Updated April 2026
Data from Amazon and official Arlo and TP-Link sites.
2026 verdict
Across the full comparison in 2026, TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 earns the nod. Its strongest advantages show up in price, rating, and warranty, with battery life and solar charging helping widen the gap. There is still a case for Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen), but mainly if alerts is what you value most. Overall, TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 makes more sense for most people.
| Feature | Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €99.99 | $44.99 | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Rating | 3.8 | 4.3 | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Battery Life | 4 months | 180 days | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Solar Charging | NO | YES | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Storage | Cloud | MicroSD Card Slot, Cloud | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| RTSP | NO | YES | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Alerts | Motion, People, Animals, Vehicles, Packages, Smoke Alarm Sound, Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sound | Motion, People, Vehicles | Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) |
| Customizable Motion Zones | Subscription required | YES | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Privacy Zone | NO | YES | TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 |
| Weather Resistance | YES | IP65 | Tie |
| Light | Spotlight | YES | Tie |
€99.99
- + Alerts: Motion, People, Animals, Vehicles, Packages, Smoke Alarm Sound, Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sound
- - Price: €99.99 vs $44.99
- - Rating: 3.8 vs 4.3
Winner
18% OFF
$54.99
$44.99
- + Price: $44.99
- + Rating: 4.3
- + Warranty: 2 years
- - Alerts: Motion, People, Vehicles vs Motion, People, Animals, Vehicles, Packages, Smoke Alarm Sound, Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sound
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Which is better overall: Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) or TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402?
- TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 has the stronger overall profile in this comparison, especially for price, rating, and warranty.
- What is the biggest difference between Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) and TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402?
- Price is one of the clearest differences: Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) lists €99.99, while TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 lists $44.99.
- Which one looks better on price?
- Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) is listed at €99.99, while TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 is listed at $44.99. TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 (better spec).
- Who should buy Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen)?
- Choose Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen) if your priority is alerts and that matters more than price.
- Who should buy TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402?
- Choose TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 if your priority is price and rating and that matters more than alerts.
More Cameras
Top Cameras to compare next
Compare the best smart security cameras by video quality, connectivity, storage, alerts, integrations, and more. Find the ideal model for your home.
![Ring Indoor Cam]()
RingRing Indoor Cam
View details![Arlo Essential 2K Wired (2025)]()
ArloEssential 2K Wired (2025)
View details![Ring Outdoor Cam]()
RingRing Outdoor Cam
View details![Ring Spotlight Cam Plus]()
RingSpotlight Cam Plus
View details![Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)]()
GoogleNest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
View details![Aqara CameraHub G5 Pro PoE]()
AqaraCamera Hub G5 Pro PoE
View details![Arlo Pro 6 XL]()
ArloPro 6 XL
View details![TP-Link Tapo C200]()
TP-LinkTapo C200
View details![Blink Mini 2]()
BlinkMini 2
View details![Blink Mini Pan-Tilt]()
BlinkMini Pan-Tilt
View details![TP-Link Tapo C210]()
TP-LinkTapo C210
View details![Ring Outdoor Cam Plus]()
RingRing Outdoor Cam Plus
View details![TP-Link Tapo C100]()
TP-LinkTapo C100
View details![Wyze Cam v4]()
WyzeCam v4
View details![TP-Link Tapo C500]()
TP-LinkTapo C500
View details![TP-Link Tapo C120]()
TP-LinkTapo C120
View details![Google Nest Cam (indoor, wired)]()
GoogleNest Cam (indoor, wired)
View details![Ring Spotlight Cam Pro]()
RingSpotlight Cam Pro
View details![Blink Blink Mini 2K+]()
BlinkBlink Mini 2K+
View details![Eufy Outdoor Cam E210]()
EufyOutdoor Cam E210
View details
Arlo
More Arlo products
A sharper look at other Arlo products worth comparing.
- Camera
![Arlo Essential 2K Wired (2025)]()
ArloEssential 2K Wired (2025)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential 2K (2nd Gen)]()
ArloEssential 2K (2nd Gen)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential HD (2nd Gen)]()
ArloEssential HD (2nd Gen)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential Indoor 2K (2nd Gen)]()
ArloEssential Indoor 2K (2nd Gen)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential Indoor HD (2nd Gen)]()
ArloEssential Indoor HD (2nd Gen)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential Pan Tilt]()
ArloEssential Pan Tilt
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential XL 2K (2nd Gen)]()
ArloEssential XL 2K (2nd Gen)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Essential XL HD (2nd Gen)]()
ArloEssential XL HD (2nd Gen)
View details - Camera
![Arlo Go 2]()
ArloGo 2
View details - Camera
![Arlo Pro 5S 2K]()
ArloPro 5S 2K
View details - Camera
![Arlo Pro 6 XL]()
ArloPro 6 XL
View details - Camera
![Arlo Pro 6]()
ArloPro 6
View details - Camera
![Arlo Ultra 2]()
ArloUltra 2
View details - Doorbell
![Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell]()
ArloEssential Wireless Video Doorbell
View details - Doorbell
![Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd gen)]()
ArloVideo Doorbell 2K (2nd gen)
View details - Doorbell
![Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)]()
ArloVideo Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
View details
TP-Link
More TP-Link products
A sharper look at other TP-Link products worth comparing.
