A smart doorbell is simply part of a serious smart home setup. The market has many different models to offer. If you attach great importance to high image quality and smart AI features, there is usually no way around a model with an active power connection. Unless you opt for TP-Link. With the Tapo D230S1 (review), the popular smart home expert undoubtedly has one of the best battery-powered video doorbells on offer. In the TP-Link Tapo D235 test, we took a closer look at the manufacturer’s latest model.
Technical data
| Camera | – 2K 5MP (2560 × 1920px) – 1/2.7″ progressive scan CMOS sensor – Black and white night vision (IR sensor) – Night vision in color (bell button as light source) – 15/20 frames per second – 16x digital zoom |
| Field of view | – Horizontal: 170.6° – Vertical: 140.1° |
| Two-way audio | Yes |
| Siren | Yes, up to 98 dB |
| Video memory | – MicroSD (max. 512 GB) – tapo care (cloud service from 2.99 euros) |
| Motion detection | – Motion detection – Person detection – Animal detection – Vehicle detection – Parcel detection |
| Rechargeable battery | – 10,000 mAh – Runtime up to 210 days |
| Power supply | Battery or active power connection |
| Smart home connections | – Amazon Alexa – Google Assistant – ONVIF |
| Weather resistance | – IP66 standard – Operating temperature: -20°C to 45°C |
| Price | Price not available * |
Scope of delivery
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: design and workmanship
The appearance of a video doorbell should definitely play a role when making a purchase. After all, every visitor will inevitably see the technical device. And the TP-Link Tapo D235 certainly knows how to please in this discipline. In terms of color scheme, it clearly resembles the D230S1 with its combination of black and white.
Apart from this, however, there are clear differences in terms of appearance, which mainly affect the layout. For example, the bell button is no longer at the bottom of the device. Instead, it is located in the middle of the doorbell. The shape of the button is also no longer reminiscent of a light switch, but is now also round, as with almost all other video doorbells.
The illuminated bell symbol in the center of the button ensures that it can be found quickly even in the dark. At the same time, the button illumination now replaces the separate LED on the D230S1. A brightness sensor is located directly above the bell button. The camera unit is located in the upper area. As the lens is similar in size to the bell push, this results in a harmonious overall appearance.
The microphone, which is used for the intercom function, is located on the left above the camera. To find out what is under the cover in the lower third of the video doorbell, I first had to take a look at the Quick Start Guide. This is where the motion detection technology is located, which is supposed to be able to detect people, animals, vehicles and even parcels.
But more on that later. On the underside of the doorbell is the counterpart to the microphone – the loudspeaker. If you turn the D235 over, it becomes much more technical. There are a total of three buttons here: Sync/Reset, Anti-Theft and On/Off. The microSD slot can also be found here – a first encouraging indication of the possibility of local storage of video recordings.
You can charge the video doorbell’s battery via the USB-C port. The two screws in the lower area, on the other hand, enable hard-wired installation. The build quality of the video doorbell is excellent. There is nothing to complain about here. It doesn’t crack or creak at any point and the bell button also scores with a great pressure point.
Weather protection to IP66 standard also protects the doorbell from the damaging ingress of water and dirt. This makes it ideal for outdoor use. Only the matt black surface showed a small flaw after just a few days of use. It attracted fingerprints almost magically.
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: Installation
Installing the video doorbell is child’s play. However, before you get started, you should first put it into operation. To do this, simply download the Tapo app. Here you add the doorbell as a new device. Then pair the Chime included in the scope of delivery with the doorbell. The whole process is lightning fast, as the app has a clear and self-explanatory setup.
Once you have added the D235 as a new gadget, you can mount it in the desired location. There are a few things to bear in mind here. First of all, ask yourself whether you want to use the doorbell in battery mode or prefer hardwiring. This model offers you both options. Installation in battery mode is much easier and more flexible. After all, you can then install the doorbell wherever you want.
The only requirement is sufficiently strong coverage of your WLAN signal. For battery operation, all you need to do is attach the bracket and, if required, one of the washers provided to the wall of the house. For particularly flat surfaces, such as walls indoors, TP-Link includes a practical adhesive surface.
However, if you want to mount the doorbell on a conventional exterior wall and/or a fairly coarse-pored wall, you should use a drill. The appropriate screws and wall plugs are included in the scope of delivery. However, before you install the doorbell for the first time, you should first fully charge the battery. A full charge takes around seven hours. However, as the battery usually comes with some remaining capacity, this is usually quicker.
When installing with hardwiring, you must also connect the doorbell to a lamp connection or bell wire. Anyone who has already installed a lamp should have no problems with this. However, if you are not confident about this, it is better to get professional help from friends or an electrician. In the case of hardwiring, you benefit from pre-roll recordings. In this case, the doorbell records videos just a few seconds before the doorbell rings or motion is detected.
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: Setting options in the app
As part of my test reports, I have already had the pleasure of using the Tapo app several times. So it came as no surprise to me that the smart home application is of course also impressive with the D235. I particularly like the clear structure. Newcomers to the smart home sector will quickly feel at home thanks to the intuitive arrangement of the various setting options.
On the start page, you can see the live view of the camera. Below this, you can access shortcuts quickly and easily. For example, you can take a photo or record a video. You can also start the two-way audio here, which you can use to communicate with your visitor. The performance of the microphone and loudspeaker is quite good. For example, you can ask the parcel carrier to simply leave the parcel in the garden when you are out and about.
