, video quality is fantastic, being able to pull it up on my phone at a moments notice is great, but the best part of these camera's, you don't have to pay a monthly fee to use them. Slap a SD card in there and now you can save everything, they auto write over the oldest stuff first when they fill up. The battery like is not what is advertised in my experience, however, they are the best I've ever had. I charged them when I bought these which is almost 3 months ago and they all have on average about 35-50 percent left. I'm not upset about the battery level because I live on a road that has a decent amount of traffic so I get pinged at least 4 times a day. These are also nice because it will tell you weather it was just movement or if it was a person.

The TP-Link Tapo TC85 security camera system is a good choice for anyone looking for a reliable and versatile security camera system that can be used both indoors and outdoors. The bundle comes with three cameras and the associated mounting hardware. The cameras are equipped with an adjustable magnetic base that makes installation and mounting a breeze. 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, thanks to the TC85’s strong and adjustable magnetic base which allows you the flexibility to place it virtually anywhere you Wi-Fi can reach. To setup and configure the system only requires to scan a QR code to download the app the your smartphone. The cameras use a magnetic mounting system that offer a strong, solid attaching point, and makes the system fairly portable. Vertical mounting is the best for the most options in adjusting the camera view. When mounting horizontally (such as under the eave of the roof), horizontal adjustment is 360 degrees, but vertical adjustment is limited due to the shape of the camera and the magnetic cup. Due to the shape of the camera and how it fits in the magnetic cup, I was limited in the amount I could move the camera view up while still retaining a solid attachment. Configuring and installing the three cameras took about 90 minutes, and that included adding solar panels to keep the batteries recharged. TP-Link claims around 300 days of battery life, but I prefer to know the cameras will be constantly recharged. TP-Link offers solar panels, but it’s compatible with many third party panels found on Amazon. 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). The subscription service seems to work well, and everything can be configured through your smartphone. The display will show the battery level, so you know when to recharge if you’re not using a solar panel to keep the batteries charged. The TC85 is compatible with Amazon Alexa & Google Home, allowing you to manage your Tapo camera and enjoy true hands-free operation. Third party DVR software was a bit of a challenge to configure. It took me quite some time to get it to work as some of the ports used are not standard, and the TC85 is a new model and there doesn’t appear to be any online articles on how to configure it for third party apps. I did find online help on other TAPO models which seemed to share similar configurations, however. Once I had the correct settings, it took several minutes to display the video stream, showing “cannot connect” errors making me think it wasn’t working. When I walked away for a break, upon return the video stream was displayed. Not sure why it took 5 minutes before it would start streaming. Another issue was that once configured, the cameras would intermittently lose connectivity. I haven’t had time to sort everything out, but for me third party app support is very important. It will require some time for me to sort all the little things out, but TP-Link should make the process much easier. While it is certainly easier to set up and manage, not everyone likes being locked into a subscription model to use their security system. Something that deserves consideration is that the easy installation is a two-way street. On the one hand, it makes DIY installation a breeze. On the other hand, it makes it very easy for an intruder to simple move towards the camera from a blind spot and simply jump up and grab the camera. This issue is even more pronounced if you used the camera’s SD storage – the video record goes with the camera. It’s a good idea to get extra cameras so each camera is in the view of another so that there is a video record should such a thing happen., or mount it high enough so the camera is not easily accessible. Overall, horizontal mounting was somewhat limited, third party app support was too fussy, and the ease of installation does require you to carefully consider where to install the cameras to keep them secure. Despite this, 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.

Camera is easy to set up and maintain. Picture resolution and viewing field are good. Battery life is great. WiFi range is moderate. An external antenna may help this. The Tapo app needs a feature to input a schedule for the Privacy Mode to automatically turn off and on and preset times. Also, I find the Tapo app communication of setting changes to the individual cameras is slow - example, turning off the Privacy Mode in the app doesn't always turn it off on the camera.

Easy to install and set up. You really need to get memory card but don't have to. Lots of settings and configuration. Seems to work great, still tweaking settings. Great buy no special service or subscriptions required.

