Quick verdict: The Tapo TD21 is the better pick if you want a genuinely affordable smart doorbell with no monthly fees and solid basics, priced at £44.99. The Eufy Security E340 costs more at £121.99 but adds dual cameras, built in storage, and package detection, making it the stronger choice if you want more complete coverage of your doorstep rather than just a single angle view.
Tapo TD21 2K Video Doorbell
An affordable battery powered video doorbell with no monthly subscription, offering 2K video and flexible local storage up to 512GB.
- Up to 6 months battery life
- No monthly fees, local MicroSD storage
- Works with Alexa and Google Home
Eufy Security E340 Dual Cam Doorbell
A mid range video doorbell with dual cameras for full doorstep coverage, built in storage, and dedicated AI package detection.
- Dual camera system for wider coverage
- Built in 8GB storage, no subscription
- AI motion and package detection
Video doorbells have become one of the most searched smart home purchases in the UK, and the market is now split between low cost entry models and mid range options that add real functionality. Rather than reviewing these two in isolation, this comparison puts them side by side so you can see exactly where the extra money goes if you choose to spend it.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Tapo TD21 | Eufy Security E340 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £44.99 | £121.99 (was £169.99) |
| Resolution | 2K, 3MP | 2K FHD |
| Cameras | Single camera | Dual cameras |
| Storage | MicroSD, up to 512GB | Built in 8GB, no monthly fee |
| Power | Battery, rated 6 months | Wired or battery |
| Field of view | 160 degrees | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Smart detection | TP Link Free AI Detection | AI motion and package detection |
| Compatibility | Works with Alexa and Google Home | Works with existing smart home setups |
| Monthly subscription | None required | None required |
| Night vision | Colour night vision | Colour night vision, dual light system |
Tapo TD21: Full Review
The Tapo TD21 is TP Link’s battery powered smart doorbell, built around a simple promise: solid video doorbell functionality without locking you into a monthly subscription. At £44.99, it sits firmly in the budget tier, and that price point is really the whole story of why this doorbell exists.
Camera and Video Quality
The TD21 records at 2K with a 3MP sensor and offers a 160 degree field of view, wide enough to capture most of your doorstep and a decent stretch of the path leading up to it, though a single camera angle does mean it cannot see as much of your property from top to bottom as a dual camera system can.
Storage Without Monthly Fees
Rather than pushing you toward a cloud subscription, the TD21 relies on local MicroSD storage, supporting cards up to a genuinely generous 512GB. This is a meaningful selling point for UK buyers who are increasingly wary of smart home products that work fine at first but then demand an ongoing subscription to unlock features that used to be free. With a large enough SD card, you get weeks or months of recorded footage without paying Tapo anything beyond the initial purchase.
Battery Life and Installation
TP Link rates the battery at up to 6 months per charge, which is competitive for this price bracket. Being battery powered rather than wired also means installation is simpler, since you are not required to have existing doorbell wiring in place, making it a realistic option for renters or anyone who does not want to deal with mains wiring.
Smart Features
The doorbell includes TP Link’s own AI detection system at no extra cost, along with compatibility with both Alexa and Google Home, so it slots into most existing smart home setups without requiring a separate hub or app ecosystem.
Who the Tapo TD21 Is For
This is the right choice if your budget is under £50, you want to avoid subscription fees entirely, you are renting or do not want to deal with wired installation, or you mainly want doorstep visibility without needing dual camera coverage.
Eufy Security E340: Full Review
The Eufy Security E340 sits in the mid range bracket at £121.99, discounted from an RRP of £169.99. For roughly two and a half times the price of the TD21, it adds features aimed at buyers who want more complete security coverage rather than just a basic visitor camera.
Dual Camera System
The standout feature here is the dual camera setup. Rather than a single angle looking straight out from your door, the E340 uses two cameras to cover both a wider view of visitors at eye level and a downward angle toward your doorstep, which is specifically useful for spotting parcels left at your door rather than just people approaching it.
Built In Storage
Unlike the TD21’s reliance on a MicroSD card you need to buy separately, the E340 includes 8GB of built in storage as standard, with no monthly fee required to access it. This is a smaller capacity than what a large MicroSD card in the TD21 could offer, but it means the doorbell works out of the box without an additional purchase.
Flexible Power Options
The E340 can run wired or on battery, giving you a choice most doorbells in this range do not offer. If you already have doorbell wiring from a previous unit, you can use it directly for continuous power. If not, battery operation is still available, giving you the same installation flexibility as the TD21.
AI Detection and Package Guard
Eufy markets this model specifically around delivery guard functionality, using AI motion and package detection to distinguish between a person walking past, a visitor at your door, and a parcel being left behind. For anyone who orders regularly online, this is a genuinely practical feature that a single camera system cannot replicate as effectively, since the downward facing camera keeps your doorstep in frame even after the delivery driver has walked away.
Night Vision
Both doorbells offer colour night vision rather than the older black and white infrared style, but the E340 adds a dual light system aimed at improving visibility further after dark.
Who the Eufy E340 Is For
This is the right choice if you regularly receive parcel deliveries and want dedicated package monitoring, you want the flexibility of wired or battery power, dual camera coverage matters more to you than saving money, or you already have doorbell wiring in place from a previous installation.
Budget vs Mid Range: What You Actually Get for the Extra Cost
The roughly £77 price difference between these two doorbells buys you a second camera angle, slightly more advanced package specific AI detection, and the flexibility of wired power as an option. It does not buy you a fundamentally different core experience, since both doorbells avoid monthly fees, both offer 2K colour night vision, and both work with existing smart home ecosystems.
If your priority is simply knowing when someone is at your door without paying a subscription, the Tapo TD21 delivers that at a lower cost. If you want your doorbell to actively help you manage deliveries and give you a more complete view of your doorstep rather than a single angle, the Eufy E340 justifies its higher price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do either of these doorbells require a monthly subscription? No. Both the Tapo TD21 and the Eufy Security E340 are marketed specifically around avoiding mandatory monthly fees, relying instead on local storage.
Which doorbell has better video quality? Both record at 2K resolution. The meaningful difference is not raw video quality but camera coverage, since the Eufy E340 uses two cameras to capture more of your doorstep than the TD21’s single camera.
Can I install either of these without existing doorbell wiring? Yes. Both doorbells support battery power, so neither requires existing wiring to install. The Eufy E340 additionally supports wired power if you do have existing wiring available.
How much storage do I need for a video doorbell? This depends on how often your doorbell is triggered and how long you want to keep footage. The Tapo TD21 supports MicroSD cards up to 512GB, giving you significant flexibility, while the Eufy E340 includes a fixed 8GB built in, which is enough for regular use but offers less room to store extended footage history.
Is the more expensive doorbell worth it for most UK households? For most buyers who simply want visitor notifications, the Tapo TD21 covers the basics at a lower cost. For households with frequent deliveries or anyone wanting a more complete view of their doorstep rather than a single angle, the Eufy E340’s extra features justify the higher price.
Final Verdict
Both of these doorbells avoid the subscription trap that frustrates a lot of UK smart home buyers, which makes either one a reasonable choice depending on your budget. The Tapo TD21 is the sensible pick if you want reliable doorstep monitoring without spending much, while the Eufy Security E340 earns its higher price through dual camera coverage and package specific detection, making it the better fit for anyone who wants their doorbell to do more than simply announce a visitor.