Tapo’s New Dual-Powered Smart Doorbell Uses AI and Records 24/7

Most video doorbells live in one of two awkward worlds: they’re either wired (reliable, but not always possible),
or battery-powered (easy, but sometimes they “wake up” like a teenager on a school daylate).
Tapo’s newer approach tries to dodge that whole mess with a dual-powered doorbell that can run on battery or
use existing doorbell wiringand, when hardwired, it can record 24/7.

The headline feature is simple: continuous recording without forcing a monthly subscription.
Under the hood, Tapo pairs that with on-device AI alerts, local microSD storage, color night vision, and a few
quality-of-life tricks that make daily use less annoying (which is the secret metric every smart home device should be graded on).

Meet the two-doorbell lineup: D225 vs. D210

Tapo launched two models that share the same “front door basics” but target different households:
the flagship Tapo D225 is the dual-powered model, while the Tapo D210 is the budget-friendly,
battery-only option. If you want 24/7 recording, the D225 is the one built for that job. If you just want dependable
alerts and solid video without wiring, the D210 keeps it simple.

Tapo D225: Dual-power, 24/7 recording (when hardwired)

• Dual-power: battery mode or hardwired mode
• 24/7 continuous recording: available in hardwired mode
• Pre-roll video: captures a few seconds before motion events
• 2K QHD video with a tall “head-to-toe” view
• AI detection included (no subscription required for core smart alerts)
• Local storage via microSD (up to 512GB supported)
• Color night vision using built-in spotlights

Tapo D210: Battery-only, lower cost, still smart

• Battery-powered: designed for wire-free installs
• 2K video with head-to-toe framing
• AI person detection included
• Local storage via microSD (up to 512GB supported)
• Color night vision with spotlight
• Trade-off: no 24/7 continuous recording

Why dual-power actually matters (beyond the marketing)

“Dual-powered” sounds like something you’d brag about in a superhero origin story, but for a doorbell it’s practical:
it gives you a fallback plan. In battery mode, you get a clean installeven in older homes, rentals, or places where
doorbell wiring is missing, dead, or held together by hope and drywall dust.

In hardwired mode, you unlock the main event: continuous power that supports 24/7 recording.
That’s the difference between “I got a clip of something happening” and “I can scroll back and see the whole timeline.”
If you’ve ever watched a motion clip that starts after the interesting part, you already know why this matters.

Battery mode: the “renters and wiring nightmares” solution

Battery installs are popular because they’re simple: mount it, connect it, and you’re done.
The trade-off is that battery cameras usually conserve power by recording short motion clips.
That’s fine for package drop-offs and door knocks, but it can be less satisfying for ongoing activity
(like someone lingering at the gate or a car creeping by slowly).

Hardwired mode: the “I want the whole movie” solution

Hardwiring is where the D225 separates itself. With continuous power, it can keep recording instead of constantly
going to sleep. It’s a big deal if your goal is full coverageespecially on busy streets, shared hallways,
or porches where “motion events” happen so often they become background noise.

What “records 24/7” really means (and when it doesn’t)

With the D225, 24/7 continuous recording is tied to hardwired power.
In battery mode, you’re primarily in event-recording territoryclips triggered by motion, plus live view when you open the app.
Tapo also adds a “pre-roll” style buffer so your event clips can include a few seconds before motion triggers.

This setup tackles a classic doorbell weakness: the “back-of-the-head problem.”
Many battery doorbells start recording just late enough that you catch someone walking away.
A continuously powered timeline (and/or smart pre-roll) increases the odds that your footage starts when reality starts,
not when the camera finally decides to wake up.

AI at the door: useful alerts without the monthly “gotcha”

AI detection is one of those features that sounds optional until you live without it.
Basic motion alerts can be chaotic: shadows, passing cars, tree branches, and your neighbor’s cat conducting nightly patrols.
Tapo’s approach is to offer smarter categoriesso you get fewer “something moved” notifications and more “this is a person”
notifications.