TP Link TC85 3PK SMART Tapo Wire-Free Magnetic Security Camera TP Link’s approach to security cameras puts maximum value on flexibility of location and a simple setup regime. No wires are required. Period. The magnetic mounting base ensures adjustments and battery access are convenient. WiFi connection range is proving to be exceptional. Battery longevity is promised (300days!) to be excellent. IP66 rating (Able to protect against powerful water jets for 3+ minutes) lets you place the camera exposed to weather with no fear. And I get to choose whether I want to use internal storage or pay for a subscription. So, I’ve been using these for a few days and will share some observations. There are many more features. SECURITY CAMERA CATEGORY: Wi-FI Access required, NOT wired by ethernet. Battery powered, NO power wire; no POE I do not add or subtract “stars” when reviewing security cameras based on the PRESENCE of these features. Different design objectives are neither right or wrong. I do try to determine how successful these features are implemented. It may be very important to another buyer to know how connectivity and power are addressed, but my opinion is not in the score. Other camera types might work better for you. SETUP: TP Link’s TC85 series relies on their App which can be downloaded from Apple and Android stores. The process is step by step, with accompanying instructions, as well as pointing out what you’re looking for. TP Link has made the effort to ensure that we will succeed setting up their cameras. I’ve used cameras from various manufactures, and it doesn’t get better. It would be fair to describe TP’s instructions as a security camera primer because they provide advice, explanations, and trouble shooting. They do this while not getting too wordy. Within the setup process TP Link offers a sales pitch for their recording storage service. It is detailed and short and has a NEXT tab to skip to alternative methods. That alternative is NO recording storage, or simply a live video feed. Or, you can insert a Class 10 (or higher) microSD memory card with storage from 8GB to 512GB. The TC85 camera will format the card for you. Every imaginable camera parameter is accounted for on the main video image page (Talk, Alarm, Privacy, Light, image tagging). Playback & download are here also. These basic ON/OFF switches are repeated in the SETTINGS (Behind the Gear) where you can fully modify the sensitivity, volume, brightness, and update with new firmware. AI processing allow the camera’s notification to identify the type of object it has recognized using its motion detector. I can set up activity zones to further limit false notifications. Brilliant spotlights can be enabled or turned off as part of the detection feature set. TP notified me of a Firmware update later in my setup process. It was accomplished automatically and quickly. I believe TP-Link is continuing to fine-tune its detection algorithms. If my experience with their other products continues with the product, it’s a company that will keep improving these cameras. SUMMARY and CONCLUSION: The TP Link TC85 offers a very high quality video security camera with advanced features, all simple to use, and manage. My accompanying pictures tell the story, and I feel confident that I will have a useful video clip if I ever need it for protecting my property. Images are crisp and colorful during the day. Night time pictures were very sharp and in focus for an extended distance while still providing color. The field of view was broader than previous cameras. I am hoping the TP Link improves the sensitivity of human and vehicle detection, as it seems not everything is being captured. Managing videos and images couldn’t be easier. The use of a magnetic mount lets me quickly access the camera so I can recharge it, or clean it, or re-aim it. Of course, an end user relying on the local microSD will need to mount the camera well out of reach if it’s visible.

I have been looking at replacing some of my outdoor security cameras and found that TP-Link had these new Tapo cameras. I have had very positive experiences with TP-Link before, so I decided to give them a try. I am glad I did; these are very feature rich cameras. Out of the box these are very nice and sturdy. You can tell they are well built. The size is nice too, not too large but functional. The mounting system is great because they are very strong magnets. You basically take the template and screw in flat mounting screws a small round steel plate where you want the camera. There is a small strong and round magnetic base that attaches to the steel plate. The camera is magnetic and fits in the magnetic base. It’s very nice because once you have the base mounted, you can easily adjust the angle and pointing of the camera. They are also IP66 Weatherproof. The camera picture is great. It has up to 2K QHD live view, I have mine set at “Auto” which I believe leverages Smart AI to decide on which it uses. I am still testing to figure out the pattern. The Field of view on these is great at 150 degrees. At the back of my lot, I literally can get a view of my entire back yard. You can also set the length of sensitivity to “Far” for that exact scenario. This way, it senses larger portions of my yard with a single camera. This camera had the ability to customize light and sound alarms. This is an amazing feature at this price point. It is so customizable, you can set it to not only turn on the camera lights, you can have normal alarm sounds if triggered but you can also record your own alarm sound! Clip size can be changed depending on the storage you have. With these, they have a slot for a micro-SD card. I got a 3pk of 128GB and put one in each camera and I have them set to just write over once capacity is reached. If I see something, I can download the clip to keep. This is also great because it eliminates the need for cloud storage if you don’t need it. If you don’t need it, it is available through their Tapo Care service. Essentially this will let you store 30 days worth of storage at a time. For this 3-camera pack, it runs $89 per year for all. As for motion detection, this is awesome. You can select AI Detection for example and within that menu, you can turn on and off people, pet, and vehicle. This is super nice and as I have said, one of the many, many features of this product. You can also set Activity Zones so you can fine tune for those areas where you are just trying to minimize the focus area. According to the documentation, battery life is expected to be 300 days on a charge for the camera if usage is 230 seconds per day of use. That cuts to 180 days at 360 seconds a day of use. On a positive note, charging these was quick and the magnetic aspect of installation makes bringing these into charge is not a big deal. Also on the underside of the camera is the MicroSD slot, Micro USB charging slot (they need to move to USB-C 😊 )and the on/off button, all protected by a rubber, waterproof cover. I had to get used to the user interface on the app. It was a bit frustrating at first but once you realize the depth of features on these, you can understand it better. It all makes sense now that you dig into the features. I must say I am beyond impressed with these. They have features at a price point that very few others can match. I would greatly recommend these to others. Very nice job TP-Link!