We Ranked The 4 Best Outdoor TVs

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Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Mar 17, 2024 3:30 PM
best outdoor tv guide that shows the top best tv model

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When you’re in the market for the best outdoor TVs, the biggest challenge you face is finding a model that can withstand the elements while delivering exceptional picture quality. You need a top-rated TV that’s not just weather-resistant but also offers superior brightness to combat direct sunlight, along with durability to handle temperature fluctuations and humidity.

Ideal features include a robust build, high brightness levels, and a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to stream your favorite content under the stars. Let’s cut to the chase: this guide is your shortcut to picking an outdoor TV that brings your entertainment outdoors without compromise.

How Did We Rank the Best Outdoor TVs?

To assess how high or low quality a TV actually is for outdoor use, one must evaluate specific testing criteria against reference industry standards. Using our thorough TV Testing Methodology, we determined there are 1 minimum specs and 6 criteria below (3 required, 3 nice to have) that ensure your TV content looks as good as the creator intended it.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • LED Panel Type: IPS, LCD, LED, Mini LED, Mini-LED QLED, NanoCell LED, Neo QLED, QLED, Quantum LED, Quantum ULED, Standard LED, or VA, providing a diverse range of display technologies to suit different preferences.

? Test Criteria

  • SDR Brightness: Maintain a minimum of 600 nits to ensure a bright and clear picture under standard dynamic range conditions.
  • HDR Brightness: Achieve a brightness level of at least 1100 nits, bringing out intricate details in high dynamic range content.
  • Reflections: Keep reflections to a minimum, with a maximum threshold of 3%, to enhance viewing clarity and minimize distractions.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Contrast Ratio: Aim for a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 or higher, enhancing visual depth with striking differentiation between dark and bright elements.
  • EOTF Tracking: Ensure accurate EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) tracking with a delta of no more than 0.06 at 600 nits, maintaining precise brightness and contrast levels across various content.
  • Color Gamut: Achieve a color gamut coverage of at least 97% of the DCI P3 xy color space, delivering exceptionally vibrant and lifelike colors for a captivating viewing experience.

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from over 200+ trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics to rank the top rated outdoor TVs. Testing data include brightness (600 nits and 1100 nits), Color Gamut % (DCI P3 xy) >= 97%, and a set that has a LED Panel. In this case, it’s for outdoor TVs, which means ensuring visibility in bright lights and resilience against outdoor conditions. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable TV recommendations. Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. Commissions fund this mission. No bias. No BS.

Latest Updates

  • 03/05/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest Outdoor TVs.
  • 11/30/2023: Republished the list to include TVs based on our True Score system.

Top Best Outdoor TVs For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

To snag a spot on our list, a Outdoor TV needs to have a LED panel and capable of battling glare from direct or indirect light. If it doesn’t hit these points, we’re not including it!

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung QN95B Neo QLED TV

    High-performance outdoor TV lacking an enclosure; requires additional protection. Best-in-class HDR brightness and wider viewing angles make it a top choice for outdoor entertainment.

    Samsung QN95B Neo QLED TV Review →

    True Score

    89
    97
    8

    Experts

    88
    531

    Customers

    SAVE $1,449
    $2,997.99
    $1,549.00

    Category Snapshot

    TVs

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      17 Brands, 158 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      LG, Hisense

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $400-$2000

    • Average True Score

      76.65

    • Important Test Criteria

      Brightness (cd/m2)
      Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

    • Most Trusted Testers

    • Recommended Retailer

    • Typical Warranty

      1 year

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

    • Test Methodology

      TV Testing Methodology

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung S95C OLED TV

    • Best For Home Theater

    Premium OLED with exceptional color accuracy and wide viewing angles for outdoor use. Requires enclosure; offers unparalleled picture quality, especially in contrast and glare reduction.

    Samsung S95C OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    87
    92
    15

    Experts

    90
    774

    Customers

    SAVE $100
    $1,997.99
    $1,897.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung The Terrace Full Sun Outdoor TV

    Specifically designed for outdoors with built-in enclosure, albeit at a high cost. Offers seamless outdoor viewing with optimized brightness and low reflection rate but limited viewing angles.

    Samsung The Terrace Full Sun Outdoor TV Review →

    True Score

    83
    83
    3

    Experts

    90
    3k

    Customers

    SAVE $2,026
    $4,999.99
    $2,974.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

    Offers exceptional brightness for outdoor viewing at a low cost, but needs an enclosure. Despite narrow viewing angles, it’s cost-effective with strong color accuracy, ideal for bright outdoor settings.

    TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV Review →

    True Score

    82
    83
    7

    Experts

    88
    817

    Customers

    SAVE $350
    $1,199.99
    $849.99

Our Approach to Testing the Best Outdoor TVs

Evan Shepard/Gadget Review

When it comes to selecting the best outdoor TVs, our focus lies in collecting comprehensive test data that ensures resilience against outdoor elements and exceptional picture quality under challenging conditions. We prioritize features like high brightness levels and durability to combat direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and humidity. Our guide offers a shortcut to choosing an outdoor TV that seamlessly brings entertainment outdoors without compromise.

We gather data so you don’t have to. Our team averages testing results to accurately represent each product’s capabilities. Then, we filter and sort our buying guides to ensure products meet your needs, like those for an outdoor TV with LED panel technology. This guarantees you’re buying the correct product.

You may notice some of our graphs contain “Source: RTings”. This is to indicate that the data we’re showing off in a graph has come from a single source – because it’s the only source that actually tested the criteria and had data for it! Normally, our data is an average out of all of the various publications that test and provide data to give you a good idea of how a product is going to perform on average.

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Outdoor TVs?

By focusing on these criteria (3 required, 3 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these TVs and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a TV that will fit into your space.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
SDR Brightness600+ nitsYesAssess the luminance of your display when operating in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) mode.
HDR Brightness1100+ nitsYesDetermine the luminance of your display in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
Reflections<= 3%YesThe amount of light reflected off the screen (less is better).
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)>= 97%No (nice to have)Evaluate the extent to which a TV can reproduce a specified spectrum of colors.
EOTF0.06No (nice to have)Standard that governs how a display interprets and renders brightness and color.
Contrast Ratio>= 10,000No (nice to have)The ratio between the brightest white and darkest black that the screen can display.

Our Trusted Data Sources

(Publication category Score is 80%+)

We looked at 210+ TV reviewers and while 24 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating), we only use data from the testers that are “very trusted” which means a Trust Rating above 70%. The three we have listed below are our most trusted for TVs, along with our own in-house TV expert.

  1. Evan Shepard – Gadget Review
  2. Matthew Lopes – RTings, MuckRack
  3. Will Greenwald – PCMag, MuckRack, Twitter
  4. David Katzmaier – CNET, MuckRack, Twitter

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every TV review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Best Outdoor TVs Test Data & Results

1. SDR & HDR Brightness TV Test Results

In well-lit rooms, the brightness level of your Outdoor TV, quantified in nits, is key to a great viewing experience. A TV that doesn’t meet the brightness requirement will struggle against natural and artificial light, resulting in a dim, lackluster image. Essentially, nits measure how well your TV can stand up to light interference, with higher values ensuring a sharper, more vivid display.

For standard viewing on the best Outdoor TV, you should look for at least 600 nits to strike the right balance between clarity and color quality in standard dynamic range (SDR) content. For high dynamic range (HDR) content, which offers richer colors and greater contrast, a minimum of 1100 nits is ideal to truly appreciate the enhanced visuals. These brightness levels are recommended to ensure your TV performs well in bright settings, allowing you to enjoy your shows and movies without any loss in detail or quality. Aim for these minimums: SDR Brightness >= 600 nits; HDR Brightness >= 1100 nits for the optimal experience.

Discover the top Outdoor TVs, ranked from brightest to least, all exceeding our brightness criteria.

SDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

HDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

2. Reflections TV Test Results

Reflections handling on TVs is critical for sports fans, ensuring that glare from lights or windows doesn’t wash out the action. It’s about how well a TV can minimize the impact of ambient light on its screen, preserving the quality of the image during bright day games or well-lit room conditions.

Technically, this involves the TV’s screen surface and coatings designed to reduce the reflection of external light sources without affecting picture brightness and contrast. The effectiveness of reflections handling is often measured in percentage; the lower the percentage, the better the TV is at minimizing reflections.

Ideally, a TV reflects no more than 3% of light. TVs that boast advanced anti-reflective properties, such as matte screens, help to improve this capability.

Reflections (as a %; lower is better)

3. Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy) TV Test Results

Color gamut defines the range of colors an Outdoor TV can reproduce, directly affecting how vibrant and true-to-life the images look. A wide color gamut in a compact TV brings out richer, more vivid colors – from the lush greens of a garden to the bright colors of animated characters, enhancing your viewing experience to closely mimic real life.

This concept is technically measured against standards like the DCI P3 xy, a benchmark for high-quality visuals. A outdoor TV covering a higher percentage of this color space can display colors more accurately and vividly.

For those who prioritize vibrant and immersive visuals in a smaller package, aiming for a outdoor TV with a color gamut of 90% or higher on the DCI P3 xy scale is ideal. This ensures that the content you watch is as vibrant and lifelike as possible. Below is all the TVs on this guide sorted by best to least in Color Gamut.

Below are the top outdoor TVs, ordered by color gamut.

