Budget Security Camera Battle: Tapo C120 Vs Wyze Cam V3 Pro

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Some helpful time stamps: Intro: 0:00 Similar options: 0:26 FOV: 0:59 IR lights: 1:07 IP rating: 1:38 Base and mounting: 2:12 Storage: 2:36 Back of cameras: 3:12 Sound test: 3:49 Power usage: 4:14 Setup: 4:58 Video examples: 5:30 Video recording detection and more: 6:00 Subscription services: 6:49 App: 7:27 Notable features: 8:31 Price: 9:15 Conclusion: 9:40

[@LEOretired]

I too am a long time Wyze user with 7 Wyze Cams. Based on your review, I bought the Tapo C120 to try out. I was so impressed with it that I replaced my main Wyze Cam V4 with the Tapo C120. Thanks for the review.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

I have not even gotten the Wyze Cam v4 as I feel Tapo is just giving more bang for your buck these days.

[@housepfhoopz]

specially since they got rid of the 12s free cloud recording for the camera after v3 cameras

[@mr.boniato6402]

The Tapo C120 has RTSP feature which is GREAT if you want to add it to an NVR.

[@MrGadgt]

Wow, absolutely amazing comparative review. Very good job! Looks like I’ll be making the switch to Tapo. So glad I saw this before getting more Wyze cameras lol.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Happy this was able to help you out. I have slowly changing out my old Wyze cameras with Tapo ones myself.

[@black-un9dp]

Would you recommend Tapo c120 to record the night sky? (stars, planes, and whatnot) It'd be nice to see a video doing just that. Great video, and thank you!

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Are you looking for long exposer filming or just viewing the night sky?

[@black-un9dp]

​@@Wanderer001_Reviews Yes, I'm interested in long exposure filming. I'd like to leave it recording all night long for maybe a month or so. That's why I figured it'd be nice to see a video like that to also see how far it can catch things.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

@@black-un9dp Sounds like you might do better with something like time laps, which only the wyze camera has right now. If you just want to set it up and let it record both can do that as long as you have a large enough SD card.

[@black-un9dp]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews Got it. The problem is that Wyze is missing a lot of features that could come in handy in the long run. Anyways, thank you for taking the time to help me out. It's super helpful!

[@ValdanoPG]

Awesome review. Been torn between the two. Have a number of Wyze cams but would certainly love to try out the Tapo. Thanks!

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Happy to help.

[@BlkDrgn28]

Another option to consider is that the Tapo line of cameras support RTSP and ONVIF out of the box, while the Wyze do not (they did test this feature with a firmware update that has now been removed from there site) I think folks have archived it but the Tapo natively supports it if you already have a NVR.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

I have been phasing out a lot of my wyze cameras for Tapo cameras. They are my personal recommendation when I talk to friends and family now.

[@MattCoversTech]

Think I'll be switching over to Tapo after Wyze's many security missteps lately, and that's putting it politely.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Agree.

[@Jensen871]

The Tapo really feels like a spiratual succesor to the og nest cams

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

I have been plesently supprised and hope that it stays that way.

[@doncaper]

wyze started with a great mission statement and hopeful product.. but we see how that went. fingers crossed for tapo

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

@@doncaper Tapo is a child brand of TPlink so fingers crossed.

[@woodwaker1]

Another reason I just ordered the C120, is the ease of using RTSP on the Tapo. Wyse no longer really supports it and I don't think the Cam 3 pro can run it. I want to be able to see the stream on my PC, not my phone. So RTSP is a necessity for me

[@CoryLykins]

RSTP support out of Tapo, etc. as well. Less things blocked by paywalls with Tapo. I think I'm converting all my cameras over.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

I have been moving over my Wyze camera to Tapo. I have been very happy with them.

[@bishtss1]

Very informative Video, Helps to buy one.👍👍👍👍

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Happy to help.

[@chakritw]

No added benefit (for me) to pay Wyze's subscription fee when you automatically get AI detection and smart home integration with the Tapo for free.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

That is the way I feel these days as well.