What the AI does well in real life

• People vs. “random motion”: fewer junk alerts from headlights and wind
• Packages (D225): helpful if deliveries are a daily event at your home
• Vehicles (D225): useful if your doorbell view includes a driveway or curbside area
• Activity zones: draw boundaries so you’re not alerted by the sidewalk 24/7

The D210 keeps AI simpler (focused on person detection), while the D225 aims higher with broader detection categories.
Either way, the big win is avoiding the common “subscribe to unlock intelligence” pattern that dominates the doorbell market.

Video quality and field of view: why “head-to-toe” isn’t a gimmick

Front-door footage is only as useful as what it captures. A wide, tall field of view matters because doorbells deal with
awkward angles: people stand close, packages sit low, and the action you care about is often at the bottom of the frame.
Tapo leans into a “head-to-toe” view so you can see faces and the delivery on the ground without playing camera yoga.

Add 2K resolution and you get clearer identifying detail than standard 1080p: text on a box label, the logo on a delivery vest,
or whether that “mysterious visitor” is actually your friend returning your ladder (miracles do happen).

Color night vision (with spotlights)

Infrared night vision is great for shapes. Color night vision is better for details that matterlike clothing colors,
car paint, or anything else you’d describe to someone who says, “What did you actually see?”
Built-in spotlights help the camera produce color images after dark, but they can also be a “hello, I’m recording you”
momentwhich is either a deterrent or an awkward porch spotlight, depending on your neighborhood vibe.

Storage: local microSD vs. optional cloud

One of the biggest long-term costs in doorbells isn’t the hardwareit’s the subscription.
Tapo’s models support local microSD storage (up to 512GB supported),
which means you can record without paying monthly just to keep clips.

Cloud storage is still available if you want itespecially useful if you worry about a stolen doorbell or want easier sharing.
Tapo’s cloud plan (Tapo Care) is positioned as optional: you can run local-only, cloud-only, or a mix.
If you choose cloud, you’re typically paying for longer history, richer notifications, and convenience rather than
unlocking basic functionality.

A quick reality check on 24/7 storage

Continuous recording is amazing, but it eats storage like a vacuum eats LEGO bricks: aggressively.
If you plan to use 24/7 recording, expect your retention window to depend on video settings, motion density, and compression.
The practical approach is to think in terms of “rolling history” (a few days to a couple weeks, depending on settings)
rather than “I will archive my porch forever like it’s the Library of Congress.”

Convenience features that quietly improve daily life

Ring Call: the doorbell that literally calls you

Push notifications are easy to missespecially when your phone decides that a meme is more urgent than a human at your door.
Tapo’s Ring Call feature is designed to make doorbell presses harder to ignore by sending an incoming call-style alert to your phone.
It’s a small idea with big impact if you regularly miss deliveries or visitors.

Quick responses + two-way talk

Two-way talk is table stakes now, but quick responses are underrated. If you’re in a meeting, cooking, or pretending not to be home,
tapping a preset response (“Leave it at the door, thanks!”) is faster than fumbling with live audio.
It’s also a little less stressful than yelling through a door like you’re in a low-budget spy movie.

Installation and setup tips (so it doesn’t become a weekend saga)

1. Decide your power plan first: battery-only is simplest; hardwired unlocks 24/7 recording on the D225.
2. Plan your viewing angle: use the included wedge (if needed) so you see the porch floor and visitor faces.
3. Add a microSD card early: if you want local recording, install storage before you start tuning alerts.
4. Create activity zones: cut out sidewalks and roads so you’re not notified 300 times a day.
5. Turn on security basics: strong password, app updates, and (if available) two-factor authentication.

Privacy and security: smart doorbells are tiny computers with a camera

Doorbells capture sensitive footagefaces, routines, package deliveries, and sometimes conversations.
That makes privacy and account security non-negotiable.
Treat setup like you’re locking a digital front door, not just mounting a gadget.

• Use a strong, unique password (no repeats from other accounts).
• Keep firmware and the app updated so security patches actually reach your device.
• Secure your Wi-Fi with modern encryption and a strong router password.
• Consider a separate network (guest network or VLAN) for smart home devices if your router supports it.
• Be thoughtful about placement so you’re not recording neighbors’ windows or private areas unnecessarily.

