---
title: "Tapo TD21 review"
description: "Tapo TD21 review: a 2K battery video doorbell with an indoor chime, microSD recording and colour night vision. Specs, owner reports and who it suits."
canonical: https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/tapo-td21/
language: en-GB
updated: 2026-11-04
score: 7.8
---

# Tapo TD21 review

> **Our verdict:** The Tapo TD21 ranks 7th of the 10 video doorbells we compare, with 7.8 out of 10. It takes our Best Budget badge.

No. 7 of 10 in our [video doorbells ranking](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/) · Updated November 2026 · [How we rank](https://vettedten.com/how-we-rank/)

**7.8 out of 10** · Best Budget

The Tapo TD21 is a battery-powered 2K video doorbell that comes with an indoor chime and records to a microSD card. It suits renters and anyone with no doorbell wiring who wants to avoid a monthly fee.

Why it's here:

- A budget price with an indoor chime included
- 2K video with colour night vision
- Records to a microSD card, with no subscription needed for the basics
- Battery-powered, so it fits renters with no existing wiring

Keep in mind:

- Narrower view than the D235, so parcels at the foot of the door are easy to miss
- Battery life depends heavily on how busy your doorstep is
- Battery only, with no option for continuous recording
- The microSD card is not included

[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DGLVB89G)

## Why the Tapo TD21 scores 7.8

- How happy owners are: 7th of 10
- How many rated it: 7th of 10
- How new it is: 6th of 10

### Why it sits behind the EZVIZ EP3x Pro

The EZVIZ EP3x Pro (7.9) beats the Tapo TD21 (7.8) because it leaves owners a little happier.

## About the Tapo TD21

The TD21 is a wireless doorbell with a built-in 6400mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is not removable. You charge it through a USB-C port on the bottom panel. Tapo says it gives up to six months on a single charge, and says real life depends on settings, usage and Wi-Fi conditions.

Video is 2K with a 160° diagonal view (135° horizontal, 109° vertical). Night vision uses an infrared LED with a stated range of 7.6 m and switches to full colour with the built-in spotlights. It has two-way audio with noise cancellation, AI person and vehicle detection, and activity zones. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and connects on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.

Footage goes to a microSD card of up to 512GB, which you buy separately. You fit it behind a cover held by a bottom screw, then set it up in the Tapo app. Tapo Care is the optional paid cloud plan, and snapshots in notifications need it. The chime is included but is not compatible with other brands' chimes. A separate Tapo A201 solar panel is sold as an extra.

In the box: the doorbell, the chime, a mounting bracket, a horizontal mounting wedge, a template, 3M adhesive, a foam pad, screws and anchors, a detaching pin, a USB cable and a quick start guide. You can stick it to a wall or screw it on, and Tapo says to mount it no higher than 2 m.

### Key specs

- Video: 2K, 1/3 inch sensor, 10x digital zoom
- Field of view: 160° diagonal, 135° horizontal, 109° vertical
- Night vision: Full colour, infrared LED range 7.6 m, built-in spotlights
- Battery: 6400mAh rechargeable, non-removable, USB-C charging, up to 6 months claimed
- Storage: microSD up to 512GB (not included), or optional Tapo Care cloud
- Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz
- Weatherproofing: Dust-tight and protected against water jets (IP65)
- Doorbell size: 150 x 50 x 38.4 mm
- Chime size: 73 x 62.3 x 43.5 mm, included
- Smart home: Alexa and Google Assistant

## What owners report about the Tapo TD21

Owner feedback specific to the TD21 is thin, and what we found comes mostly from TP-Link's community forum, where people tend to post problems. Treat it as a list of things that can go wrong, not a verdict.

The most repeated complaint is the battery reading. Several owners say the app shows the doorbell as out of charge or offline even after recharging and resetting, while the chime, alerts and SD recording carry on working. One recovered footage through the app's playback section. Replies in the thread offered a beta app and then a pointer to TP-Link support, with no confirmed fix. Another owner says the app froze on a low-battery screen after the doorbell seemed dead for months.