DCI P3 XY Color Gamut (as a %; high is better)

4. EOTF Test Results

The Electro-Optical Transfer Function (EOTF) plays a critical role in ensuring the content on your TV looks exactly as the creator intended. This technical feature adjusts your screen’s brightness levels, ensuring every scene, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights, is displayed with true-to-life accuracy.

In rooms flooded with light, a TV that nails EOTF calibration shines by preserving the intended contrast and detail in the picture despite the challenging conditions. It balances the brightness so that images remain vibrant and full of detail, unaffected by the glare of ambient light.

A TV that excels in managing EOTF offers an immersive and authentic viewing experience. It brings creators’ visions to life, accurately rendering every scene with the proper light and dark levels, no matter the lighting in your room. This means you get a consistent, realistic picture that captures the full spectrum of colors and contrasts, from the subtlest hues to the most intense explosions. Below is all the TVs on this guide sorted from best to worst in EOTF.

Below are all the outdoor TVs on our list, ordered by EOTF, all exceeding our minimum requirement.

EOTF (source: rtings.com – 0 = no data exists; lower is better)

5. Contrast Ratio Test Results

For outdoor TV enthusiasts, a solid contrast ratio is crucial for enjoying your favorite TV shows or movies, especially in darker settings. This feature directly impacts how lifelike and dynamic the picture appears on your screen, ensuring that dark scenes are displayed with clear, crisp blacks instead of murky grays and bright scenes retain their detail without appearing washed out.

Put simply, the contrast ratio is all about the range of luminance a TV can produce, from the deepest blacks to the brightest whites. It’s what brings depth to the image, enhancing the realism of every scene. Watching a movie in the dark, for example, the difference between a TV with a poor contrast ratio and one with a high ratio is stark: the former struggles, blending shadows into a flat gray, while the latter delivers true black, making night scenes more immersive and detailed.

Ideally, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 is what you should aim for in an outdoor TV. This level of luminance variance ensures that you’re getting a picture quality that can handle the nuances of lighting in any scene, providing a viewing experience that’s both rich and engaging. Note: OLED TVs have infinite contrast ratio, indicated by “0.” For more info on how TV display technologies differ from each other along with resolutions, give our comprehensive TV buying guide a read.

Below are the top outdoor TVs, ordered by contrast ratio, all exceeding our testing criteria.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

Best Outdoor TVs: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Weatherproof Ratings: Overlooking weatherproof ratings can lead to purchasing a TV ill-equipped to withstand outdoor conditions, resulting in premature damage.

  2. Underestimating Brightness Levels: Failing to consider high brightness levels can result in poor visibility under direct sunlight, diminishing the viewing experience.

  3. Neglecting Connectivity: Overlooking connectivity options may limit the ability to stream content seamlessly outdoors, hindering entertainment options. Consider opting for a smart TV, and if you’re unfamiliar with what a smart TV is, it’s a TV that features Wi-Fi and possibly Ethernet connectivity to access streaming services and online content directly. That type of connectivity can significantly improve your outdoor entertainment experience by ensuring a wide range of viewing options without the need for external devices.

  4. Disregarding Installation Considerations: Not accounting for installation factors like mounting options and outdoor placement can lead to inconvenient setups or suboptimal viewing angles. If you’re considering mounting a larger outdoor model such as a top 55-inch TV or bigger, properly mount it on a reasonably-sized wall and use a weather-resistant and sturdy support.

The Best Outdoor TVs Tests Compared

Product
True Score
SDR Brightness
HDR Brightness
Reflections
Color Gamut
EOTF
Contrast Ratio
89
  • 1,934 nits

  • 2,318 nits

  • 2.4%

  • 94.7%

  • 0.0438

  • 110,423:1

$1,549.00
$2,998
$1,449

Samsung S95C OLED TV

  • Best for Home Theater

87
  • 704 nits

  • 1,383 nits

  • 1%

  • 99.81%

  • 0.0029

  • 0

$1,897.99
$1,998
$100
83
  • 962 nits

  • 1,494 nits

  • 2.1%

  • 89.49%

  • 0.0336

  • 28,430:1

$2,974.00
$5,000
$2,026

TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

  • Best for 65-inch

82
  • 2,076 nits

  • 2,005 nits

  • 1.8%

  • 94.59%

  • 0.037

  • 114,057:1

$849.99
$1,200
$350

Outdoor TV Questions (FAQ)

Can you use an indoor TV outside?

We don’t think the best indoor TV for outdoor use exists. Indoor TVs are designed specifically with ventilation holes that help dissipate excess heat. If these ventilation holes are exposed outside, they could be subject to debris, dust, and moisture, short-circuiting your TV for good. Plus, indoor TVs have much lower volume levels than outdoor TVs. Even under scaffolding, you won't get much bang for your buck.

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