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TP-Link's latest smart home release, the Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System ($199.99), doesn't skimp on features. This outdoor home security camera bundle offers 2K video, strong third-party device compatibility (excluding Apple's HomeKit), color night vision, a built-in spotlight, versatile storage options, intelligent alerts, and voice controls. You must set them up with a hub (included) but the cameras themselves operate wirelessly. For an all-in-one setup to monitor your front and back yards, the Tapo C420S2 system is worth considering, though the pricier Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight ($339.99 for two) makes more sense if you use HomeKit. And, if you're willing to deal with wires, you can get two Wyze Cam V3 Pros for just $99.99.

The Tapo C420S2 system includes two cameras, a connection hub that offers a range of up to 60 feet, two battery packs, two mounting brackets with mounting hardware and templates, a USB charger and cable, a LAN cable, a power adapter for the hub, and a user guide.

The cylinder-style cameras measure 4.3 inches long by 2.5 inches wide and have an IP65 weatherproof rating, which makes them more or less rainproof. The front of each device houses the lens, two spotlights, an ambient light sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, two infrared (IR) LEDs, and a status LED. The indicator light glows solid red during startup, blinks red and green when the camera is ready for pairing, pulses green during the pairing process, shows solid amber when the camera is paired to the hub, and appears solid green when the camera has an active cloud connection.

There's a threaded mounting hole on the back cover, while another on the bottom allows you to use the mounting bracket as a desktop stand. A cover on the rear twists off to reveal the battery compartment and a reset/sync button. You can remove the battery pack for charging or simply use the USB port on the cover. The battery should last up to 180 days between charges according to TP-Link, but your real-world experience might vary based on usage and outdoor temperatures.

Each camera captures 2K (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) video at 20fps and has a 113-degree field of view. It uses a starlight sensor and the onboard spotlights to capture full-color night video, while the IR LEDs enable black-and-white recording in darker settings.

The small, boxy H200 hub, which connects the two cameras to your network via a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio, measures 1.2 by 2.8 by 2.8 inches (HWD). The back has a LAN port, a power connector, a reset button, and a microSD card slot for local video storage (it supports cards of up to 256GB). A status LED on the top glows solid red while it is powering on, blinks red and green when it is ready for setup, glows solid amber once it pairs with your router, and shows solid green when it is connected to the cloud.

Each camera sends a push alert and starts recording video when it detects motion; they are smart enough to determine whether a person, pet, or vehicle is the culprit. You can store recordings locally if you provide an SD card, but otherwise you must turn to a paid Tapo Care subscription for cloud storage. For $3.49 per month, you get 30 days of unlimited recording history and rich notifications with snapshots for a single camera. For $6.99 per month, you get the same coverage for two cameras, while the $10.49-per-month plan unlocks these features for up to three cameras. If you have more than three cameras, the $11.99-per-month plan supports up to 10 Tapo devices.

This system works with the Alexa and Google Assistant voice services, as well as IFTTT for integration with third-party smart home devices. HomeKit users, though, must turn to an alternative like the pricier Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight.

The C420S2 cameras use the same mobile app as other TP-Link devices, including the Tapo C320WS. Each camera gets a separate panel that shows its name and current battery level, which you can tap to launch a live video feed.

At the top of the video panel, you can view the date and time, other video quality settings such as the bitrate, and the remaining battery level. There’s also a button for toggling the spotlights, as well as a settings icon that takes you to a section for setting up privacy zones, configuring night vision settings, adjusting spotlight brightness, enabling intelligent alerts, turning on rich notifications (which requires a subscription), and creating recording schedules. Additionally, you can choose the video quality (2K, 720p, or Auto), specify the clip length, enable the privacy mode (which disables the streaming and recording capabilities), and format the SD card.

Just below the video panel are snapshot, record, speaker mute, and full-screen buttons, along with one that splits the screen so you can see four camera feeds at a time. At the very bottom of the screen are Talk (which enables the mic), Voice Call (which turns on both the mic and speaker), Privacy Mode, Alarm (which enables the siren), Tapo Care, and Playback & Memory buttons. The last two enable you to subscribe to a cloud plan and view a timeline of recordings (each of which identifies the type of subject that caused the motion event).

Battery-powered security cameras are typically easy to install, and this system is no different. Just make sure you charge the batteries before you begin.

I already had the Tapo app on my phone, so I tapped the plus icon on the main screen and selected the H200 hub first. Per the on-screen instructions, I connected the hub to my router via the included LAN cable, powered it up, and verified that the LED had turned amber. After a few seconds, I got a prompt to specify a name, location, and icon for it. Then, I updated the firmware, tapped next, and selected the option to pair another device.

I selected the correct camera model from the list and installed a battery in each of the units. I waited for the LEDs to start blinking red and green and then tapped one of the camera entries in the app. It instantly showed up in both the app and my Alexa device list. Next, I gave it a name and then repeated the process for the second camera. At this point, you can view mounting instructions, but I had no trouble setting up both in my backyard without help.

The C420S2 cameras provided excellent video quality in testing. Daytime video shows sharp image detail and good color saturation, while black-and-white night captures are sharp and sufficiently bright. Color night vision recordings aren't as vibrant as those from the daytime, but the built-in spotlights help add a bit of brightness.

Motion alerts arrived promptly with accurate subject reports, while two-way conversations sounded clear. The siren is not overly loud, but it can still be a sufficient deterrent to intruders. The device carried out Alexa voice commands, such as streaming video to an Amazon Echo Show smart display, quickly and flawlessly.

At $199.99, the TP-Link Tapo C420S2 system is a compelling security solution because you get two wireless and weatherproof 2K cameras with local and cloud storage options, intelligent alerts, color night vision, embedded spotlights, and a host of third-party integrations. Of course, if you don't mind dealing with wires, you can get several, similarly capable Wyze Cam V3 Pro cameras for the same price. And if you need HomeKit support, we recommend the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight. Finally, if 2K doesn’t cut it, the Lorex 4K Spotlight Indoor/Outdoor Camera W881AAD-E offers higher-quality video, dual-band Wi-Fi, and sound and package detection for a price of $229.99 per camera.

The TP-Link Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System includes two cameras that offer color night vision, intelligent alerts, broad third-party device support, and more.

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