Although it has a few small glitches, the TP-Link Tapo C615F Kit stands out as an affordable, battery-operated floodlight camera that performs exceptionally well across key areas.
The 'Kit' designation for the TP-Link Tapo C615F highlights the bundled solar panel, which accompanies this versatile security camera and floodlight system to maintain its battery without any electrical outlet connection, allowing flexible placement options around the property.
This power source supports both the motorized pan-and-tilt camera mechanism and the integrated floodlight, providing comprehensive wireless monitoring for outdoor spaces. Priced at a suggested retail of $100 and currently available for around $85, it offers remarkable affordability.
The device includes numerous elements worth examining closely, so a detailed breakdown follows.
At its core is an IP65 weatherproof camera that captures footage in 2304 x 1296 resolution at 15 or 20 frames per second, featuring a 100-degree diagonal field of view. This limited angle is offset by the attachment to a motor enabling 338 degrees of horizontal panning and 97 degrees of vertical tilting. Installation is limited to walls, ceilings, or eaves, with no support for tabletop use or image inversion.
Whether in daylight or darkness, the 2K video delivers solid clarity; details like facial recognition remain visible from distances exceeding 30 feet.
A robust 10,400mAh battery energizes the camera and its accompanying floodlight, rechargeable through a USB-C cable or the provided solar panel. It incorporates dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), bidirectional audio, and a 97dB alarm. Integration works with Alexa and Google Home, though the official site omits any reference to Matter compatibility, which only recently extended to cameras as of late 2025.
Positioned atop the camera, the Tapo C615F Kit's LED floodlight produces a maximum of 800 lumens, a respectable output given the solar dependency for both components.
Footage storage options include a user-provided microSD card supporting up to 512GB or the Tapo Care cloud service, which retains up to 30 days of event clips. The subscription enhances functionality, such as detailed push alerts with image previews upon motion detection. Costs begin at $3.49 per month or $35 annually for a single device, scaling to $11.99 monthly or $120 yearly for as many as 10 units, though many owners may operate without one.
One adjustable floodlight panel is fixed above the pan-tilt unit, capable of 800 lumens in cool 4000 Kelvin white light. Its direction can be set separately from the camera but requires manual repositioning, as it lacks motor linkage.
Included in the Tapo C615F Kit, the solar panel mounts either directly over the floodlight or in a sunnier spot via the supplied USB-C extension cable.
In contrast to wired alternatives like the favored Eufy Floodlight Camera E340, which features multiple adjustable lights totaling 2,000 lumens, this Tapo unit provides a single panel. However, it also includes four LED spotlights adjacent to the lens that move with the camera's pan and tilt. While TP-Link does not specify their lumen output, they effectively light areas for nighttime color footage.
Completing the setup, the 6.82 x 4.74 x 0.61-inch (173.42 x 120.42 x 15.7mm) 2.5-watt solar panel attaches to an adjustable arm. It can affix to the floodlight housing or relocate for optimal sunlight using the extension cable, and in the direct-mount setup, the entire unit supports pole installation.
The accompanying app provides extensive customization options.
A large-format setup manual covers initial assembly steps, which prove useful since the components' interconnections might not be intuitive right out of the box.
The solar panel connects via a brief USB-C cable ending in a rubber-sealed plug for waterproofing when inserted into the camera or extension. Yet the seal's thickness complicates full insertion and verification, requiring sunlight exposure and app checks to confirm charging. Rainy initial setup amplified these challenges.
Previous critiques of the Tapo app's pairing process persist: Users navigate a lengthy list of similar model names to select the correct one, demanding extra effort if the exact designation is overlooked. An improvement here would be welcome.
Beyond that, the integration proceeded smoothly, followed by a quick firmware upgrade to enable full operation.
The Tapo C615F renders sharp 2K video.
Through the app, the camera unlocks various capabilities. The main interface displays quick-action buttons for manual recording, two-way communication, siren activation, spotlight engagement, and pan-tilt adjustments. Owners can define up to four preset positions for rapid access to key zones, plus a basic patrol function to oscillate the view horizontally or vertically.
Advanced configurations allow motion-triggered object following and selection for detecting humans, animals, cars, or general activity, with the camera able to pursue detected subjects—a core PTZ benefit. Continuous recording activates periodic snapshots alongside motion videos, resembling enhanced timelapse that bridges event gaps and functions adequately.
App controls permit direct joystick-style pan-tilt operation or automated waypoint patrols.
Floodlight intensity and activation duration—whether from motion or manual triggers—are tunable. Night vision includes color mode with spotlights or infrared, both yielding impressive results aided by the lighting sources.
In varied conditions, the 2K footage maintains high quality, identifying faces over 30 feet in adequate light with minimal warping from the focused lens. Recordings cap at two minutes (adjustable), with no mandatory delays between triggers. Retrieval from cloud or my inserted microSD was swift and reliable, free of gaps or errors. A handy summarization tool compiles daily highlights into a concise montage video.
While the 800-lumen floodlight falls short of peak intensity, its independence from household wiring justifies the compromise.
App glitches surfaced occasionally, including inconsistent person and pet recognition with erroneous alerts during idle periods. Motion detection felt underwhelming even maximized. Privacy mode, intended to halt video feed remotely, locked on once enabled due to an app fault, necessitating a manual fix for reactivation.
Despite its modest capacity, the solar panel reliably sustained the battery through prolonged cloudy and wet weather, including round-the-clock recording. With decent solar exposure, indefinite operation appears feasible under normal loads.
At $100 retail and $85 on sale, the C615F Kit delivers outstanding worth, especially sans mandatory fees. Imperfections exist but do not overshadow its strengths.
Future software refinements should address lingering app shortcomings.
Christopher Null, an acclaimed tech writer with over 25 years in the field, has evaluated countless consumer and enterprise gadgets. He once led PC Computing as Executive Editor and launched Mobile magazine, the pioneering print outlet for mobile innovations. For TechHive, he assesses diverse smart home devices, while contributing regularly to Wired, This Old House, and AAA's Via Magazine.