Outdoor TVs Buying Guide

Placing a TV outside can entertain, inform and keep people close to the action. It’s a crowd-pleaser for many restaurants, businesses, theme parks, stadiums, and even for your home pool or patio. And yes, there really are televisions specialized for outdoors! The best TV for outdoor use is an outdoor TV. These models are designed & engineered to be safer – with a better viewing experience – than their indoor counterparts. Outdoor TVs have a larger price tag than indoor ones, but you need the TV to work in daylight and potentially extreme temperatures, as well as rain or snow.

Why Buy an Outdoor TV?

• First, the best TVs for an outdoor patio are rated for outdoor use and can withstand the elements. They are water resistant and also fight off things like wind, water, bugs, and humidity. Some manufacturers accomplish this by modifying indoor TVs for outdoor use through specialized coating technology while others fully construct their TVs to hold up in outdoor environments.
• Outdoor TV displays have extra bright panels which reduce glare, creating the best picture under natural outdoor lighting conditions. You can also invest in an outdoor TV cover to protect it when not in use.
• Exposing an indoor TV to the outside environment will likely void the warranty whereas an outdoor TV, made specifically for outdoor use, is the best option to ensure it will be covered by a full warranty (varies from manufacturer to manufacturer). There are many outdoor TV options-- the best TV for your outdoor space may vary depending on your needs and environment.

The Best Outdoor TV For You: Important Considerations

When buying an outdoor TV there are some important factors to consider. The best outdoor TV will depend on your environment, such as temperature and rainfall. Here are a few features to think about to ensure you buy the best outdoor TV:

• Waterproof versus Water Resistant outdoor TVs. These two terms mean two different things. An outdoor TV that is waterproof means that it’s impervious to water and can even operate while submerged, where a TV that is water resistant is able to resist water intrusion to some degree – but cannot be submerged. Don’t forget to make sure that the remote is also waterproof.
• Where will you mount your outdoor TV? The best place to mount an outdoor TV will always be in a protected area that is not in direct sunlight.
• The best mount for an outdoor TV is usually a full-mount, which allows for a wider range of viewing areas and has less limitations on the placement of your outdoor TV. Outdoor TV mounts need to be all-weather too! A regular mount is meant for indoor use and can fail under extreme temperatures and will likely rust outdoors.
• Just like everything else placed outside, make sure your cables are rated for outdoor use.