
Review
Published:
Updated:
Author: John R. - Senior Editor & Wildlife Photography Expert
TL;DR
The Woopeak TC-22 is a solar-powered trail camera with 4K 30FPS video, 60MP photos, and a dual-lens design. It delivers exceptional daytime and lowlight image quality with solid nighttime infrared performance. Trigger range reaches 70–80 feet, with fast response to lateral movement. Battery life is excellent, even in winter and with limited sun. The TC-22 can record up to 2 minutes continuously, including at night. Setup is straightforward with a bright internal screen, and the design is rugged, though the integrated battery isn't swappable. For the price, this is one of the most capable trail cams we've tested.
Intro
The VOOPEAK TC-22 Trail Camera is a solar-powered, dual-lens game camera designed for outdoor wildlife monitoring.
It features a dual-lens system equipped with the IMX458 image sensor and Novatek 96670 chip, providing 60MP still photos and 4K video recording at 30 frames per second.
The starlight night vision capability enhances color clarity in low-light conditions, while its infrared functionality extends visibility to a 65-foot range in complete darkness.
This WOOPEAK TC-22 trail camera supports H.265 video compression, optimizing memory usage by saving up to 90% more storage than traditional MJPG formats.
Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, enabling remote management via a dedicated app with a range of up to 49 feet.
Users can preview, adjust settings, and monitor recordings seamlessly through their smartphones.
The VOOPEAK TC-22 trail camera is powered by an integrated 4400mAh rechargeable battery, which can be charged via its built-in solar panel or a USB Type-C connection. This dual-charging capability ensures flexible power options.
With sufficient sunlight, the camera can operate continuously. Even with at least one hour of sunlight per day, the TC-22 can maintain uninterrupted operation.
Alternatively, the camera can remain on standby for up to 12 months on a full charge.
Designed for rugged environments, the TC-22 is rated IP66 waterproof and operates reliably across extreme weather conditions.
Additional features include a 0.1-second trigger speed, a 120° wide-angle lens, and three capture modes: photo, video, or hybrid.
The package includes mounting accessories, a USB cable, and a user manual. The camera supports SD cards up to 256GB (not included). Woopeak trail cameras come with a 12-month warranty.
Pros
- High-resolution 60MP images and 4K 30FPS video recording.
- Solar-powered with a built-in 4400mAh rechargeable battery.
- Starlight night vision for color images in low light.
- Fast 0.1-second trigger speed and 120° wide-angle lens.
- Supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control via app.
Cons
- Built-in lithium battery is not removable, requiring full recharge at home.
- Limited app control range of 49 feet.
- No replaceable battery option if the internal battery fails.
Camera Setup
The initial setup of the Woopeak TC-22 Trail Camera is straightforward and does not require additional software installation beyond the mobile app (for Wi-Fi control).
The unit includes an integrated color display, which provides access to all configuration menus and playback options using tactile onboard buttons. The screen is bright and legible in both indoor and outdoor conditions.
The unit is powered by a built-in lithium battery, which charges via the included USB-C cable. While the USB-C port located near the SD card slot does not support charging, the correct port is found on the battery compartment side. A red LED charging indicator confirms the charging status.
Full charging takes several hours, which aligns with typical lithium battery behavior and helps preserve long-term battery health. A 5V adapter is required but not included.
The setup menu includes video resolution (up to 4K30), PIR interval settings, starlight night vision toggle, auto Wi-Fi off, backlight timer, and video length configurations.
Night vision mode can be manually activated by switching to "Setup," navigating to "Shoot Mode," and selecting "Night More Color." MicroSD card formatting is done directly from the menu.
The housing includes loops designed for Python-style security cables. However, one of our three TC-22 cameras had smaller-than-standard cable openings, which did not fit standard Python cables. Thinner cables were required for that unit, while the others accepted standard sizes.
No SD card or wall adapter is included. A manual is provided inside the box.
Camera Ratings
Detection Range: 16/20
In our field testing, the TC-22 consistently picked up motion at impressive distances in the 70 to 80-foot range, especially in open environments.
That said, it's clear the sensor performs best when the animal is closer to the center of the frame. Side entry triggers more reliably than movement along the edges.
I've seen some long-range triggers work well, but the camera's response can be inconsistent if the subject is small or moving along the periphery.
Still, for a solar-powered camera in this price range, the distance it picks up larger wildlife is solid, and it performs reliably in the conditions we typically see
Speed: 7/10
Speed is where things get more nuanced. The TC-22 definitely favors side-to-side movement, which isn't unusual, but it becomes more noticeable here.
