Tapo ColorPro outdoor camera drops to $49.99 with 2K video and PoE option

TP-Link's Tapo ColorPro Wi-Fi Outdoor Camera, model C325WB, is listed at $49.99 on Amazon, according to deal sites Slickdeals and TechBargains. One listing describes the price as $50 with free shipping and handling. The offer is a sale price on a product that the retailer lists as available now.

The camera records 2K QHD video with HDR, and it is built for outdoor use. It can run on Power over Ethernet (PoE) with a single cable for power and data, or on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for installs without cables. The PoE switch, injector and Ethernet cable are not included in the listing.

The camera uses a colour night vision mode that the maker calls ColorPro. The listing says it captures colour in low light without spotlights or floodlights, which the maker presents as a way to avoid light pollution and save energy. It also has a built-in siren, a light alarm and two-way audio with a push-to-talk microphone. Users can record their own audio alarms.

An on-board AI detects people, pets and vehicles, and the maker says this helps cut false alerts from moving leaves. The camera can save footage to a microSD card of up to 512 GB, which is sold separately. Cloud storage is available through the Tapo Care subscription, which the listing says gives 30 days of video history. Tapo Care's price is not given in the sources.

The camera works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Video can be shown on an Echo Show or on a larger TV through Google Chromecast. The listing notes that Google streaming works only on Chromecast and Nest devices.

The listing gives a 127-degree field of view. The product page also gives the cable length as 9.8 ft in one place and 3 metres in another. The sources do not say which is correct for the final unit, so readers should check the spec before they buy.

The sources do not agree on the exact price. Slickdeals reports $49.99 with free shipping and handling, and TechBargains gives $49.99 without mentioning shipping. The sources do not say how long the deal will last or whether it is limited to certain regions or sellers.

The product page also lists other Tapo cameras, including outdoor wired, battery and 4K models, with lower and higher prices. These are not part of this deal and are not confirmed as on sale in the sources, except that some are shown with early Black Friday discounts in euros on the Amazon page.

The sources do not state the release date of the C325WB or the regional availability of the deal. Some product claims, such as the night vision range and the detection accuracy, come from the maker and have not been tested by the sources.