The Tapo TC73 pan/tilt AI camera embodies the pinnacle of innovation.

The primary objective of an indoor safety camera is to provide a visual deterrent against potential intruders while also allowing homeowners or business owners to monitor and secure their premises effectively. Monitor a pet? Protecting your watch when you’re not at home? Perhaps it’s intended to advise vigilance even while resting? This digicam captures all the necessary details to provide clear evidence in case of an unexpected event, such as a break-in or pet emergency, allowing for swift resolution and peace of mind. What’s the latest with the Tapo TC73?

The Tapo TC73 is widely available online and in physical stores. Currently, it can be purchased for $50 from retailers such as Best Buy or Amazon.com. The value reached its peak in January 2024 at $70, only to experience recurring dips, typically every few months, which brought it back down to the $50 mark.

The pricing of this camera aligns with that of our other top-rated pan-and-tilt indoor safety cameras, including the Aqara E1. The TC73 is available in a single colour scheme of white and black, featuring a distinctive purple stripe running along its undersurface.

Currently, I’m obsessed with exploring the world of HomeKit-enabled video cameras and their accompanying devices. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing the Tapo TC73. The 2K QHD 4MP video boasts vibrant, true-to-life colors, effortlessly rendering a wealth of details in both low-light and well-lit environments. I had already calibrated my settings before activating the High Dynamic Range feature, which significantly improves the dynamic range and enhances picture quality in both shadowy areas and blown-out highlights. If the resolution of 2688 x 1520 (2K QHD) exceeds your available video bandwidth, consider scaling the video down to 720P, thereby conserving storage space on the optional microSD card used for storing local recordings. By enabling the capability to adjust video bitrate settings on your system, you can effectively optimize available bandwidth usage. You have the option to choose between 15fps, 20fps, 25fps, or 30fps. 

As I enabled the entire high-resolution features, I observed my stream’s bandwidth increase dramatically: from approximately 160 KB/s when I was out of frame, to around 350 KB/s upon entering the camera’s view, as I experimented with the app to detect changes in bandwidth. The numbers are primarily driven by your previous movement settings, with the recording process commencing thereafter. 

The digicam boasts a broader range of motion and sound settings compared to many of its competitors.

You receive standard, unspecified movement detection, as well as customizable alerts for specific individuals, pets, cars, or objects of interest. Additionally, our system includes advanced features like Line-Crossing Detection and Digital Camera Tampering Protection. The former enables you to set a boundary in a location and instantly receive notifications whenever someone or something crosses that line from either side. The app sends you notifications whenever someone tries to obstruct the camera, offering customizable sensitivity settings for enhanced security. You can also configure the built-in alarm to sound when obstruction or tampering is detected.

There exist a multitude of sound detection options. Sounds of distress: a wailing child, shattering glass, cacophonous canine barks, and plaintive feline meows can trigger timely notifications. After examining each model using YouTube audio samples, I found that they functioned correctly – aside from the occasional issue with detecting glass breaking. Despite being founded on the kinds of sound outcomes I had previously encountered. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I genuinely appreciate your sentiment – though perhaps we could find a more constructive way to explore this idea?

Should an intruder attempt to breach your security under the cover of darkness, you’ll be faced with two key decisions that can help identify the perpetrator. The TC73 features a high-sensitivity starlight sensor, delivering superior nighttime visibility for enhanced situational awareness. The camera features a larger sensor, capable of capturing even more subtle details. Additionally, it includes two infrared lights, one emitting red light and the other blue, designed to illuminate and further highlight the area being monitored. What’s the distinction? Although blue moonlight is almost undetectable, the compromise comes at the cost of significantly reduced visibility when captured by a camera in the depths of darkness? When using the camera exclusively to monitor a child or pet, this setup is particularly suitable. The Night Vision Purple Mild enables users to observe up to 30 feet beyond the camera’s standard range at night.

Native HKSV assistance is conveniently integrated into this device, allowing seamless addition to Apple Home once all settings are customized to your liking via the Tapo app. In reality, the ability to make decisions decreases significantly when using the video feature, rendering most options inaccessible within Apple’s app, including the built-in alarm that is only accessible through Apple House, albeit with limited safety camera capabilities. By integrating Tapo’s digicam with its motion sensor, users can set up custom automations – a feature that would have been welcome for the alarm system itself?

