At this day and age, having a reliable home security is of utmost importance. Especially now that the height of the pandemic is well behind us, we’re spending a lot more time away from home and, consequently, also from the people and things we love most.
Enter TP Link’s indoor camera that is packed with safety features, is friendly-priced at ₱1499 only, and a breeze to both setup and operate: the Tapo C211. Boasting a 2K 3MP HD camera, night vision, motion tracking, 2-way audio, advanced privacy options and device sharing, the Tapo C211 is the ideal, secure and smart device to watch over what matters most in our lives.
Design:
What’s great about the Tapo C211 is its minimalist, compact and sleek design with its glossy finish and all-black hue. This ultimately allows the device to fit seamlessly inside or outside your home with its stealthy and lightweight characteristics, regardless of what design or decoration is already in place.
At its front is where you’ll find the camera as well as its night sensors, with its guide light situated atop. The device’s reset button and microSD card slot are located under its lens, while its speaker and power port are both at the back.
View:
Perhaps the most impressive aspect to me is the Tapo C211’s overall view in terms of video quality and the range of both motion and features.
Its razor-sharp 2K 3MP View, with an astounding 2304 x 1296 aspect ratio, facilitated crystal-clear videos that brought out even the finer details. I appreciated this aspect most when utilizing the camera outdoors, as subjects depicted at a distance were still able to come out relatively clear and distinct. Even when using the Tapo C211 in smaller areas, being able to vividly see details better is definitely a big plus.
Users also have the luxury to choose which video quality and aspect ratio they desire. This is of help when viewing your camera without WIFI and would want to minimize data consumption, or making the overall file size smaller in order to save and record more onto the SD card.
Another impressive aspect that can prove to be extremely helpful is its night vision, with a range of up to 30 feet. Not only does this feature help in just making everything more visible in low-lighting, but it also allows the device to remain stealthy and discreet in dark settings.
Furthermore, having to worry about the Tapo C211’s positioning and subsequent viewing angle is made less of a hassle due to the device’s vast field of view; with a 360° horizontal and 114° vertical range pan, keeping everything and everyone in check and in view is made a lot easier. Adding to its accessibility and personalization, you can even save field of views and access them through shortcuts.
Security:
Having a vast field of view and clear video quality is one thing, though having extensive safety features and security measures is another. When it comes to the Tapo C211, you can be assured that not only does it merely have safety features, but ones that are serviceable, accessible, purposeful and sometimes even life-saving.
With motion tracking, the Tapo C211 is able to keep the subject within view. This means that if someone were to walk down the hall or maybe a child was running around a room, not only is the device capable of identifying the subject, but can track it as well.
Another nifty facet, which some may find significantly more useful than others might, is its Block Privacy Zones feature. Here, you can sensor out certain areas from being in view, which would then appear as if that specific part alone is completely blacked out. Identifying those privacy zones and switching that mode on and off is rather simple, which adds to the convenience of this feature. This way, you could very easily filter out what you wouldn’t want to be captured on camera.
Further bolstering its security services, the Tapo C211 also has push notifications for certain situations. Most commonly, the device would alert you of motion detection. Although with good intent nonetheless, I felt the motion detection notifications could be excessive at times especially if the device is located at a place where there is naturally a lot of movement. Thankfully, its motion tracking, motion detection and person detection can all be adjusted in the options. This way, I can easily switch off the tracking/detection when almost everyone’s home, and then easily switch it on otherwise.
Another detection feature that could prove to be a blessing to some would be its baby crying detection, which could help in parents’ peace of mind and added security.
Lastly, in the cases of emergencies, the Tapo C211 can ring its alarm at the push of a button which could prove to be life-saving. Whether detecting an unwanted person in the house or a life-threatening hazard such as a fire, alert those at home with alarm notifications coming from its speakers.
Accessibility:
Though all the aforementioned safety features and different modes may seem overwhelming to some, Tapo’s user-friendly app makes accessing and controlling your device more convenient and simple.
Even just setting up the Tapo C211 itself was made a lot easier due to the app being helpful, informative and simple. In only a few steps, the device was synced to both the home WIFI and the app, consequently being ready to serve.
With Device Sharing, you can view a single camera feed from 2 different smartphones. This way, both mom and dad could separately track home activity. Moreover, if you have more than 1 device installed, you can split screen for up to 4 cameras.
Additionally, 2-way audio enables real-time conversational communication. Personally, I used it on my dogs whom, when left at home alone, could get rowdy and unruly with each other. My mom, on the other hand, would use it to communicate with my grandmother’s caretaker when she’s away. On a lighter note, one could even use the 2-way audio to freak out family and friends this Halloween season with random voices and noises.
Sometimes, there are certain things that the Tapo C211 captures that we would want to share for whatever the reason may be. Whether your brother funnily tripping on his shoelace, a baby taking its first steps, or maybe even explaining to your teacher how your dogs truly ate your homework, sharing all these snippets is made more seamless with Tapo Share.
Storage:
The Tapo C211 also offers flexible storage options as you can save footage continuously for up to 512GB on a microSD card. Moreover, for added storage, subscribe to Tapo Care for cloud storage; at ₱140/month per device for the basic plan, avail of 7-days’ worth of unlimited cloud storage, while for ₱175/month per device for the premium plan, avail of 30-days’ worth of unlimited cloud storage.
Verdict:
TP Link’s Tapo C211 has a plethora of security features and impeccable video quality that would prove to be more than serviceable for anyone and at any location. Its easy-to-use app, where almost everything can be controlled, customized, adjusted and personalized, makes everything the Tapo C211 has to offer way more convenient and accessible. Especially at a price point of only ₱1499, the Tapo C211 very well be a pillar of security, comfort and reassurance for your home and loved ones.
