I walk around my neighbourhood to see that almost every single house has some sort of security camera. It feels almost necessary at this point, given the abundance of security concerns that only seem to grow with every news piece that hits our social media feeds. But it also does feel like the only way to find a sense of safety is through having an onslaught of security measures in and around your home.
I personally already have a few cameras that I use quite frequently, so I was curious to see how the Tapo C660 KIT would hold up against the other security cameras I am already quite used to.
What’s in the Box?
The Tapo C660 KIT came with everything you need and a little bit more, including:
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Tapo C660 Camera × 1
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Mounting Bracket × 1
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Camera Mount Adapter × 1
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USB Adapter Cable × 1
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Tapo A201 Solar Panel × 1
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Tapo A201 Solar Panel Bracket × 1
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Base Cover × 1
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Extension Wire × 1
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Cable Zip Tie × 1
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Mounting Screws × 7
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Mounting Anchors × 7
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Mounting Template Stickers × 2
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Quick Start Guide
Design
The first impression I had of the Tapo C660 KIT was that it was quite bulky and a lot bigger than the other cameras I have. I thought that this could potentially make it harder to keep it discreet in comparison to other cameras, but it hasn’t been an issue. Out of curiosity, I did want to see how heavy it was, and according to the dimensions on their website, everything enclosed in the box weighs 2 kg.
The lens itself is also something of note, with the lens focal length reaching up to 4.0mm with an aperture of F1.6. It’s also able to scope out quite a large surface area, with a 105° (Diagonal), 88°(Horizontal), and 45°(Vertical) field of view, with the ability to pan 326° and tilt 45°. Not to mention that the quality of the footage is at 4K with an 8MP resolution and 18 times zoom.
Users can connect their camera to 5GHz or 2.4 GHz, depending on if you’re looking for a camera that lasts longer or goes the distance. And it also works seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and Google Home to help users streamline everything in one place.
Rain or shine, the weather is also not an issue with the Tapo C600 Kit, with it being IP65 weather resistance, which essentially just means the weatherproofing standard of these cameras for indoor or outdoor use.
And finally, the built-in 10000 mAh battery and the added solar panel alleviate the need to recharge the camera often, if at all.
Performance
I already own a few Tapo cameras, so I was able to link my camera to my app within minutes. Like the other features on the Tapo cameras/app, you’re able to add eight different camera presets so you’re able to click onto your desired view with the touch of a button.
But you’re also able to just easily pan and tilt with the intuitive controls in-app. But my issue with some of these cameras, including this one, is their inability to pan the full 360° (which is annoying when you’re trying to pan from one side to another) or tilt up at all once it’s mounted and set up.
The camera can easily pan down 45° but at its preset, you’re not able to pan up any higher. So it’s best to note that if you want a taller perspective, it’s best to place the camera at a higher viewpoint from the get-go.
A great aspect about the Tapo cameras is that you don’t need an active subscription to save or playback any of the footage. It works on local storage with up to 512GB (microSD card not included), where I’ve been able to obtain the snippets of recorded footage under the 24 hour surveillance for 17 days so far without any of the data being rewritten. Based on other cameras I have, I can assume that the local storage could hold up to at least 23 days of continuous recordings.
But if you’re someone who wants to keep a record of everything, there is also the option to opt into cloud storage, which is something that comes at a cost depending on the chosen subscription. The tiers are relative to the number of devices you have, with the costs starting off at $48.99 yearly for one device.
The zoom is also just as impressive as they mention. I was able to zoom about three or four houses down and be able to clearly read licence plates on cars.
The quality doesn’t falter at night either, with the two built-in spotlights and the night vision, which works just as well as it does in broad daylight. The 360° AI Tracking and 24/7 Continuous Capture is also great in that it’s able to detect people, animals, and cars, with notifications coming straight to your phone (if you want to).
The quality of the two-way audio and speakers is really crisp and smooth. You’re able to easily communicate with visitors or hear things that may be happening at night time through the noise cancellation audio feature. The sound from the added alarm is also loud enough to jolt anyone that could be a nuisance.
In terms of the camera itself, it is also really quiet, with the motor on the camera barely noticeable unless you were really trying to listen in.
But I would say that the most significant aspect of the camera that I was really impressed by was the battery life. I charged it to 100% before I mounted it outside, and in the few weeks of use, the battery life only went down by 7%. This was with the 24/7 surveillance and the solar panel attached.
I have another camera from another brand that I consistently need to charge every single month, despite the solar panel being attached. So it was really nice not to have to worry about that in the slightest. I could only imagine how long this would last if I had tested it out for just that little bit longer.
Verdict & Value
I was really impressed by the camera. While initially put off by the size and the weight of it, I could see why that was necessary.
The Tapo C660 Kit is a really powerful camera, depicting high-quality images and sound that help create a sense of ease for anyone. The battery life is the best part, and feels like it could last forever.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: The quality of the footage is extremely high; The battery life is amazing
Lowlights: A bit on the bulkier side
Manufacturer: TP-Link Tapo
Price: A$299
Available: Now on the Tapo website HERE.
Review is based on unit provided by Campaign Lab / Tapo.
Featured image provided by Campaign Lab / Tapo
