Tenda CH9 Review: Wired Wi-Fi Security Camera with Two Outdoor Cameras

High-resolution, durable, and relatively affordable—that’s how the Tende CH9 performed in our test. This security camera features a dual-camera setup with night vision capabilities, a variety of practical additional features, and local data backup. We’ll break down the camera’s strengths and weaknesses and explain when it’s worth buying.

An Overview of What’s Included with the Tenda CH9

The package contents for this security camera are quite compact, but ultimately include everything needed for smooth setup and operation. In addition to the camera itself, the package includes a power cable, a brief user manual, and an optional waterproof cover.

In addition, four wall anchors and screws are included, which are needed for mounting on walls or ceilings. This is combined with a simple, self-adhesive template used when drilling the holes for the wall anchors.

However, a microSD card is not included. So if you want to back up photos and videos locally, you’ll need to purchase a microSD card yourself. The device does support cards with up to 512 GB of storage, though. In addition, Tenda offers the option to test the cloud feature for up to 90 days for free before a subscription is required. Depending on the scope and desired features, the subscription costs between €4.99 and €99.99.

Installation & Setup of the Tenda CH9

Mounting the camera is quick and easy if you have the right tools. All you need to do is drill the holes for the anchors and screws at the desired location, which is really simple thanks to the template included in the package. Simply stick the template in place, and drilling the holes takes just a few seconds.

Once mounted, all that’s left is to run the power cable. The three-meter cable is a bit too short for our liking; during testing, we had to connect the Tenda CH9 using an extension cord. If you don’t want to connect the camera via Wi-Fi, you can also use an Ethernet cable.

One positive feature is that the package includes an additional rain cover. This provides extra protection against potential rain for the ports of the two cable outputs—one for power and one for Ethernet. The slot for the (optional) microSD card is also protected from the elements.

Finally, the free TDSEE app should be installed on a smartphone or tablet to complete the setup. Using the app, you can then position the two cameras as desired and enable or disable all features. The entire setup process—including drilling the anchor holes and configuring all app settings—takes about 15 minutes.

Technical Specifications

Product	Tenda CH9
Resolution	2x 2K (3 megapixels each)
Audio	Two-way
Micro-SD card capacity	up to 512 GB
AI detection	People, vehicles, animals, leaves
Visibility Range	up to 30 meters
IP certification	IP65
Material	Polycarbonate (PC)
Internet connection	Wi-Fi, Ethernet cable
Night vision	Yes
Number of night vision IR LEDs	6
Price (MSRP)	$56.99*

Tenda CH9 Review: Features & Functions

In our test, all of the Tenda CH9’s features and control options could be set and adjusted via the app. One positive aspect is that there are a wide variety of features and customization options available. This starts with the positioning of the movable camera, which can be adjusted both manually and automatically. But the security camera offers so many more features.

Two Cameras in One Device

A clear advantage of this model is that it features two cameras built into a single device. This makes it possible not only to cover a large area but also to monitor two different fields of view at the same time. This is particularly useful if, for example, you want to cover the left and right sides of your front door or both sides of a hallway with a security camera.

Customize motion detection

Some of the most important features can be found here. Users can set exactly when an alarm should be triggered and what the system should ignore. Thanks to intelligent detection, vehicles, animals, and even leaves can be filtered out. However, if you prefer, you can also receive an alert as soon as, for example, the mail carrier stops or a cat enters the camera’s field of view.

Another really handy feature is “line-crossing detection.” Behind this long term lies the ability to select a specific area within the camera’s field of view. The alarm is triggered only when motion is detected within that area.

Alarm Customization Options

The way alarms are triggered can also be customized. By default, users receive a push notification on their mobile device. However, there’s also the option to play an alarm sound as soon as motion is detected—as a sort of warning to any intruders.

Here, you can choose from five different options: In addition to a classic siren and a “Welcome” message, the app also plays warning messages. Users can also upload custom sounds to the app and have them played.

Optimizing Camera Recording and Playback

Another important section covers the audio and video settings. Here, you can adjust the volume of the speakers as well as that of the camera’s built-in microphone. Anyone who wants to speak with a package delivery person—for example, when using a camera built directly into the doorbell—will appreciate this feature—even if the playback quality can sometimes sound a bit tinny.

You should also take some time to adjust the brightness and contrast to achieve the best possible image quality. If you wish, you can also downscale the resolution from 2K to 1,080 pixels or even 720 pixels. This significantly reduces the amount of storage space required.

Who Is the Tenda CH9 Best Suited For?

In our review, the Tenda CH9 is generally aimed at users looking for an affordable outdoor security camera, as its IP65 certification means even direct rain is no problem. Thanks to modern AI features that assist with motion detection, this model actually triggers only when the user-defined movements and patterns are detected. This makes it suitable for use at the front door as well as in the garden or yard.

However, you’ll have to make some compromises when it comes to recording quality, as both cameras only offer 3 MP and a 2K resolution. With more expensive models and the best security cameras available today, 4K resolution is already the standard. It’s also important to note that a constant power connection is required, as there is no built-in battery or even the option to charge via a solar panel.

However, if you already own a Tenda camera, you can seamlessly integrate the DE CH9 into your home system. The app displays all cameras simultaneously, and each camera can be selected individually and calibrated to your preferences.

Tenda CH9 in a Hands-On Test

In our hands-on test of the Tenda CH9, the camera first impressed us with its intuitive design, a feature-rich app, and good 2K recording quality. Even at night, there are no major drawbacks to speak of—with the exception of the six built-in IR LEDs, which emit a rather strong red glow in the dark. As a result, this model is only suitable to a limited extent for use directly in or near a child’s room or bedroom.

The motion detection itself triggers absolutely satisfactorily, and the camera’s ability to detect animals also worked flawlessly in our test. However, the motorized camera is supposed to be able to track people once they’ve been detected. In our test, this only worked when the person was walking relatively slowly.

Communication via the microphone and speaker also worked perfectly. No matter where I was in the house, I was able to communicate with visitors or delivery people at any time. I’d also highly recommend that everyone take some time to explore the app to really get the most out of the security camera’s features.

Tenda CH9 Review: Our Conclusion

All in all, we’re particularly impressed by the value for the price. The security camera not only offers AI-powered recognition but also stands out with a wide range of helpful and practical settings.

Admittedly, there are a few drawbacks, particularly regarding the 2K resolution (cameras like the Arlo Ultra 3 are already ahead in this regard) or the somewhat tinny sound quality from the built-in speaker. But anyone who can live with these minor compromises will be absolutely satisfied with the Tenda CH9.