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Top 5 Best Outdoor TVs of 2019
Forget about using your indoor TV in a weatherproofed cabinet – you can have your best outdoor patio moments in front of a weatherized outdoor television.
All our outdoor TVs fall in either fully-shaded, partially shaded, or open space categories. We’ve considered only large-screen TVs from 40-inches with Full HD and Ultra HD resolutions. Our top brands are best in their class, offering high screen resolutions, complete weatherproofing, and value for money in outdoor living.
Our Winner
After 20 hours of extensive research and reviewing over 31 outdoor TVs, our best overall is SunBriteTV SB4374UHD. It offers vivid 4K uhd picture quality and is compatible with 4K sources and streaming devices, and like all our tvs, has hdmi 2.0 and hdcp 2.2 ports.
The Top Rated Best Outdoor TVs – 2019 #1 SunBriteTV 43-Inch SB-4374UHD-BL Weatherproof Television: Best Under Cover
Picture Quality: 5/5 Housing: 5/5 Compatibility: 4/5 Sound: 4/5Pros
It is up to 30% brighter than indoor TVs Built-in speakers Wide viewing angles up to 178 degrees Supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) for shaded areasCons
Lacks Wi-Fi and onboard apps Needs a Bluetooth adaptor for Bluetooth connectivity It does not come with the mountSunBrite TV 43-Inch SB-4374UHD-BL is designed for shaded patios or screened gazebos. Not to say it is not weatherized. In fact, this TV can withstand snow, torrential rain, and extreme temperatures. You can even install it under a tree as long as it gets enough shade to maintain its high quality rich picture.
You have to, however, use a third-party dongle like Roku stick to get apps over a Wi-Fi connection.
#2 SunBriteTV SB-S-55-4K-BL 55-Inch Signature Series: Best for Day and Night
Picture Quality: 5/5 Housing: 4/5 Compatibility: 4/5 Sound: 3/5Pros
Integrates an HDBase T receiver Bright day and night viewing using OptiViewTM technology 700 nits anti-glare screen Wide temperature regulation systemCons
Does not include built-in speakers Lacks inbuilt Wi-Fi features Does not come with the dust coverSunBriteTV SB-S-55-4K-BL delivers premium features for bright, partially-shaded patios. Its display does not suck after dusk or on sunny days. It is for the avid outdoor entertainer, who appreciates affordable 4K streaming thanks to its HDBase T receiver.
But don’t let your kids throw toys at it. It does not have a protective, tempered glass shield.
#3 Mirage Vision G Series 40-Inch LED TV: Best Smart TV-Ready
Picture Quality: 3/5 Housing: 4/5 Compatibility: 5/5 Sound: 3/5Pros
Matrix liquid crystal display to enhance brightness It has a rear cabinet Rainguard Comes with an outdoor TV cover Has rear cabinet ventsCons
Does not have 4K streaming Lacks brightness technologies like HDR Does not have an ambient light sensorIt may look like your ordinary indoor TV, but Mirage Vision G Series 40-Inch LED TV is more than meets the eye. It is weather resistant and UV-treated. It offers full HD picture quality, excellent for shaded and partially shaded areas.
It delivers smart TV capabilities including Wi-Fi connectivity so you can have all your favorite apps at hand. From YouTube to Netflix, no external dongle is needed.
With the lack of brightness technologies like an ambient light sensor and HDR, this TV ranks the lowest in brightness among our six choices.
#4 SunBriteTV SB-5518HD-BL-55 55-Inch Pro Series: Best for Extreme Environments
Picture Quality: 4/5 Housing: 4/5 Compatibility: 4/5 Sound: 3/5Pros
Ultra-bright 700-nit screen EST (Enhanced Solar Tolerance) direct-sun technology Comes with a detachable all-weather speaker Inbuilt heating and cooling systemCons
Delivers only full HD resolution Does not have built-in Bluetooth support It cannot be mount in portrait modeThe SunBriteTV SB-5518HD-BL-55 is perhaps the smartest investment you’ll ever make for your deck or patio. It is engineered to withstand anything the weather throws at it while delivering ultra- bright outdoor viewing. Its powder-coated aluminum exterior is rust proof, and it can tolerate high temperatures up to 122F.
Except for the lack of 4K resolution and smart TV connectivity, this model would have offered the best value for the money.
#5 SEALOC Coastal Series Silver 43-Inch Outdoor TV: Best for Hot Environments
Picture Quality: 5/5 Housing: 4/5 Compatibility: 4/5 Sound: 3/5Pros
It is smart-TV compatible Uses Dolby-certified speakers Comes with a full motion mounting option All internal components are weatherproofedCons
Cannot be cleaned using a pressure washer It does not look as sleek and elegant as other outdoor TVs Not ideal for temp below -14FSEALOC Coastal Series Silver 43-Inch has a perfect 4K display for a TV that can be used in all outdoor extremities. It is that wonderful investment that is ready to entertain all year round whether it is raining or the sun is scorching. With its brilliant nano-coating technology, it has no problem being in humid and salt air environments.