If an animal is walking laterally across the frame, the trigger is quick and responsive.
But if it's coming head-on, especially fast-moving species like canids, the camera sometimes starts recording just a beat too late, particularly in video mode where the startup delay is more obvious, and on a few occasions, the TC-22 only partially captured the running wolf.
Still images seem to fire off quicker than video, but for animals moving straight in at speed, there's a chance you might catch only the tail end. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of when choosing your setup angle.
Accuracy: 8/10
False triggers were rare during testing, even in windier conditions. The PIR sensor is tuned well enough that we didn't see many wasted captures from waving grass or shifting shadows, something that's surprisingly common with other trail cams.
It takes a decent amount of environmental movement to set it off unintentionally, which tells me the sensor is filtering out noise effectively.
When a trigger did occur, it was almost always an actual animal. This level of accuracy matters when you're sifting through thousands of images during research projects, and the TC-22 kept the junk data to a minimum.
Battery Life: 9/10
Battery performance on the TC-22 has been one of the more surprising standouts in our long-term testing.
We deployed two units in wide-open areas with decent winter light exposure, and even through snow cover and freezing temps typical in the Rockies, both cameras held a consistent charge between 90–100%. That's with daily triggering, short video clips, and below-freezing conditions.
In another test, we placed a third unit in a shaded, wooded area with almost no direct sunlight. Over four months later, it's still sitting at around 60–70% battery, which is impressive considering the limited solar input.
From what we've seen, if you can place the TC-22 in a location with even moderate sun exposure, it can stay out indefinitely without manual charging.
That said, the internal battery is not removable, which is one of the few drawbacks. If the battery drains from high triggers or a long stretch of cloud cover with insufficient sun, you'll need to bring the camera home to recharge it via USB-C.
Other brands in this category offer swappable battery options, so that's one area we'd like to see improved.
However, for most use cases with at least partial sun, the integrated solar setup does its job well and requires minimal intervention.
Daylight Images: 10/10
Under full daylight, the TC-22 really delivers. We pulled the videos below directly from 4K video clips (too big for uploads), and the clarity holds up impressively well with tight edge definition, strong subject separation, and little to no visible motion blur on animals walking through the frame.
The detail in fur texture, tree bark, and snowpack is rendered cleanly without oversharpening or compression artifacts, which speaks to the strength of the camera's native bitrate and the H.265 codec.
Color accuracy is another strong point. Midday light tends to wash out hues in many cameras, especially when snow is in the frame, but the TC-22 preserves neutral tones without leaning into artificial saturation.
You still get rich browns in elk coats, clean white highlights in snow, consistent blues in shaded terrain or sky reflections, and no obvious color casts even in complex sun-shade transitions.
Dynamic range is surprisingly capable. In mixed light conditions, like late afternoon sun filtering through trees or animals walking from sun to shadow, the exposure remains stable without harsh blowouts or crushed blacks.
This is especially valuable for researchers who need to analyze animal features or track markings in varied terrain lighting.
The Woopeak TC-22 handles full daylight and high-contrast conditions with a level of sharpness and tonal control that outperforms many other trail cameras we've tested in this category.
Lowlight Images: 7/10
Low light performance on the TC-22 has been surprisingly consistent across various early morning and pre-dawn conditions, and the camera handles ambient blue-hour lighting well.
Exposure is balanced, and the dynamic range holds up enough to distinguish detail in both the foreground and background.
Even with minimal sunlight, shadowed areas don't clip too harshly, and there's enough tonal separation to retain texture in fur, ground debris, and distant terrain.
Grain does increase slightly, as expected, and is most visible in the midtones and shadowed zones like underbrush and tree trunks, but ISO noise is well controlled considering the lighting.
The built-in image processing avoids over-sharpening, which helps preserve a more natural look to the fur detail and slope texture.
Color retention is still present, though muted. You can see neutral browns and greens holding tone without a strong cast, even as the camera shifts into higher ISO compensation.
We've found the low light output to be highly usable for identification and behavioral study. Animals remain recognizable and well-defined, and motion blur is minimal with slower-moving subjects.
The TC-22 delivers better-than-expected clarity before full sunrise, which is crucial for wildlife that tends to be most active around dawn and dusk.
Night Images: 7/10
In full darkness, the TC-22 game camera produces clean and highly usable black-and-white imagery using its red-glow infrared flash system.
Depending on the subject distance, the sensor adjusts flash intensity fairly well, and overexposure is minimal when the camera is mounted at a reasonable height.
