Sylvox vs Samsung The Terrace vs SunBrite: The outdoor TV comparison you need before buying!

Outdoor TVs have gained popularity in recent years, but your options still aren’t as wide as with regular TVs. The main brands are still Sylvox, Samsung, and Sunbrite. Of course, only one of these brands is widely known, so it’s hard to decide which best fits your needs. How do you pick? After all, getting one of these represents a solid investment in your outdoor entertainment.

Don’t you worry! You don’t have to go through trial and error or spend your hard-earned money without knowing which is the right match. These are very expensive, after all (especially Samsung ones). I am doing all the hard work for you and comparing three of the main brands and models. My yard seriously looks like a multi-screen outdoor theater! I have the 65-inch models of the Sylvox Cinema Series, Samsung’s The Terrace, and a Sunbrite Solis.

Which one should earn a spot in your yard? Well, as always, it depends on your needs and what you prioritize. Let’s go over the main differences and see how each stacks up against the others.

Sylvox vs. Samsung vs. Sunbrite: Specs

Let’s talk about the designs and build qualities!

These are outdoor TVs, so design and build quality are among the most important factors when picking between them. Can they survive living outside? How about a storm? You want to make sure your expensive TV can actually be outside 24/7/365.

How much can the Sylvox Cinema Series handle?

A little bit of history before we talk about the Cinema Series. I have lived with a Sylvox Gaming Series TV for about a year. It lived outside the whole time, through rain and even snow. It actually fell a few times, due to strong winds. It survived the whole time until a couple of months ago, when it fell straight into a sharp rock corner. Even then, the TV still works, it’s just that there is a bar of dead lighting on the right side. It’s about four inches wide. I’d say it went through plenty of torture before actually experiencing real damage.

With all that in mind, I can tell you that Sylvox TVs are very sturdy, and this one feels just as rugged, with the same solid metal build. This is no regular aluminum. Sylvox uses a premium aluminum alloy made specifically for outdoor environments. It’s thick, strong metal more akin to solid steel. It looks and feels rugged. Additionally, it has an IP56 rating, which means it is dust-protected and has been tested against powerful water jets from all directions. Of course, regular rain should be fine, and in my experience, even snow. The operating temperature range is impressively good: -22 to 122 Fahrenheit.

What about the Samsung The Terrace?

Samsung’s The Terrace is a bit of an odd one in this department. It is definitely the slimmest, best-looking TV with the smallest bezels out of the three. That said, it also looks like it won’t be as resistant to drops or random things hitting it. It’s still made of metal, but it feels thinner and not as solid. Samsung, as it always does, paid much more attention to aesthetics with this one.

Things like dust, rain, or snow should be no issue. It is also rated IP56. If I were you, I would definitely use a sturdy wall mount with this one, though. A stand can lean and fall in strong winds (I know this firsthand).

Operating temperatures are just as good, though. It works at temps between -22 and 122 Fahrenheit, which is identical to Sylvox’s TV.

Sunbrite has the lowest ingress protection

If you worry about water, Sunbrite has a clear disadvantage here. Not that it will get destroyed after a rain or two, but it has a lower IP55 rating. This simply means it has been tested to resist less powerful jets. I wouldn’t worry too much, as rain still isn’t as powerful as any water jets. At least not most of the time.

That said, the TV does feel rugged. The metal and construction feel more solid than Samsung’s, and it’s made of sturdier metal. If you live in extreme weather, you might not want to pick this one either, especially if it gets really cold. The Sunbrite Solis TV operates at temperatures between 32 and 122 degrees. This might not be an issue for many, but some of us live in places where it gets below freezing in the winter.

The one thing I especially liked about the Sunbrite Solis is that it has physical control buttons on the actual TV. Neither of the other TVs has this feature. You absolutely need a remote or phone to use them.

The winner?: It depends

Different people value different things, and that is totally fair. This is why I am choosing two winners in this section. If you want something more rugged, the obvious option is Sylvox. If you want something that looks good, has a slimmer design, and don’t mind keeping the TV in a relatively safe spot, then Samsung is the winner.

How about the picture and audio quality?

Design, construction, build quality, and all those things go out the door if a TV doesn’t look and sound great. That is the whole point of them, after all: watching content.

How does the Sylvox Cinema Series TV look and sound?

