TP-Link KC120 Kasa Cam Reviewed

TP-Link’s KC120 Kasa Cam is the company’s first attempt at a premium security camera at a budget price. Designed to deliver 1080p content, the KC120 aims to provide 24×7 monitoring while you are out.

TP-Link highlight the following key differentiators:

• Competitive RRP
• Companion Application (Kasa) is highly rated
• Includes 3m USB cable
• 25ft night vision capability
• Alexa and Google Assistant compatible

The KC120 comes neatly packaged in a compact box and includes:

• KC120 Kasa Cam
• Camera stand with magnetic base
• Wall mounting plate
• Mounting plate screws
• Power adapter
• 3m USB Cable
• Quick Start Guide

KC120 specifications include:

CAMERA
Image Sensor	1/2.7“(Φ6.6)
Resolution	1920x1080
Lens	F: 2.0, f: 3.21 mm
Viewing Angle	FOV = 130°
VIDEO/IMAGE
Video Compression	H.264
Frame Rate & Resolutions	Up to 30fps at 1920x1080
Video Streaming	1080P
Image Settings	Rotation
AUDIO
Audio Communication	2-Way
Audio Input	Built-in microphone
Audio Output	Built-in speaker
Audio Compression	AAC
ALARM AND EVENT MANAGEMENT
Input Trigger	Motion detection, Audio detection
Notification	Message Push
WIRELESS
Wireless Data Rates	11Mbps(802.11b) 54Mbps(802.11g) 150Mbps(802.11n) 433Mbps(802.11ac)
Frequency	2.4G,5G(Band1 Band4)
Wireless Transmit Power	High
INTERFACES
Power Connector	1 x Micro BF
Button	Push button/Reset
SURVEILLANCE MANAGEMENT
Users	2 x Relay Remote Simultaneous Users
Bundled Management Software	Viewing and recording up to 36 cameras
GENERAL
Certification	RoHS, FCC, IC
Dimensions( H X W X D )	79 x 79 x 136.73mm

Setting up the camera was pretty straight forward. Easy enough for even the technology challenged amonst us.

1. Firstly, download the Kasa application. For those that already have some of the TP-Link smart home products, you will notice that this is the same Kasa app.
2. Open the Kasa App, and click the + symbol in the top right corner.
3. Click the icon that says KC120 (Kasa Cam).
4. Proceed with the following instructions and when finished, check the camera to see if the LED is blinking orange and green. If it is, confirm in the app and the Kasa Cam will attempt to establish a connection.
5. That should be it. Once confirmed as working, you can configure the camera behaviour from the application.

The video stream was quite responsive and I didn’t have to wait long before it kicked in. This was an improvement on other similar cameras I’ve reviewed in the past. The KC120 supports up to a wide-angle 1080p video stream.

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By default you can save up to 2 days worth of data in the cloud at no charge. Beyond this, a Kasa Care plan will be required. At the time of reviewing, Kasa Care plans were not available in Oz but TP-Link have said that Australian users can currently enjoy a 30-day trial version of the Premium plan for free.

Another neat feature was the inclusion of 2-way audio. This allows you to communicate with whomever is on the camera. Perfect for when you catch the kids sneaking out of their rooms or the family pet chewing something they shouldn’t be.

As the videos are streamed and saved to the cloud, you are able to watch your cameras from anywhere in the world. This can be live video or saved footage. Combine this with the instant notifications feature and you can enjoy a peace of mind when you are away from home.

Overall, we found the KC120 easy to install and the resulting videos were impressive. Integration with Alexa and Google Assistance was a bonus. The cloud recording feature is great, but we need to see the plans that we will have here in Australia before we can comment further on them. Hopefully, these will be on par or better than the competition’s cloud subscription fees.