Traditionally, watching TV is something enjoyed strictly indoors — but not if you’re the owner of an outdoor TV.
Being able to watch your favourite TV shows, movies and sports al fresco adds a whole new level of enjoyment to your property, unlocking more possibilities for relaxation and celebration on your patio, poolside or decking.
For commercial spaces like pub gardens, having an outdoor display is even known to boost footfall, dwell time and food and beverage sales.
As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of innovative, high-quality outdoor TVs and displays, here’s our one-stop guide to choosing yours.
Contents
- Normal TVs vs. outdoor TVs: what are the differences?
- Purchasing an outdoor TV: tech specs explained
- Choosing a model: options, features and costs
- Location, installation and care
- Can you rent an outdoor TV?
Normal TVs vs. outdoor TVs: what are the differences?
First up, the question on almost everyone’s lips who considers buying one: why do you need a special TV for use outdoors — and why are they so expensive? Can’t I save myself quite a bit of money by simply installing a regular TV?
Outdoor TVs are specially manufactured and engineered to withstand rain, snow, humidity, high temperature, dust, dirt, insects and UV. These products come with an IP (Ingress Protection) rating, indicating that the TV is protected against water and dust. A weatherproof design seals the sensitive internal components from external elements — they can also function between 0ºC and 40ºC.
Outdoor TVs also offer superior viewing performance because they have a higher level of brightness — in some cases, they can be five times as bright as a regular TV. Outdoor TVs also have very wide viewing angles and anti-glare screens to minimise reflections.
Regular TVs are far more fragile than you may think. They function in a limited temperature range, with no waterproofing or corrosion protection for the screen, cabinet or cabling — dust and dirt can affect the display, HDMI inputs and USB ports.
Even a fairly short period of time in a humid outdoor environment can wreak havoc on an indoor TV. That’s not to mention the screens are typically too dim, even for shaded outdoor areas. Sound quality is often poor, too, with ambient noise and wind drowning out the transmission.
Purchasing an outdoor TV: tech specs explained
The market for outdoor TVs has advanced incredibly over recent years. There are a range of excellent products available suiting different spaces and budgets, but technical specification sheets can be somewhat confusing for the uninitiated.
- Resolution: This refers to the number of vertical and horizontal pixels on the TV display — pixels are the tiny dots or squares that make up the picture. So, the higher the resolution, the sharper the picture. When it comes to resolution, you’ll often see the term ‘4K’: this means there are approximately 4,000 horizontal pixels.
- Brightness: This is typically expressed in cd/m² (candela per square metre) — a unit of measurement for luminous intensity. Indoor TVs have around 350 cd/m², whilst outdoor TVs have between 1000–1500 cd/m² — meaning they’re far brighter. Brightness rating is a huge part of what makes these products suitable for use outdoors — a higher number means superior performance in daylight.
- Viewing angle: This refers to the maximum angle at which the screen can be viewed before the picture quality starts to decrease — beyond this point, you may see loss of brightness or colour shift. It’s expressed as degrees with a horizontal (H) and vertical (V) measurement. H:178° V:178°, therefore, means you can almost sit directly above, below or to the side of the TV and not experience any loss of picture quality.
- Contrast ratio: This describes the luminance of the brightest white and the darkest black the TV can produce. A 3000:1 contrast ratio, therefore, means that the whitest white is 3000 times brighter than the darkest black.
- Screen size: This refers to the TV screen’s diagonal length, for example from the upper left-hand corner to the lower right-hand corner. This is expressed in inches (”). Outdoor TVs are available in a range of sizes. The most popular size is 55”, but you’ll also find 43”, 65” and 75” widely available.
- IP rating: This stands for ingress protection. It is a two-digit grading system: products can be coded on the scale according to their dust and water resistance. Many types of outdoor TV have IP55 or IP65 — the first digit means the product is absolutely dust tight; the second digit means it is protected against water jets from all directions. Some have IP55, meaning the same level of water resistance with very good dust protection (whilst not being absolutely dust tight).
Choosing an outdoor TV model: options, features and costs
All models of outdoor TV are available in a range of screen sizes to suit your space. The key difference between them is the level of brightness and suitability for full sun or semi-shade.
When sizing up for your space, consider the distance between your seating area and your outdoor TV, as well as the available wall or mounting area. While a larger screen size will provide a more immersive and cinematic experience, it may sometimes be too big—and will, of course, cost more to purchase.
