UPDATE: 2025-06-01 15:26 EST BY CORBIN DAVENPORT
ONVIF Support Dropped
TP-Link originally announced that the Tapo H500 would support the ONVIF standard, but that’s no longer happening. The company said in a statement toHow-To Geek, “The team has decided to focus development on enhancing compatibility between the Tapo H500 and Tapo Cameras, providing a seamless and integrated experience within the Tapo ecosystem. The team is closely monitoring the development of Matter-supported security cameras as this new standard may offer a more robust and user-friendly way to connect with third party devices in the future.”
The original article continues below.
TP-Link is expanding its Tapo smart home security lineup with new 4K and HybridCam series, offering advanced features like solar power, 360-degree tracking, and on-device AI. They’re definitely worth considering if you need new cameras around your home.
One of the 4K models is the Tapo MagCam 4K Solar C460 Kit. This wireless outdoor camera has a solar panel, so it doesn’t need to be plugged in and requires almost no maintenance. It records in 4K (8MP) resolution and has Starlight Color Night Vision, which comes with an F1.65 lens, a starlight sensor, and built-in spotlights for clear footage day and night.
The 4K Solar camera can identify people, pets, and vehicles to reduce false alarms. It can also store footage on a microSD card up to 512GB, or in Tapo Care cloud storage. It has dual-band Wi-Fi and a magnetic, adjustable mount for a simple setup.
The Tapo VistaCam 360 C660 Kit is also solar-powered, but it is focused on being a pan-and-tilt security camera kit. It also records in 4K (8MP) with Starlight Color Night Vision (F1.6 lens and spotlights). What makes it special is its 360-degree tracking, which automatically follows movement. Like the MagCam, it has on-device AI detection, supports up to 512GB microSD or cloud storage, and uses dual-band Wi-Fi.
Then there is the wired Tapo VistaCam 360 C560WS, which has 4K (8MP) resolution and Starlight Color Night Vision but doesn’t have solar power. It keeps the pan-and-tilt function of the C660 Kit, along with the same storage options.
The last of the 4K options is the indoor-focused Tapo RoomCam 360 C260, which gives 4K (8MP) continuous recording with a pan-and-tilt mechanism seen in the devices above. It has face recognition and can detect people, pets, vehicles, and unusual sounds, a physical privacy shutter, customizable block zones, and night vision that works up to 40 feet away. This uses the same storage options offered in the other models.
TP-Link also introduced the Tapo HybridCam Series, which works well indoors and outdoors. The standout model is the Tapo HybridCam Duo C246D, a unique dual-lens camera. It has one fixed 2K lens with a 125-degree field of view and a pan-and-tilt 2K lens with a 6mm telephoto lens, giving full 360-degree coverage. Its synchronized smart tracking makes the PTZ lens follow whatever the fixed lens detects. The C246D isIP65 weatherproofand can be mounted in different ways.
Another HybridCam model is the Tapo HybridCam 360 C216, a single 2K (3MP) pan-and-tilt camera with 360-degree pan and 152-degree tilt, with smart motion tracking. It’s also IP65-rated for indoor or outdoor use and has AI detection for people and baby cries. Its night vision can switch between color, black and white, or smart mode. Footage can be stored on a microSD card, but only up to 512GB.
The new Tapo cameras work with the Tapo Smart HomeBase H500, which is a smart hub. It includes 16GB of built-in storage, which can be expanded up to 16TB using an external hard drive, so you don’t need separate microSD cards or cloud subscriptions. It can manage up to 16 cameras, 64 sub-G sensors, Matter-certified devices, and ONVIF-compatible devices all in one place.
The H500 also adds facial recognition to compatible cameras, improving security and reducing false alerts. You can view and playback footage on mobile devices or monitors, with up to four live views through HDMI.
