The C120 enables high-definition video streaming and recording up to 2K resolution, supports two-way audio with minor latency, and features a expandable storage capacity of up to 512 GB via microSD cards to store recordings natively. This affordable safety camera features a starlight sensor that captures stunning color night vision, intelligent detection (humans, pets, and vehicles) without a subscription requirement, and an IP66 rating, allowing for outdoor use provided a power cable is run. The versatile base is designed for easy mounting on walls, can also sit comfortably on a shelf, and features a magnetic surface. There’s no one-size-fits-all rule that dictates you must spend more than this amount to secure control over an entrance or specific room in your home.
Movement detection proves reliable, allowing for adjustments to sensitivity and tailored notification customization. While the video’s overall quality is impressive, its frame rate limitation to 20fps unfortunately results in a noticeable blurriness when covering swift-moving subjects. With the Tapo app, users have the flexibility to define personalized exercise and privacy zones, while advanced AI technology is capable of detecting specific entities, including individuals, pets, vehicles, and even the distressing sound of a child’s cry. Wealthy notifications, accompanied by a snapshot, are bundled with the Tapo Care subscription, which includes 30 days of cloud storage for clips. This premium service comes at a cost, pricing out at $3.50 per 30 days for a single camera or $12 per 30 days for up to 10 cameras. While there may not exist dedicated assistance for HomeKit or IFTTT, this smart display seamlessly integrates with popular virtual assistants like Google Residence and Amazon Alexa, despite a brief delay in loading the stream on my Nest Hub. This camera also supports the Open Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).
If your budget is limited, there’s an even more affordable option available, but it does require some sacrifices: reducing the device’s battery life, eliminating pet and vehicle detection capabilities, and capping external storage at a mere 256GB.
