Hardware

Published on August 11th, 2024 | by Andrew Bistak

Tapo Solar-powered Security Camera kit C425 Kit Review (Power to the Free)

Prevention is always the best security, however when it comes to protecting your home with smart security cameras, there are some hidden caveats. Although wireless security cameras provide the most simple of installs, batteries require charging that adds another layer of complexity into maintenance of your equipment. Then you subscriptions… everywhere you look, subscriptions, subscriptions, everywhere – the perfect business model.

Disney+, gym memberships, Microsoft 365, PlayStation Plus, meal subscriptions, electricity… There’s a subscription for everything!

So not only are you charged for your subscriptions, you’re also in charge of charging your security camera. However the Tapo Solar-powered Security Camera kit C425 Kit provides continuous uninterrupted power courtesy of the included solar panel and although they offer a subscription service, they also give the user access to a microSD Card slot for up to 512GB of local storage. Two fantastic features if you are looking for a fixed price system without the ongoing costs of subscription or sporadic charging of its internal battery.

If you are looking for a subscription… the Tapo Care Plan subscription service starts at $3.99AUD per month for the basic 1-camera plan or $164.99 per year for the premium plan which adds 10 cameras – There is also a free one-month trial as well;

Additionally the Tapo Solar-powered Security Camera kit C425 boasts similar features to other products from Ring (Amazon) and Arlo such as 2K QHD (Quad High Definition) Live View with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The camera also supports a 150 degrees super wide view to capture as much of your property as technologically possible, including two-way audio, noise cancellation plus tweaking of your security settings via the app.

Further, it comes with colour night vision with a starlight sensor – The starlight sensor improves visibility in low light and there are two in-built spotlights to assist with overall clarity. To minimise battery usage, it comes with free AI detection which assists in reducing false alerts as it can accurately identify people, pets and vehicles. If an intruder sets off an alert, the device will sound a siren.

Tapo Solar-powered Security Camera kit C425 Specifications

The Review

Well boxed from TP-Link, the Tapo Solar-powered Security Camera kit C425 feels professionally built and its technology is housed with an IP66 weatherproof rating case which means it is well protected from heavy rain to fine dust. This virtually allows you to place it anywhere outside as it will be well protected.

Underneath the camera are two ports (protected by rubber flaps) for the micro SD slot and also the micro USB charging port. It’s a shame that the camera does not support USB-C, however this is alleviated with the solar panel. In relation to battery performance, according to TP-Link, it will last up to 300 days but with the solar panel, a 45-minute charge of sunlight will power the unit for a full day.

Tapo ensures that the device comes with everything you need in attaching the camera to your home (e.g. mounting accessories), cables and quick start guide in order to get the device up and running as quickly as possible. If you get stuck, there are tutorial videos and best of all, the Tapo app is a well-made piece of software that is easy to use and navigate. The Quick Start Guide is well-written and easy to follow with limited text and clear pictures.

Unboxing Gallery

Setup

Before fixing the C425 to its intended destination, I strongly recommend that you establish the connection to your network which is done by downloading the Tapo app. This way, you know you have a good connection to your Wi-Fi network. Further, you may need a second person when it comes to external placement and of course, a ladder plus some tools. Every install is different but the guide, app and tutorial videos will ensure a relatively pain free fixed installation. Another important factor is that TP-Link recommends that you charge the battery to 100% before starting the install process.

As you can see from the install wizard below, it’s really just a series of next, next and more nexts until you’re done. Yes, you need to connect it to your network via Wi-Fi which requires passwords but for the majority of the install, there is limited user input as the device and app do most of the work.

With that said, in terms of setup, TP-Link should be commended on making the entire installation a flawless experience and I had no issues in connecting the camera to the network or mounting the device. The only query I have however is that you need to connect the solar panel with the included USB cable that does expose the port (potentially) to the elements. Hopefully this does not cause an issue in the future. Also, TP-Link even includes an extension cable for the USB cable if you need to place the solar panel a little further away to get more direct light from the sun.

With notifications, I found the Tapo Solar-powered Security Camera kit C425 Kit very fast with almost instant messages to my smartphone. Besides 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. If you have a SD card, you can view your recordings and even download them. There is also a comprehensive device setting that gives you the option of tweaking zones, adjusting detection settings (motion, person, pet, vehicle), advance settings, sharing the device and smart actions that allow you to enable security with just the touch of one tap. It’s great that the app keeps it simple or you can deep dive into its setting as well.

The video quality behind the C425 is impressive thanks to its 2K QHD resolution and the lens does an exceptional job at picking up detail, particularly during the day. At night, you have the option of both colour night vision and black and white – the later mode is clearer, however both can be tweaked via the app. You can control the spotlight via the app and surprisingly it was actually quite bright for something small.

Another highlight of the app is setting up person detection areas which greatly reduces false alerts and battery, especially if you don’t have the solar panel version. As we are on a busy road, this allows the camera to focus on our property, not the road or nature strip.

All in all and when it came to speed, I found the C425 a very responsive wireless security system that allowed us to access the camera almost instantaneously, including the recorded footage on the MicroSD card. What about the Tapo subscription service? It’s good and for one camera, it is very affordable at $3.99AUD per month, however it does creep up when you start adding more cameras to your network but the option of microSD cards is a true cost saver. You can also add several Tapo cameras to your connect, including different modes but just be aware that this model is not compatible with the H200 smart hub as it uses its own wireless frequency.

Final thoughts?

At $179 (August 2024) for just the camera or $199 for the kit, the later is excellent value for money and provides quality equipment and an app to flawlessly protect your property. Storage is both local or via the cloud (subscription). I was impressed by the overall video quality and the amount of control you have with the camera. The solar panel is also a godsend as this reduces the need for constant charging. All in all, an excellent home security camera from TP-Link.

About the Author

Andrew Bistak When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.

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