You can then really let off steam in the options section. While some things here are simply a matter of taste, you shouldn’t ignore the issue of data protection. Before the video doorbell is permanently in use, you should therefore define public road traffic and neighboring properties – if visible – as blind areas for the camera. This way, you can use the D235 in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations.
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: Camera quality
For many users, a video doorbell is much more than just a doorbell. Quite a few also use the smart home gadget as a surveillance camera. However, the whole thing is only really useful if the camera quality is right. The Tapo D235 seems to have the best prerequisites here, at least on paper. It offers a 2K 5MP resolution (2,560 x 1,920 pixels).
This results in pleasingly sharp images. However, it is not just the sharpness of the image that is right here, but the quality as a whole. This means that the camera conjures up vivid colors on your smartphone display. To be honest, anything else would have surprised me. After all, the D230S1 already scored with really great image quality. Moving images are available at either 15 or 20 frames per second.
Apart from this, there is a 16x digital zoom and color night vision that conjures up solid results. The LED ring around the bell button serves as the light source. Unfortunately, this is quite weak, which is why the color images suffer from image noise and are a little blurred. Alternatively, you can use the IR sensor, which enables night vision in black and white. Again, the results are wonderfully sharp. When we talk about the camera, the field of view should not be left out.
With an impressive 180° viewing angle, you can keep a large area in front of your front door in view. The vertical field of view of 140° ensures that you can even watch your doormat. This is practical for all those who like to leave their ordered parcels on the doormat. You can adjust the field of vision using the chocks included in the scope of delivery. The bell can be tilted 5° downwards or 15° to the left or right.
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: Motion detection with AI features
The technology required for motion detection is located under the cover in the lower third of the video doorbell. However, the technical possibilities of the Tapo D235 are far removed from a classic motion detector. Instead, TP-Link combines the hardware in the doorbell with smart AI features.
An algorithm can distinguish between different types and causes of movement. In addition to people, the doorbell also detects animals, vehicles and parcels. So you don’t just receive a push notification on your smartphone that motion has been detected. Instead, the doorbell distinguishes between motion triggers and also gives you filter options.
In the app settings for motion detection, you can select which type of motion detection should be activated. Once you have made your selection, you will only receive selected motion detections as push notifications. In addition to the filter options, you can also specify the sensitivity and the area to be analyzed.
In practice, motion detection worked really well in most cases. The doorbell was able to reliably distinguish between me and my dog. When I drove my car into the driveway, the D235 also recognized the cause of movement as a “vehicle”. The parcel detection is particularly cool.
If you are on the road and expecting a delivery, you will then receive the corresponding push message on your smartphone and know that the package has arrived. A big advantage over some competitors is the fact that the AI features are completely free of charge.
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: Video memory and intercom function
Speaking of free of charge. The video memory of the Tapo D235 does not require a paid subscription. Instead, you can also use a microSD of up to 512 GB to store your recordings. The corresponding slot is located directly on the doorbell, which is a big advantage over the Tapo D230S1. Here you needed a suitable hub from Tapo to be able to use local storage. If you prefer to use the Tapo cloud, you can of course do without local storage.
However, this is also associated with monthly costs. The cloud called tapo care can be tried out free of charge for 30 days. After that, the service costs at least €2.99 per month in the basic model. One feature that the Tapo D235 always offers free of charge is two-way audio. If you have a visitor, you can communicate with the person on your doorstep conveniently via your smartphone.
In practice, both the microphone and loudspeaker of the video doorbell scored with a solid performance. You don’t have to speak yourself if it’s not convenient for you. With a quick tap in the app, you can send quick responses in which the video doorbell answers for you. The loudspeaker is also used with the alarm system, which is up to 98 dB loud. The siren makes noise when the theft alarm sounds, for example.
TP-Link Tapo D235 test: voice assistant and battery
For even more convenience, the Tapo D235 can also be controlled without a smartphone. Instead, you can use your voice and get a voice assistant to support you. You can choose between Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant. For example, you can display the current live image on a smart screen. Unfortunately, Apple Home and Samsung Smartthings are left out. What I really like, however, is the compatibility with ONVIF.
The battery life of the D235 is a real selling point of the smart video doorbell. After all, this model is extremely durable. The D230S1 already scored highly with a battery life of just under half a year. The latest doorbell tops this once again. According to Tp-Link, the built-in 10,000 mAh battery can last up to 210 days with average use. A real downer for me, however, is the fact that the battery cannot be easily removed. I liked the replaceable battery design of the Tapo D230S1 much better.
- Looking for a suitable video doorbell? You can find our best list here
Conclusion
With the Tapo D235, TP-Link has created a really good video doorbell that impresses at first glance with its modern, understated design and high build quality. On top of that, it offers great image quality paired with a wide field of view. The smart AI motion detection functioned reliably in most cases and is also free of charge. Thanks to the microSD slot, which offers space for up to 512 GB of memory, video storage is also free of charge.
All in all, TP-Link has succeeded in launching a worthy successor to the D230S1. However, there are a few small things that spoil the otherwise positive overall picture. For example, I find it annoying that the battery is very difficult to remove. The D230S1 is also clearly ahead in terms of color night vision thanks to its separate and more powerful LED. I would also have liked a little more freedom when connecting to other smart home systems.
TP-Link Tapo D235
Design and workmanship
Hardware
Ease of use
Camera
Value for money
92/100
The TP-Link Tapo D235 is a really good video doorbell that scores above all with its good image quality (exception: night vision in color) and long battery life.