In general terms, Sylvox definitely doesn’t disappoint. It looked great when I tested the gaming series, and I feel like the Cinema Series improved upon that. The 4K resolution is crisp, and the 120Hz refresh rate is smooth. It also has a response time of less than 8ms, which is still really good for TVs.

The Helio QLED panel delivers vibrant, saturated colors, combining quantum dot technology with a cutting-edge Mini LED backlight system engineered specifically for outdoor viewing conditions, achieving a balance of pure blacks, ultra-high contrast ratio, and vibrant colors. For users seeking flagship-level outdoor picture performance, the Sylvox Cinema Pro Series also features Mini LED technology and delivers up to 5,000 nits of brightness.

In real-world use, the Cinema Series’ 2,000-nit brightness worked great. I was able to comfortably watch TV with no issues, even when the sun was high and strong.

In terms of audio quality, we’re looking at two 30W speakers. It delivers really nice sound, and I had to lower the volume quite a bit to avoid disturbing neighbors in my small, quiet town. The sound is rich and full, which is still surprising for a TV.

Samsung has great picture quality, but the audio is seriously disappointing

The Terrace’s panel looks quite outstanding. Remember seeing those showroom TVs at your local tech stores? The ones that looked unreal? This one looks like that.

It’s not just about crisp 4K resolution. The NEO QLED panel produces rich colors. The refresh rate looks very smooth, and brightness is also great, maxing out at 2,000 nits. The Quantum Matrix with Mini LED really brings that potential to life. It features Neo Quantum HDR+, and it works very well. You can definitely see more detail in the shadows, and the brightness is overall balanced.

As impressive as the picture quality is, though, The Terrace seriously falls behind in audio quality. I mean, compared to the others, it is impressively bad, which is sad because it is also the most expensive TV in this list, and by much.

The audio sounds very tiny, and the volume is kind of laughable. As a comparison, The Terrace at 100% volume outputs as much volume as the Sunbrite Solis at about 25%. I guess nothing can be perfect, right?

The thing is, this is, by far, the most expensive TV in this comparison, at $7,499.99. While it delivers on picture quality, you would expect all aspects of a TV to be at least good enough for the price you’re paying.

Sunbrite falls somewhere in the middle

As the subheader mentions, Sunbrite isn’t really the best at either department, but it also isn’t absolutely horrible. It has good picture quality, with nice color representation, though not quite on par with Sylvox’s Cinema Series or Samsung’s The Terrace.

The main downside of this model is its 60Hz refresh rate, and you can tell. It lacks the smoothness we love in 120Hz+ models. Not only that, but I found that the image can get a bit choppy when you first start watching something. It seems performance isn’t quite up there with the rest.

Brightness is also slightly lower at 1,500 nits. The difference isn’t quite as noticeable in this department, but it’s there. Regardless, it still works great on a sunny day. I had no issues comfortably watching it outdoors, during these California sunny days.

In terms of audio quality, it definitely does better than Samsung. The sound is actually really nice and full, as well as loud. And this is surprising, as it has two 8W speakers.

The winner?: Sylvox

Sylvox offers the perfect balance between great picture quality and audio. It makes no compromises and offers a very well-balanced experience. Meanwhile, Samsung seriously falls behind in the audio department. At the same time, Sunbrite falls behind in picture quality.

The operating systems are all different!

What will likely change the experience between these models the most is the operating system. After all, you’ll be interacting with the UI often. These three models offer very different smart TV experiences because they run different operating systems.

Sylvox uses Google TV

Let’s start with Sylvox. The Sylvox Cinema Series runs on Google TV. It’s simple and clean, with access to the Google Play Store and all its apps. It’s nearly guaranteed that your streaming service’s app will be there. In addition, you can access a nice variety of live channels for free. It has native support for Google Cast, you can use Google Assistant for voice commands through the remote, it connects directly to Google Home, etc. Everything you can expect from a Google device!

Unlike the others, Google TV doesn’t have a gaming section, but it still has access to cloud gaming apps. These obviously include NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Boosteroid, Shadow, and others. It also supports live TV apps, as well as regular TV (like all others).

I feel like Google TV’s simplicity is exactly what makes the TV operating system so good. It has what you need, with no extra bells or whistles to get in the way. Again, the TV experience is all about the content, not the UI. The simpler and cleaner it is to navigate, the quicker you can get watching.