Our only concern is that it is not the kind of TV that matches most modern outdoor setups. You will like it better with rustic and traditional décor.
#6 Mirage Vision 55-Inch Gold Series: Best for Commercial Use
Picture Quality: 4/5 Housing: 3/5 Compatibility: 4/5 Sound: 3/5Pros
4K Ultra HD resolution Withstands high temperature up to 145F It has inbuilt Wi-Fi and apps Supports High Dynamic Range (HDR)Cons
Cannot be used on a table top It has only one year of warranty It is a bit expensive for the few extra featuresEveryone needs a nice cozy place to spend free hours and weekends. And if you are looking for an ultra-bright display, smart-TV capabilities, and vibrant, life-like colors, you are looking at the Mirage Vision 55-Inch Gold Series.
It stylish, no doubt, and it gives you exceptional performance. You get to enjoy a billion colors, and high-contrast for viewing in bright, partially-shaded decks and patios.
However, its LED Backlight Modulation Technology does not do much to enhance its brightness. That’s why it is not recommended for use directly under the sun.
Choosing the Best Outdoor TV: Features that Matter
An outdoor TV will perform better than an indoor TV installed outside. By the way, it’s a bad idea to use an indoor TV outside. Outdoor TVs can withstand the rigs of the weather. We are talking torrential rain, extreme temperatures, humidity, salt water, direct sunlight, and even bugs.Here are the features to tick off before you take your outdoor TV home.
Shaded vs. Partial-Shaded vs. Full Sunlight
Outdoor TVs are in these three categories. You need to consider the sunlight conditions of your patio before choosing the TV you like. Full shaded TVs have to be installed in places that do not receive lots of sunlight. These are places like in a screened gazebo, enclosed patio, or pool room. For partial shaded TVs, they can be mounted in areas that receive a bit of sunlight but are not directly lit. Learn cheap options for enclosing your patio. Full sunlight TVs can be mounted directly under the sun like in swimming pool areas. They come with anti-glare screens and are fully-weatherproofed.TV Size
Consider how many guests you need to entertain and the location you intend to install it. Outdoor TVs are up to 75 inches in size. As long as everyone can view from all angles, a large sized model won’t be any better than an average 40-inch TV. Knowing the best place for your TV and how to install it goes a long way in making sure all your guests are fully entertained.TV Weatherproofing
Your outdoor TV should withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -24F to 104F. They should have internal heaters and the means to independently control condensation and humidity. Not to mention outdoor housing in powder-coated steel, anodized aluminum, superior shield enclosures like from high molecular weight polyethylene. You can always add a cover to protect your TV further.TV Picture Quality
The performance of your TV is largely dependent on the quality of the screen. You should look for high-tempered and anti-reflective glass that can deliver rich imagery on bright and sunny days. Brightness technologies also make a whole lot of difference in any outdoor TV. We are talking enhanced brightness through HDR, ambient lighting sensors, quantum dot technology, and many others.TV Sound
A TV that can be integrated with a sound system is your best bet. Most outdoor TVs come with inbuilt or removable outdoor speakers, but they are never enough on their own.FAQ for Choosing an Outdoor TV
Most outdoor TVs do not employ smart technologies. They aim at providing weatherproofing properties. However, brands like SEALOC and Mirage Vision employ smart capabilities like Wi-Fi and built-in apps.
Make sure to look at the capabilities of your TV especially if you don’t want to buy accessories to make it smart-TV ready.
It is important that you choose a safe and a weatherproofed mount for your outdoor TV. The last thing you want is dealing with rust barely months after installing the TV. Some of the requirements include the ability of the mount to support the weight of the TV. It should also be VESA-compliant and UL-rated.
Unless the manufacturer states otherwise, outdoor TVs are designed to be used in all-weather including rain. The only difference comes in the operating temperatures and the amount of sunlight that the TV can handle for bright viewing.
Although brands like SunBriteTV recommend buying their outdoor soundbars, it is possible to use regular non-weatherized soundbars using an amplifier. This is as long as you bring your speakers with you when you head back inside.
A heater is not necessary for most outdoor TVs. But if you will be using it in temperatures below recommended, you may require to use the heater. It’s better not to risk your TV if temperatures do not warrant its use. It’s a lot of energy which means a racked energy bill.
Conclusion
Outdoor TVs can be a costly affair if you get a yeah-yeah model. That is to say, buying from a brand with no real features that showcase the benefit of the TV. It’s better to be safe with a TV that has been tested to meet real-world performance, even though it will be much more expensive than an indoor TV.
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