While I appreciate the appeal of the digicam’s appearance, some might find it a bit larger than they expected for their purposes. Standing at approximately 5 inches tall and 3 inches wide, this object is decidedly noticeable compared to its peers. Recently, my younger brother paid a visit to our home and couldn’t help but remark on the unusual decor: he joked that I had installed HAL 9000 in my living room. The bright purple LED light on this device is initially quite noticeable, but it’s easily deactivated if desired to maintain a more subtle appearance.

The unit exudes a sense of solidity, its weightlessness belieing its impressive build quality. The camera may be installed upside down, and a possible inversion setting exists within the Tapo App’s version 3.0 settings menu. Powered by a reliable 12-volt DC adapter, this device establishes connectivity via robust 2.4-gigahertz Wi-Fi transmission only, omitting the need for an Ethernet port.

The pan and tilt motor, along with the AI that powers it, have demonstrated unparalleled responsiveness in my experience thus far. The TC73 excels at adapting to movement, seamlessly tracking individuals and pets as they move into or out of frame before the camera’s lens.

Assembling the TC73 model two proved to be a relatively straightforward process. Download the Tapo app, register with a secure login, then tap the plus sign to initiate the process. Search for your device, following the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. Some of these voice prompts can serve as gentle reminders, helping you feel connected to the community and confident in your setup? Getting it up and running took me approximately five minutes.

As a direct result of the app’s camera settings being intuitively laid out, utilizing its extensive options proves remarkably easy. The camera’s settings can be accessed entirely through two screens: the primary home screen of the TC73, or by navigating to the settings icon located on that same home screen. On the primary display screen, users can access a range of features, including pan and tilt functionality, privacy mode, alarm activation/deactivation, screenshot capability, video recording, two-way communication, and event playback and download. 

To access the opposing settings, navigate to the upper right corner of the display screen and locate the small cog icon. I am genuinely fond of how the display screen is structured. Utilizing playing cards and a comprehensive menu system, Privacy settings are easy to navigate and manage. The inclusion of a privacy occlusion option is a welcome feature, allowing for discreet recording sessions when needed. The fact that this setting can be accessed through both the app and a physical button on the camera’s body adds an extra layer of convenience and control. The rotating lenses within the camera’s body ensure physical privacy, rather than relying on app-based “blackouts”.

Currently, the Hong Kong Security Vendor (HKSV) options include Aqara’s E1 smart plug, alongside the Digital Camera Hub G3, as well as Eufy’s Indoor Cam E220 and Netatmo’s Smart Indoor Camera. 

The Aqara E1 and its counterpart fall in step with the TC73, mirroring its price point. In contrast, the Netatmo offering costs $190, while the Hub G3 is priced at a more affordable $88. While the Netamo’s Good Indoor Digital Camera may boast a higher price tag compared to the TC73, at first glance, it appears to offer an identical feature set. While I haven’t yet familiarized myself with the specific concept, I’m hesitant to render a judgment without first having hands-on experience. Among the numerous cameras I’ve had the opportunity to review, Tapo’s boasts the most impressive video quality to date. It’s worth noting that this review doesn’t provide a detailed comparison between the two products, but instead highlights their differences in functionality. The silver lining lies in its exclusive compatibility with various Aqara products.

Currently, we would not recommend alternative HKSV-backed pan-and-tilt cameras that surpass the performance of the TC73; we will keep you informed about any emerging products that might outshine it.

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There’s much to explore with Tapo’s TC73! You can potentially stream the video directly from your PC using RTSP assistance, allowing for seamless integration with network-attached storage (NAS). With impressive nighttime and daytime video capabilities, seamless panning and tilting that tracks motion seamlessly, thoughtful privacy settings, and an effortlessly user-friendly Tapo App 3.0, the TC73 offers a comprehensive surveillance solution.

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Elevating the TC73’s versatility, Tapo’s product is well-suited for customers seeking a pan-and-tilt camera supported by Hong Kong Smart Vision (HKSV) and offering ample compatible hardware to build their own smart home.