Samsung sticks to its own Tizen OS

Like everything Samsung, this Samsung TV is packed with menus, features, apps, and more. The UI does feel a bit cluttered and can get confusing, but it is packed with features. The Samsung Smart Gaming Hub offers native support for plenty of games, and you also get access to many of the cloud gaming apps. You get multiview options if you need to check out multiple things at once.

There’s also Samsung TV Plus, the company’s own live TV service, so you don’t need to download any extra apps to stream live TV online. It has SmartThings support for smart home features. Not to mention, there is a plethora of apps available. Aside from the remote (which we will talk about later), you can also use your phone to type, use a pointer, or even use the handset as a pointer. It all works through the Samsung SmartThings app.

Heck, Samsung Tizen OS even features a browser! It’s not exactly the best, and it can get laggy, but it’s there if you want it… I suppose.

Sunbrite uses LG’s WebOS

Sunbrite uses WebOS. I actually find LG’s smart TV operating system pretty nice and intuitive. I’d say it’s even fun. One of the remotes works as a pointer (again, we will talk about the remotes later), so you can simply aim at the screen and use the buttons to navigate through apps and the UI.

LG also has its own live TV feature. If you care about live TV, LG Channels offers a nice array of free live TV streaming channels, as well as a portfolio of on-demand content. It’s completely free, and the TV channel guide is actually very complete, much like the ones we are used to with traditional cable and satellite TV services.

You can also enjoy a native browser. Again, it’s not great, but it works. In terms of mirroring, it does support AirPlay 2. That’s for Apple devices, but people without one can also use Miracast.

The winner?: Sylvox and Google TV

We may be a bit biased around here, but Google TV is still my favorite smart TV OS. It’s simple, clean, and has access to the Google Play Store. It’s easy to navigate and has all the features that matter, including an impressive variety of apps, native Google Cast support, direct access to Google Assistant, and more. It works great with the rest of my Google products and services.

Sure, Samsung has more features and fancy things, but I rarely use most of them. LG WebOS may have a great live TV guide, but I honestly don’t watch much live TV, and I feel like many of you feel the same. Google TV also lacks a browser, but how many of you really want one on a smart TV? I am honestly curious, so let us know in the comments.

All things considered, Google’s simplicity makes it a great smart TV operating system. It’s easy to navigate, yet it keeps all the main features we all want. And the best part is that it seems to focus more on content than on the UI and other bells and whistles. And isn’t that what TVs are about, anyway?

Of course, if you want all those other fun additions, you might feel like Samsung and Sunbrite have a better proposition in this department.

The remote controls

How are the remotes? Well, oddly, they offer pretty different experiences. Let’s see how.

The Sylvox remote is large but featureful

The Sylvox remote is the largest of the bunch. It offers a pretty nice experience, though. It includes a microphone for voice commands. The button availability is quite complete, too, offering plenty of shortcuts and functionality. You’ll enjoy a full number set, which is nice for live TV watching. There are also shortcuts to Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Prime Video. At the bottom, you can find four programmable color buttons. Of course, there is also volume, channel, CC, play, rewind, forward, stop, and much more.

The remote has been internally tested and has IP66-level performance. This makes it highly dust-resistant and safe to leave outdoors, even when it is raining.

The Samsung remote is the smallest and most nicely designed

Again, Samsung cares for aesthetics, and you can tell by simply looking at this remote. It is the smallest of them all. The look is clean, and it’s made of higher-quality plastic. It has very few buttons compared to the others. The main ones include keys for power, mute/unmute, back, home, play/pause, volume rockers, and four shortcuts to popular streaming apps. It also has a mic for voice commands.

The coolest addition is the small solar panel in the back of the remote. Just place it face down, and it will recharge! I still dislike dealing with regular batteries, so this is a nice addition. I mean, this remote doesn’t even have a spot for them. The remote itself is also IP56-rated, so you can also leave it outside.

Sunbrite gives you two remotes!

Sunbrite pulled an interesting move here. The Solis TV comes with two remotes! They are pretty different, too. The Sunbrite Outdoor Remote is IP55-certified, so this is the one you can leave outdoors. It looks much like a traditional remote, with a plethora of buttons. This has a bit of a learning curve with so many options, but it is a good choice if you want total control via a remote.

