The Element Outdoor Roku TV is an affordable way to watch TV outdoors | CNN underlined

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you have to move the party indoors. Outdoor TVs are a great way to enjoy everything from fall football to intimate movie nights, all in your own backyard, garden, or patio. While these TVs are brighter, more durable, and obviously weatherproof, they tend to be more expensive than your typical living room TV. But Roku is trying to change the game by introducing a more affordable 55-inch 4K outdoor TV.

In partnership with Element Electronics, this smart TV proves you won’t have to break the bank to install a TV in your home’s outdoor space. As of this writing, Samsung’s 55-inch The Terrace Partial Sun Outdoor TV retails for $3,499, while the same-sized Partial Sun Element Roku Outdoor TV retails for $1,298.

While the Element Roku Outdoor TV doesn’t have all of The Terrace’s high-end specs, it stands up to the competition in many ways, including anti-reflective glass and the ability to withstand temperatures down to -4F at 104F. And while there’s a good chance you won’t watch in those extreme temperatures, it’s comforting to know you can.

The Element Roku Outdoor TV only comes in 55-inches and is rated as partial sun, so it’s meant to be placed near trees, under a porch or patio cover – not in direct sunlight. But for an entry-level outdoor TV with 700 nits of peak brightness, the Element Roku Outdoor TV offers a very bright screen that’s highly viewable in daylight. I set up the TV in my front yard and was able to watch the whole setup process on screen in direct sunlight.

The 4K resolution, anti-glare screen and HDR10 technology also helped make it a satisfying viewing experience, with vivid colors and minimal environmental glare from trees and cars. However, when I stood in front or to the side, I could still see my reflection on the screen.

I watched TV on a clear day in the middle of the afternoon in full sun, and again in the early evening when the set was in the shade. I had no issues with quality in bright light, but colors were even more vibrant when I watched in shade. And it was a pleasure to sit in mild weather with friends and family, watching a movie, a favorite TV show or the big game.

The Element Roku Outdoor TV is built to withstand the elements. With an IP55 rating, Roku says it can handle rain, snow, sprinklers, high humidity, dust and splashes from the pool. This means it can last outdoors all year round in temperatures ranging from -4 to 104 degrees F – which is about good for most people in the US. And if you’re outside that range, an outdoor TV might not be exactly on your wish list.

If wind is a concern, Roku claims its tempered safety glass is four times stronger than standard glass.

Roku OS 11 is built into the Element Roku Outdoor TV and setup was pretty straightforward. After throwing batteries into the remote (which has a protective rubberized sleeve to keep it from getting wet), I just followed the instructions on the TV, logged into my Roku account, then selected and downloaded all of the Roku channels. and other apps I subscribe to. at. Like all Wi-Fi-enabled Roku TVs, there’s easy access to Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, and all the other streaming services you might use on other devices.

The TV has many ports; there are 4 HDMI ports, one is ARC compatible for a soundbar as well as an option for using composite video/audio cables, a USB port, a LAN port for wired internet, a headphone jack and a RF connector for coaxial connections – in case you want to add a TV antenna.

There’s also a secure cover over the ports that easily unscrews by hand (to protect the cables from the weather), but since the cover snaps shut and the ports are inaccessible once you mount the TV, you might want to be test them before you hook. it’s rising.

No stand or stand included

The Element Roku Outdoor TV comes with a basic design and is constructed from plastic, with a glossy black bezel. Still, since this outdoor TV weighs 71 pounds, which is almost twice as heavy as a standard flat screen TV, most users will want to hang it up.

With that in mind, it’s important to note that the Element Roku Outdoor TV doesn’t come with a wall mount (or stand for that matter), so you’ll have to order your own. And it can’t be just any mount. “The Element Roku Outdoor TV is VESA compliant, so any TV wall mount that can support a 300 x 300 configuration and a recommended weight of 100 lbs. will work,” a spokesperson told Us. ‘Element in an email. “Element is currently developing an outdoor TV stand, with an expected launch in 2023.”

The two built-in speakers work well in minimal situations, and I was able to understand dialogue clearly while streaming How I Met Your Mother listening alone. But as more people joined in, making more noise and sitting farther from the screen, it became harder to hear TV sound.

To combat this, I hooked up a Roku Streambar to the HDMI/ARC port, which helped me get much louder sound while watching things like the New York Giants (finally) win a game. Although I’d suggest adding a soundbar, you can also wirelessly connect the audio to a portable Bluetooth speaker if you’re not ready to commit. But whatever you decide, remember to bring your home audio device back inside when you’re done.

Samsung’s The Terrace TV has higher specs than the Element Roku Outdoor TV, so it makes sense that it costs more than double the price of the same 55-inch Partial Sun Outdoor TV.

The Terrace also offers a 120Hz refresh rate (which is great for smoother gaming and doubles Roku’s 60Hz), as well as a brighter picture with its 2000 nits compared to Roku’s 700 nits. SunBrite TV, which makes a full line of outdoor TVs, has a Full Sun Ultra High Brightness TV with 3,000 nits that sells for around $4,000.

Watching television outside is a lifestyle previously reserved for those who could afford more expensive, fully weatherproof home entertainment systems. But the Element Roku Outdoor TV is designed to bring that captivating experience to a more mainstream audience.

Of course, $1,299 is still a luxury and much more expensive than an everyday 55-inch Roku TV (which costs around $350 these days). But it’s worth it for anyone who wants to upgrade to an outdoor TV that can stream movies, shows, sports, or music, even in bad weather or when the sun goes down.

Of course, you’ll still have to buy a compatible stand and it’s only available in one size, but if a 55-inch smart TV with a familiar Roku UI appeals to you, you’ll be rewarded with a bright, low-glare picture. . on the Element Roku Outdoor TV. And at the end of the day, that seems like a fair price for a home theater experience you can enjoy all year round.