Tapo Solar-Powered Dual-Lens Pan/Tilt Kit Review

When I first tested Tapo security cameras in 2023, it became one of my personal favorite smart security brands. The Tapo Solar-Powered Dual-Lens Pan/Tilt Security Camera Kit handily proves this still to be the case many years later. Its dual-lens 4K system with an independently controllable pan-tilt telephoto lens that focuses on the action while the wide lens keeps tabs on the larger areas is really flexible and effective for monitoring large outdoor areas.

While $220 is pretty steep for an outdoor security camera, the lens's flexibility means the Tapo C675D Kit — which includes a great solar panel — will reduce the number of cameras you need for full yard coverage. It's still a far cry from early 4K security cameras that easily cost $300 or more. Honestly, I hope other security camera brands take notes and push the whole 4K solar pan-tilt camera segment forward.

• Tapo Solar-Powered Dual-Lens Pan/Tilt Security Camera
• Tapo Solar Panel
• Solar panel bracket
• USB charging cable
• Extension cable (to connect solar panel to camera)
• Mounting screws, anchors, and template stickers
• Quick start guide

I've long been a fan of Tapo's video quality, and the C675D continues that trend with exceptional 4K video performance in all light environments. Initially, I found the exposure wasn't great during daytime tests, with some images washing out more than I expected, but some digging unearthed an auto-exposure setting that greatly improved the picture quality.

Although the security camera has a single framerate option of 15 fps, the motion in video recordings and live views was almost always smooth. (There were a few minor skips in a couple of recordings, but nothing that detracted from the overall experience.)

Video during the day was clear and crisp, with essentially no distortion, which translated to great results at night in both infrared and using the starlight color sensor with the camera's built-in spotlights. Color night vision remains one of Tapo's strongest qualities. I like that each lens has its own spotlight, but you can also set each to use a different night vision setting if you prefer.

The video quality on both lenses is roughly equivalent, but the telephoto really stands out as a useful option for monitoring moving subjects. While you double-tap the screen to turn on the 2.5x digital zoom, there's also an automatic AI Zoom setting that does a fantastic job keeping distant subjects in focus even beyond the normal zoom.

If the wide lens didn't monitor the larger area, the AI Zoom would be less helpful and more likely to miss key events as it followed subjects around, but the two cameras working in tandem really help this feature shine. The same applies to the auto-tracking feature, which I normally leave off on standard pan-tilt security cameras. While I've used other multi-lens cameras like the Reolink TrackFlex, having one of the lenses be a pan-tilt option makes much more sense for an outdoor security camera.

One of the main benefits of the Tapo C675D Kit is the included 4.5-watt solar panel. The panel has a built-in cable that's about 18 inches long, but Tapo also included a massive extension cable that's nearly 12 feet long. I appreciate the added length, which makes it easy to mount the solar panel relatively far from the camera to get the best solar charging angle during the day. Another nice touch is that the panel itself doesn't have a long built-in cable to wrangle, though Tapo also put a zip tie in the box to secure extra length once you install the panel.

During my daytime tests, which took place on a bright sunny summer day, the panel had no issues keeping the battery-powered security camera at full charge. Considering I was recording video continuously for at least an hour, I'm confident that the solar panel has enough power to consistently top up the C675D's battery. Tapo says you need only about 90 minutes of charging a day to stay online, and the 10,000 mAh battery can last up to 90 days before needing charging — assuming relatively low power draw.

While the camera works best outdoors, you can install it indoors and power it with a USB wall adapter, but it's better to use a dedicated indoor camera instead.

The Tapo Solar-Powered Dual-Lens Pan/Tilt Security Camera Kit sets a high bar for the competition and is one of the highest-scoring security cameras I've ever tested for SafeWise. While it's not the highest-rated Tapo camera I've tested—that remains the affordable indoor-only Tapo C210 — it's also more powerful and a better camera overall. The only major detractor is the high price. But among 4K solar security cameras with pan-tilt functionality, it's easily at the top of its class. I think the price is well worth it for a primary camera for monitoring your yard, though a more affordable model is more suitable for low-priority areas or folks on a budget.

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