Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System (2-Camera System) Review

DIY home security cameras have become the norm and although installation is extremely easy, there are ongoing costs. However not all security cameras systems are made the same and TP-Link’s Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System (2-Camera System) removes the need for an ongoing subscription as it supports local storage. This is achieved via a small hub which has a MicroSD card slot for storage plus it supports up to 4 Tapo cameras with a distance of up to 18 metres or 60 feet.

It’s also a smart device compatible that works with Alexa (our favourite smart assistant) which means you can stream directly to your Echo Show and access it via Google plus other IFTTT devices. Even though it supports local recording, there is also a Tapo Care Plan subscription service which starts with the basic 1-camera plan at $3.99AUD per month to the $164.99 premium plan (1-year) for 10 cameras.

There is also a free one-month trial as well.

Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System (2-Camera System) Highlights

• 2K QHD-Now with 1.7 times more pixels than 1080p, providing clearer videos and photos.
• 180-Day Battery Life-The rechargeable and removable battery with a low-power protocol extend your usage.
• Full-Colour Night Vision-Reveal high-fidelity details and colour at night with the starlight sensor.
• Smart AI Detection and Notification-Smart AI identify people, pets, and cars, notifying users as needed.
• Wire-Free Placement-No wires mean you can place the cameras almost anywhere inside or outside-whatever works for you!
• Light and Sound Alarm-Triggers sound and light as an alarm when motion is detected.
• Two-Way Audio-Enables communication through a built-in microphone and speaker.
• Flexible Storage Choices-Save recorded videos on the hub-installed MicroSD card (up to 512 GB) or by using Tapo Care cloud storage services.
• IP65 Water & Dust Resistant-Offers excellent waterproof and dustproof performance for outdoor scenarios.

As you can see from the above highlights, it comes with all the features you need to protect your home, including a long (up to) 180-day battery charge. According to TP-Link, this battery life rating is based on laboratory testing triggering 10-20 events per day, however everyone’s circumstances are different. If you’re on a super busy street, your mileage may vary but it can be tweaked in order to improve battery longevity.

Like its competitors, you can access your camera system from anywhere in the world via your smartphone which also includes alerts, live access and two way audio. Again (like its challengers), it offers smart AI detection (animals, people and cars) plus sound and light alarms to hopefully deter any “unwanted” visitor or visitors.

Box Contents

• Tapo C420 Cameras (Battery Included)
• Tapo H200 Hub
• USB Adapter
• USB Adapter Cable
• DC Power Adapter
• Mounting Screws
• Mounting Templates
• Camera Brackets
• Quick Start Guide
• RJ45 Ethernet Cable

Unboxing

The Tapo C420S2 is well packaged from TP-link and comes with everything you need to set up this system at home. The build quality of the cameras is good and it feels quite sturdy that also comes with a IP65 rating for water and dust. The cameras are a little longer than Arlo’s but still a good size without it being overtly long. In other words, they are cylindrical in shape.

On the front is the camera lens, the spotlights, ambient light sensor, motion sensor, microphone, two infrared LEDs plus a status LED. The status light is used to help you with the setup process and what it is doing such as pairing to the hub. On the rear is a black lid that unscrews in order to insert the battery with a threaded hole for mounting.

Also the hub is quite minimalistic with LAN, power, a reset button plus a microSD card slot. There is also an LED that helps with setup and again, informing the user of any issues. I also like the size of the hub as it is quite small and can nicely be placed out of sight while it silently stores recordings to it.

Setup

The setup process is straightforward and Tapo app does most of the work for you – from a user perspective, you need to create an account and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. You can add a name for the device (both cameras and the hub, including location) and even choose an icon for the devices. Also supporting the end-user experience is that the Tapo app is a very well laid out program that makes navigating and tweaking your security system a breeze.

The most challenging aspect of the installation is finding a place for your new cameras.