The most common resolution for outdoor TVs is 4K ultra HD — as mentioned, this means the screen has 4,000 pixels across, guaranteeing a sharp, crisp picture. Some outdoor TVs also have additional features like RS232 options, or integrated speakers.
LIFESTYLE PLUS NX — A SEMI-SHADE MODEL WITH BUILT-IN SPEAKERS
Lifestyle Plus NX boasts a brightness of 1000cd/m², suiting it ideally to shaded and semi-shaded areas, such as awnings, pergolas and gazebos.
With smart TV functionality, a 4K ultra HD resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR), you’re guaranteed an incredible viewing experience for your favourite TV shows, sports events or movies. Built-in speakers also make for a simplified, seamless installation with no need for external audio systems.
This model has an IP55 rating. This means the TV has the same level of water resistance as the IP65-rated Aire Plus model and is dust protected, but not to the same level.
The Lifestyle Plus NX can be more suitable for those working to a tighter budget who still want a fabulous, high-performance solution for a semi-shaded home or commercial space.
- Brightness: 1000cd/m²
- Sizes available: 43″, 55″, 65″
- Max resolution: 3840X2160 (4K)
- Viewing angle: H:178° V:178°
- Contrast ratio: 5000:1
- IP rating: IP55
- Sound: Built-in speakers
- Accessories: Wall bracket and TV cover included
- Price range: From £1,995 including VAT
AIRE PLUS — INCREDIBLE BRIGHTNESS AND DURABILITY, EVEN IN FULL SUN
The entire Aire Plus range has a market-leading brightness of 1500cd/m² and an anti-reflective screen, suiting it for use even in direct sunlight.
The 4K ultra HD resolution guarantees a crystal clear, crisp picture, with the 178° viewing angle, meaning there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
These TVs are weatherproof to the highest standard — IP65 — meaning the product is absolutely dust-tight and protected against water jets.
Suitable for any home or commercial space, our Aire Plus outdoor TVs are available as smart TVs with bluetooth or RS232.
- Brightness: 1500cd/m²
- Sizes available: 43″, 55″, 65″, 75””
- Max resolution: 3840X2160 (4K)
- Viewing angle: H:178° V:178°
- Contrast ratio: 4500:1
- IP rating: IP65
- Price range: From £4,200 including VAT
Location, installation and care
Whilst outdoor TVs perform very well in direct sunlight, for optimal viewing, we’d recommend choosing an installation area that is typically shaded or semi-shaded — the TV won’t have to compete with the sun.
An awning, pergola or gazebo is a very popular solution, blending the indoors and outdoors. Another solution may be to ensure the TV is facing to the south, so it’s not taking the full brunt of the sun through the day.
When purchasing your outdoor TV, you’ll be provided with detailed instructions and recommendations by the manufacturer, as well as all the appropriate weather-resistant cabling.
Outdoor TVs can be enjoyed using a stand or trolley, but if mounting yours, consider the use of a heavy duty, weather-rated wall mount.
When it comes to installation, you should have an IP rated mains power source, with any HDMI cables kept as short as possible. Certainly avoid the use of extension cords and adapters. You may prefer to hire a qualified electrician.
For ongoing care, just treat the TV as you would an indoor TV — clean with an anti-static microfiber cloth and a dedicated electronics screen cleaner. When not in use, you might like to consider a water-resistant cover for the screen.
Can you rent an outdoor TV?
Yes! If you only need an outdoor TV for a short period of time — perhaps for the duration of a sporting event like EURO 2024, or even for as little as one day — then an outdoor TV can be hired for residential or commercial use.
We work with a number of rental partners, so check out our information on Outdoor TV Rental or get in touch for help & advice.
ProofVision: market-leading outdoor TVs and displays
We have over a decade of experience manufacturing high-quality innovative waterproof electronics.
Weather resistant, ultra HD, aesthetically designed and coming with a two-year warranty, our products can be found across many luxury properties, commercial premises and renowned sporting events.
We’ve provided outdoor TVs to Silverstone, Wimbledon, the 2012 London Olympics, the superyacht Ulysses and many commercial pub gardens and luxury homes across the UK.
To add more value to your home or commercial space, simply get in touch today. We’ll help to match you up with the perfect TV for your outdoor space.