Who should buy which model?

Pick the Tapo D225 if…

• You want 24/7 continuous recording and can hardwire the doorbell.
• You care about package/vehicle alerts and a richer smart-detection set.
• You want a doorbell that can keep working even if power is briefly interrupted (battery backup behavior).
• You like the idea of local storage without subscriptions, plus optional cloud if you want it.

Pick the Tapo D210 if…

• You want a simpler, battery-only install and don’t need a continuous timeline.
• You mainly want person alerts, two-way talk, and local recording without ongoing fees.
• You’re value-focused but still want sharp 2K video and better-than-basic night performance.

Bottom line

Tapo’s dual-powered approach is compelling because it solves real-world doorbell pain points instead of inventing new ones.
The D225’s hardwired 24/7 recording and pre-roll help capture the moments motion clips often miss, while local microSD storage
keeps ongoing costs under control. Add AI alerts that don’t require a subscription, and you get a feature set that usually
lives behind paywalls.

The D210 is the straightforward alternative: cheaper, battery-only, and still packed with the essentials.
If you’re choosing between them, the decision is mostly about whether you want a full timeline (D225) or
smart event recording at a lower price (D210).

Real-World Experiences: What Living With a 24/7 AI Doorbell Feels Like (Extended)

Let’s talk about the part that spec sheets never capture: the day-to-day reality of a doorbell that’s always watching,
always ready, and just smart enough to be helpful without acting like it deserves a salary.
In practical use, the biggest difference between “event-only” doorbells and a hardwired, always-on model is your stress level.
With motion clips, you end up doing detective workpiecing together what happened from short bursts of video.
With a continuous timeline, you scroll back like you’re rewinding a DVR, and the story is… just there.

Imagine a typical delivery day. The courier walks up, sets a box down, snaps a photo, and leaves.
On a clip-based doorbell, you might catch the tail end: a shoulder exiting frame, the package already on the ground,
and your brain filling in the missing two seconds like it’s writing fan fiction.
With a continuous record (or a strong pre-roll buffer), you’re more likely to see the approach, the placement,
and the moment the box actually hits the porch. That helps when you’re dealing with “missing package” confusion
whether it’s a misdelivery, a neighbor trying to be helpful, or the package simply being moved out of rain range.

AI alerts also feel different once you rely on them. Instead of your phone buzzing for every shadow and passing car,
you start seeing notifications that match real events: “person at the door” during the day, or “vehicle detected”
when a car turns into your driveway late at night. The best part isn’t that the AI is magicalit’s that it’s selective.
Your attention is expensive. A good doorbell spends it carefully.

Then there’s the “unexpected visitor” scenario: a neighbor stopping by, a friend you forgot you invited,
or the classic “someone at the door when you’re in the middle of something messy.”
The call-style alert feature (Ring Call) changes how often you actually respond in time.
Push notifications are easy to miss; a call-style ring feels urgent in a way your brain can’t ignore.
It’s the difference between “I’ll check that later” and “Oh, that’s happening now.”
Pair that with quick responses and you can handle the moment even when live talk isn’t convenient.

Night use is where you learn whether you like spotlights. Color night vision can be genuinely usefulclothing color,
car color, and clearer facial detail are all easier to interpret than grayscale silhouettes.
But a spotlight is also a social signal. Some people love it because it discourages lurking.
Others prefer a stealthier porch and rely on infrared. In reality, it’s a “choose your neighborhood strategy” feature:
deterrence in some areas, discretion in others.

Finally, there’s the ongoing, surprisingly satisfying benefit of local storage: you stop thinking about subscriptions.
You stop doing the mental math of “Do I really want to pay monthly just to keep my own footage?”
When you can record locally and add cloud only if you truly want it, the doorbell feels like something you own,
not something you rent from your own front porch. And thatquietlyis one of the biggest upgrades a smart doorbell can deliver.