Then, there is the webOS remote. This is the “smart one,” with a nicer, more ergonomic design. The shape is curved and more rounded in the back, so it molds better to your hand. The buttons look nicer, and it even has a wheel for more intuitive scrolling and navigation.

It still has most of the main buttons, but the quantity of functions has been reduced in lieu of a smarter experience. including shortcuts to Netflix, Prime Video, and four customizable keys.

The coolest part is that this remote can be used as a pointer! Like, you can literally point at things to select them. This is the only remote that does this. Samsung’s The Terrace does this, but only when using your smartphone as a remote. It makes navigating much more fun and intuitive.

The winner?: It depends!

I have a hard time picking one clear winner, because some of these remotes are very unique in their own ways.

The Samsung remote is really nice. It’s small, slim, looks great, and is built nicely. The solar panel is also a very convenient addition, eliminating the need to worry about batteries. It has very few buttons, but the main ones are there.

If you prefer more functionality, I am a big fan of the webOS remote that comes with the Sunbrite Solis TV. The pointer function, ergonomic design, and nice aesthetics make it a pleasure to use. The main downside is that this one isn’t waterproof.

At the same time, if you want something that is more resistant to the elements, Sylvox’s internal tests place the brand’s remote at an IP66 level. That would make it the most resistant to both water and dust. Samsung sticks to an IP56, while Sunbrite falls behind at IP55.

Pricing and final thoughts

All this talk about features, capabilities, build quality, functionality, and more is no good if the price isn’t right. No matter how much you like a Ferrari, you can’t get it if it doesn’t make sense financially. The same applies to these TVs! Let’s take a look at the pricing details and value propositions, so we can figure out which is best for you.

• Sylvox Cinema Series 65-inch: $3,999
• Samsung The Terrace 65-inch: $7,499.99
• Sunbrite Solis 65-inch: $3,998.95

Best value per dollar in outdoor entertainment: Sylvox Cinema Series

I feel like Sylvox offers the best value per dollar in this comparison. It is definitely a better TV than Sunbrite’s, and costs essentially the same. It’s also much, much cheaper than Samsung’s alternative, at nearly half the price, but it sure offers much more than half the experience.

The viewing experience is excellent, offering 2,000 nits of brightness and specialized tuning for very comfortable outdoor viewing. The 120Hz refresh rate is smooth, too. And I happen to be a big fan of Google TV integration, as it offers the most intuitive and simplest smart TV experience.

Furthermore, I still feel like Sylvox offers the most robust rugged construction, with a metal body that puts the others to shame. An IP56 rating backs up the Cinema Series with great water and dust resistance, enough to make it survive the outdoors without an issue. I actually feel comfortable leaving this TV outside full-time, through the rain and snow. I don’t feel the same about the others. At least not to the same extent.

The best for premium design and Samsung users: Samsung The Terrace

Now that we look at pricing, it all starts to make sense, right? There’s a reason Samsung’s The Terrace has a really nice panel, a fancy remote, and significant attention to design. The thing is nearly twice the price! And hey, if you have the money to spare and want that premium experience, we won’t blame you.

All that said, be ready to spend more on a quality speaker system (or at least a decent one), because the audio on this thing is definitely not good enough. Not even close. It also seems like the most delicate in terms of ruggedness, but it will look amazing thanks to its thin profile and tiny bezels. Neighbors are sure to envy you!

Oh, and if you’re invested in the Samsung ecosystem, you will be able to take advantage of SmartThings connectivity, Mobile features like Smart View, using your phone as a remote via the SmartThings app, and more.

If you want webOS, a fun remote, and physical controls: Sunbrite Solis Series

Not to bash on Sunbrite, but I feel like it is hard to justify opting for the Solis when the price is pretty much the same as Sylvox’s. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good TV, and I would definitely enjoy using it, but I feel like there isn’t much it does better than the others.

The image is good, but it’s not as good as Sylvox’s or Samsung’s, and there’s the fact that it has a 60Hz refresh rate. The construction isn’t as good, either. It is actually a downgrade in the ruggedness department, as it has a lower IP55 certification, making it less resistant to water, which is likely the main concern with outdoor TVs.

I suppose it would be a good purchase if you really want physical buttons on the TV itself, which the other TVs lack. It does have a really cool webOS remote, especially if you enjoy using it as a pointer. Additionally, some of you may like LG’s webOS platform. And if you really value live TV, it has a really cool guide that integrates seamlessly with LG Channels.