Another owner set one up for a relative and found the live view worked but pressing the button produced no chime and no notification. The forum reply pointed them to the doorbell and notification settings in the app. Owners with a doorbell that fits the Tapo app well have little reason to post, so the silence on video quality and day-to-day use tells you little either way.

## Who the Tapo TD21 suits

The TD21 fits renters and anyone with no existing doorbell wiring who wants a chime in the box and local recording on a card. It is also the cheapest option in the guide for that set of features. Budget for a microSD card, since none is supplied.

Look elsewhere if you want to see parcels left at the foot of the door: the eufy Video Doorbell E340 has a second lens aimed at the doorstep, and the Tapo D235 has a wider view. If you want no card to buy, the EZVIZ EP3x Pro has built-in storage. Homes with a bell transformer could use the Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi, which is wired and so has no battery to recharge.

## Questions about the Tapo TD21

### How do I reset the Tapo TD21 doorbell?

Press and hold the SYNC/RESET button for 5 seconds. You can also open the doorbell's Settings page in the Tapo app and tap Remove Device.

### How long does the Tapo TD21 battery last?

Tapo says up to six months on a single charge, but that depends on settings, usage, Wi-Fi conditions and how busy your doorstep is. A busy front door will need charging more often. You charge it over USB-C and the battery cannot be removed.

### What are the specifications of the Tapo TD21 camera?

It has 2K video, a 160° diagonal view, full-colour night vision with a 7.6 m infrared range, a 6400mAh battery, an IP65 rating and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. It takes microSD cards up to 512GB and comes with an indoor chime.

### Does the Tapo TD21 need a subscription?

No. It records to a microSD card (sold separately) with no plan. Tapo Care is an optional paid cloud service, and snapshots in notifications need it.

### Can the Tapo TD21 use a solar panel?

Yes. Tapo sells an A201 solar panel separately for it. It is not in the box.

## All 10 video doorbells, compared

| No. | Product | Score | Badge |
| ---: | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | [Tapo D235](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/tapo-d235/) | 8.1 | Best Choice |
| 2 | [Blink Video Doorbell (2nd gen, 2025)](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/blink-video-doorbell-2nd-gen/) | 8.1 | Value for Money |
| 3 | [eufy Video Doorbell E340](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/eufy-video-doorbell-e340/) | 8.0 | Best Premium |
| 4 | [Ring Battery Video Doorbell 2K Plus](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/ring-battery-video-doorbell-2k-plus/) | 8.0 |  |
| 5 | [Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/reolink-video-doorbell-wifi/) | 8.0 |  |
| 6 | [EZVIZ EP3x Pro](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/ezviz-ep3x-pro/) | 7.9 |  |
| 7 | **Tapo TD21** (this review) | 7.8 | Best Budget |
| 8 | [EZVIZ EP8 Ultra](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/ezviz-ep8-ultra/) | 7.2 |  |
| 9 | [Reolink Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/reolink-battery-video-doorbell-2nd-gen/) | 6.9 |  |
| 10 | [Doro Hemma](https://vettedten.com/tech/video-doorbells/doro-hemma/) | 6.5 |  |

## How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 20 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

[How we rank, in full](https://vettedten.com/how-we-rank/)

### Where these facts come from

- [Tapo UK store: TD21 product page](https://uk.store.tapo.com/products/battery-video-doorbell-2k-3mp-colour-night-vision-tapo-td21)
- [Tapo UK: TD21 user guide](https://www.tapo.com/uk/manuals/1093)
- [TP-Link Community: TD21 saying battery discharged on app](https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/853796)
- [TP-Link Community: TD21 not ringing chime/sending notifications when pushed](https://community.tp-link.com/en/smart-home/forum/topic/761710)

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