This $70 solar 2K security camera survives 300 days without sun | usagoldmines.com

The Tapo MagCam 2K+ (also known as the Tapo C425) is a standout security camera for three big reasons: it’s wire-free with solar-powered battery, it has a magnetic mount for easy installation, and it supports local storage so you don’t have to pay a subscription fee. Today, it’s 30% off at Amazon, bringing its price down to just $69.99.

Its solar-powered battery is the best thing about it. The panel is separate from the camera, so you can mount the camera wherever you need to capture exactly the right footage, and you can mount the solar panel up to 13 feet away so that it gets optimal sun exposure. On days when you have no sun, you don’t have to worry—the battery lasts up to 300 days on a full charge. That’s almost a year without sun.

The Tapo MagCam 2K+ captures video in high-def 1440p resolution with a wide 150-degree field of view. It has smart detection zones that’ll send you notifications when it spots people, pets, cars, or all three. You can slip in a microSD card of up to 512GB (not included) for local recording, or you can pay $3.49/month for Tapo Care for cloud storage.

A few downsides worth noting. First, it doesn’t do continuous recording. In order to get 300 days of battery life, the MagCam 2K+ goes to “sleep” and only wakes up to record when it detects motion. Second, the smart features do require an internet connection and you must grant permission to Tapo for cloud processing of your footage. Third, it’s compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant but not Apple HomeKit, and there’s no way to view live feeds on PC.

Those downsides aren’t insignificant, but if you don’t mind them, then the Tapo MagCam 2K+ is a solid outdoor solar-powered security camera for the price now that it’s on sale for $69.99.