[@lcssay]

I bought the Tapo C120, the free person, vehicle, pet detect etc. is a big reason I will probably move everything over from Wyze. I hope they don’t do like Wyze and take it away after buying their cameras. It’s essentially bait and switch, I have the Wyze V3 in cam lite and the notification speed is a joke for Wyze compared to Tapo.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Thanks for the feedback. I think Tp Link has been around long enough that I don't seem them doing a bait and switch with person detection. Other companies like eufy have had free person detection from when I started testing them.

[@dougjones4538]

Excellent review!

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Thanks

[@HanyunGong]

Can you recommend a budget-friendly yet cost-effective floodlight camera ?

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Sorry to say I have not tested any floodlight cameras myself. Brand wise is order of price to features I would say: Wyze, Tapo, Eufy, in order of price. But Wyze will make you pay for the subscription to get person detection. The other two do not. www.youtube.com/@LifeHackster does a lot of camera reviews too and has may flood light cameras that he has done. Worth check out his videos.

[@woofinu]

I am not 100% sure, but I think the Tapo C120 can sound a loud siren and flash a light when it detects motion, but the Wyze cannot.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Wyze can but it is a litte more involved then just clicking a button. With Wyze you would have to set up a rule to have it trigger the alarm based on motion or person detection.

[@woofinu]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews Thank you. Does the Wyze has a built-in siren? A friend of mine uses a camera (I don't know what brand) for motion detection, but he needs an external, separate siren triggered by IFTTT when motion is detected. I was looking for an all-in-one camera and siren, and it looks like the C120 is it.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

@@woofinu The V3 Pro does. Honestly I would say go with the Tapo as you get more for the money without needing a subscription.

[@woofinu]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews Thanks. I was a big fan of Wyze products and the company and still have a lot of their devices, but my experience with them has gone downhill in the past. OTOH, TP-Link has been great with every product I have from then.

[@SamiDurm]

Wyze Cam OG, $20, better than Wyze Cam v3 pro $45

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

I am not sure about that but the OG is a cheaper option to both of these cameras.

[@jimd1617]

thank you

[@woofinu]

Thank you for a comprehensive comparison. Is the Tapo C120 similar in capability and features as the Tapo MagCam C420 (which you also reviewed), except that one is wired and the other wireless?

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

It is, but for me if you can go wired over battery powered. You will get better trigger notifications and recording as the powered camera uses pixle basesd motion tracking instead of a PIR sensor which is a heat based motion sensor.

[@woofinu]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews Thank you. You are one of the very few reviewers who know or care about differences between PIR and pixel-based sensors and how fast they are triggered, but that can cause us to miss or detect motion too late. 😀

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

@@woofinu Thank you, to try and get around that most cameras do support motion zones and sensitivity settings.

[@woofinu]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews it's not only what they do on paper, but how and how well, and some people overlook that.

[@LEOretired]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews Yes, that's right...go wired if you can for better performance

[@fume5671]

the wise cam v3 is prob the better option sice those still hold all the free stuff they took away that you need to pay for now..but im willling to try tapo if its better then wyze

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

The V3 is the last camera that will let original Wyze owners use the lite cam plus option. I feel that Tapo right now is the better buy.

[@tinwas_taken]

Tapo is the better buy. I’m literally about to switch from Wyze to Tapo because of their latest security breach.

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

@@tinwas_taken That was one of the reasons I started looking more outside my Wyze eco system.

[@rhsalce]

My Wyze "security system" a bunch of cameras and two floodlights front and rear of home have been completely down since Friday, Wyze customer service sucks and this has happened before, I am now looking into Tapo​@Wanderer001_Reviews

[@JimmyBamis]

$34.99 Amazon limited deal now

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

Thank you for sharing.

[@D0TELL]

Hi. I'm looking for a goof window cam. No subscription if possible. Any recommendations? Thank you

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

What do you need it to do other then record what is going on? Local storage, perseon detection ect?

[@D0TELL]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews local storage. Person detection motion alert

[@Wanderer001_Reviews]

@@D0TELL At this time Tapo cameras would be top of your list. The big thing to consider as well is to make sure the camera can turn off the IR lights because you are using it through a window.

[@D0TELL]

@@Wanderer001_Reviews Sound good. Thank you!