Main features of the camera
This TP-Link Tapo C210 IP camera has a resolution of up to 2K (2304 x 1296 pixels) with 3MP, although from the app we can configure the resolution in Full HD 1080p and also in HD 720p. A very important aspect is that this model It only allows you to record at 15 frames per second., this is really little, in the image we will notice that there is no fluidity as it happens with other camera models that have 25 FPS and even 30 FPS, which are just as cheap as this model. In addition, another important aspect is that the video compression is H.264so in 2K resolution the recordings take up a lot of space, it would have been perfect if it had the option of using the H.265 video codec to reduce the bitrate and have almost the same quality.
A strong point of this model is that we have a 360º panoramic vision, thanks to the fact that this model is robotic, and it is that we will be able to move it both horizontally and vertically to record all the details. Of course, this camera incorporates Infrared night vision up to 30 feet awayTherefore, we are going to be able to cover a large space thanks to these infrared that we have available. Other important features are that it has two-way audio, we have both a microphone on the front and a small speaker on the back. Thanks to this two-way audio we can start conversations with the person on the other side, in fact, the app has a “call” function for this very thing.
This camera incorporates a micro SD card slot up to 256GB capacityThanks to this, we can make continuous recording on the card for up to 21 days, then it will delete the old recordings to continue recording without problems. this model too allows cloud recordingbut it is not free, not even the first year as it happens with mydlink and D-Link cameras, it is only free the first month, then we have to pay a basic or premium subscription, we will explain the conditions later.
Regarding the connectivity of this model, we have Wi-Fi 4 on the 2.4GHz band only, and incorporates only an internal antenna to connect. It would have been desirable for a camera with 2K resolution, which has a fairly high bitrate compared to an HD camera, to have support for the 5GHz band that has a higher bandwidth, although the 15 FPS it has will make it occupy half that of another camera that records with 30 FPS. Have you sacrificed FPS to avoid having bandwidth problems using the 2.4GHz network? Another aspect that we did not like is that does not have support for the WPA3-Personal security protocolToday this protocol is present in most WiFi routers, in fact, even the Movistar router with WiFi 6 incorporates this option. Other cameras, even the entry-level ones from D-Link, have support for this security protocol that allows us to better protect the wireless network from intruders.
Other features of this model is that incorporates motion detection, AI-based movement detection of people, the possibility of configuring a private zone so that it is not seen in the image, and we can even activate the private mode completely on the camera. Soon in our analysis you will see all the available options of the camera.
Is TapoCare worth it?
Tapo Care is TP-Link’s subscription service to get the most out of your IP camera. While other manufacturers with their paid subscription, whether basic or premium, only allow 7-day or 30-day cloud recording, TP-Link has decided to incorporate more paid features, features than other manufacturers like D-Link or EZVIZ are completely free forever, without the need to contract the premium subscription.
With the Tapo Care subscriptionIn addition to recording in the cloud, we will have notifications enriched with snapshots (photos) on our smartphone or tablet, something that manufacturers such as D-Link have already had for many years. We will also have AI-based people movement detection and crying baby detection, this service is free for cameras that have more than 3MP resolution, but paid for cameras that have less than 3MP resolution, something that does not happen with other manufacturers since it is in the camera’s own firmware. Finally, we also have the possibility of defining privacy zones for a fee, although in the higher resolution models it is also free, so you should inform yourself very well if it is free or not.
In the following image you can see a comparison of the different plans:
Tapo Care prices are as follows:
- Basic: up to 1 device for €2.99 per month or €29.99 per year.
- Basic: up to 5 devices for €10.99 per month or €109.99 per year.
- Premium: up to 1 device for €3.49 per month or €32.99 per year.
- Premium: up to 2 devices for €6.49 per month or €63.99 per year.
- Premium: up to 3 devices for €9.49 per month or €94.99 per year.
- Premium: up to 10 devices for €10.49 per month (on sale, because in the app it says €34.99 per month crossed out) or €109.99 per year (on sale, because in the app it says €329.99 crossed out).
As you can see, the basic plan prices are very expensive compared to D-Link’s mydlinkWith this manufacturer, the price of the “Premium” subscription, which is the most similar to the basic Tapo Care (up to 5 cameras and for 14 days of recordings instead of 7 days of recordings), is worth €50 per year. The price of the Premium plan on offer for €109.99 per year is at a correct price compared to D-Link, in D-Link the price is €100 per year. As you can see, it doesn’t make sense that the basic plan for up to 5 devices and the premium plan for up to 10 devices are worth exactly the same at TapoCare.
As you can see, Tapo Care is a service that it is almost necessary if you want to get the most out of the cameraAnd we’re not saying that because of cloud recording, but because of rich notifications, AI-based person detection and baby crying if your camera is less than 3MP, and privacy zones. Other D-Link or EZVIZ models that have a similar price, all these features are not under subscription, but rather it already comes with the camera itself. In fact, D-Link incorporates a recording in the cloud totally free during the first year for the purchased camera, and for all the cameras (up to 3) that we have in the same mydlink account, an aspect that we must highlight since no manufacturer does. offers.
Unboxing and first impressions
At RedesZone we already have the TP-Link Tapo C210 IP camera with us, a quite interesting upper-middle-range model because it incorporates 2K resolution (although with 15 FPS instead of 30 FPS as usual) and is robotized, therefore It is a fairly complete model at the level of technical specifications. The retail price of this model is 50 euros, but we can buy it on Amazon for approximately 35 euros:
In the following video you can see everything that the box includes, and it is that this camera can be perfectly installed on the ceiling, inside the box we have all the necessary accessories for it.
Soon in RedesZone we are going to offer you a complete analysis where you will be able to see all the characteristics of this camera, the quality of recording and photographs, as well as all the configuration options of the TP-Link Tapo app to manage and view it.
