TP-Link Tapo 2K Video Doorbell (D230S1) review

We’re big fans of TP-Link’s range of Tapo smart home and security products here at SafeWise, but there’s always been one thing missing from their Australian lineup—a video doorbell. That’s all changed with the release of the Tapo 2K Video Doorbell, a mid-range offering that’s attempting to give the likes of Google Nest and Ring a run for their money.

There’s no getting around it—this is one chunky-lookin’ doorbell. If you’re after something subtle, the Tapo 2K Video Doorbell with its thick design, is probably not the best choice. That said, it is surprisingly lightweight. It’s also rated IP64 and can operate in temperatures as high as 45°C, which should make it weatherproof enough to deal with most conditions.

Interestingly, the Tapo 2K Video Doorbell comes with “Press Here” stickers in multiple languages to place on the white bell button. It’s a smart inclusion, considering how prominent (and confusingly button-looking) the PIR motion sensor is—I can see it tripping people up.

Installing the doorbell is simple, and refreshingly renter-friendly. The kit comes with anchors, screws and a mounting wedge should you decide to affix it to brick, stone or wood, but it also includes 3M adhesive for even easier installation.

Before attaching the doorbell to the mount, you’ll need to give the battery pack a full charge and set up the included Tapo Hub. Having to use a hub can be a bit of a pain, considering there are so many doorbells that don’t require one. However, the Tapo Hub is quite versatile—it works as a chime, as local storage (though you will need to bring your own microSD card) and as a control centre for any other Tapo products you may already have (or plan on getting down the road), like security cameras, motion detectors and contact sensors.

Perhaps the biggest drawcard of the Tapo 2K Video Doorbell is right there in the name—the 2K video is crystal clear and somewhat of a rarity at this price point. The inbuilt spotlight and starlight sensor mean night vision, too, is crisp and in colour, although if you install it on a recessed front door (like I did), any obstructions will affect the lighting.

The only slight letdown in terms of picture quality is the field of view. The Tapo 2K Video Doorbell claims to boast a “head-to-toe” view, but in my testing, that’s only true if the visitor in question is standing a good distance away from the door. Although 160° isn’t necessarily a bad diagonal field of view, it just skews more horizontally, meaning the vertical view isn’t quite as extensive, so you won’t be able to see your doorstep, for example.

The doorbell is controlled through the Tapo app, which is one of the more user-friendly and responsive home security apps we’ve tested through the years. From there, you can easily check the doorbell’s live feed (which only takes a few seconds to load), turn the spotlight on or off, enable or disable privacy mode, play a quick response, or initiate two-way talk. Go a bit deeper into the settings and you can tweak the wake-up settings, image detection (the doorbell can detect motion, people, pets and vehicles), storage and recording settings, video quality, night vision and privacy modes.

I appreciate that the doorbell uses the same battery pack found in other Tapo security cameras (including the two-camera C420S2 kit), and additional batteries cost $50, making it easy to swap out and keep the doorbell constantly powered. Having only spent a couple of weeks with the Tapo 2K Video Doorbell, I can’t vouch for the claim of up to six months of battery life, but given it’s still at 94%, I don’t doubt it.

The Tapo 2K Video Doorbell isn’t revolutionary, but it does offer great value for money and the versatility to build up your smart home in the future. The video quality is excellent, it’s easy to install, and as always, we love any doorbell or security camera that doesn’t force you to fork out a monthly fee.