In this article, I discuss a few extra features that you would want to consider when buying any TV, but particularly when buying an outdoor TV.
Anti-Glare & Wide Viewing Angles
Glare is that light that reflects off the shiny screen of your outdoor TV, into your eyes, ruining your viewing experience.
Seeing your brightly sunlit self, or your bright surroundings, reflected in the TV will ruin the movie you're trying to watch.
So, it's important to make sure that, when a TV is out in the sunlight, it is excellent at reducing reflection to minimize glare. (In addition to being bright enough to be visible outdoors in the bright sun.)
The anti-glare and anti-reflective features should be balanced out such that the outdoor TV still provides wide viewing angles. This is especially imporrtant if your outdoor viewing area larger and wider than the average living room.
The picture should be clear and visible no matter how far to the side of the TV you are sitting.
Size & Resolution
Size and Resolution is related to personal viewing preferences, and on how big an impression you want to make on your guests.
So much has been written about this subject, and it applies to ALL televisions, outdoor or indoor. So, I'm just going to provide a couple rules of thumb here:
- Size: The farther you sit from the TV, the larger the screen.
- Resolution: The closer you sit to the TV, the higher the resolution.
Size is measured in inches diagonally across the screen.
The higher the resolution of your outdoor TV, the sharper the picture.
Combine these two rules to get the right balance of TV size and resolution, and match it to the viewing distance for your personal viewing preference.
For example, if you have a huge screen, and you sit close to it, it should have high resolution so the image looks sharp.
On the other hand, if you sit farther from the TV, the less important the sharpness is, so you can get a cheaper, lower resolution, outdoor TV.
But, if you just want to impress people, get the biggest outdoor TV and the highest resolution.
Sound
Outdoor TVs include built-in speakers, but, they might not be loud enough for your outdoor space.
You can add a an outdoor soundbar to your outdoor TV. Many TV manufacturers make compatible soundbars to go with their TVs. They easily and wirelessly via Bluetooth.
You can also get mountable speakers and put them next to the TV. Or, get landscape outdoor speakers, and create a true surround sound experience.
These are optional—for most people, the outdoor TV's built-in speakers are loud enough.
Smart TV Features
Useful smart TV features include the ability to stream from a mobile device or the Internet. You can use Wi-Fi or connect to another device using Bluetooth. Smart TVs simplify your set up, while providing access to more sources of content.
Wireless features mean there will be no need to run cables out to the entertainment space. Everything can be transmitted wirelessly to your outdoor TV.
Looking for the "Best Outdoor TV"
The best is often subjective—based on personal preferences or a particular situation.
You can always search for the most expensive, feature-rich, top-of-the-line outdoor TV and expect it to handle any situation.
But, when trying to save money, and yet still have an ideal experience, the best outdoor TV will need to be catered to your particular budget, environment, and entertainment preferences.
