These battery-powered 4K security cameras give Ring and Blink a run for their money

TP-Link Tapo

TP-Link just announced a new lineup of Tapo security cameras that rival the best on the market. The cameras feature high-resolution recording, AI-powered capabilities, and local storage options. The news also includes the launch of the Tapo Smart HomeBase H500, a central hub that offers local storage to bypass subscription fees. 

The seven new Tapo products include four 4K cameras, two HybridCams, and the aforementioned HomeBase H500. The cameras offer a mix of wired, wireless, and indoor or outdoor options for different case uses. When you think of it, this could be TP-Link’s path to becoming a direct competitor of Eufy Security. 

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The Tapo VistaCam 360 C660 Kit is a solar-powered security camera that tracks motion with 360-degree pan and tilt movement. It is completely wireless and supports local storage of up to a 512 GB microSD card. This camera is available starting at $170, and offers 24/7 time-lapse capture to monitor with only 45 minutes of direct sunlight a day. 

If you’d prefer a wired camera, TP-Link also launched the Tapo VistaCam 360 C560WS at $100. This camera will be available soon and feature 4K resolution, pan and tilt movement, and 24/7 continuous recording. 

The Tapo MagCam 4K Solar C460 Kit is a battery-powered outdoor camera with 4K resolution with a magnetic mount. The $150 camera features on-device artificial intelligence (AI) for person, pet, and vehicle detection — all without a subscription fee. This camera’s magnetic mount is reminiscent of the Google Nest Cam, but its features are comparable to the Eufy S3 Pro, minus the MaxColor night vision.

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For indoor coverage, Tapo features the RoomCam 360 C260, another pan-and-tilt camera that offers continuous recording and 4K resolution. This plug-in, indoor-only camera has a privacy shutter and customizable block zones for extra security. Starting at only $60, the C260 will also support AI-powered person, pet, and vehicle detection and unusual sounds.

TP-Link also announced two more affordable cameras, the C246D and C216, which are priced at $70 and $35, respectively. They both feature 2K resolution and 360-degree coverage, but the  C246D is a dual-lens camera with a fixed lens and a pan-and-tilt telephoto lens, while the C216 is a single-lens camera.

The Tapo HomeBase H500 with a tablet and the Tapo app.

TP-Link Tapo

The HomeBase H500 is likely the most anticipated product for Tapo users. It’s a local storage solution that lets you bypass cloud storage subscriptions. At $150, the HomeBase H500 has 16GB of built-in storage, which can be upgraded to a 2.5-inch SATA HDD/SSD. It also adds facial recognition to existing Tapo cameras, powered by AI, much like the Eufy HomeBase S380. 

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The biggest difference between the H500 and the Eufy S380, however, is that the Tapo HomeBase has HDMI video output. Thus, you could place it on your TV console and connect it to the television to view your camera feeds. 

For now, reviews on the H500 are few and mixed, with many users complaining of connectivity and facial recognition issues. We’ll have to wait until more users test this HomeBase or TP-Link releases some firmware updates to correct these issues before passing judgment.