TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review 2024: Very affordable and capable

When you think of the best home security cams, you probably won’t think of TP-Link as one of the first names that comes to mind. After testing out two Tapo C420S2 cameras for a week, though, that perception is likely to shift. It has in my experience, at any rate. You get two cameras with a recording capacity of up to 2K, an option between cloud and local storage, and a battery life of up to 180 days for a total cost of $199.

It seems almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? This low-cost smart home security system has a lot going for it, despite the fact that the Tapo C420S2 could be improved in certain ways, but it is still a solid option overall. Find out what we loved about the TP-Link Tapo C420S2 by reading the rest of our (yeah, it’s a long) review of the product.

TP-Link Tapo C420S2 SPECIFICATIONS

TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review: Design and Setup

The Tapo C420S2 has a long, cylindrical body that makes it look a little smaller than a beer can. On one end is the camera, an 850 nm IR LED with a range of 49 feet, an indicator LED, two lights, and different cutouts for sensors that the camera uses. The camera itself is 4.4 inches by 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches.

On the other end of the white case, there is a piece that can be taken off to get to the battery. You can remove the battery to charge it with the included microUSB wire, or you can remove the small rubber fitting to charge the battery without taking off the back. You can buy this camera from its official webiste

TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review: Camera

The cameras are in the shape of cylinders and are 4.3 inches long and 2.5 inches wide. They have an IP65 rating, which means they are pretty much rainproof. The lens, two lights, an ambient light sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, two infrared (IR) LEDs, and a status LED are all on the front of each device. The indicator light is solid red when the camera is turned on, blinks red and green when it’s ready to be paired, flashes green while it’s being paired, stays solid amber when it’s connected to the hub, and stays solid green when it’s connected to the cloud.

TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review: Video quality

With a viewing angle of 113 degrees, the C420S2 can record up to 2K video at 2560 x 1440 at up to 20 frames per second. At 116 degrees, this camera’s field of view isn’t as big as the Wyze Cam v3 Pro’s, but it’s still big enough to give you a good look at the area it’s facing.

You can control the general video quality by setting the resolution to either 720p or 2K, or you can let the camera switch between the two automatically. You can also change the frame rate for each camera. This is in addition to the video quality. You can choose between 15 or 20 frames per second. The Tapo app says that choosing 20fps can affect how long your power lasts. When you move from Auto or 720p video to 2K, you get the same warning.

TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review: Motion detection

With a Tapo Care subscription, the C420S2 will let you know when it sees movements or when it sees people, pets, or cars. You can turn off any one of these categories. For example, you could only have the camera warn you when it sees people or pets, but not when it sees vehicles. In the Tapo app, you can change how sensitive the motion recognition is, and you can even make the camera watch a larger area before the right alert goes off.

Price and availability

If you went to your local hardware or electronics shop to buy a new security camera, you might find that they cost anywhere from $50 to more than $500. But that range gets smaller to $200 to $500 per camera for a camera that is truly wireless and runs on batteries.

Final Words

The TP-Link Tapo C420S2 kit with two cameras is a great deal at $139, and the performance of the cams makes it even better. The 2K video is clear, but the AI motion alerts could be a little more accurate. Having the choice to store your footage locally on a microSD card is great for people who care about privacy or don’t want to sign up for yet another monthly service.

TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

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