Charging is done via the included microUSB cable and once charged, the battery LED will turn green. The hub also needs to be connected to the mains power and an Ethernet connection which is no issue as this allows for local storage. There are a few different ways to charge the battery for the camera – you can either remove the camera from the mount and then connect a USB cable by lifting the rubber flap or you can remove the battery itself and connect the cable directly into it. Alternatively you can leave the unit in place, move the flap and then connect a portable USB charger or use an extension cord.

The app

The Tapo app keeps it simple as in it manages most settings or it allows for a considerable amount of advanced features and tweaking. More importantly it is very responsive and I received notifications almost instantly while on the property and off. Apart from the standard features  such as live view from the app, you can take photos, videos, adjust the volume and record audio.

There is an option for talk, alarm on/off, privacy mode, light on/off, tag on/off (as in tagging people) plus accessing Tapo Care. From the app, you can access the hub and the recordings made by the cameras. Additionally, you can tweak zones, adjust motion detection settings (motion, person, pet, vehicle) and even share the device with other family members or friends. Lastly you can arm your house with just one tap or disarm with one tap as well.

The hub will also play a “ringtone” if a detection is triggered and the default tone is Jingle Bells, Santa Claus anyone? And yes, my kids loved it! The option to disable alerts for cars or animals also reduces the number of notifications. Of course, if a stray dog decides to use the nature strip, we’re not too fussed… unless they become a repeat offender and come into our front yard, then it’s time for Tapo to get tough.

Video Quality

As mentioned, the unit supports 2K QHD that is a resolution of 2560 x 1440, opposed to 1080p (1920 x 1080) which provides extremely clear footage during the day and good night footage. By keeping it at 2K with a field of view of 113 degrees, this ensures a longer battery life because once you get into the 4K realm, it will start consuming more power. To improve capturing videos at night, it supports full colour night vision and also a starlight sensor which enhances the overall picture quality. You can also adjust the video quality and the frame rate via the Tapo app, including adjusting the night settings.

The above images taken just after dusk shows with colour night vision enabled and then with the spotlight. The spotlight does a good job, considering the size of the unit.

The alarm can be enabled or disabled via the app which basically triggers the siren (not that loud except at night) and the spotlight if an intruder is detected. This is also the same with the spotlight that can be enabled via the app when you are looking at live feeds. Additionally the app supports schedules and motion detection sensitivity levels plus zones so that you are not monitoring an area that doesn’t need to be monitored. All in all, decent video quality at all times during the day and some great app features which allows you access your system from anywhere in the world.

Final Thoughts?

The Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System (2-Camera System) can be purchased in Australia from $329AUD (August 2024) and provides excellent value for money. You get two quality cameras, all the mounting accessories, cables, a small hub for local recording plus a 1-month free trial to Tapo Care which is extraordinary value for money. There’s also plenty of customisation options for users, ensuring that their properties are well protected and more importantly, any intrusions are recorded.

Recommended!

Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System (2-Camera System) Specifications

CAMERA

• Image Sensor: 1/3“
• Lens: F/NO: 1.61±10%; Focal Length: 3.18mm±5%
• Night Vision: 850 nm IR LED up to 49 ft/15m
• Viewing Angle: 113°
• Resolution :2K QHD (2560 × 1440 px)

AUDIO

• Audio Communication: 2-way audio
• Audio Input & Output: Built-in microphone and speaker

NETWORK

• Protocol: TCP/IP, ICMP, DNS, HTTPS, TCP, UDP
• Wireless Security: WPA/WPA2-PSK
• Wi-Fi Protocol: IEEE 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
• Frequency: 2.4 GHz

ACTIVITY NOTIFICATIONS

• Input Trigger: Motion detection, Person detection, Pet detection, Vehicle detection.
• Output Notification: Notification, Snapshot (Tapo care), Clips(Tapo care).

ENVIRONMENT

• Operating Temperature -20℃~45℃(-4°F ~113 °F )
• Storage Temperature -20℃~60℃ (-4°F~140°F)
• Operating Humidity 10%~90%RH, Non-condensing
• Storage Humidity 5%~90%RH, Non-condensing

VIDEO/IMAGE

• Video Compression: H.264
• Frame Rate & Resolutions: 15/20 fps
• Video Streaming: 2K QHD