TP-Link finally adds a doorbell to its Tapo range. The Tapo D230, its name, is certainly not the manufacturer’s first model, but it is the first to join this range, which now covers a good part of the needs of the home. It also recently welcomed its first robot vacuum cleaners, but also has bulbs, sockets, routers and even surveillance cameras. The doorbell therefore completes this ecosystem, always with the same positioning: it does not seek to innovate, but rather to offer practical functions at an affordable price.
2K images with a 4:3 ratio
The Tapo D230 is equipped with a 5 Mpx camera to allow the user to see who is at their door on their smartphone, whether or not they have rung the bell. Like most video doorbells, this one aims to detect movements, and can also recognize people and vehicles thanks to on-board artificial intelligence.
TP-Link adds that the sensor delivers 2K images at a 4:3 ratio and thus lets you see a little more than a 16:9 sensor in height, with equivalent optics. However, some manufacturers opt for even more generous height ratios, like Arlo for the Essential Video Doorbell (1:1) or Google for the latest Nest Doorbell (3:4). Still others add a second sensor to film right up to the doorstep, like Eufy for its Video Doorbell Dual. Of course, infrared vision is provided for the night, and a microphone coupled with a speaker allows you to respond remotely if necessary.
A gateway that stores images and acts as a chime
To send alerts and images to the user’s smartphone, the Tapo D230 uses a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection, but also a gateway and a low-consumption protocol which aims to preserve its battery. TP-Link has thought of Sunday DIYers. If the electrical installation is not ready, its doorbell can be installed without major work. In return, it must be recharged regularly, every 180 days according to the manufacturer. The gateway also includes a microSD slot for storing images locally rather than in the cloud (starting at €3.99/month with TapoCare), and it can also act as a chime.
The Tapo D230 doorbell is now available for sale. You can find it for a little over €100 in stores, footbridge included.