When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreThe Sylvox Cinema Pro is an outdoor TV with an ultra-bright, weather-resistant design.Colleen Sullivan/Business InsiderWhen I was first given the opportunity to test an outdoor TV, I must admit, I was quite skeptical. In fact, my initial reaction was, "I really don't want a TV in my backyard."I spend most of the summer at our family's 100-year-old beach cottage at the Jersey Shore, a place that's always been an escape from technology. We have one small TV inside, and the idea of putting another one outdoors felt like it would interrupt the unplugged pace we've always loved there. It also just didn't seem to fit the charming aesthetic of our yard.Surprisingly, my tech-loving kids felt the same way. They groaned when they first saw the big box arrive. But when the Knicks' playoff run started, followed by the World Cup, our curiosity was piqued. So, with the help of my son Jack, the Sylvox Cinema Pro outdoor TV was set up in our backyard. After just one afternoon of watching TV outside, the skeptics in my family — myself included — had changed their minds.Over the next several weeks, I tested the outdoor TV through rain, heat, humidity, and even a hailstorm. Here's what I learned, and what impressed me most.Outdoor TVs are a splurge, but their unique features and design justify the costWe tested the 65-inch Cinema Pro model, which is a good size for a typical backyard area.Colleen Sullivan/Business InsiderOutdoor TVs don't come cheap, and Sylvox's offerings are no exception. I tested the brand's Cinema Pro model, which is one of its top-tier TVs, built for full sunlight and extreme weather. It's available in 65-, 75-, 85-, and 110-inch models with prices starting at $5,499.For most backyards, the 65-inch model I tested is the best fit, while the larger models are better suited to expansive outdoor living areas. If you have a smaller patio or deck, Sylvox offers more affordable 43- and 55-inch outdoor TVs in its other product lines that are better suited to more compact spaces and areas with less light. For instance, the 43-inch partial-sun Deck Pro 3.0 Series begins at $1,149, while the 43-inch full-sun Pool Pro Series 3.0 starts at $1,649.But while pricey compared to the best TVs designed for indoor use, outdoor TVs have good reasons to command such a premium. Chris Wang, the electronics engineer for Sylvox, explained, "One of the biggest cost drivers is brightness itself. Producing several times the brightness of a typical indoor TV requires significantly more advanced backlighting components. Then add in the weather-resistant enclosure, corrosion-resistant materials, and specialized engineering needed to protect the electronics from heat, moisture, and UV exposure, and you'll better understand the manufacturing costs."Setup is mostly straightforward, but a stand is extraWe installed the Cinema Pro outdoor TV with Sylvox's optional rolling stand.Colleen Sullivan/Business InsiderThe Cinema Pro TV doesn't come with a stand or bracket, but Sylvox sells optional wall mounts, ceiling mounts, TV lift cabinets, and rolling stands. Because my outside wall space is limited, I opted for the rolling stand ($499), which lets me tuck the TV out of sight when it's not in use and reposition it around the yard.The rolling stand comes with all the necessary hardware, including a wrench, and the screws and nuts are sealed in plastic bags. The assembly process wasn't especially difficult, but we found the instructions a little confusing. Jack was convinced we had the wrong instruction manual because it seemed to include a bunch of unnecessary steps and referenced parts that weren't even included. Things went more smoothly once we discovered Sylvox's online assembly videos. Lifting the TV onto the rolling stand required two people, but once it was in place, securing it with the included hardware wasn't difficult.Getting the TV up and running was easy. The Cinema Pro comes with Google TV built in, so logging into YouTube TV, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services took only a few minutes. It also has three HDMI ports, so you can connect a separate streaming device or a traditional cable box.The TV's weather-resistant design held up against rain, wind, and heatThe Sylvox Cinema Pro worked well in both sunny and rainy conditions.Colleen Sullivan/Business InsiderEvery time a heavy storm rolled through, I expected to walk outside the next day and discover the TV had stopped working. Instead, the TV survived torrential rain, strong coastal winds, and even summer hail without missing a beat.Wang explained that the TV's reinforced aluminum-alloy enclosure is designed to resist corrosion, while the internal electronics receive specialized protective coatings that help guard against moisture, mold, and even salt spray (something that immediately caught my attention, considering I tested the TV just a few blocks from the ocean). And all that w
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
