Tapo C425 KIT camera review: Simple solar security

I’m a big fan of set-and-forget gadgets, particularly when it comes to home security. After all, who wants to charge a security camera or doorbell every couple of months when you could simply… not? That’s why solar-powered security cameras continue to be so popular, and it’s why I was particularly keen to test out the new Tapo C425 KIT, a budget-friendly, subscription-free battery-powered security camera that, combined with the included solar panel, can essentially stay powered forever.

The Tapo C425 KIT doesn’t stray from the designs of the brands’ other battery-powered cameras, sporting white, bullet-shaped housing with a simple screw-on mechanism to attach the camera (and the solar panel) to the included mounting bracket.

You can choose to mount the solar panel and the camera together or separately, using the included four-metre extension cable if the place you want to install the camera doesn’t provide enough sun for the solar panel. Or, if you’re lazy, you can simply place it on a surface overlooking the spot you want to keep an eye on. The C425 KIT is rated IP66 waterproof, so it’s robust enough for outdoor use, but given the flexibility of that four-metre cable (and the fact that the camera is battery-powered and doesn’t need the solar panel to work), you could feasibly use it indoors, too.

As has been the case with all Tapo cameras I’ve tested, the setup process was incredibly fast and simple. Just download the Tapo app, add the camera, and follow the prompts—in a few minutes, you’ll be good to go. I recommend giving the camera a full charge before installation so that the solar panel only needs to top the battery up, rather than do all the heavy lifting.

The only notable downside to the C425 is that it charges using a Micro USB port, despite coming with a USB-C solar panel. Tapo does throw in a Micro USB to Type-C adapter, but it’s still a bizarre choice not to include USB-C on any device released after about 2022.

When I reviewed the Tapo C420S2, an older, battery-only version of the C425 KIT, I lamented its relatively small 113° field of view. Fortunately, Tapo has given that viewing angle a much-needed boost to 150°, pushing it way beyond the 122° offered by our favourite solar camera, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, and bringing it closer in line with the likes of the Arlo Pro 5 (160°).

The C425 records in 2K at up to 25fps, meaning the footage it produces is crisp, detailed, and smooth. However, there are options to reduce the quality to 720p and the frame rate to 15 or 20fps, which can extend the battery life. The camera also features two bright spotlights which allow for clear, full-colour night vision even in low-light scenarios.

Night vision, too, proved to be decent on its own but truly impressive with the inbuilt LEDs allowing for full colour.

The Tapo app is one of my favourite smart security apps, and the C425 KIT is a textbook example of everything I love about it. The camera’s live feed is quick to open, you can see multiple camera feeds at once, and just about everything is adjustable, including motion sensitivity, detection types (motion, person, pet and vehicle), video quality, spotlight brightness, alarm and more. You can also see a dashboard showing the current battery status, comprehensive battery usage data, and solar charging data.

Speaking of which… Normally, in this section of the review, I’d talk about battery life. For the first time ever, I can’t actually give you an indication, because the included solar panel effectively removes the need to charge it. I placed both the camera and solar panel on my outdoor table, which gets maybe half an hour of full sun per day. The rest of the time, it’s getting whatever it can grab through my not-quite-opaque patio roof, and yet it seems to be more than enough because this camera has yet to dip below 100% battery after weeks of constant usage. Tapo estimates that, without the solar panel, the camera can last up to 300 days with 230 seconds (just under 40 minutes) of usage per day or up to 180 days with 360 seconds (60 minutes) of use per day.

The Tapo C425 KIT is a true set-and-forget security camera. It doesn’t need a pesky monthly subscription, and the constant power from the included solar panel means regular recharging is a thing of the past. Throw in smart motion detection, colour night vision, local storage capabilities and a price tag under $200 and we find this 2K camera hard to fault.