That said, we did notice some flash burn when the unit was placed too low to the ground. Bright foregrounds and occasional washed-out detail, especially when animals are directly in front of the lens. Elevating the camera slightly helps mitigate that.
Like most trail cameras using standard IR arrays, the TC-22 captures nighttime footage in monochrome. The red IR emitters are visible to the human eye, which could alert or startle more sensitive species.
This is a tradeoff that comes with red-glow over no-glow systems, but in return, you typically get better illumination and slightly sharper image detail, both of which hold true here.
Animals are well-defined in the frame, and we've been able to distinguish antler structure, body posture, and movement patterns without issue.
Ground texture and environmental features like brush or snow cover remain sharp to a reasonable distance from the lens.
The IR throw is strong enough to cover medium-range paths and open corridors, and motion blur is kept under control for most walking speed animals.
For standard nighttime monitoring, especially on trails or feeding routes, the TC-22 holds its own with consistent grayscale rendering, balanced exposure, and dependable illumination.
Design: 17/20
The TC-22 features a vertically stacked design with an integrated solar panel mounted flush to the top of the housing. The build feels solid and well-sealed, with a front-facing dual-lens system and a large PIR sensor window.
The onboard screen is protected behind the clamshell-style casing and is bright enough to navigate menus and review captures even in direct sunlight.
Internal controls are tactile and responsive, with clearly labeled directional buttons and dedicated toggles for menu, playback, and mode switching.
The housing includes standard latch-style closures and mounting slots on the rear for both included straps and Python cables.
One thing worth noting: out of the three test units, one had slightly tighter cable loops that didn't accommodate a standard Python lock without modification, requiring a thinner Python cable.
The other two units accepted standard-size security cables with no issue.
A standout functional detail is the camera's ability to continue recording for up to two minutes while motion is ongoing, even at night.
Most manufacturers that offer this feature, including Browning, cap night videos at 20 seconds. This extended recording feature is a major asset for behavioral monitoring or when trying to capture entire animal sequences rather than short clips.
While the internal lithium battery and solar setup work well (as detailed in our battery section), the design does not allow for battery replacement in the field.
If the internal battery eventually fails or can't recharge due to lack of sun, the unit must be brought back for USB-C charging. That's a design limitation we'd like to see addressed in future iterations.
Verdict: 81/100
After several months of testing the Woopeak TC-22 in rugged mountain terrain, varying light conditions, and freezing winter temperatures, I can confidently say this is one of the best-performing trail cameras we've worked with to date.
The image quality alone puts it in a category above most consumer-grade cameras. The 4K video resolution is especially impressive. It is not just sharp but genuinely cinematic in clarity, with detail and depth that rival far more expensive pro setups.
Seeing that kind of quality come from a unit at this price point is not something I expected.
Functionally, the Woopeak TC-22 trail camera checks nearly every box.
The solar-integrated battery system has held steady through months of exposure, even in shaded areas and sub-freezing temps.
Trigger range reaches out farther than most models we've tested, often up to 80+ feet, but performs best when the animal enters more centrally.
Trigger speed favors lateral movement, which is typical, but worth noting if you're monitoring trails with head-on approaches.
It's the little design details that round this out: a responsive onboard screen, full manual settings access, the ability to record up to two-minute clips even at night (something most major brands limit), and solid IR night vision with limited flash burn.
If I could improve one thing, it would be adding a removable battery to make recharging easier if sunlight isn't an option.
The TC-22 has become a go-to ultra-wide angle camera in our current rotation. It's reliable, delivers professional-grade results, and offers real long-term deployment capability in harsh field conditions.
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Specs
Official specs from the manufacturer.- Name:
- Woopeak TC22
- Manufacturer:
- Woopeak
- Model:
- TC22
- Model Year:
- 2023
- Series:
- Solar
- Flash Type:
- Low-Glow IR
- Max Pixels:
- 60
- Max Video:
- 3840p
- No. of Sensors:
- 3
- Detection Range:
- 80 ft
- Flash Range:
- 80 ft
- Field of View:
- 120 degrees
- Trigger Speed:
- 0.10 second
- Min Delay:
- 5 seconds
- Max Delay:
- 60 minutes
- Max Card Size:
- 128 GB
- Cellular/Mobile:
- No
- WiFi:
- No
- Bluetooth:
- No
- Live View:
- No
- MSRP:
- $119.00
- Warranty:
- 12 months
- Country of Origin:
- China
- UPC:
- 712109668868
- Buying Options: